MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- Moose Jaw Warriors prospects Cooper Perrin and Nash Coquet are undoubtedly very familiar with each other’s game.
The duo suited up for the Saskatoon Outlaws in the Sask AA U15 Hockey League last season and played well enough that the Warriors picked both in the Western Hockey League Prospects Draft this past spring.
Fast forward to Thursday afternoon and the second scrimmage of rookie camp on Thursday afternoon at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, and the two former teammates found themselves going head-to-head, with Perrin’s Team Red taking a 3-2 shootout victory over Coquet’s Team Black.
And while both 15-year-olds will be returning to their respective AAA teams at the end of camp, having the chance to experience the WHL for the first time has been nothing but a positive experience.
“It’s been good getting my legs going, getting a feel for the energy and I’m looking forward to the next game,” said Perrin, who was the Warriors’ second selection in the 2024 Draft, 99th overall in the fifth round. “It’s so awesome to be here, it’s a great city, and when you’re on this team everyone knows who you are. It’s really cool.”
Coquet -- the Warriors' final pick in 2024, 239th overall -- was of much the same opinion, adding that playing alongside some of the best players in his age group in western Canada has added to the fun.
“It’s good, the pace is fast,” he said. “Playing with so much good talent is awesome, and meeting new guys from all over the place is awesome, too. It’s been a lot of fun.”
A 5-foot-11, 175-pound defenceman, Perrin put up 10 goals and 29 points in 24 games with the Outlaws last season, while Coquet, a 5-foot-9, 153-pound centre, racked up 21 goals and 51 points over 27 games.
Both have turned heads early in camp and are enjoying the opportunity to showcase their abilities to the Warriors brass.
“I just want to get to know the guys and get used to the organization,” Perrin said. “It’s been good, the older guys have been really nice, it’s great being around them. Some of them have been around the NHL, too, so it’s cool to be around them and learn from them.”
Both players have had a chance to interact with the Warriors’ returning veterans through the first couple days of camp, and look forward to having a chance to learn even more should they crack main camp.
“They’re great role models and you want to follow guys lke that,” Coquet said. “Looking up to them, they’re where you want to be in the future… and to have a chance to be on the ice with them in main camp would be a dream, it would be really awesome.”
As 2009-born players, both are a year away from being able to play full-time in the WHL and will be returned to their respective Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League teams at the end of camp -- Perrin with the Saskatoon Blazers, Coquet with the Saskatoon Contacts.
From there, the plan will be to develop their games as much as possible and ideally take a good run at cracking the team as 16-year-olds during the 2025-26 campaign.
Warriors training camp continues throughout the weekend, and here’s a look at the rest of the schedule.
Friday, Aug. 30
9 a.m. -- Rookie Camp scrimmage 2 vs. 1
10:45 a.m. -- Goalie session
12 p.m. -- Rookie Camp scrimmage 2 vs. 3
2:30 p.m. -- Rookie Camp scrimmage 3 vs. 1
6:30 p.m. -- Main Camp scrimmage
Saturday, Aug. 31
9 a.m. -- Main camp scrimmage
12:30 p.m. -- Main Camp scrimmage
4 p.m. -- Main Camp scrimmage
Sunday, Sept 1
12 p.m. -- Black / White Intrasquad Game
