It was a different year for Aiden Ziprick and the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Last year, Ziprick helped the Warriors win 44 of their 68 games and finish in third place in the Eastern Conference. They swept the Brandon Wheat Kings in round one, dispatched the Swift Current Broncos in five games, and downed the Saskatoon Blades in a thrilling seven-game series in the Eastern Conference final.
In the final, Ziprick faced off against his close friend, Ryder Thompson, and the Warriors were unstoppable. They scored 16 goals in just four games, sweeping the Winterhawks to clinch the Western Hockey League (WHL) title. At the Memorial Cup, Aiden led Moose Jaw to the playoffs with a clutch performance.
With less than two minutes remaining in their final round-robin game against the Drummondville Voltigeurs, Ziprick scored the game-winning goal, propelling his team to the semi-finals. Though they fell short against the host Saginaw Spirit—who went on to beat the London Knights to claim the national title—Aiden’s unforgettable moment marked the pinnacle of an incredible run.
Back with Moose Jaw this year, it was a much different roster. The Warriors won 15 games and finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. This isn't something out of the normal. After going on a championship run and winning it all, a team often graduates their top talent and goes through struggles the following season. That happened in Moose Jaw, but Aiden showed up at the rink every day and gave it his all.
"We lost a lot of our key players. I would say guys got a better opportunity this year with more ice time," said Ziprick. "Guys stepped up and took on a bigger role this year. It was tough not winning a lot of games, but we went into every game trying to win, help the coaches, and get the community going as best we could."
Ziprick served as an assistant captain, a testament to his hard work and dedication.
"Yeah, that was a huge honour to have that patch on my jersey," offered Ziprick. "It was a special feeling to be a leader and role model for the young kids and the community. It was a huge thing for me."
While the team struggled to put together winning streaks, Ziprick had a breakout season. Fresh off his game-winning goal at the national tournament, Ziprick scored 12 goals this season, collecting 48 points, an increase of 41 from last season. Ziprick finished second in team scoring and among the rear guard scorers on the team; he had 25 more points than Connor Schmidt. The star from Russell also did a masterful job of staying on the ice as he played all 68 games and had just 16 penalty minutes.
It was a career year for Ziprick and a sign of things to come.
"I was very happy with how things went. Coming off the year we had and watching some top-end guys, I learned a lot from their games and how a professional player takes care of their body," said Ziprick. "Coming in with the confidence wanting to be a player like that and be a top two-pairing defencemen in the league was my goal all summer. I was happy with how the year went for me."
Aiden also landed on the National Hockey League's (NHL) draft prospect rankings. He was 221st among North American skaters.
"It was a pretty cool feeling to see that list," continued Ziprick. "To see my name on a list full of players who will be NHL stars is a special feeling."
While Aiden's season is over, he is still keeping his eyes on the WHL playoffs as the Portland Winterhawks prepare to play the Everett Silvertips in the second round. Portland's roster features another Russell star as Ryder Thompson will look to help the Winterhawks advance to round three.
Aiden and Ryder grew up together and are great friends, and Ziprick hopes the Hawks can go on a run.
"I'm definitely rooting for him from the bottom of my heart," commented Ziprick. "I've been close with him for as long as I can remember. I'm watching every game of his and hope they can pull off something special."
Ziprick will move to Winnipeg for the summer and train at the Rink Training Centre and skate with other top-end players at the Highlander Arena. His sole goal is getting dialled in for the 2025-26 season when he'll return to Moose Jaw looking to help them get back to the dance.
"I'm looking forward to it; we're only losing one guy for next year," continued Ziprick. "A lot of guys are going to get an opportunity to step up, and we have to turn the boat around from where we left off this year. I think we'll have a good chance of making some noise."
For many, the WHL is as far as they get. Not for Ziprick, however. The star from Russell has committed to Bemidji State University for the 2026-27 season. The Beavers are an NCAA Division 1 team that plays out of the Sanford Centre and have been around since the 1947-48 season. They became a Division 1 program in the 1999-2000 season. They play in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
Committing to an NCAA Division 1 program has always been Aiden's dream. He decided to put that dream on the back burner when he signed in the WHL, but when the rule changed, allowing players to go from the CHL to NCAA Division 1, his dream was back on the front burner.
Now, it's a reality as Ziprick is heading to Bemidji, Minnesota.
"It's a surreal feeling; not many players get this opportunity," ended Ziprick. "I'm so pumped about it; can't wait to head down there after my final year in Moose Jaw."
Aiden’s story is one of determination and dreams. Growing up in a small town, he fell in love with hockey at a young age and dedicated countless hours to chasing that dream. Now, he’s living proof that hard work and passion can turn dreams into reality.
