Photo: Ryan Sawatzky
The first two days of the 2024-25 MJHL regular season were filled with plenty of drama and excitement.
Five games on Friday and five games on Saturday got the weekend started which has the Selkirk Steelers, Northern Manitoba Blizzard and the Dauphin Kings undefeated at 2-0.
Niverville and Neepawa opened their season with wins on home ice and will look to join Steelers, Blizzard and Kings in the undefeated column when they conclude their opening weekend schedule on Sunday night.
The Waywayseecappo Wolverines are the lone team who has yet to kick off their schedule as they are set to host Niverville on Sunday night at the Waywayseecappo Arena Complex while the Titans hit the road to Portage la Prairie for the Terriers home opener in a rematch of Satur
Friday night results – Full Stats available
Northern Manitoba Blizzard 6 @ Swan Valley Stampeders 5
The Blizzard gave up a 4-1 lead to the Stamps who stormed back and scored four goals in the 3rd period before Keenan McNeill scored the go ahead goal with 17 seconds left. Marlen Edwards and Cheechoo Lathlin led the way offensively for the Blizzard while rookie goaltender, Alexander Reedy picked up his first MJHL win.
Winkler Flyers 3 – Steinbach Pistons 2
After a scoreless first period, the Flyers and Pistons traded goals in the middle frame as the top two teams from last season battled it out in the opener. Rookie, Mathys Blanchette scored the shorthanded game winner in front of the home crowd while Liam Ernst turned aside 27 of 29 shots in the victory to help the Flyers earn a victory in the opener.
Selkirk Steelers 3 – Winnipeg Blues 1
Selkirk earned a first period lead and held on until the third when Carter Andrews scored an early marker to give the Steelers some breathing room. Shawn Eliav cut the defecit in half for the Blues but not for long as Owen Johnston scored the insurance marker in the back half of the third to give the Steelers a win. Olsonawski stopped 19 of 20 in the Steelers win while Connor Graham was busy in the Blues crease, turning aside 38 of 41.
Niverville Nighthawks 4 – Winnipeg Freeze 1
Following a scoreless first period between the two newest MJHL franchises, summer trade acquisition, Dawson Zeller scored his first as a Nighthawk just minutes before Kobey Edwards tied the game for the Freeze. A powerplay goal from Merik Boles would regain the lead for the Nighthawks before Zeller would score his second of the night late in the second. Canisius committed forward, Luke Mackenzie would score his first of the season while Bemidji State commit, Raiden LeGall would shut the door and help the Nighthawks pick up a win.
Dauphin Kings 3 @ Virden Oil Capitals 0
A seesaw battle in the first two periods between these MGEU West Division rivals is what fans expected and what they got. The Kings would take over in the 3rd period, outshooting Virden, 14-4 on their way to goals from Ashton Paul, Jack Bechard, and Aiden Murray. Kings goaltender, Cole Sheffield, picked up right where he left off last season, stopping 33 shots to pick up his first shutout of the season on opening night.
Saturday night results – Full Stats available
Northern Manitoba Blizzard 5 – Swan Valley Stampeders 1
Cheechoo Lathin and Miguel Bouvier led the way offensively for the Blizzard as they both chipped in a pair of goals while Alexander Reedy stopped 23 of 24 to pick up his second MJHL win in as many nights. The Stampeders struggled to find their footing in a tough environment with the lone bright spot in net where Jackson Miller stopped 49 of 54 in the loss. Both clubs will now have some time to get back to the drawing board as the each resume play on Friday, September 27.
Steinbach Pistons 4 – Winkler Flyers 2
After both teams traded goals, rookie Kam Thomas would net his second of the year to give Winkler a second period lead. Pistons sniper, Grady Hoffman would score his first of the season on the powerplay to tie the game late in the second before Connor Paronuzzi opened the scoring 25 seconds into the third for the game winner. Jamie Fuchs scored the insurance marker for the Pistons while Christian Green turned aside 22 of 24 shots to pick up his first MJHL win.
Selkirk Steelers 4 – Winnipeg Blues 1
A pair of first period goals from the Steelers included one off the stick of rookie, Remy Hlady, who got his first in the MJHL. Wyatt Witham would net a single while Luke McCarthy would score a pair in his second game as a Steeler after being acquired in the summer. Both goaltenders were impressive as Ethan Sawyer stopped 33 of 34 in the win for the Steelers while Samuel Couture stopped 54 of 58 in the Blues loss.
Dauphin Kings 4 – Virden Oil Capitals 2
Cayden Glover and Ethan Williment each scored a pair of goals for the Kings while Cole Sheffield put together another strong start, stopping 40 of 42 shots in the win to help Dauphin to a strong opening weekend. The Kings led from start to finish but that didn’t come without a push from the Oil Capitals, who outshot the Kings, 20-7 in the final twenty minutes of play. One of the toughest goaltenders (Cole Sheffield) to beat in the MJHL once again proved his stature amongst the leagues elite.
Neepawa Titans 7 – Portage Terriers 6
So far this has been the biggest roller coaster game of opening weekend as these two clubs combined for 13 goals, 6 of which came on the powerplay and included a number of lead changes and fluctuations. Portage led 2-1 after the first period, Neepawa led 4-3 after the second period and the Titans would skate away with a 7-6 win on home ice that saw goals come from seven different players in the Titans line up. These two clubs will meet in the rematch on Sunday night as the Terriers host the Titans in their 2024 home opener.
