By Derek Holtom
There is precious little drama in the MJHL this season in terms of who will make the playoffs. Last year, five teams were competing for four spots in the MJHL’s West Division, making for a thrilling last two months of the season.
This year, the only real battle is between the Neepawa Titans and the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. The Titans are desperately seeking to snap a long playoff drought, while the Wolverines are anxious to get back into the playoffs after being that fifth team last year in the MJHL’s West Division.
The Titans had a five-point bulge on the Wolverines heading into this week. But two big victories by the Wolverines over the Portage Terriers and Dauphin Kings, mixed with the Titans dropping a game to those same Dauphin Kings, left Wayway just a point shy of the Titans heading into Saturday night. The Titans though would go on to a crucial win over the Virden Oil Capitals Saturday night, giving them a three-point cushion heading into the new week.
These two teams play twice more this season, both this month. Those games could factor massively in who wins out this playoff race.
The rest of the West Division sees the Virden Oil Capitals firmly in control of first place, with OCN and Dauphin battling for home ice in their expected first round matchup. The Blizzard are clinging to second place for now, but the Kings retain games in hand. OCN and Dauphin face each other two more times before the playoffs start.
In the East Division, the Steinbach Pistons have already clinched a playoff spot, and seem well on their way to once again topping the league with the best record. Winkler and Portage now seem to be playing for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They also face each other twice more before the playoffs get under way.
Niverville is very likely going to be the first round opponent for the Steinbach Pistons. The only team with a shot at catching them is the Selkirk Steelers, who sit seven points back. Asking the Steelers to win four more games than the Nighthawks seems to be a tall order.
• With so much drama surrounding Hockey Canada, the BCHL/AJHL and the sex abuse scandal (which is still generating headlines), we didn’t have the space to get to the MJHL’s top players from January last week, which we’ll get to now.
The RBC Player of the Month was Dalton Andrew from the Winkler Flyers. In 11 games Andrew scored nine goals and added 13 assists for 22 points.
The Safe Work, Manitoba Defenseman of the Month is Trevor Hunt from the Virden Oil Capitals. The rear guard scored twice and added eight assists for 10 points in 10 games to earn this honour.
The Original 16, Goaltender of the Month was Cole Sheffield from Dauphin Kings. In eight games Sheffield racked up seven victories, posting a 1.61 goals against average, a .947 save percentage and three shutouts – his first three of the season.
The Chevrolet, Rookie of the Month was Grady Hoffman from the Steinbach Pistons. In 10 games Hoffman scored five goals and chipped in six assists for 11 points.
And finally, Malachi Klassen was named the Manitoba Pork, Peak Performer award. The Winkler Flyers netminder, along with being active in the community, won eight of his nine starts, posting a 1.68 goals against average, a .936 save percentage and two shutouts.
• The Original 16 Players of the Week are highlighted this week by Dalton Andrew from the Winkler Flyers. Not content with just winning the player of the month award in January, Andrew won this weekly award thanks to scoring four goals and adding two assists in just two games.
Also recognized was goaltender Cole Plowman from the Steinbach Pistons. He won both starts he had last week, posting a 1.00 GAA, a .970 save percentage and one shutout in the process.
The third winner is Aidan Herring from the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. In two games Herring scored three times and added two assists for five points.