Brayden Yager and Kyle Chyzowski are named leaders of their respective clubs for the upcoming season.
Brayden Yager guiding the Warriors
Returning from the Winnipeg Jets' pre-season, Yager is awarded the 2024-25 Moose Jaw captaincy. The Warriors forward spent the last two seasons as assistant captain, and accumulated 173 points over 124 regular season games. As a playoff performer he was even better, putting up 27 points in 20 playoff games en route to the 2024 WHL championship.
Alongside Yager will be former Edmonton Oil Kings forward Rilen Kovacevic, and a pair of longtime Victoria Royals in Kalem Parker and Brayden Schuurman.
“All the things that we talk about, what the Moose Jaw Warriors are all about, that’s Brayden Yager,” head coach Mark O’Leary said. “Doing the right thing, always, off the ice and it’s that ownership, doing things with purpose, the effort, the compete and when you think about that races-and-battles mindset, that’s Brayden Yager.”
O'Leary mentioned that naming Yager captain was "an easy decision".
Career Winterhawk selected to lead in final season
Similar to Yager, after two seasons as an assistant, Kyle Chyzowski is named captain after just over three seasons in Portland. A product of Surrey, British Columbia, Chyzowski's numbers have only increased throughout his career; sporting a career best 50 points in 65 games in 2023-24. He is newly minted as the 49th captain in franchise history, replacing Gabe Klassen.
Rounding out the group is Carter Sotheran, Tyson Jugnauth, Josh Zakreski, Ryan Miller, and fellow lifetime Winterhawk Ryder Thompson. This is a veteran-laden lineup, with the exception of 2007-born Miller.
“Kyle has proven over the last several years to be a great leader both on and off the ice,” said President and General Manager, Mike Johnston. “He will be supported this year by a solid group of veterans. This group has all the ingredients you would want in a leadership team.”
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