Virden Oil Capitals have once again sent social media into a spinning frenzy with their Christmas video ─ this year being the second annual. To see the video click here. “Last year’s video had about 93,000 hits,” says Lindsey Gullet, Oil Caps’ marketing manager. “Interestingly, because of this year’s new video, its generated more hits to last year’s…..right now it’s at 96,000 hits.” This year’s video, which was released just recently, sits at 8,500 hits and growing. A number of media outlets have aired a portion of the video, while some Manitoba media types have made mention of the video via Twitter. “The success of last year’s video made it easier to do this year’s,” said Gullett. “Some of the guys were a bit hesitant to take part last year; they really had idea how it would turn out. After they saw it, they were all really pumped to do another one this year. “It’s really cool for our team and good exposure for the MJHL, too.” This year’s Christmas video also features a special cameo appearance by Oil Cap alumni Curtis Houlden, who was the leading man in last year’s effort. “We thought it would be cool to have Curtis involved again,” Gullett said of Houlden, who attends university in Winnipeg. “By having Curtis involved, it resulted in people going back and looking at last year’s video.” Gullett, an MJHL alumnus (Neepawa Natives), once again oversaw the entire production, putting to use his Communication Degree from Castleton State College in Vermont. “There’s really a lot of planning and coordination in making it a success,” says Gullett, who specialized in digital media in college. “We’re very happy with the final outcome.”

Selkirk Steelers’ goaltender Teagan Sacher has been named the Recycle Everywhere-MJHL Player of the Week. Sacher, 20, backstopped the Steelers’ to a pair of wins over the weekend, highlited with one shutout victory. The Winnipegger posted a sparkling GAA of 1.50 and .946 save percentage. The runners up are 20 year old defenseman Tanner Jago of the Portage Terriers and 17 year old Portage Terrier forward Tyler Jeanson, who recently announced he had committed to Colgate University.

MJHL Power Rankings for December 15th   (35-2-1) (Last Week: 1st) – Winners of five straight the Portage Terries outscored their opponents 22-6 in three games last week and they remain first on the CJHL Top 20. Schedule this week: @ Winnipeg on Friday & vs. Winnipeg on Saturday   (21-7-6) (Last Week: 3rd) – Two wins in three tries for the Winnipeg Blues. They finished their week off with a loss to Virden, but still have a solid 4-2-0 record in December.  Schedule this week: @ Steinbach on Wednesday, vs. Portage on Friday & @ Portage on Saturday   (20-9-4) (Last Week: 4th) – Like the Winnipeg Blues, the Steinbach Pistons also won two of three last week. That included a statement 7-1 victory against Winkler on Sunday. With lots of games in hand, the Pistons now have the Flyers in their sights when it comes to third in the MJHL Standings.  Schedule this week: vs. Winnipeg on Wednesday & vs. Winkler on Saturday   (21-10-5) (Last Week: 2nd) – A mixed weekend for the Flyers, a win in a shootout over the Kings, but a big loss to Steinbach on Sunday. With the two losses in three games last week the Flyers have also slipped out of the CJHL Top 20. Schedule this week: vs. Neepawa on Friday & @ Steinbach on Saturday   (17-13-4) (Last Week: 5th) – A tough start to the week for Virden with a loss to Dauphin but they bounced back with wins over Winnipeg and Neepawa at home.   Schedule this week: vs. OCN on Tuesday, @ Selkirk on Friday & vs. Selkirk on Saturday   (15-14-1) (Last Week: 6th) – The Selkirk Steelers are tied with the Portage Terriers when it comes to the longest active winning streak in the MJHL. They’ve also won five in a row. With games in hand on everyone in the league, the Steelers have lots of room to continue to climb the standings ladder.  Schedule this week: @ Swan Valley on Wednesday, vs. Virden on Friday & @ Virden on Saturday   (14-14-4) (Last Week: 7th) – Right in the middle of the MJHL Standings are the Swan Valley Stampeders. They split a pair of shootouts between themselves and Wayway last week. Schedule this week: vs. Selkirk on Wednesday & @ Neepawa on Saturday   (13-18-5) (Last Week: 8th) – After two straight wins the Kings have now lost three in a row after a weekend excursion to the southern part of the province. They’ll look for some good home cooking this week.  Schedule this week: vs. Neepawa on Tuesday & vs. OCN on Saturday   (11-20-2) (Last Week: 9th) – Seven points back of Dauphin for eighth in the MJHL Standings are the OCN Blizzard. After two contests on an eight game road swing the Blizzard are 0-2 and have lost three straight overall.  Schedule this week: @ Virden on Tuesday, @ Wayway on Friday & @ Dauphin on Saturday   (10-21-3) (Last Week: 11th) – Three of a possible four points against the Swan Valley Stampeders last week has the Wolverines holding down the MJHL’s final playoff spot.  Schedule this week: vs. OCN on Friday   (10-23-1) (Last Week: 10th) – With four straight losses Neepawa enters a busy week in their schedule with two contests on the road and one at home. The Natives have only won one game this month. Schedule this week: @ Dauphin on Tuesday, @ Winkler on Friday & vs. Swan Valley on Saturday

Travis Hamonic, one-time Winnipeg Saint, is one of several MJHL grads now playing the NHL.   By his own admission, growing up was difficult for him after the untimely passing of his father. Travis has now dedicated himself to making a difference in young people’s live. The Winnipeg Free Press recently published an excellent story on Travis. Click here if you’re interested in reading it.

