Old Guy Rants At Warriors’ Lefty Loss

By Richard Dowson Opinion/Commentary

I enjoyed the Warrior game Saturday, October 3, 2026 against the Red Deer Rebels.

Junior Hockey Premise

Most WHL Junior Hockey teams follow an age-old standard practice.

1 If the player shoots right, he plays right wing

2 If the player shoots left, he plays left wing

Don’t believe me? Check the Warrior or the Pats roosters. Same and same.

Big Names in Pro-hockey Are Different

The best hockey player to play the game, Alec Ovechkin of the Caps, shoots right and plays on the left wing.

Consider Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers. Leon shoots left and plays on the right wing.

There are other examples.

Why are these ‘rule-breakers’ different? The hockey bureaucrats received these guys the way they were. A coach tried to change Ovechkin – put him on right wing and production dropped. The left circle is ‘OV’s’ office. The Right circle is Leon’s office.

Moose Jaw Learned a Lesson from Red Deer – if they were paying attention.

Saturday night Moose Jaw fans were given a Junior Hockey show by a Red Deer player who shoots right and played the left wing most of the game and got 2 points.

That player with the right shot played left wing for faceoffs in the opponent’s end. The Warriors end.

That Red Deer Rebel’s player is #23, Paxson Madill, a 16-year-old forward from Hermantown Minnesota, a suburb of Duluth.

Madill was outstanding. He took advantage of his right shot on the left wing.

I know – I don’t play or coach hockey. I’m just a dumb old fan –so what do I know?

I can observe! With every faceoff in the Warrior end – when Madill was on the ice, he played Left-Wing.

Kevin Bieksa – Hockey Night in Canada - photo credit Wikipedia

Fluke? I don’t think so. And neither does Kevin Bieksa of Hockey Night in Canada.

Home Early to Watch Ron McLean and Hockey Night in Canada Panel

Kevin Bieksa is on the Hockey Night panel with Ron MacLean.

I don’t always agree with Kevin Bieksa, the former defencemanwith the Canucks, but his comments on the night of October 3, 2026 knocked me over.

He said (para-phrasing), “You always try and get a right hand shot on the left wing during a faceoff in the opponent’s end.”

Exactly what the Red Deer coach did with Madill!

Kevin went on to explain that it was difficult to find a right-hand shot to play the position.

Summary

Casey Brown, Mathieu Lajoie or Gage Nagel all shoot right. The Warriors could use one of them on Left Wing for faceoffs in the opposition end.

Or, and this would be my choice, use Col Carter. He shoots right; plays defence so knows the routine; is an incredible skater; has an eye for the puck and he is a great playmaker. The Warriors have enough defencemen who shoot right to cover the right wing.

Give it a try Coach! Recommended by Kevin Bieksa and me.

It works for Paxson Madill of the Red Deer Rebels.

Shooting right on the left-wing has worked out pretty good for Alec Ovechkin of the Capitals.

Writer Richard Dowson is a retired educator.

He is known for his frequenting local coffee shops and other places seniors gather.

In a previous life he wrote comedy for CHED in Edmonton.

His views may or may not reflect the views of this publication.