1st – Portage Terriers (+3)
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 40-15-0-1
Big time, playoff style road win could be a fire starter for a team that that has kind of treaded water the last bit. They know they’ll be starting playoffs on the road, but that won’t concern them, they’re tied for most wins on the road with 20.
Key Player: Dawson Madden – 3 goals, 1 assist in 3 games
Up Next: Mar. 12th @ Niverville, Mar. 15th vs Niverville
2nd – Winkler Flyers (-1)
Last week: 1-1
Overall: 43-8-3-1
Locked into top spot in the MJHL, the defending champs will have home ice throughout the playoffs. Playing continued solid, structured hockey, there are not many gaps in the Flyers game to exploit, but there will be more pressure and expectations being the top dogs.
Key Player: Brody Beauchemin – 2 goals, 4 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Mar. 12th @ WPG Freeze, Mar. 14th vs WPG Freeze, Mar. 15th vs Selkirk
3rd – Steinbach Pistons (-1)
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 41-11-2-2
Clinched second place in the MJHL and will open the playoffs at home in their new building. Two regular season games before the Terriers
come to town will only help the Pistons as they can learn the lay of their new land.
Key Player: Sam Noad – 1 goal, 3 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Mar. 14th vs Selkirk, Mar. 15th vs WPG Blues
4th – Dauphin Kings (+3)
Last week: 3-0
Overall: 37-16-2-1
Had a bit of a scare as some stagnate play let a chasing team get close, but a return to form gave them the top spot in the MGEU West. They’ll hope to keep building as they await their first-round opponent, which they could play a role in deciding.
Key Player: Ethan Stewart – 2 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Mar. 14th @ Neepawa, Mar. 15th vs Waywayseecappo
5th – Selkirk Steelers (+3)
Last week: 3-0
Overall: 28-22-3-3
The strong stretch of play is dampened by the fact it’s come too late. Finishing strong will help carry some momentum over to next year, perhaps. Young stars will come back with a better understanding of what it takes to get through an entire MJHL season.
Key Player: Rohan Guevarra – 3 goals, 4 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Mar. 14th @ Steinbach, Mar. 15th @ Winkler
6th – Northern Manitoba (-3)
Last week: 1-1
Overall: 34-20-0-1
Had thoughts about climbing up into top spot but will be satisfied if they can secure second spot and home ice in round one. The group is equally good at home or away, but their opponent is not as good on the road and loud The Pas fans make it a tough place to play.
Key Player: Miguel Bouvier – 2 goals, 5 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Mar. 12th vs Virden, Mar. 14th @ Swan Valley, Mar. 15th vs Swan Valley
7th – Niverville Nighthawks (-2)
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 32-20-2-1
A bit of a slip since clinching a playoff spot. Can be expected after a long grind of a season. Will need to dial things back up, though. While they’ll be the underdog in their playoff series, they’ve shown the can compete with the best, but only when everyone is fully engaged.
Key Player: Bryce Warkentine – 2 goals, 3 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Mar. 12th vs Portage, Mar. 15th @ Portage, Mar. 16th @ WPG Freeze
8th – Neepawa Titans (+1)
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 30-21-2-3
Flirted with moving up and hosting game one of the first round, but will settle in nicely to that number three spot in the division. Fast, skilled and hard-working, the Titans will look to keep that up as they prepare for what could be a long series.
Key Player: Mason Hartley – 3 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Mar. 14th vs Dauphin, Mar. 15th vs Virden
9th – Virden Oil Capitals (+2)
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 23-31-1-1
Still alive and kicking. The group has shown no quit in their push for the playoffs. Nothing has come easy this year and if the group can manage to get in, they may be the most playoff tested team entering round one.
Key Player: Noel Englot – 2 goals in 2 games
Up Next: Mar. 12th @ Northern Manitoba, Mar. 15th @ Neepawa
10th – Waywayseecappo Wolverines (-4)
Last week: 0-1
Overall: 23-30-2-1
Put themselves in a position to kind of control their own fate, but a tough loss has evened things out a bit. A winnable game coming up, one
where if the team wants to make the playoffs, it’s an absolute must, followed by a chance to make a statement against round-one opponent.
Key Player: Aidan Herring – 1 goal, 1 assist in 1 game
Up Next: Mar. 14th vs WPG Blues, Mar. 15th @ Dauphin
11th – Swan Valley Stampeders (-1)
Last week: 0-2
Overall: 16-33-5-2
Two more games left in a season that showed some pretty strong turnaround. Things did not go great all year, but there has to be belief that things will turn around after the team showed resolve and compete in the back-half of the year.
Key Player: Landen Gulutzan – 1 goal in 2 games
Up Next: Mar. 14th vs Northern Manitoba, Mar. 15th @ Northern Manitoba
12th – Winnipeg Blues (-)
Last week: 0-4
Overall: 9-41-1-2
Have played better of late, despite the results. There are pieces that will become bigger contributors in the future. For now, the focus can be on spoiling. A pair of road games where they can factor into a playoff race and dampen the spirits of a new-building opening weekend.
Key Player: Renat Nhanieiev – 1 goal, 2 assists in 4 games
Up Next: Mar. 14th @ Waywayseecappo, Mar. 15th @ Steinbach
13th – Winnipeg Freeze (-)
Last week: 0-2
Overall: 6-46-1-2
Five more days left in the season. Three more games, none of them easy and likely pretty un-enjoyable. The attention turns to the future. The off-ice moves are the most important in the next few weeks and they must be successful.
Key Player: Job Peters – 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Mar. 12th vs Winkler, Mar. 14th @ Winkler, Mar. 15th vs Niverville
