1 – Waywayseecappo Wolverines (+3)
This week: 3-0
Overall: 25-20-2-2
The MJHL version of the Paul Rudd meme, “Hey, look at us.” Oh, the league is looking. Deadly offensive threats, solid systems in all three zones, quality goaltending, and a real sense of belief make them a fun group to watch and a nightmare to go up against. Home playoff games to start round 1 is a real option.
Player Spotlight: Ben Roulette – 4 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Feb. 19th vs Neepawa, Feb. 24th @ Northern Manitoba, Feb. 25th @ Dauphin
2 – Steinbach Pistons (+3)
This week: 4-0
Overall: 39-8-2
Rolling right along and making a push for the top spot in the MGEU East and overall MJHL. Regardless of where they finish, the attitude of the group has them in a very good place. Scoring all over the place makes them dangerous every time they tough the puck, and goaltending has been sensational. Great time for both things to be coming together.
Player Spotlight: Jack Greenwell – 1 goal, 5 assists in 4 games
Up Next: Feb. 20th @ Northern Manitoba, Feb. 21st @ Swan Valley, Feb. 25th vs Selkirk
3 – Winkler Flyers (-1)
This week: 2-1
Overall: 29-17-1-2
A pair of very solid wins with a game that they can really learn from in the middle. Some of the old habits slip in from time to time, but the team believes they can get things back on track, and they usually do. Getting healthy will help lengthen an already deep lineup.
Player Spotlight: Connor Rieger – 2 goals, 1 assist in 3 games
Up Next: Feb. 21st @ WPG Monarchs, Feb. 22nd vs WPG Blues, Feb. 24th vs Neepawa
4- Virden Oil Capitals (-3)
This week: 1-1-1
Overall: the31-11-3
The results maybe didn’t go fully their way, but there’s not too much to be upset about when it comes to effort and heart. Always willing to fight, always willing to battle back, and very skilled all over the ice, the Oil Caps will use some of the lessons learned and be better for it going forward.
Player Spotlight: Bryce Bryant – 2 goals, 3 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Feb. 18th @ WPG Blues (Postponed), Feb. 21st @ Dauphin, Feb. 22nd @ Neepawa, Feb. 24th @ Swan Valley
5- Niverville Nighthawks (-2)
This week: 2-2
Overall: 41-6-1
Great teams will stumble at times. It’s a long regular season, and no team is going to be perfect. Facing some tough times now will surely make the team better. Getting a key return eventually from injury will help. As of now, no panic. A statement weekend where they get back to what they’ve done all year, winning big as a team, wouldn’t hurt.
Player Spotlight: Evan Panzer – 4 goals, 3 assists in 4 games
Up Next: Feb. 20th @ Swan Valley, Feb. 21st @ Northern Manitoba, Feb. 25th vs Portage
6 – Portage Terriers (+3)
This week: 3-0
Overall: 30-16-1
No team in the MJHL needed a positive stretch more than the Terriers. Doesn’t matter how, it just mattered that 2 points went to them in each game they played. Adversity can create opportunity, and for a team that had been rotating goalies, they may have found a go-to guy with some confidence they can ride for a bit.
Player Spotlight: Edward Knittig – 3 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Feb. 20th vs Selkirk, Feb. 22nd @ WPG Monarchs, Feb. 25th vs Niverville
7 – Neepawa Titans (-1)
This week: 1-1-1
Overall: 24-20-1-1
Another positive stretch for the speedy club that continues to find its groove within its own game. Massive hold-on win on the road against the top team in the league should provide a confidence boost, as well as a great learning lesson about holding onto leads, something the group will have to figure out as the playoffs get closer.
Player Spotlight: Jack Clark – 3 goals, 1 assist in 3 games
Up Next: Feb. 19th @ Waywayseecappo, Feb. 21st @ Selkirk, Feb. 22nd vs Virden, Feb. 24th @ Winkler
8 – Dauphin Kings (-1)
This week: 1-1-1
Overall: 26-21-2
The curious case of the Kings continues. Up and down, the ride has continued through February. When it looks like they are ready to take off, they don’t. When it looks as though they will slide, they battle back. Hard to know what you’ll get on a nightly basis. Still time to find their footing, but teams around them have caught up.
Player Spotlight: Ethan Stewart – 1 goal, 5 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Feb. 18th vs Swan Valley, Feb. 21st vs Virden
9- Swan Valley Stampeders (-1)
This week: 1-1
Overall: 27-16-1
A nice bounce-back to keep a losing skid from getting out of hand. A busy rest of the month has a lot of points on the table, but with the MGEU West above them really starting to separate, it may be too late. The group will not quit though, they are going to make things tough on teams the rest of the way.
Player Spotlight: Trace Langan – 2 goals, 2 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Feb. 18th @ Dauphin, Feb. 20th vs Niverville, Feb. 21st vs Steinbach, Feb. 24th vs Virden, Feb. 25th vs Waywayseecappo
10- Northern Manitoba Blizzard (+3)
This week: 1-1-0-1
Overall: 7-34-2-3
Don’t count the Blizzard out. Sometimes it looks as though they are lost, but others, they show they are taking serious strides in the right direction. Have the talent to compete, have the skill to be right there with any team, and are learning how to go about it. A solid, positive stretch for a team that needed a shot in the arm.
Player Spotlight: Isaac Tomchak – 3 goals in 3 games
Up Next: Feb. 20th vs Steinbach, Feb. 21st vs Niverville, Feb. 24th vs Waywayseecappo
11 – Winnipeg Blues (-1)
This week: 1-3
Overall: 13-31-3
There is talent there, but it only keeps them in the fight for so long. Goaltending, despite what the numbers might say, has been good, but they can only do so much from the blue paint. When they are engaged, they’re a fast, sneaky, okay team, but too often things get away from them, and games get really away.
Player Spotlight: Campbell Epp – 3 goals in 4 games
Up Next: Feb. 18th vs Virden (Postponed), Feb. 22nd @ Winkler
12 – Winnipeg Monarchs (-1)
This week: 0-2
Overall: 8-38-2
Same team they’ve always been, they work hard, they will do all that they can, and they will surprise some teams that think they can take a night off. Two wins away from double digits, which would be quite the accomplishment for a team that has had a lot of positives mixed in with a lot of tough nights.
Player Spotlight: Ian Lavallee – 1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Feb. 13th vs Portage, Feb. 14th vs Steinbach, Feb. 16 @ Niverville
13 – Selkirk Steelers (-1)
This week: 0-3
Overall: the18-25-2-1
Doesn’t matter where they are in the standings, the Steelers are a quick, scrappy team, that often reminds teams that they are in for a battle. Young players are hoping to make an impression for next year, while the older players are doing what they can on a nightly basis.
Player Spotlight: Ayden Collins – 1 goal, 1 assist in 3 games
Up next: Feb. 20th @ Portage, Feb. 21st vs Neepawa, Feb. 25th @ Steinbach
