(+1) 1st – Steinbach Pistons
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 23-6-1
Impressive Player: Goalie Will Hambley – 2-0, 2 shutouts, 61 saves on 61 shots
Closing out the year 2021 in style as Steinbach rolled through the Oil Caps and didn’t allow a single goal against. Not an easy thing to do and it’s seldom a team can shutout the same team in back-to-back games but between the goaltending and the improved defensive play, the Pistons are sitting atop the league. Getting healthier will be the goal over the holiday break.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 7th @ Wolverines, Sunday, Jan 8th vs Wolverines
(-1) 2nd – Dauphin Kings
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 23-7
Impressive Player: Forward Luke Morris – 3 goals
Good teams bounce back from sub-par performances and the Kings did that coming off a surprising loss to Selkirk. Finishing .500 in December probably wasn’t expected for a Dauphin team that looked like they were poised to run away from the rest of the league but could be just what the doctor ordered as it gives them a chance to address areas prior to the home stretch.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 7th vs Flyers, Sunday, Jan 9th @ Flyers
(+1) 3rd – Waywayseecappo Wolverines
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 20-8-2
Impressive Player: Defenceman Regan Rabbit – 1 goal, 3 assists
Another strong weekend keeps Waywayseecappo right near the top of the West division while separating themselves from the middle of the pack. The Wolverines were very consistent over December and looking at their January schedule, if the Kings stumble, the Wolverines will be in a position to take over. They will control their own destiny from now until the playoffs, which is a pretty good spot to be in.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 7th vs Pistons, Sunday, Jan 9th @ Pistons
(+1) 4th – Winkler Flyers
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 17-11-1-1
Impressive Player: Forward Jayden McCarthy – 1 goal, 5 assists
Scoring wasn’t a problem this past weekend as the Flyers exploded for 12 goals over two games. It sticks with the theme that if Winkler can score more than 3 goals, they will win. Granted, the first game vs OCN ended up closer than they would have liked, they came right back with another strong effot that they hope propels them forward in a division where home ice advantage in the first round is a real possibility.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 7th @ Kings, Sunday, Jan 9th vs Kings
(+1) 5th – Portage Terriers
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 15-11-1-1
Impressive Player: Forward Mason Smith – 2 goals, 1 assist
Don’t look now, but the Terriers are making their way up the standings… again. No one in the MJHL will be too surprised that this young team is finding ways to win and in bunches. The Terriers have always been a team you can never count out and even with a new crop of players, it’s the same old story. They will out work you, out hustle you and recently have discovered ways to outscore teams as well. That’s a pretty great attack plan for a team that will be a thorn in the side of many from here on out.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 7th @ Oil Capitals, Saturday, Jan 8th vs Oil Capitals
(-3) 6th – Virden Oil Capitals
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 14-14-2
Impressive Player: Forward Brandan Huminuk – 0 goals, 0 assists
Getting blanked twice is not the way Virden envisioned closing out 2021 but it happened and all they can do is put it behind them. They have to feel as though their best hockey is ahead of them and with a chance to play the teams around them in the standings, they control where they go. Play like they can and they’ll go up. Play like they did in this last weekend and the playoffs hopes may slip away.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 7th vs Terriers, Saturday, Jan 8th @ Terriers
(+1) 7th – Neepawa Titans
This Week: 1-0-0-1
Overall: 11-13-2-4
Impressive Player: Defenceman Austin Clyne – 2 goals, 2 assists
To start the year, I’m sure the Titans would take being in a playoff spot through the first 30 games of the year. They are just two points behind third and would probably be in that spot if not for the shootout, which has cost them four points. It’s not smooth sailing for Neepawa as the teams behind them are nipping at their heels. They won’t want to look too far ahead, however, having four games to close out the month against Swan could be the biggest four games of the season if Neepawa has serious playoff aspirations.
Up Next: Tuesday, Jan 4th vs Steelers, Saturday, Jan 8th @ Steelers
(-1) 8th – Winnipeg Blues
This Week: 0-1-1
Overall: 17-11-0-2
Impressive Player: Forward Garrett Zasitko – 2 goals
Not much has gone right for the Blues who might be the happiest team in the league to put December behind them. At one point, they were atop the league. Now, they have a mountain to climb to get back near first place, not to mention the chance of home ice advantage in the playoffs vanishing. They good news is, 2022 is a chance to re-set. They know what it takes for them to be successful and what they need to do to right the ship.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 7th @ Stampeders, Saturday, Jan 8th @ Stampeders
(+1) 9th Selkirk Steelers
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 12-14-2-2
Impressive Player: Forward Jordan Hughesman – 4 assists
While they can’t be happy slipping out of fourth spot in the East, it may be more to do with Portage’s recent play than their own. Selkirk has become a team that battles every night. They push teams to be at their best and don’t give much away for free. It took time to find an identity but the Steelers have shown they don’t just roll over. It will come down to if they can find the scoring to get them back in the race. It may still be a bit early for scoreboard watching, but the Steelers have to handle business or the Terriers may be too far away by the time they find their scoring touch.
Up Next: Tuesday, Jan 4th @ Titans, Saturday, Jan 8th vs Titans
(+2)10th- Winnipeg Freeze
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 17-21-2
Impressive Player: Forward Ryder Ringor – 2 goals, 2 assists
The Freeze may be too far out of the race to make a playoff push, but expect them to relish the role of spoiler the rest of the way. The scoring has come up a bit with different players stepping up. If they can limit shots against, the goaltending has shown it can play at this level and they will work no matter what the score is at any point of the game. In their first full Jr.A season, the Freeze have begun to find their way and building something. It doesn’t happen overnight but, in a few years, they’ll look back at the start of 2022 as perhaps something special.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 7th @ Blizzard, Saturday, Jan 8th @ Blizzard
(-2) 11th – Swan Valley Stampeders
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 12-16-0-2
Impressive Player: Defenceman Jackson Betcher – 2 goals
If Swan really wants to be taken seriously as a playoff team, they have to even out the ebbs and flows they experienced in December. They have a good, hardworking team but they can’t take nights off or give away points. January will be a challenge as they start the new year off against some heavy hitters but this team has shown they don’t back down from a challenge. Losing happens, but coming away with a point here or point there will make all the difference when it comes to the end of the year standings.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 7th vs Blues, Saturday, Jan 8th vs Blues
(-1) 12th – OCN Blizzard
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 11-16-1-2
Impressive Player: Forward Ryland Kuczek – 3 assists
Only managing one win in December but still being right in the thick of things in the West, shows that OCN has been pretty good throughout the year and despite the recent slide, they have shown they are not out of the fight. A pair of home games to start the new year will do the team good, as they make their home rink a very tough place to go in and take a win. There’s no more room for prolonged slumps, though. They need to tighten things back up and do what’s made them successful, which they’ve shown they can do. At the very least, teams know they’ve been in a battle when you play against the Blizzard.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 7th vs Freeze, Saturday, Jan 8th vs Freeze
