It was just like old times Saturday night at Everett’s Comcast Arena. There was Luke Siemens, making 22 saves to earn the win in goal.

Only this time Siemens was doing it for the opposition.

The former Everett Silvertips netminder made his return Saturday as a member of the Moose Jaw Warriors. It was another solid performance in what’s been a solid season for Siemens, who has settled well into his new home.

“It’s always nice playing against a team that you played for before,” Siemens said following the game. “I have lots of friends on the team, but at the same time you want to win. To be able to win this game was a lot of fun.

“There were guys chirping at me, me chirping back at them. But it’s all in good fun, and after the game we can all talk about it and have fun.”

The 19-year-old Siemens spent last season with the Tips backing up Kent Simpson. He performed admirably in 23 games, going 7-13-2-0 with a 3.03 goals against average and .917 save percentage, then he backstopped the Tips in the playoffs because Simpson was injured.

Everett did not want to go with two 19-year-old goaltenders this season, so the Tips traded Siemens to Moose Jaw at the start of the season in exchange for the rights to 18-year-old winger Matt Grant and two third-round bantam picks.

Siemens, a starter for the first time in his WHL career, has been everything the Warriors could have hoped. In 31 games he’s 20-7-3-1 with a 2.47 goals against average and .912 save percentage. He is among the league leaders in all statistical categories.

“Things are going well,” Siemens said. “The team’s in first in the division, so you can’t complain about that. Personally, I’ve gotten off to a good start and the team has been helping me out a lot with some offense, so things are going well.”

The key for Siemens was getting the chance to be the go-to-guy, and so far he’s held up well under the burden.

“It’s nice playing lots of minutes,” Siemens said. “It’s something I wanted for a while, and to be able to play the minutes I’m getting is a great opportunity for me. I’m trying to make the most of it.”

So far, so good for Siemens.

Around the WHL

Several teams got an early start on the trade deadline, which arrives on Jan. 10. … Spokane dispatched its leading scorer, sending 19-year-old forward Anthony Bardaro to Prince Albert along with 18-year-old goaltender Luke Lee-Knight and a fifth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. In return the Chiefs received 18-year-old goaltender Eric Williams and 18-year-old forward Todd Fiddler. … Red Deer made a pair of deals. First, the Rebels acquired banished 19-year-old forward Charles Inglis from Prince George in exchange for 18-year-old forward Daulton Siwak and a third-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. Inglis had been sent home by the Cougars for violating team rules. Then Red Deer sent 18-year-old forward Locke Muller and 18-year-old defenseman Matthew Pufahl to Saskatoon for 17-year-old defenseman Devan Fafard and a seventh-round bantam pick in 2012. … Kamloops acquired overage forward Brandon Herrod from Prince Albert in exchange for 17-year-old forward Logan McVeigh and a second-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft.

League leaders

Points — Ty Rattie (Portland) 68; goals — Rattie 37; assists — Sven Bartschi (Portland) 42; penalty minutes — Tyler Yaworski (Prince Albert) 117; wins — Adam Morrison (Vancouver), Mac Carruth (Portland) 23; goals against average — Ty Rimmer (Tr-City) 2.03; save percentage — Rimmer .932.

Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.