Firkus’ hat trick puts Warriors into Eastern Conference final

It was a Firkus Circus in Moose Jaw on Friday, as the forward’s hat trick put the Warriors into the WHL’s Eastern Conference final.

Jagger Firkus scored three goals – two in the first period and one in the second – as Moose Jaw defeated the Swift Current Broncos 4-2 in Game 5 of their best-of-seven playoff series. The Warriors won the series 4-1.

“To score goals, it’s fun, especially with a crowd like tonight,” Firkus said. “It means a lot to us and definitely gives us an extra jump. We are looking forward to the next series and see what (the crowd) can do.”

He also had an extra special guest in the crowd as it was his niece’s first time getting to see him play in Moose Jaw.

“It’s a little bit of extra motivation coming into the game,” Firkus said.

Moose Jaw won four straight after dropping Game 1 at home.

“If you would have told me that (we would win four in a row) before the series started, I would have thought you were crazy. That’s a real good team over there,” said Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary.

“I just really like this group — there is something special about them. I think the biggest thing is when something negative happens or we are put in a certain circumstance, I think it makes us better.

“The way we are able to punch back in those tough times, I think that’s a big part of it.”

Josh Filmon opened the scoring, with the Broncos forward firing the puck past Moose Jaw goaltender Jackson Unger.

But the Warriors answered right back, with Firkus scoring just 38 seconds after Filmon’s goal to tie things up.

After Broncos defenceman Tyson Galloway received a penalty for delay of game after he cleared the puck over the glass, Moose Jaw made the Broncos pay for it. Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk found Firkus at the side of the net, and he made no mistake on the power play.

In the second period and on a five-on-three power play, Mateychuk again found Firkus for the goal with the man advantage.

With time ticking away, Broncos forward Conor Geekie scored a power-play goal with 6:33 left in the third frame to get his team within one.

But Matthew Savoie put the game away, with his shot from the Warriors’ end of the ice finding its way all the way into the empty net.

“I’m really proud of the group, just our resiliency all year to be where we were and to win the Central and sweep the first round. Moose Jaw is a really good team and it just felt that I thought we out-chanced them at times. They were able to find that one goal that pushed them over the edge,” said Broncos head coach Taras McEwen.

The win sets up Moose Jaw for a series with the Saskatoon Blades, who finished with a league-high 105 points on the season. Saskatoon swept the Red Deer Rebels in the other semifinal.

“We’ve worked all season to get to this position. You know the further you go here, the harder it gets,” O’Leary said. “They are a heck of a hockey team and play with a lot of structure and discipline.

“They certainly have some skilled guys that can make plays. We’re looking forward to the challenge but anytime we play Saskatoon, it’s just good hockey.”

The series is to get underway Friday in Saskatoon.