(+2) 1st – Portage Terriers
This Week: 3-0
Overall: 37-10-1-1
Impressive Player: Defenseman Brandon McCartney – 3GP/0G/7A/7PTS
Just dominating teams and bending them to their will. Back-to-back shutouts, one by each goalie. Scoring 15 goals in three games. Everyone in the Dog Pound has to be feeling very good.
Up Next: Feb 24th vs Neepawa, Feb 25th @ Neepawa, Mar 1st vs WPG Blues
(+2) 2nd – OCN Blizzard
This Week: 3-0
Overall: 28-17-2-3
Impressive Player: Goalies Ethan Farrow 1-0 with 1 shutout/Chase Hamm 2-0, 41 saves on 47 shots
Back atop the MGEU West after a very strong week. Need to keep it going as they’ve played the most games of the contenders. 6 game homestand with a week off in between coming up could really help.
Up Next: Feb 22nd @ Swan Valley, Feb 24th vs Winkler, Feb 25th vs WPG Freeze, Feb 28th vs Waywayseecappo
(+2) 3rd – Steinbach Pistons
This Week: 2-1
Overall: 35-13
Impressive Player: Forward Travis Hensrud – 3GP/2G/4A/6PTS
Two very solid wins at home have given the Pistons a bit of distance for 2nd spot in the MGEU East. Still hoping to catch the top spot but regardless, coming together and winning as a team will help come playoffs.
Up Next: Feb 23rd @ Waywayseecappo, Feb 25th vs Waywayseecappo
(+5) 4th – Swan Valley Stampeders
This Week: 3-0
Overall: 26-15-5-1
Impressive Player – Forward Trey Sauder – 3GP/2G/4A/6PTS
A very impressive streak as Swan right near the top of the MGEU West Division with games in hand. Surging at the right time with room to still grow and improve. Scary team down the stretch and into the post-season.
Up Next: Feb 22nd vs OCN, Feb 24th vs WPG Freeze, Feb 25th vs Winkler, Mar 1st vs Dauphin
(-4) 5th – Selkirk Steelers
This Week: 1-1-0-1
Overall: 20-24-3-2
Impressive Player: Forward Aidan Anderson – 3GP/1G/4A/5PTS
A harsh dose of reality handed out by one of the top teams in the country shouldn’t deter the Steelers from what they’ve been able to accomplish. Biggest game of the year to date coming up Saturday in Niverville in the battle for the 4th and final playoff spot in the MGEU East.
Up Next: Feb 25th @ Niverville, Mar 1st @ Winkler
(-4) 6th – Virden Oil Capitals
This Week: 1-2
Overall: 28-20-1
Impressive Player: Forward Joey Bielik – 3GP/2G/1A/3PTS
Things are starting to level out a bit for the club as they are playing at a .500 clip over their last four games. If they score more than one goal in a game, they tend to win. The yo-yoing of in the playoffs and then out may come to an end one way or another with massive games against the Kings.
Up Next: Feb 24th @ Dauphin, Feb 25th vs Dauphin
(-) 7th – Dauphin Kings
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 27-18-2-1
Impressive Player: Forward Deepkaran Hans – 2GP/1G/3A/4PTS
Feels like the Kings are primed to go on a run but just can’t get over that hump of stringing back-to-back wins together. Have not won 2 in a row since late January. Looking to grab a strangle hold on a playoff spot in a critical home-and-home set vs Virden.
Up Next: Feb 24th vs Virden, Feb 25th @ Virden, Mar 1st @ Swan Valley
(-) 8th – Waywayseecappo Wolverines
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 27-16-3-2
Impressive Player: Defenseman Leyton Smith – 2GP/1G/2A/3PTS
Another stretch where it hasn’t been consistently good but it hasn’t been consistently bad, either. Knocking games off the calendar with a chance to pounce on the top spot. Nice bounce back after surrendering 11 goals in two games, giving up just one in their last contest.
Up Next: Feb 23rd vs Steinbach, Feb 25th @ Steinbach, Feb 28th @ OCN
(+1) 9th – Neepawa Titans
This Week: 2-1
Overall: 20-21-8-1
Impressive Player: Forward Cameron Trimble – 3GP/3G/2A/5PTS
Fading but not going away, the Titans have zero room for error the rest of the way. At very least, they need a point every game and even then, they’ll need a bit of luck. The league leading 8 overtime losses are coming back to haunt the club.
Up Next: Feb 24th @ Portage, Feb 25th vs Portage, Mar 1st @ Niverville
(-4) 10th – Winkler Flyers
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 28-13-5-1
Impressive Player: Defenseman Trent Sambrook – 2GP/0G/0A/0PTS
Not too often does a team of Winkler’s caliber get shutout, let alone twice in a row. Going up against strong goaltending happens and while the team may feel they deserved better, it’s how they respond that will tell if they’re playoff ready.
Up Next: Feb 22nd vs WPG Freeze, Feb 24th @ OCN, Feb 25th @ Swan Valley, Mar 1st vs Selkirk
(+1) 11th – Winnipeg Blues
This Week: 1-2
Overall: 16-27-6-1
Impressive Player: Forward Michael Tanchak – 3GP/3G/1A/4PTS
Running out of runway for a playoff spot but with all the talent on the roster, can still be a factor down the stretch. Have just one home game left in the regular season.
Up Next: Feb 26th @ Niverville, March 1st @ Portage
(+1) 12th – Winnipeg Freeze
This Week: 0-2-1
Overall: 3-43-3
Impressive Player: Forward Nick Carlson – 2GP/1G/0A/1PT
Picking up a point against their city rival, the Freeze are now just a single point from hitting double digit points on the year. Lengthy road trip to close out the month is followed by a long home stand.
Up Next: Feb 22nd @ Winkler, Feb 24th @ Swan Valley, Feb 25th @ OCN
(-2) 13th – Niverville Nighthawks
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 21-23-1-3
Impressive Player: Forward Gavin Gunderson – 3GP/2G/1A/3PTS
Learning tough lessons or succumbing to pressure? Ready to bounce back or running out of gas? Only the Nighthawks know the answers. A once comfortable position in the playoffs is now anything but certain with a monumental game looming on Saturday night at the CRRC vs Selkirk.
Up Next: Feb 25th vs Selkirk, Feb 26th vs WPG Blues, Mar 1st vs Neepawa
