Photo: Ryan Sawatzky
1st – Selkirk Steelers (-)
Last week: 3-0
Overall: 9-0
Another impressive week has put more distance between themselves and the rest of the division. Goal scoring output is very impressive, scoring 41 times and a league best +29.
Key Player: Owen Johnston – 3 goals, 1 assist in 3 games
Up Next: Oct. 10th @ Waywayseecapo, Oct. 12th vs Neepawa, Oct. 15th @ Winkler
2nd – Steinbach Pistons (+2)
Last week: 2-0
Overall: 5-1
Second longest winning streak in the league. Outscoring opponents 10-2 in last two games. Playing fast, detailed hockey as a group. Scoring from defense has been huge.
Key Player: Jackson Kostiuk – 1 goal, 3 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 12th vs Niverville, Oct. 13th @ Neepawa
3rd – Northern Manitoba Blizzard (-)
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 6-2
Good teams respond and the Blizzard proved they won’t stay down for long, responding to being shutout by outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 8-4.
Key Player: Sam Zagari – 3 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Oct. 11th @ Niverville, Oct. 12th @ WPG Blues, Oct. 13th @ WPG Freeze
4th – Winkler Flyers (+2)
Last week: 1-0
Overall: 3-2
So much time between games has given the Flyers time to dial up the details and rest any bruises. Big opportunity to bank points with 5 of their next 6 games on home ice.
Key Player: Blake Matheson – 1 goal, 1 assist in 1 game
Up Next: Oct. 12th vs Swan Valley, Oct. 13th vs Portage, Oct. 15th vs Selkirk
5th – Dauphin Kings (-3)
Last week: 0-1
Overall: 4-2
Back-to-back losses on home ice are a rarity at Credit Union Place. Hoping the rest was good with 6 games in 9 days starting this weekend. Tied for lowest goals against in MJHL.
Key Player: Gabriel Bugeaud – 2 assists in 1 game
Up Next: Oct. 12th vs WPG Freeze, Oct. 13th vs Waywayseecappo, Oct. 15th @ Waywayseecappo
6th – Niverville Nighthawks (-1)
Last week: 1-0
Overall: 4-2
Still fighting to find their consistent footing. Special teams have been consistently strong, sitting 3rd in power play and penalty kill. A player born in 2006 leads the team in scoring.
Key Player: Avery Laliberte – 1 goal in 1 game
Up Next: Oct. 9th @ WPG Blues, Oct. 11th vs Northern Manitoba, Oct. 12th @ Steinbach
7th – Portage Terriers (+2)
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 3-4
Needed a big game and they delivered. Allowed just 13 shots in last game. Scored 8 goals and didn’t allow any, but still sit a surprising –1 in goal differential.
Key Player: Nolan Nenow – 1 goal, 4 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 11th vs Swan Valley, Oct. 13th @ Winkler, Oct. 16th vs Niverville
8th – Waywayseecappo Wolverines (+2)
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 3-3
When they score, they do it in boat loads. Found the back of the net 11 times in their two wins but just twice in a loss. Goals against have been better, giving up just 4 in 3 games.
Key Player: Jaxon Grosdidier – 3 goals, 2 assists in 3 games
UP Next: Oct. 10th vs Selkirk, Oct. 13th @ Dauphin, Oct. 15th vs Dauphin
9th – Virden Oil Capitals (-2)
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 3-5
Unable to build off a quality home win, the Oil Caps have surrendered 12 goals in their last two games. Need to bank some points before the end of a very tough month.
Key Player: Tyler Dodgson – 1 goal, 1 assist in 3 games
Up Next: Oct. 9th @ Swan Valley, Oct. 11th vs WPG Blues
10th – Neepawa Titans (-2)
Last week: 1-1
Overall: 3-4
A record of 1-4 in their last five games and have given up 19 goals in that time. Worst goal differential of any team currently in a playoff spot. Tied for 2nd in the division for goals for.
Key Player: Logan Paquette – 1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 12th @ Selkirk, Oct. 13th vs Steinbach
11th – Swan Valley Stampeders (-)
Last week: 0-2
Overall: 1-6
Better play but still not the results they’re looking for. When things go wrong, they seem to pile up in a hurry. Tough rest of the month but the group needs to rise to the challenge.
Key Player: Landen Gulutzan – 2 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 9th vs Virden, Oct. 11th @ Portage, Oct. 12th @ Winkler
12th – Winnipeg Blues (-)
Last week: 0-2
Overall: 1-5-1-1
More of the same for a scrappy club that hangs around but eventually has games get away from them. Don’t score enough to dig themselves out of even the smallest hole.
Key Player: Evan Gradt – 1 goal in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 9th vs Niverville, Oct. 11th @ Virden, Oct. 12th vs Northern Manitoba
13th – Winnipeg Freeze (-)
Last week: 0-2
Overall: 0-5-1
Like their same city cousin, the hard-working group hangs around as long as they can but just don’t score enough, eventually breaking to the constant pressure they give up.
Key Player: Liam Goertzen – 1 goal, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 12th @ Dauphin, Oct. 13th vs Northern Manitoba