Photo: Kalee Haasbeek
1 – Virden Oil Capitals (+1)
This week: 4-0
Overall: 30-10-2
Firmly planted in the championship conversation. Proving they can win any style, any way. Have shown they can impose their will or adjust on the fly, a mature level that has grown throughout the year. Hitting their stride at the right time, big things look on their horizon. More tests coming up should keep them hungry.
Player Spotlight: Braxton Burdeny – 3-0, 82 saves on 87 shots, 1 shutout
Up Next: Feb. 13th @ Winkler, Feb. 15th @ Neepawa, Feb. 16th vs Winkler, Feb. 18th @ WPG Blues
2 – Winkler Flyers (+3)
This week: 3-0
Overall: 27-16-1-2
Full steam ahead for a group that is flying high. Contributions from all over, special teams have found a new level, and the belief is back in a big way. A hard team to stop when they get rolling, and the group knows they can find a way to win a hockey game by any means necessary.
Player Spotlight: Tanner George – 3 goals, 4 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Feb. 13th vs Virden, Feb. 14th vs Waywayseecappo, Feb. 16th @ Virden
3 – Niverville Nighthawks (-2)
This week: 0-2
Overall: 39-4-1
A little adversity isn’t a bad thing. Two losses in a row for the first time this season could provide the team with a chance to reset, take a deep breath, and get back to playing their style of hockey. Having a mad group of Nighthawks is possibly bad news for the rest of the league.
Player Spotlight: Dawson Zeller – 2 goals in 2 games
Up Next: Feb. 11th vs WPG Blues, Feb. 13th @ Steinbach, Feb. 14th vs Neepawa, Feb. 16th vs Selkirk
4 – Waywayseecappo Wolverines (-1)
This week: 2-0
Overall: 22-20-2-2
Regardless of where they are in the rankings, the team knows they have been playing very good hockey of late. Knocking on the door of hosting round one, but either way, they can feel like they’ve turned any opening round series into a coin flip, where they can trust their offence to be a major factor.
Player Spotlight: Jase Wareham – 1-0, 21 saves on 21 shots, 1 shutout
Up Next: Feb. 13th @ WPG Blues, Feb. 14th @ Winkler, Feb. 16th vs Dauphin
5 – Steinbach Pistons (-1)
This week: 3-0
Overall: 35-8-2
The style and commitment to team defending is different. Looking to install playoff-like details, there’s been more attention to the defensive side of the game, although the threats from the blueline remain the same.
Player Spotlight: Sam Noad – 5 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Feb. 11th @ Neepawa, Feb. 13th vs Niverville, Feb. 14th @ Selkirk, Feb. 16th vs WPG Blues
6 – Neepawa Titans (+2)
This week: 1-0
Overall: 23-19-0-1
Snapped an annoying three-game losing streak with a typical Titan’s game. Contributions from across the lineup has always been a key. Speed and results come at times from confidence, and a good bounce back could be the turn the group needed heading into a tough stretch.
Player Spotlight: Addison McIntosh – 2 goals in 1 game
Up Next: Feb. 11th vs Steinbach, Feb. 14th @ Niverville, Feb. 15th vs Virden
7 – Dauphin Kings (+2)
This week: 2-1
Overall: 25-20-1
Everyone in the Parkland can take a deep breath. Things have gone all different directions of late, but two wins, regardless of opponent, will be a boost for a team that needs to find some traction. Still control their home-ice fate, but more than that, just want to find some consistency to the overall game.
Player Spotlight: Ethan Stewart – 2 goals, 3 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Feb. 13th vs WPG Monarchs, Feb. 14th @ WPG Blues, Feb. 16th @ Waywayseecappo, Feb. 18th vs Swan Valley
8 – Swan Valley Stampeders (-1)
This week: 1-1
Overall: 15-24-3-1
Still in the fight, although the mountain may be too steep to climb. Lots of positives are coming from a team that has become invested and committed to a style that suits them. Can’t look too far ahead, just need to find ways to bank points, and let the chips fall where they may.
Player Spotlight: Reis Nyland – 1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Feb. 13th @ Northern Manitoba, Feb. 14th vs WPG Monarchs, Feb. 18th @ Dauphin
9- Portage Terriers (-3)
This week: 0-4
Overall: 27-16-1
Things have spiralled for a team that is not used to being on the wrong end of the scoreboard as often as they have been. Lots of questions remain, and the time to get things sorted out is becoming less and less. Once the playoffs start, there is no one who is counting out this team that always seems to find a way when it matters most.
Player Spotlight: Trevor Hill – 4 goals in 4 games
Up Next: Feb. 13th @ Selkirk, Feb. 15th vs Northern Manitoba, Feb. 16th vs Northern Manitoba
10- Winnipeg Blues (+3)
This week: 2-0
Overall: 12-28-3
A pair of solid wins will boost the spirits of everyone around the team. Every guy helped factor in, everyone played their role, and they won two in a row for the first time since November 15th and 22nd. In a season where positives have been tough to come by, maybe a small winning streak can be a jolt.
Player Spotlight: Brady Green – 1 goal, 4 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Feb. 11th @ Niverville, Feb. 13th vs Waywayseecappo, Feb. 16th @ Steinbach, Feb. 18th vs Virden
11 – Winnipeg Monarchs (-1)
This week: 0-3
Overall: 8-36-2
The rest of the season will be spent finding things to build on. There have been more of late, and there are encouraging signs. The model has been the same all year, and perhaps the most encouraging part is the buy-in from the group. They need to return some key guys if they want to take a step.
Player Spotlight: Andre Cho – 1 goal, 1 assist in 3 games
Up Next: Feb. 13th @ Dauphin, Feb. 14th @ Swan Valley
12 – Selkirk Steelers (-1)
This week: 0-2
Overall: 18-22-2-1
Refusing to go quietly into the summer. A hard-working group that is finding ways to either win or push teams right to the brink. Their home rink has always been difficult for teams to come in and find success, and the rest of the way, they’ll look to keep building on that reputation regardless of results.
Player Spotlight: Carter Haney – 1 goal, 2 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Feb. 13th vs Portage, Feb. 14th vs Steinbach, Feb. 16 @ Niverville
13 – Northern Manitoba Blizzard (-1)
This week: 0-5
Overall: 6-33-2-2
Between things out of their control and the schedule, it’s not been an easy push for the Blizzard. Still work hard, but can only hang in the fight for so long. Some players are fighting hard to keep noticed for next year. Could be in for some long nights going forward.
Player Spotlight: Justin Whitrow – 2 goals, 2 assists in 5 games
Up next: Feb. 13th vs Swan Valley, Feb. 15th @ Portage, Feb. 16th @ Portage
