(-) 1st – Steinbach Pistons
This Week: 1-0
Overall: 24-6-1
Impressive Player: Defenceman Langley Kruggel – 3 assists
The Pistons made some additions both via trade and getting some guys back from injury. Looking at the Steinbach roster, it’s hard to see any weakness. Between the talent on the ice and the leadership off, the Pistons look primed and ready to go through the regular season and into the playoffs.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 14th vs Stampeders, Saturday, Jan 15th vs Stampeders
(+2) 2nd – Winkler Flyers
This Week: 2-0
Overall: 19-11-1-1
Impressive Player: Forward Ryan Monias – 2 goals, 1 assist
Major statement for the Flyers who came out flying after the Christmas break. They’ve always been able to score at an elite level but the additions to the backend make them truly formidable. Defeating the top team in the west should build the type of confidence that they can really build success on.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 14th @ Wolverines, Sunday, Jan 16th vs Wolverines
(-1) 3rd – Dauphin Kings
This Week: 0-1-1
Overall: 23-8-1
Impressive Player: Forward Nick Braun – 2 goals, 2 assists
Good teams stumble. It happens. Dauphin is a top-quality team that will bounce back. Back-to-back losses does show some areas where they will need to improve but they have a good cushion atop the division and can afford to learn some lessons. Better now than later.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 14th @ Freeze, Saturday, Jan 15th vs Freeze
(-1) 4th – Waywayseecappo Wolverines
This Week: 0-1
Overall: 20-9-2
Impressive Player: Defenceman Lonan Bulger – 1 goal, 1 assist
Hard to be too critical of the Wolverines who came out of the Christmas break expecting a home game, only to have it postponed. Wayway has always been one of the hardest working teams in the league but with some key additions, can score with the best of them.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 14th vs Flyers, Sunday, Jan 16th @ Flyers
(+1) 5th – Virden Oil Capitals
This Week: 1-0
Overall: 15-14-2
Impressive Player: Defenceman Bray Rookes – 1 goal, 2 assists
An offensive explosion to start 2022 is about the best way to start the un-official second half as a team can ask for. The Oil Caps issues have been consistency. They have the team that can fend off the chasing pack and control their own fate going forward.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 14th @ Blues, Saturday, 15th vs Blues
(+1) 6th – Neepawa Titans
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 12-14-2-4
Impressive Player: Forward Connor Brust – 1 goal, 2 assists
Neepawa is hungry for the playoffs and trying to get some space between themselves and the rest of the division won’t be easy. While they can’t look past the next opponent, they can look forward to taking on the team directly behind them in the standings to end the month. Huge implications.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 14th @ Terriers, Saturday, Jan 15th vs Terriers
(-2) 7th – Portage Terriers
This Week: 0-1
Overall: 13-15-2-1
Impressive Player: Forward Daniel Siso – 1 goal 1 assist
Thing’s kind of caved in for the Terriers and they didn’t get a chance to respond on home ice because of a postponement. They may have an eye towards next year but still remain in the hunt. Once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen. There’s valuable experience to be gained for the group battling down the stretch, no matter the outcome.
Up Next: Tuesday, Jan 4th vs Steelers, Saturday, Jan 8th @ Steelers
(-) 8th – Winnipeg Blues
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 18-12-0-2
Impressive Player: Forward Ryan Ostermann – 1 goal, 1 assist
They could hear the footsteps from the Flyers for a bit now and it finally happened, they got pushed down to third. Not the end of the world but there can be some concerns when it comes to goals against of late. The Blues can score but they’ll need to buy in defensively or risk falling further behind.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 14th @ oil Caps, Saturday, Jan 15th vs Oil Caps
(-) 9th Selkirk Steelers
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 13-15-2-2
Impressive Player: Defenceman Spencer Penner – 3 assists
May of Selkirk’s players have moved on to other teams but the Steelers are right there when it comes to a playoff spot. It’s not going to be easy but if the new leadership can bring the room together and guys take advantage of bigger roles, they can still do damage.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 14th vs Blizzard, Saturday, Jan 15th vs Blizzard
(-)10th- Winnipeg Freeze
This Week: 1-1
Overall: 8-22-2
Impressive Player: Forward Nathan Driver – 1 goal, 5 assists
A wild scoring weekend for the Freeze. The problem was they gave up as much as they scored. While they may be too far out of a playoff spot at this point, there’s still lots to play for and every win matters. Don’t expect the Freeze to just pack it in, they will relish the role of spoiler down the stretch.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 14th vs Kings, Saturday, Jan 15th @ Kings
(-) 11th – Swan Valley Stampeders
This Week: 1-0-0-1
Overall: 13-16-0-3
Impressive Player: Defenceman Collin Jennings – 4 assists
A great response against a tough team see’s the Stampeders right in the thick of things with a chance to move up. While they may have traded out some major pieces, other players will have a chance to come in and make an impact. If they can stay close through the next three games before taking on Neepawa, it’ll get really interesting.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 14th @ Pistons, Saturday, Jan 15th @ Pistons
(-) 12th – OCN Blizzard
This Week: 0-2
Overall: 11-16-1-2
Impressive Player: Forward Dain Sardelli – 7 goals, 2 assists
Talk about a scoring bonanza. OCN flexed some serious goal scoring muscles and left a lot of people very impressed. If they can keep the puck out of their net with regularity going forward, they’ll be a lot to handle. No one wants to play in OCN during the playoffs. They Blizzard would have the biggest home ice advantage out of any series. They will look to keep lurking, waiting to jump.
Up Next: Friday, Jan 14th @ Steelers, Saturday, Jan 15th @ Steelers