Describing his experience as “fantastic”, Jackson Keane is living the hockey dream, suiting up for Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge underway at Kindersley, SK. “It’s always special when you pull on the Canada maple leaf jersey,” said the Winnipeg Blues’ sophomore. “There’s a lot of highly skilled players here. All the teams are really deep (in talent) in their lineup." “The games are fast and highly competitive. It’s fun to be part of this.” Keane and teammates played a long-time arch rival of Canada on Tuesday ─ Team Russia. It was a game which the Maple Leaf crew learned a valuable language lesson. “They (Russians) were big and very skilled,” Keane said of 3-2 Canada West victory. “We tried to get under their skin verbally, but we got away from that when we kind of figured out they didn’t understand what we were saying. “We stuck to our game plan of being physical against them … taking away their time and space. It was a fun game.” Despite being pointless after two games, Keane, 17, is fully aware of the role expected of him. He’s playing on a line with former Winnipeg Blue Kurt Keats (Powell River, BCJHL) and Sheldon Rempal (Nanaimo, BCJHL). “We’ve had our chances,” Keane said with a laugh. “Hit a couple of posts, forced the play… we’re not an overly big line, but we know our job is to provide energy.” While Keane and Keats were never teammates with the Blues, they are familiar with each other, having attended St. Paul’s High School in Winnipeg. Despite having no points, Keane doesn’t need a GPS to find the net. This season with the Blues he’s produced 35 points (12-23) in 28 games. A nifty centreman, Keane has always found a way to score and contribute offensively. Meanwhile off the ice, Canada West is doing the usual team-building exercises. “We went to a school in Kindersley the other day,” said Keane. “We met a lot of the students, it was a lot of fun. We also went bowling, it was all in fun. It got pretty competitive in a fun way.” This is Keane’s second go-around with Hockey Canada, having played in the U-17 last year. “It’s always special to pull on the maple leaf,” says Keane, who inherited his hockey skills honestly, being the son of former NHLer Mike Keane.

Admit it. You’ve always wanted to know what the players say out on the ice.  Well, now you’ve have a chance to listen in. Recently, a mic was placed on Kings’ forward Cody Nelson in a game against Neepawa Native; the idea was the brainchild of Christian Laughland, Sports Director with Dauphin’s CKDM. Click hear to see/listen to Cody’s shifts.

The Swan Valley Stampeders have locked up their coaching staff for the foreseeable future as head coach and general manager Erik Petersen and assistant, goaltending consultant and director of marketing Landon Kroeker have signed new deals with the club. It’s something new for the Stampeders to resign a coach during the season, as they have previously resigned their coaches during the off season. “I had a two-year option, but the club renegotiated a new two-year deal with an option for a third year,” said Petersen. “So for the rest of this season and the next two I’m under contract, with an option for another year.” Petersen said staying in the Valley was the right move for him as he has a young, talented team he wants to keep developing. “My contract’s option came up on Dec. 15 so something had to happen here in December,” he said. “I really enjoy the team – it’s a younger team, but I feel it’s a pretty strong team, and I enjoy working with the guys." “I also enjoy working with Landon, he’s doing an excellent job with the sponsorship as well, and the guys really seem to respond – it’s a really fun group, and all I want if for them to be good ambassadors for the town, and work hard every game,” he added. Petersen has a record of 42-44-7 in his one and half years with the club. Kroeker, who just joined the Stampeders this season, also signed a two-year deal with an option for a third. He said he’s excited about the potential of this team. “I was excited, and this is something I wanted,” said Kroeker. “Erik and I both see the core of this team coming back for two years, and we’d like to work more with them.” As well as working with the players, Kroeker has a prominent role with the team online and in the community soliciting sponsorship, and said he’s looking forward to continuing with that aspect of the job.  “I find this town is very receptive to (sponsorship),” he said. “It’s a community-minded team, the support is really good, and everyone has been welcoming.” Locking up both coaches was an easy decision for the Stampeders organization to make. “Landon, on and off the ice, has been exceptional,” said Stampeders Governor Warren Clark. “They both have done exceptional work." “We’re the youngest team in the league right now, but we’re competitive every night, and they’re buying into what both coaches are saying,” he added. “They both understand the small market on and off the ice, and we really like what they’re doing and want them here to finish what they started.”