1 – Selkirk Steelers (-)
This week: 2-0
Overall: 5-0
Things keep rolling along for the Steelers, who were also named the CJHL’s top-ranked team. A perfect record along with a league high 30 goals and a +21 goal differential. More winnable games coming up, but then come some really stiff tests against teams hungry to take them down.
Player Spotlight: Remy Hlady – 3 assists in 1 game
Up Next: Oct. 1st @ WPG Monarchs, Oct. 3rd @ Norman Blizzard, Oct. 4th @ Norman Blizzard
2 – Portage Terriers (+1)
This week: 2-0
Overall: 3-1
Top-level goaltending has boosted the Terriers of late, but their overall game is starting to round into form. Hard working, determined, and always in your face. Speed is a very big element to the Terriers’ game and that never seems to take a night off.
Player Spotlight: Ryan Velan – 2-0 record, 62 saves on 63 shots, 1 shutout
Up Next: Oct. 1st @ Niverville, Oct. 5th vs WPG Monarchs
3 – Niverville Nighthawks (-)
This week: 1-0
Overall: 2-0
So much time off between games didn’t hinder the Nighthawks, who went out on the road and beat a very good MGEU West opponent. The big guns are firing, but it’s the impressive depth up and down the lineup that provides the greatest evidence of continued success.
Player Spotlight: Merik Boles – 2 goals, 1 assist in 1 game
Up Next: Oct. 1st vs Portage, Oct. 3rd vs Winkler, Oct. 5th @ Winkler
4 – Steinbach Pistons (-2)
This week: 2-0-1
Overall: 4-0-1
An overtime loss, but that’s sandwiched between a pair of wins, keeping the Pistons without a number in the loss column. If there were questions about the crease heading in, they have been answered. Goaltending has given the club a big-time boost every time they’ve needed it.
Player Spotlight: Chris Quizi – 1-0-1 record – 56 saves on 58 shots
Up Next: Oct. 3rd vs Waywayseecappo, Oct. 4th @ WPG Blues
5 – Dauphin Kings (-1)
This week: 2-0
Overall: 3-1
Deserve to be higher in the rankings, but the group would be the first to say they’ve yet to play their best hockey. When you can find ways to win while still growing, it’s very positive. Contributions up and down the lineup have everyone feeling good about where they are at early.
Player Spotlight: Nicolas Zaharias – 1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 7th @ Swan Valley
6 – Waywayseecappo Wolverines (+1)
This week: 2-1
Overall: 3-2
The Wolverines have no trouble scoring goals. The Wolverines do have trouble when it comes to letting other teams score just as much. Never out of any game, given how quickly they can put up a big number, but combine that with the never feeling safe with a lead. Every game will have high entertainment value.
Player Spotlight: Dylan Duzan – 1 goal, 2 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Oct. 3rd @ Steinbach, Oct. 4th @ WPG Monarchs, Oct. 8th vs Virden
7 – Virden Oil Capitals (-1)
This week: 1-1
Overall: 2-2
Solid bounce back to pick up a road win after dropping a game at home. Still growing and finding their way. A tricky team to figure out right now, given that they have all the pieces, but are still searching to blend them all. If and when, and it seems like a matter of when, they will be a force to deal with.
Player Spotlight: Colten Worthington – 2 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 3rd @ Swan Valley, Oct. 4th vs Swan Valley, Oct. 8th @ Waywayseecappo
8 – Winnipeg Blues (+4)
This week: 1-0
Overall: 1-2
Huge win for the Blues. They made it interesting, but if you’re going to give up chances and goals, you’ll have to find ways to generate chances and finish them off. Lesson learned for a Blues team that now has an opportunity to build off some positive results.
Player Spotlight: Carson White – 2 goals, 3 assists in 1 game
Up Next: Oct. 1st @ Neepawa, Oct. 4th vs Steinbach, Oct. 5th vs Neepawa
9- Winkler Flyers (+2)
This week: 1-1
Overall: 1-3
Getting that first win and having a bunch of guys contribute to it was huge for Winkler. Not the follow-up they would have liked, but it’s still early. With that, these are critical points in the next few weeks, and the Flyers can’t risk falling too far behind, even though it is still quite early.
Player Spotlight: Jacob Michelson – 1 goal, 3 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 3rd @ Niverville, Oct. 5th vs Niverville, Oct. 7th vs WPG Monarchs
10 – Winnipeg Monarchs (+3)
This week: 1-3
Overall: 1-5
Looking past the record, this is not the same Winnipeg team it’s been in the last few seasons. A fast, incredibly structured, and bought-in group that plays to their strengths. Goaltending is strong, though they allow too many shots. Need more guys to score, simple as that.
Player Spotlight: Kade Stringer – 2 goals in 3 games
Up Next: Oct. 1st vs Selkirk, Oct. 4th vs Waywayseecappo, Oct. 5th @ Portage, Oct. 7th @ Winkler
11 – Neepawa Titans (-3)
This week: 0-3
Overall: 1-4
The battle and competition levels are there, but the results haven’t gone the way the Titans would like. Still looking for that consistent punch of offence, but the way they play, opportunities will continue to come. The question will be whether can they find the level of finish they’ll need game to game.
Player Spotlight: Addison McIntosh – 1 goal in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 1st vs WPG Blues, Oct. 5th @ WPG Blues
12 – Swan Valley Stampeders (-3)
This week: 0-3
Overall: 1-4
Tough results on a tough road-heavy stretch of their schedule right out of the gates. Even though losing, the Stamps have shown they have that push-back ability, and can score. Things won’t get easier in the next stretch, but maybe it’s what the Stamps need to bond together and find ways to win.
Player Spotlight: Trace Langan – 1 goal, 4 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Oct. 3rd vs Virden, Oct. 4th @ Virden, Oct. 7th vs Dauphin
13 – Northern Manitoba Blizzard (-3)
This week: 0-2
Overall: 0-2
Being the last team to get their season going, the thought had to be there that they’d be in tough going up against teams already in rhythm. Overall, not a bad couple of games, results aside. Defense and goaltending will come along, but will they score enough to be competitive? That will be the question in the next few games.
Player Spotlight: Kevin Podgurny – 0-1 record, 40 saves on 43 shots.
Up next: Oct. 3rd vs Selkirk, Oct. 4th vs Selkirk
