(+1) 1st – Portage Terriers
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 17-6-3-2
Impressive Player: Austin McLean – 1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games
A rock-solid pair of wins on home ice is exactly what the Terriers needed as they hang around top spot in the MGEU East. They’ve played the most games in the division and will have a busy rest of the month with 7 games before the Christmas break. 6 of those 7 games are away from Stride Place.
Up Next: Dec. 8th @ Steinbach, Dec. 9th vs Selkirk, Dec. 12th @ Waywayseecappo,
(+2) 2nd – Virden Oil Capitals
This Week: 2-0-1-1
Overall: 17-5-2-2
Impressive Player: Eric Reid – Record of 2-0-1-1 in 4 games, 81 saves on 91 shots
Sometimes it’s about getting the job done by any means necessary. Points are points and the Oil Caps seem very comfortable playing in close games. The last 5 contests have been decided by a single goal and 3 of those 5 going to overtime or a shootout. Proven goaltending gives an edge every night.
Up Next: Dec. 7th vs Steinbach, Dec. 8th @ Selkirk, Dec. 10th @ Dauphin
(-2) 3rd – Steinbach Pistons
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 20-3-1
Impressive Player: Leo Chambers – 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
A speed bump in their last game broke an impressive streak of not just wins but points in consecutive games. The first MJHL team to 20 wins and the league best win percentage to this point. Elite level goaltending has been the backbone and will need to stay the course through a tough stretch.
Up Next: Dec. 7th @ Virden, Dec. 8th @ Portage, Dec. 10th @ Neepawa, Dec. 13th vs Niverville
(+1) 4th – OCN Blizzard
This Week: 2-1
Overall: 15-10-0-2
Impressive Player: Tomas Anderson – Record of 2-0, 81 saves on 83 shots
Slow and steady, good things continue to happen for one of the hardest working clubs in the MJHL. A by-committee effort nightly combined with top-level goaltending has the Blizzard in prime position to not just grab top spot in the MGEU West but be a scary, legitimate threat come playoffs.
Up Next: Dec. 8th @ Winkler, Dec. 9th @ WPG Freeze
(+1) 5th – Winkler Flyers
This Week: 1-0-1
Overall: 17-3-1-1
Impressive Player: Spencer Shugrue – 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
Finally, a much-needed stretch of constant action is coming. While they may be out of sight, the Flyers are never out of mind as they are often the bar as to which other teams compare themselves this year. A stretch of constant action should get them into a rhythm where they’ll look to do damage.
Up Next: Dec. 6th @ Waywayseecappo, Dec. 8th vs Blizzard, Dec. 10th vs Swan Valley
(+1) 6th – Neepawa Titans
This Week: 3-1
Overall: 14-13-1
Impressive Player: Connor Thompson – 1 goal, 6 assists in 4 games
From a scrappy underdog team to a feared opponent nightly, the Titans have shown if you want to win, you must go through the entire team to do it. They have the big guns to score but the attention to team defense and timely saves has the Titans pushing away from the chasing pack in the MGEU West.
Up Next: Dec. 8th vs Waywayseecappo, Dec. 10th vs Steinbach
(-4) 7th – Dauphin Kings
This Week: 0-3
Overall: 15-8-1
Impressive Player: Jordan Bax – 3 goals in 3 games
A stretch of games where it’s been a mix of missing a crucial goal or giving up a back breaking goal. Never being blown out but just unable to find that next level to get over the hump in close games. Good news for the Kings is they won’t have to wait long to try and get some revenge for their last two losses.
Up Next: Dec. 9th vs WPG Blues, Dec. 10th vs Virden
(+3) 8th – Selkirk Steelers
This Week: 3-0
Overall: 10-14-1-1
Impressive Player: Noel Olsonawski – Record of 3-0, 106 saves on 110 shots
Refusing to be counted out, the Steelers are finding ways to hang around in the conversation for that last playoff spot. If they hope to make ground, they can’t dip like at the end of last month. Good teams find ways to scrape out points even when not at their best. They’re on the verge of being that team.
Up Next: Dec. 8th vs Virden, Dec. 9th @ Portage
(-) 9th – Winnipeg Freeze
This Week: 1-2
Overall: 5-15-1
Impressive Player: Declan Whiteman – 2 goals, 1 assist in 3 games
It’s about focusing on the positives for the young club. If they want to stay out of the basement in the MGEU East, it’s up to them. They control their fate. Consistency is something to be learned through the course of the season. Tough nights will happen, but they’ve shown they can respond which is a step up.
Up Next: Dec. 8th vs Swan Valley, Dec. 9th vs Blizzard
(-1) 10th – Niverville Nighthawks
This Week: 0-1
Overall: 15-10-1
Impressive Player: Raiden LeGall – Record of 0-1, 23 saves on 25 shots
Getting shutout stings but getting shutout at home than sitting on it for a week can be worse. Niverville has some areas to improve so perhaps the time off helped. They’ll have a steady dose of competition where they can make a statement while pulling away from the team chasing them for 4th.
Up Next: Dec. 6th vs WPG Blues, Dec. 9th vs Swan Valley
(+1) 11th – Swan Valley Stampeders
This Week: 1-2
Overall: 6-19-2
Impressive Player: Jakob Jones – 3 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
Just when it looked like they turned a corner after a lengthy stretch off, the Stamps couldn’t keep gaining momentum, costing them crucial points. When their best players are on, they’re a very hard team to beat, but they haven’t all been on at the same time enough. There’s still time to change that.
Up Next: Dec. 8th @ WPG Freeze, Dec. 9th @ Niverville, Dec. 10th @ Winkler
(+1) 12th – Winnipeg Blues
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 5-17-3
Impressive Player: Dawson Zeller – 3 goals, 2 assists in 2 games
A massive win to start the month after having trouble finding any success the month prior is exactly what the Blues needed. It’s never too early to play spoiler and the Blues will cost teams points from here on out. As the schedule tightens up, teams that look past the Blues will end up regretting it.
Up Next: Dec. 6th @ Niverville, Dec. 9th @ Dauphin, Dec. 10th vs Niverville
(-3) 13th – Waywayseecappo Wolverines
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 10-15-0-2
Impressive Player: Sean Williams – 1 goal, 3 assists in 2 games
Losses are always tough but inter-divisional losses can’t pile up and they have for the Wolverines. They have not beaten a MGEU West team in regulation in over a month. Skill, grit and sheer talent make them a danger, but they need to get points out of teams in their own division.
Up Next: Dec. 6th vs Winkler, Dec. 8th @ Neepawa, Dec. 12th vs Portage
