Photo: Ryan Sawatzky
1st – Winkler Flyers (+3)
Last week: 3-0
Overall: 6-2
Very strong stretch of play. Goal scoring has been impressive during their 5-game winning streak, scoring an eye-catching 28 goals in those 5 games.
Key Player: Niklas Gudmundson – 4 goals, 4 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Oct. 17th @ Virden, Oct. 20th vs Dauphin
2nd – Dauphin Kings (+3)
Last week: 3-0
Overall: 7-2
After struggling to score at home, they exploded with 17 goals in a two-game span at Credit Union Place. Lowest goals against in the division and least penalty minutes in the league.
Key Player: Naaman Hofer – 7 assists in 3 games
Up Next: Oct. 18th @ Selkirk, Oct. 19th @ WPG Freeze, Oct. 20th @ Winkler
3rd – Northern Manitoba Blizzard (-)
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 8-3
Four of six points in a grind of a three-game in three-nights. Second most wins but, have the 5th highest winning percentage. Another weekend away caps 5 straight from home.
Key Player: Miguel Bouvier – 3 goals, 1 assist in 3 games.
Up Next: Oct. 18th @ Steinbach, Oct. 19th @ Selkirk
4th – Steinbach Pistons (-2)
Last week: 1-0-1
Overall: 6-1-1
The winning streak may have been stopped, but it was an entertaining way to have it end. Even when not on the A-game, good teams find a way to bank a point.
Key Player: Noah Szabo – 2 goals, 2 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 18th vs Northern Manitoba, Oct. 19th @ Portage, Oct. 23rd @ Niverville
5th – Selkirk Steelers (-4)
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 10-2
It may only be two games, but a crash will test the resolve of a group that to this point, knew only success. All teams go through it. How they respond will show if they’re for real.
Key Player: Owen Warnick – 2 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 18th vs Dauphin, Oct. 19th vs Northern Manitoba, Oct. 22nd @ Neepawa
6th – Portage Terriers (+1)
Last week: 1-1
Overall: 4-5
One step forward, one step back. Just when it looks like they’re ready to turn a corner, they don’t. Big upcoming tests can either make a statement or show where they need to add.
Key Player: Tristan Gravenor – 2 goals, 2 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 16th vs Niverville, Oct. 19th vs Steinbach, Oct. 20th @ Virden
7th – Virden Oil Capitals (+2)
Last week: 2-0
Overall: 5-5
Win the games you’re supposed to win, and the Oil Caps did. Strong overall games from forwards, defense and goaltending can help boost a group looking to make a run.
Key Player: Noel Englot – 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 17th vs Winkler, Oct. 19th @ Niverville, Oct. 20th vs Portage
8th – Neepawa (+2)
Last week: 2-1
Overall: 5-4-0-1
Back-to-back wins against top teams in the league. They still give up their fair share of goals but have shown they have the offense to punch their way back into any game.
Key Player: Dawson McCann – 3 goals, 2 assists in 2 games
UP Next: Oct. 18th vs Swan Valley, Oct. 19th vs Swan Valley, Oct. 22nd vs Selkirk
9th – Niverville Nighthawks (-3)
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 3-5
Expectations are higher than scoring one goal in 2 games. Have the pieces to be dangerous, just finding the right mix to bring the best out of the group is taking time.
Key Player: Dawson Zeller – 1 goal in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 16th @ Portage, Oct. 18th vs WPG Blues, Oct. 19th vs Virden, Oct. 23rd vs Steinbach
10th – Winnipeg Blues (+2)
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 2-7
Big, much needed win for a club that has been trending toward better results. Time off between games can help enforce winning habits through solid practices.
Key Player: Shawn Eliav – 1 goal, 1 assist in 3 games
Up Next: Oct. 18th @ Niverville
11th – Waywayseecappo Wolverines (-3)
Last week: 0-3
Overall: 3-6
After a humbling loss, the Wolverines didn’t hang their heads, they pushed back on one of the league’s best. No games until the 25th should heal any bruises physical or mental.
Key Player: Sebastien Hicks – 2 goals, 1 assist in 2 games
Up Next: No games scheduled for the week.
12th – Winnipeg Freeze (+1)
Last week: 0-2
Overall: 0-7-1-1
Still searching for the elusive first win of the year. Coming close isn’t good enough. Risk already being irrelevant by the start of November unless things turn around in a hurry.
Key Player: Jayden Ward – 2 goals, 2 assists in 2 games
Up Next: Oct. 19th vs Dauphin
13th – Swan Valley Stampeders (-2)
Last week: 0-3
Overall: 1-9
Since opening night, the Stamps have yet to score more than 2 goals in a game. Mired in a six-game losing streak, things will get more difficult before it seems they’ll get any better.
Key Player: Tavyn Boychuk – 1 goal in 3 games
Up Next: Oct. 18th @ Neepawa, Oct. 19th @ Neepawa
