League Preview

Game on! Yes, the MJHL regular season kicks off Friday. After weeks of training camp/practices and pre-season games, it’s now down to real business for the players, hockey staffs and of course the fans.

Below is snap-shot look at how the teams shape up this coming season. See you at the rink!

 

Notable Player Additions: Tristen Cross (D, Virden MB), Jeran Knorr (F, Kelowna BC), Kolten Kanaski (F, Beausejour MB), Jesse Korytko (F, Strasbourg SK) Drayson Skulmoski (F, Moosomin SK)

Key Player Losses: Zach Whitecloud (Bemidji, NCAA) Devan Schram, Drake Bodie, Sean Kuehn, Kyle Bird.

Coach’s Comments: “Lots of returning players up front. Lots of new faces on the backend.”

 

Notable Player Additions: Liam Kroeker (Blues), Ryan Pruden (Blues), Adam Withers (Kenora Midget AAA), Riley Giauque` (Fargo High School)

Key Player Losses: Ty Kraus, Riley Derlago

Coach’s Comments: “We have a good foundation to build from with a lot of motivated returning players. We have added some quality players through an off-season trade and some new recruits. I am excited to begin the season with this group of players.”

 

Notable Player Addition: Hank Bouchard, from Thunder Bay;  Korwin Shewchuck, Buchanna, SK. and  and Aaron Beauchamp, Flin Flon.

Key Player Losses: Alex Keena, Johl Swedlo, Aaron Dupasquier, Brock Paddock and Greg Harney

Coach’s Comments: “Looking forward to a very competitive year. With solid goaltending, a veteran defence core and balanced forward lines. a good mix of young and old
we are looking forward to a good start. Hank and Korwin will bring us experience and speed up front, while Aaron will add stability to our defence.”

 

Notable Player Additions: Gino Lucia (St. Cloud Apollo H.S), Will Blake (Breck H.S), Jacob Lacasse (Burnaby Winter Club), Matt Christian (Lone Star Calvary)

Key Player Losses: Tristan Keck (Omaha- Nebraska Div. 1) Cam Whyte, Kayden Jarvis, Zak Hicks (Red Deer College), Nate Warren (Portage College)

Coach’s Comments: “With loss of Keck and Whyte, goal scoring will be more spread out, will lean of defence to lead this year.”

 

Notable Additions: Tavis Roch (1997/D): Tavis played in 100 Mile House last season and was part of the defence core which won the league championship. Brayden Dale (1997/RW, Kelowna Thunder): Solid player. Kyle Wiltshire (1999/F/Winnipeg Thrasher. Obtained in a trade with Portage Terriers. Justin Nachbaur (2000/F/AAA Norman Northstars). Branden Storey (1998/D/Parkland Rangers). Obtained in a trade with Dauphin Kings.

Key Losses: Logan Harland: leading scorer.

Coach’s Comments: “We feel our strength lies in our goaltender and experienced blueline unit. Emilien Boily and Brett Epp return as the goaltending tandem that backs up the D-Unit, which is led by Brady Keeper and Maverick Rafter. All six defencemen return to the Blizzard from last year’s team, including Taran Lacquette, Adam Heinemann, Hayden Yaremko and Taylor Derynk. Add Tavis Roch and recently acquired Branden Storey to the mix and we feel that we have depth, mobility, size as well as an offensive element that will allow us to compete every night.
“With the loss of Logan Harland (leading scorer), veteran forward Shane Roulette, Jeremy Dumont, Lantz Hiebert, Daylong Campbell and Anthony Keeper will have to contribute on a consistent basis. We will definitely have to score by committee this year. Our strength will be the level of energy, urgency and emotion we bring to every game. COMPETE will have to be a constant factor if we hope to have success as a unit.”

 

Notable Player Additions: Tanner Douglas – An 18 year old goaltender coming off a championship season with Notre Dame (AAA Midget) in Saskatchewan;  Matt Bartel – A big mobile forward with good hands from the hockey hot bed of Brandon, Florida; Brendan Arnold – Former Winnipeg Wild power forward who works very hard down low and has solid finishing abilities;  Darren Gisti – A strong offensively gifted defenseman with a very good shot.

