A pair of former Moose Jaw Warriors were among 16 former Western Hockey League players named to the Canada West All-Star teams on Wednesday.
Former Warriors defenceman Jesse Forsberg was named to the First All-Star Team after scoring six goals and 21 points in 24 games for the University of Saskatchewan, good enough for second in defenceman scoring in Canada West. In his fifth season with the Huskies, the 25-year-old Forsberg has 25 goals and 84 points in 117 games.
The Canada West-leading Huskies (21-3-4-0) sent three player to the first all-star team, including goaltender Taran Kozun and forward Carson Stadnyk.
Kozun narrowly edged out another Warrior for his spot on the first team, namely former Tribe standout netminder Zach Sawchenko, who is enjoying a stellar year in his second season with the University of Alberta (18-3-6-1). He was named to the Second All-Star Team.
Sawchenko, 21, leads Canada West with a 1.46 goals against average and .926 save percentage to go along with five shutouts. His 16 wins are second only to Kozun.
It’s been a remarkable two seasons in university hockey for the Calgary product, as after backstopping the Golden Bears to a USports championship last season, he was named the Western Hockey League grad of the month for January.
Forsberg and the Huskies open their playoff run against Mount Royal tonight, while Sawchenko and the Bears face the Calgary Dinos in their semifinal series also starting tonight.
