Photo: Ryan Sawatzky
(+3) 1st – Winkler Flyers
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 4-0
Impressive Player: Dalton Andrew – 1 goal, 2 assists in 2 games
Continuing to march along to start the year. The Flyers have yet to give up more than 2 goals in a game. A three-game home stand is on the horizon before the showcase where a lot of eyes will be on the orange and black.
Up Next: Oct. 6th @ Portage, Oct. 8th vs Selkirk
(+1) 2nd – Niverville Nighthawks
This Week: 1-0-1
Overall: 3-0-1
Impressive Player: Nathan Brown – 2 goals in 2 games
An impressive collection of 7 out of 8 points so far with balanced scoring and strong goaltending. Early special teams’ results also a factor in the wins as they sit 3d in the MJHL in both power play and penalty- kill.
Up Next: Oct. 6th vs OCN, Oct. 7th @ Neepawa, Oct. 11th vs Waywayseecappo
(+2) 3rd – Waywayseecappo Wolverines
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 3-1
Impressive Player: Jesiah Bennett – 3 goals, 1 assist in 3 games
Scoring 11 goals in two games will get a lot of attention but after giving up close to 40 shots in each of the first two games, the Wolverines have adjusted and not allowed more than 30 in the last two.
Up Next: Oct. 6th vs Swan Valley, Oct. 7th @ Virden, Oct. 11th @ Niverville
(-2) 4th – Dauphin Kings
This Week: 2-1
Overall: 4-1
Impressive Player: Gabriel Bugeaud – 1 goal and 1 assist in 2 games
Big time bounce back after the first loss of the year. Outside of the first game of the year, the Kings have scored more than 3 goals just once but what’s most impressive how few goals they’ve given up, surrendering just 8 in 5 games.
Up Next: Oct. 6th vs Neepawa
(-3) 5th – Steinbach Pistons
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 3-1
Impressive Player: Jack Cook – 1 goal and 1 assist in 2 games
Should be higher on the list and won’t be long until they are again. Coming off splitting a pair of tough games, the defending champions have a rock-solid d-core and are figuring out how to get goals from up and down the lineup.
Up Next: Oct. 4th vs Selkirk, Oct. 6th @ Selkirk, Oct. 7th vs WPG Freeze
(+1) 6th – Neepawa Titans
This Week: 2-1
Overall: 3-2
Impressive Player: Jacob Lamoureux – 3 goals and 1 assist in 2 games
Win the games you feel you’re supposed to win. Points in September and October are just as important as points later in the year. Cliché but the Titans don’t care. Taking points while division opponents sputter needs to continue through a tough October schedule.
Up Next: Oct. 6th @ Dauphin, Oct. 7th vs Niverville, Oct. 10th vs Swan Valley
(+1) 7th – Portage Terriers
This Week: 1-1-1
Overall: 2-2-1
Impressive Player: Gabriel Laflamme – 2 goals, 4 assists in 3 games
Not always about results. Sometimes, it’s about the process. Lots of turnover for the Terriers but not an organization for excuses. Must capitalize on the current 7-game home stand. Being 1-0-1 so far is a good start.
Up Next: Oct. 6th vs Winkler, Oct. 8th vs OCN, Oct. 11th vs Virden
(+2) 8th – Selkirk Steelers
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 1-3
Impressive Player: Jack Hodgins – 1 win, 37 saves on 38 shots
Coming off three straight losses to open the season, deserved or not could have put the Steelers in a hole but the group dug deep and pulled out a massive win on the road. The type of win that could be the start of something special. Can’t relax, need to push if they want to be serious threats.
Up Next: Oct. 4th @ Steinbach, Oct 6th vs Steinbach, Oct. 8th @ Winkler
(+2) 9th – Virden Oil Capitals
This Week: 1-1-1
Overall: 2-3-1
Impressive Player: Eric Ried – 1-1-1 record with 1 shutout, 93 saves on 101 shots
An inconsistent start is showing shades from last season. Knowing the level of talent on the roster is something to be confident in but having it take nights off, especially against divisional opponents, can’t happen much longer.
Up Next: Oct. 7th vs Waywayseecappo, Oct. 11th @ Portage
(+2) 10th – OCN Blizzard
This Week: 1-0
Overall: 1-2
Impressive Player: Mathew Langdon – 1 goal in 1 game
Not all wins are equal. A big win at home against a surging, confident opponent can kick start a run and that’s what the Blizzard are hoping for coming off their first win of the year. Tied for the lowest penalty minutes in the MJHL with 24.
Up Next: Oct. 6th vs Niverville, Oct. 7th vs WPG Blues, Oct. 8th vs Portage
(-5) 11th – Winnipeg Blues
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 1-3
Impressive Player: Tyler Dodgson – 1 assist in 2 games
Some nights will be spent learning lessons for the young club and being thumped by one of the top teams in the league will show the group where they can improve as the weeks and months go on. As a team, they’ve given up 30 or more shots in every game this year.
Up Next: Oct. 7th vs OCN
12th – Swan Valley Stampeders
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 1-3
Impressive Player: Josh Danis – 1 goal and 2 assists in 2 games
A new group finding their way when it comes to defending. It’ll take some time and there will be rough stretches but once the team finds this year’s identity, the talent up and down the roster will pull them out of the hole they’re in.
Up Next: Oct. 6th @ Waywayseecappo, Oct. 10th @ Neepawa
13th – Winnipeg Freeze
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 0-4
Impressive Player: Kylow Monkman – 2 goals in 2 games
Scoring goals has been tough to come by and giving up too many chances against is going to be issues all year for the young club. If teams sleep on them, the Freeze have the team determination to jump up and sting anyone who takes them lightly.
Up Next: Oct. 7th @ Steinbach
