Photo: Ryan Sawatzky
(-) 1st – Winkler Flyers
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 32-6-2-2
Impressive Player: Isaiah Peters – 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
Winners of 4 in a row, the Flyers continue to push the pedal to the metal in search of top spot in the MJHL. Big, fast, physical and structured, the group continues to impress in all three zones and in the crease. Dangerous at home in front of amazing crowds, the team is 7-0 at home in 2024.
Up Next: Feb 9th @ Blizzard, Feb 10th @ Swan Valley, Feb 14th vs Niverville
(+2) 2nd – Steinbach Pistons
This Week: 3-0
Overall: 35-6-3
Impressive Player: Leo Chambers – 2 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
Righting the ship after back-to-back losses, the Pistons keep piling up wins even though the injury bug has taken its toll on the blue line. No matter who’s out, the backend remains as consistent as ever. A hardworking and mature forward group on top of sensational goaltending allows points to be banked.
Up Next: Feb 9th @ WPG Blues, Feb 10th vs Selkirk, Feb 14th vs WPG Blues
(-1) 3rd – Dauphin Kings
This Week: 2-1
Overall: 26-13-1
Impressive Player: Gavin Nemis – 3 assists in 2 games
Refusing to slow down after coming out of the break on fire, the Kings have collected the second most wins in the MGEU West Division and have an excellent chance to jump into 2nd place by the weekend. A +46-goal differential is 4th in the MJHL and the 97 goals against is the least given up in the division.
Up Next: Feb 9th vs Waywayseecappo, Feb 10th vs WPG Blues, Feb 13th @ Waywayseecappo
(-1) 4th – Virden Oil Capitals
This Week: 0-1
Overall: 29-7-2-3
Impressive Player: Eric Reid – 0-1 Record, 25 saves on 26 shots
In a playoff style game against the top team from the MGEU East, the Oil Caps went toe-to-toe and didn’t back down. They know they have what it takes to compete with anyone in the MJHL and games like that, despite the result, will be good long term for a group that will learn how to win those games.
Up Next: Feb 9th vs Niverville, Feb 10th @ Neepawa, Feb 13th @ Selkirk
(+1) 5th – Portage Terriers
This Week: 2-1
Overall: 28-10-4-4
Impressive Player: Aidan Brook – 1 goal, 1 assist in 3 games
While there may not be explosions on the scoreboard, the Terriers have shown they can grind out games and make life difficult on their opponents by instilling the style of game they want. A hard team to generate offense against, playing a way that gets wins come playoff time on both sides of the puck.
Up Next: Feb 9th vs Selkirk
(+3) 6th – Waywayseecappo Wolverines
This Week: 3-0
Overall: 17-22-1-3
Impressive Player: Sean Williams – 3 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
A massive come from behind win capped off an impressive 3 game home winning stretch that saw the group score 18 goals while giving up just 7. Feeling confident, dangerous, and backed by solid goaltending, the team has that final playoff spot within reach. If they get in, they’ll be a hard out.
Up Next: Feb 9th @ Dauphin, Feb 13th vs Dauphin
(-2) 7th – OCN Blizzard
This Week: 1-2
Overall: 25-14-1-3
Impressive Player: Lucas de la Salle – 1 goal, 2 assists in 3 games
Having played three solid games but only coming out with one win shows the expectations have been taken up a notch. They don’t want to just be in games, they want and expect to get the results. Feeling the pressure from the chasing pack, the well-structured group needs to be ready for a tough grind.
Up Next: Feb 9th vs Winkler, Feb 10th vs WPG Freeze
(-) 8th – Selkirk Steelers
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 19-20-2-1
Impressive Player: Ian Lavallee – 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
Playing some of their best hockey of late, the Steelers can clearly see a road to the playoffs. Shift in and shift out, the group has bought in and refuses to do anything but work hard. They’re getting contributions up and down the lineup. Every guy can feel like he’s contributing to something good.
Up Next: Feb 9th @ Portage, Feb 10th @ Steinbach, Feb 13th vs Virden
(-2) 9th – Neepawa Titans
This Week: 1-2
Overall: 20-22-1
Impressive Player: Tim Tychonick – 3 goals, 1 assist in 3 games
A bit of a stumble has the noise from the chasing team getting a little louder. The good news is the Titans hold their own fate in their hands. Keep finding ways to win. They have offensive weapons to hang with any team in the league. Feeling that pressure should bring out the best in determined bunch.
Up Next: Feb 10th vs Virden
(-) 10th – Niverville Nighthawks
This Week: 0-0-1
Overall: 22-17-3
Impressive Player: Luke MacKenzie – 1 goal in 1 game
Third period issues kept a massive point away from Niverville at a time where every point squandered could loom large. While there have been issues for a while, this upcoming stretch will tell a lot about if this group is not only ready to make the playoffs but make noise once they do get to the dance.
Up Next: Feb 7th vs WPG Freeze, Feb 9th @ Virden, Feb 14th @ Winkler
(-) 11th – Winnipeg Freeze
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 10-30-3
Impressive Player: Nicholas Cullen – 1 assist in 2 games
Scoring just a single goal in two games isn’t what the Freeze had hoped for and it may only get tougher from here on out. As teams ramp up for the playoffs, there will be no backing off and some nights may get very long for the young group. The goaltenders can only do so much. Tough mental tests lay ahead.
Up Next: Feb 7th @ Niverville, Feb 9th @ Swan Valley, Feb 10th @ Blizzard
(-) 12th – Swan Valley Stampeders
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 10-34-2
Impressive Player: Darius Makse – 1 goal in 2 games
A long season continues where the positives have been few and far between. An upcoming four game home stand could bring some good things to build on as the Stamps will look to take points away from rivals looking to either secure their place or make their way into the postseason.
Up Next: Feb 9th vs WPG Freeze, Feb 10th vs Winkler
(-) 13th – Winnipeg Blues
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 7-32-3
Impressive Player: Matthew Dewey – 1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games
While the Blues have shown they can hang around with any team in the league, eventually the lack of depth gets exposed. Tough times don’t last but it’s got to be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel at times. No rest coming as a tough stretch against teams looking to build for the playoffs.
Up Next: Feb 9th vs Steinbach, Feb 10th @ Dauphin, Feb 14th @ Steinbach
