By Derek Holtom
Well that was quick, wasn’t it?
Three of the four first-round series were completed in as short a time as possible as the Virden Oil Capitals, Waywayseecappo Wolverines and the Niverville Nighthawks all swept their first-round series.
As a result the second round matchups are set, both featuring East Division teams being the top seed versus West Division opponents. Here’s a preview of the second round series.
Waywayseecappo Wolverines vs. Niverville Nighthawks
This second-round matchup features two teams who won their first-ever best-of-seven quarter-final series. It also means that the MJHL will have a new first-time league finalist this year.
The odds-on favourite is the MJHL’s top seeded Niverville Nighthawks. They only lost six games in regulation in the regular season and none in the first round of the playoffs. They out-scored the Winkler Flyers 17-5 and were led by forward Marlen Edwards (seven assists), forward Adam Vigfusson (four goals, two assists, six points), and defenseman Aaron Krestanowich (one goal, five assists, six points).
The Wolverines enter the second round having swept the Dauphin Kings in a series that saw two games go to overtime. Wayway scored 14 goals in four games, led by Sebastien Hicks (four goals, one assist, five points), Dylan Duzan (three goals, one assist, four points), and both Kurt Rookes and Cole Hunter who each had two goals and three points. Ben Roulette also chipped in five assists. And Jace Wareham was rock-solid posting a 1.63 GAA and a .951 save percentage.
Wayway completed a historic feat by beating the Dauphin Kings but the Niverville Nighthawks are a whole different story. The top seed had a decided advantage, but one need only look back a year to see that major upsets can, and do happen in the playoffs.
Virden Oil Capitals versus Steinbach Pistons
The Oil Capitals easily disposed of the Neepawa Titans in the first round, out-scoring them 23-6 in their four-game series. Rookie Dysen Drake (seven points) and Marshall Light (six points) each had four goals to lead the Oil Capitals in goal scoring in the first round, while Bryce Bryant had eight points (three goals, five assists) to lead the team in this category.
The Steinbach Pistons are the only team who didn’t sweep their first-round opponent. The Pistons advanced Saturday night with a 2-0 shutout over the Portage Terriers, winning the series in five games – they lost the opener on home ice and then rattled off four straight wins to advance. They were led by first-round playoff scoring leader, defenseman Liam Doyle, who had 10 points (four goals, six assists), forward Jackson Kostiuk (six goals, two assists, eight points), forward Sam Noad (two goals, five assists, seven points), and forward Brett Kaiser (seven assists). Goaltender Chris Quizi is the only goaltender entering the second round who didn’t have a goals against average under 2.00 as he sports a 2.01 and a .938 save percentage.
The Pistons had the toughest matchup in the first round and should be dialed in for the Oil Capitals.