(+3) 1st – Waywayseecappo Wolverines
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 22-9-2
Impressive Player: Forward Caleb Petrie – 2 goals
A near perfect bounce back effort after a lackluster return from the Christmas break. Holding a dynamic offence to a mere three goals over two games, shows the Wolverines are not just an offensive force to be reckoned with but also can lock down defensively. However, the opponents want to play, the Wolverines can match.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 21st @ Blizzard (postponed), Sunday, Jan 23rd vs Blizzard
(+1) 2nd – Dauphin Kings
This Week: 0-0
Overall: 23-8-1
Impressive Player: New additions Logan Calder, Nakodan Greyeyes
A rare weekend off gives the Kings a chance to get a few more skates under their belts with their new players. I’m sure they’d prefer games an extra day off here and there is rare. Any bumps and bruises get a little extra time to heal. They will need to be ready to come out flying with the Wolverines nipping at their heels.
Up Next: Wednesday, Jan 19th @ Swan Valley, Friday, Jan 21st @ Virden, Saturday, Jan 22nd vs Virden
(-2) 3rd – Steinbach Pistons
This Week: 0-1-0-1
Overall: 24-7-1-1
Impressive Player: Forward Quinton Pepper – 3 goals
It wasn’t the weekend many expected as Steinbach picked up only a single point and didn’t flex the expected offensive muscle. It takes time for teams to gel and it’s most likely just a learning experience the team will use going forward and few will remember in a couple of weeks.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 21st vs Portage, Saturday, Jan 22nd @ Portage
(-2) 4th – Winkler Flyers
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 19-13-1-1
Impressive Player: Forward Derek Wiebe – 1 goal
The Flyers couldn’t follow up the success they had the previous weekend and struggled to score. It’s unlikely that will be an issue going forward as the Flyers look to get back into the top two in the East. The rest of January can be used to gain some traction as a team and in the standings.
Up Next: Wednesday, Jan 19th vs Freeze, Friday, Jan 21st @ Freeze
(+3) 5th – Winnipeg Blues
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 20-12-0-2
Impressive Player: Forward Brayden Foreman – 3 goals, 2 assists
A much, much needed weekend for the Blues who reclaimed second in the East. After struggling through the month of December, January has been a change of pace, showing the Blues are legit contenders. Adding to the offence over the deadline and already having strong goaltending, the Blues have their fate in their hands.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 21st @ Selkirk, Saturday, Jan 22nd vs Selkirk
(+3) 6th – Selkirk Steelers
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 15-15-2-2
Impressive Player: Forward Lucas Brennan – 4 goals, 1 assist
One of the biggest offensive explosions of the season for any team, the Steelers opened a lot of eyes scoring 16 goals over the weekend. While offensive output like that is not likely every weekend, the Steelers have the belief they can score when they need to and from more than just one line.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 21st vs Winnipeg Blues, Saturday, Jan 22nd @ Winnipeg Blues
(+4) 7th – Swan Valley Stampeders
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 15-16-0-3
Impressive Player: Forward Cody Barnes – 3 goals, 1 assist
What a weekend for the Stamps, defeating the top team in the MJHL twice in a row. The Stamps proved they can play strong, structured defence and find timely scoring. They will be a team that can do some serious damage through the rest of the regular season and can use this weekend as the launching point.
Up Next: Wednesday, Jan 19th vs Dauphin, Friday, Jan 21st vs Neepawa, Saturday, Jan 22nd vs Neepawa
(-2) 8th – Neepawa Titans
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 13-15-2-4
Impressive Player: Forward Dallon Wilton – 2 goals, 1 assist
One step forward, one step back. Neepawa is better than a .500 team but they need to figure out how to win 3 of 4 and stop giving points away. A plus is the teams around them haven’t pulled away but they can’t rely on that going forward. They need a strong four games vs the Stamps or risk being put in the review mirror permanently.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 21st @ Swan Valley, Saturday, Jan 22nd @ Swan Valley
(-2) 9th Portage Terriers
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 14-16-2-1
Impressive Player: Defenceman Hayden Lacquette – 1 goal, 1 assist
A young Terriers team keeps going through a rollercoaster season. Learning lessons now that will help them in the long run. They’ve shown that when they work hard, they will win but they’ve also shown they don’t have the skill to rely on that alone. Not yet, anyways. While on the outside of the playoff bubble right now, it can change in a hurry.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 21st @ Steinbach, Saturday, Jan 22nd vs Steinbach
(-5)10th- Virden Oil Capitals
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 15-16-2
Impressive Player: Defenceman David Bielik – 1 goal, 1 assist
The Oil Caps shouldn’t be as low on the list as they are but a pair of losses and continued struggles with consistency has knocked them down. Adding offence at the deadline will help but they’ll need to clean up in their own zone. Virden should make the playoffs but if they think it’ll just be given to them, they’ll be on the outside of the dance looking in.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 21st vs Dauphin, Saturday, Jan 22nd @ Dauphin
(-1) 11th – Winnipeg Freeze
This Week: Postponed
Overall: 8-22-2
Impressive Player: New additions Brayden Stevenson, Tootoo Fotheringham
Trading one of the main offensive weapons and their top defenceman will sting but the pieces they got back will help ease the pain, eventually. Short term pain for long term gain. While the season by the numbers may not be a success, there are a lot of positives to take away going forward playing spoiler.
Up Next: Thursday, Jan 19th @ Winkler, Friday, Jan 21st vs Winkler
(-) 12th – OCN Blizzard
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 12-18-1-3
Impressive Player: Forward Ashton Paul – 1 goal
They couldn’t outscore their issues this weekend and now have given up 30 goals over the past four games. While battling back and getting into the fight in the west isn’t out of the question, the Blizzard can’t afford to let teams just have their way offensively if they hope to find some more wins.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 21st vs Waywayseecappo, Sunday, Jan 23rd @ Waywayseecappo