Key Player Losses:  Tyler Garrioch, Chance Thomas, Romano Morrison & Jarrod Schamerhorn.

Coach’s Comments: “We’ll be a younger team with lots of energy this season. We’re really hoping our fans can get behind this group and watch them grow into something special.”

 

Notable Player Additions: Mark Taraschuk-Swift Current Broncos WHL, Landon Plett-Dauphin Kings, Will Koop-Nanaimo Clippers,  Troy Williams-Dryden Ice Dogs, Sean O’Leary-New Hampshire Monarchs, Declan Graham-Toronto Nationals AAA

Key Player Losses: Dan Taillefer, Tyler Penner, Cole Smith, Denis Bosc, Hayden Goderis

Coach’s Comments: “We are excited about the upcoming season with many new faces in our lineup. I anticipate a lot of parity in the league this year and fans of the MJHL should enjoy a great hockey season.”

 

Notable player additions: Dexter Kuczek and Dale Goodbrandson (Both seasoned MJHL players  with tremendous upside acquired from Selkirk Steelers this summer.) Dallas Tulik ’98 center from Michigan,  Levi Cudmore ’97 Center from Grand Forks, Ethan Czaplewski from USA Hockey, Takota Cox from St. Boniface Riels MMJHL,  

Key Returning Players: Captain Geordie Keane and 20 yr old D-Man Mike Forseth. Matt Leblanc,  Joel MacGillivray, Brendan Bartlett,  James McIsaac,  Jacob Gnidzeijko, Brock Shwaluk.

Key Losses: Reid Stefanson to Minot of the NAHL,  Taeron Lewis (U of Norwich – NCAA), Gino Esteves to Pennsylvania of NAHL,  Stephen Kleysen to BCHL,  Kam Nault to U of Manitoba Bisons (CIS), Garrett Browning to U.of Jamestown (NCAA),Tyler Edwards (U of Nipissing – CIS), Riley Hillis, Mitch Hansen, Scott Parsons (MJHL graduation).

Coaches Comments: “We will be a young team to start with the vision of trying to get older as we move through the season.  We will be a hard working group, with pace and purpose and be competitive every night.”

 

Notable Player Additions: Noah Basarab, Ryan Rothenburger, Jack LeBlanc, Boedey Vaeth, Dane Hirst

Key Player Losses: Gavin Froese, Zach DeGraves (graduated players)

Coach’s Comments: “The team so far shows good team speed, creativity. Exciting group of players to begin the season with, and a solid core of returning players.”

 

Notable Player Additions:  A complimentary group of young recruits that will provide the club with skill and depth.

Key Player Losses: F Kyle McDonald (95), F Brayden Atkinson (95) who both graduated from junior hockey & were the clubs leading scorers last year. D Austin Hingtgen (95), D Patrick Carlin (96) have pursued post- secondary schooling and hockey programs. The club will miss their leadership on the blue line to mentor its young defensive core.

Coach’s Comments: “A hard working team with quick forwards, a big defensive core, and timely goaltending. Looking to build on last year’s rebuild with 17 returning players.”

 

Notable Player Additions: Goaltenders Brock Aiken and Wesley Ellingsen. Defensemen Jordan Thomson, Layne Toder and Thomas Lenchyshyn. Forwards Howard Yawit, Ashton Clark, Calvin Bliid, Ryan Mignault, Brendan Martin, Carson Cayer.

Key Player Losses: Along with those who graduated due to age, those eligible to return who have moved on … Brett Orr (Bentley University DI) Dean Stewart (Nebraska-Omaha DI) Nick Henry (Regina Pats WHL) and Cody Haiskanen (Fargo Force USHL).

Coach’s Comments: Big chunk of our offense graduated and moved on. We will look for our returning players to lead and help us get off to a good start. League will be competitive once again.