Viterra MJHL Power Rankings | Week 15

Photo: Ryan Sawatzky

1st – Winkler Flyers (-)
Last week: 3-0
Overall: 27-6-2
Steady as she goes for the reigning league champions. Up to an 11-game winning streak and finding different ways to get results while staying true to their hard-working, tough to play against nature.
Key Player: Brody Beauchemin – 3 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Jan. 17th vs Dauphin, Jan. 18th vs Virden, Jan. 21st @ Neepawa

2nd – Portage Terriers (+1)
Last week: 2-0-0-1
Overall: 26-10-0-1
Earning at least a point in every game so far in January, the Terriers have done well combining hard work which both produces goals for and keeps goals against down.
Key Player: Nolan Nenow – 4 goals, 4 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Jan. 15th @ Steinbach, Jan. 17th @ Swan Valley, Jan. 22 vs Niverville

3rd – Niverville Nighthawks (+1)
Last week: 1-1-0-1
Overall: 22-13-2-1
Have become more consistently dangerous scoring threats while also not sacrificing finding offence at the expense of defense. Any concerns about goaltending have been silenced through strong play.
Key Player: Matteo Speranza – 2 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Jan. 17th @ Virden, Jan. 19th @ WPG Freeze, Jan. 22nd @ Portage

4th – Steinbach Pistons (-2)
Last week: 1-1
Overall: 27-7-2
Things have tightened up around that top spot in the MGEU East. It’s been a year of adversity for the Pistons and these tests will only help going forward as the group gets playoff ready now.
Key Player: Brody Green – 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Jan. 15th vs Portage, Jan. 18th vs Neepawa, Jan 21st vs Selkirk

5th – Dauphin Kings (+1)
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 24-9-1
Coming off one of the largest offensive outputs in team history, there was a bit of a scare but the group showed resolve in finding a way to battle back. Control their own destiny and show no signs of letting it slip away.
Key Player: Caydin Glover – 3 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Jan. 17th @ Winkler, Jan. 18th @ WPG Blues, Jan. 21st @ Swan Valley

6th – Northern Manitoba Blizzard (+1)
Last week: 1-0
Overall: 23-13-0-1
A very light couple of weeks gives the Blizzard a chance to heal up and get the details to their game down as they continue to battle for top spot or at the very least, home ice in round one of the playoffs.
Key Player: Jayden Ward – 1 goal in 1 game
Up Next: Jan. 17th vs Selkirk

7th – Virden Oil Capitals (+3)
Last week: 2-0
Overall: 15-21
After many moves at the deadline, the group looks to have fully bought in and is gelling at the right time. Strong goaltending keeps them in games and there’s more goal-scoring throughout the lineup. Starting to ramp up at the right time.
Key Player: Loic Morin – 2-0 record, 62 saves on 65 shots
Up Next: Jan. 17th vs Niverville, Jan. 18th @ Winkler, Jan 21st vs Waywayseecappo

8th – Neepawa Titans (-)
Last week: 0-0-1-1
Overall: 18-15-2-2
Good teams find ways to get points, and the Titans did just that in their last two games. Claiming two out of a possible four points isn’t the most ideal given they were a shot away from more, those are games in the past they would get none.
Key Player: KC Couckuyt – 0-0-0-1 record, 31 saves on 33 shots
Up Next: Jan. 18th @ Steinbach, Jan 21st vs Winkler

9th – Swan Valley Stampeders (-4)
Last week: 0-3
Overall: 8-24-3-1
Coming off a very strong week, the lack of results will sting even more. Just as the group looked like they were ready to go on a special run, they’ve stumbled. Good news is the team knows they can get back into it and there’s still time to do just that.
Key Player: Trace Langan – 3 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Jan. 17th vs Portage, Jan. 18th vs Selkirk, Jan. 21st vs Dauphin

10th – Selkirk Steelers (-1)
Last week: 1-1-1
Overall: 20-14-1-1
Grinding out points is the name of the game for the Steelers, until they can get back to bringing their ‘A’ game every night. If they can keep finding a way to hang around, they could put themselves in a strong position to sneak up and grab a playoff spot
Key Player: Rohan Guevarra – 3 goals, 1 assist in 3 games
Up Next: Jan. 17th @ Northern Manitoba, Jan. 18th @ Swan Valley, Jan. 21st @ Steinbach

11th – Waywayseecappo Wolverines (+1)
Last week: 1-1
Overall: 12-22-2
Literally, they showed quite a bit of fight in their last game and despite the loss, they pushed back. The group won’t be going quietly, and they know a solid week can get them back into a playoff spot.
Key Player: Dru Mushumanski – 1 goal, 2 assists in 2 games
UP Next: Jan. 16th @ WPG Blues, Jan. 17th @ WPG Freeze, Jan. 21st @ Virden

12th – Winnipeg Blues (-1)
Last week: 1-1
Overall: 7-23-1-2
It’s about the long-term future for the Blues and they’ve shown signs they will be more to handle going forward this year and into next season. The group looks to have bought in and they’re bonding. They’re competitive nightly, which also helps.
Key Player: Brock Assailly – 1 goal, 2 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Jan. 16th vs Waywayseecappo, Jan. 18th vs Dauphin

13th – Winnipeg Freeze (-)
Last week: 0-2
Overall: 4-28-1-2
Still battling. Several players on the roster are having to play in spots they normally wouldn’t so while the results are far from what they would want, there is a silver lining that some guys are getting experience when they maybe wouldn’t even be in the league.
Key Player: Ty Genik – 3 goals in 2 games
Up Next: Jan. 17th vs Waywayseecappo Wolverines, Jan 19th vs Niverville