Five MJHL teams had to do without one of their better players last week after they were selected to attend tryouts for Team West at this year’s World Junior A Challenge.
Winnipeg’s Connor Clevereley (defenceman, Winnipeg Blues), Ste. Rose du Lac’s Ryan Marshall (forward, Swan Valley Stampeders), Virden’s Mitch VanTeeling (forward, Dauphin Kings), The Pas’ T.J. Constant (forward, OCN Blizzard) and Morden’s Jordan Neduzak (forward, Winkler Flyers) all spent part of last week in Penticton, B.C., for a Team West tryout camp. The city will also host the World Junior A Challenge Nov. 8 to 14.
Marshall was a member of last year’s team, while Neduzak played in the junior A top prospect’s game last year, giving both players some insight to the level of play expected at this event.
Also back is OCN Blizzard assistant coach Jomar Cruz .
The Canada West roster is comprised of players from the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) and Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL).
This year’s head coach is Kindersley Kippers bench boss Larry Wintoneak, father of former Swan Valley Stampeder Walker Wintoneak. It marks the first time a coach based out of Saskatchewan will head up the team.
Last summer at the NHL Entry Draft, a record 27 alumni from this event were selected by NHL teams, including the eighth overall pick, Alexander Burmistrov from Russia.
This event is growing in prestige and a good showing at this international event can go a long way in furthering one’s hockey career. But to do that, you first have to make the team. Final rosters will be announced later this month.
• Chapen Leblond of Winkler Flyers has been named year’s first MJHL player of the week.
The second-year Flyer had 12 points (three goals and nine assists) in the first 10 days of the season.
Also considered for this award was Brett Chartier of Winnipeg Saints and Brett Wold of Portage Terriers.
Chartier, 19, had 10 assists in six games. Wold, 17, had five points (three goals, two assists) in four games.
• Plenty of deals were made in the MJHL in the past week or so.
After sending him home before the season started, the Swan Valley Stampeders have finally traded 19-year-old goaltender and Grunthal product Caden Unger to the Steinbach Pistons for future considerations.
The Stampeders have sent netminders to the Pistons in the past, having shipped Swan River’s Josh Hohn there last year.
The Winnipeg Blues have traded 19-year-old defenceman Tyson Kennedy to the Neepawa Natives for future considerations.
The Neepawa Natives – who have been extremely busy this year when it comes to making deals – traded 20-year-old defenceman Eddie Friesen and 19-year-old forward Calvin Cairns to the Estevan Bruins for 19-year-old forward Ward Szucki.
Friesen, a native of Gladstone, and Cairns, a native of Snow Lake, were then quickly dealt back to the MJHL. The Dauphin Kings acquired the pair for 20-year-old defenceman Joel Kot from Moose Jaw. The Kings also receive future considerations.
Back to the Natives, they also shipped out 20-year-old forward Brett Suderman to the Steinbach Pistons for future considerations.
The Dauphin Kings also made another move, acquiring 18-year-old defenceman J.R. Krolik from the Penticton Vees of the BCHL for 20-year-old forward Bryan Warner and future considerations.
• There is also one MJHL suspension to report.
Tyler Wiwchar from the Winnipeg Saints was been suspended two games after receiving a major penalty for checking from behind on Sept. 23 versus the OCN Blizzard.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Anning back with the Saints
The Winnipeg Saints have a new man behind the bench this season, but one who has plenty of history with the franchise.
Fresh off helping the Dauphin Kings place second in the country, David Anning take over as the head man on the bench with the Saints.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Anning via telephone, as he took his team to Winkler to face the Flyers in the final MJHL preseason game of the year. “Leaving Dauphin wasn’t an easy decision, but I put a lot of thought into it and I was comfortable with the Saints’ organization. It felt like the right fit and I’m excited to be back with the team I played for.”
As a defenceman, Anning played four seasons with the Saints. In his final three years he scored 15 goals, added 59 assists and collected 165 penalty minutes in 179 games. He was also the team captain in the final two years.
The Winnipeg native quickly made the transition to coach, serving as an assistant coach with the Saints in the 2007-08 season before joining the Dauphin Kings as their assistant coach and marketing director in the next year.
Ironically, Anning’s first game of the year will be against his former team. The Saints open the season against the Dauphin Kings.
“That’s going to be nice – I get to see a lot of my friends up there who I got to know over the years,” said Anning. “But at the end of the day, it’s the Dauphin Kings and Winnipeg Saints players out there, and it’s not about me.
“But it’s a great facility and I love going back there.”
At home, the Saints will play out of St. Adolphe (just south of Winnipeg), a move which suits Anning just fine.
“It’s been excellent – a bit of a blessing in disguise,” he said. “Dakota (their former home rink) was good to us for a lot of years, but we’re moving on and St. Adolphe has been great for our organization. They’ve taken care of us, been flexible, and it’s really worked out so far.”
As for how the Saints will fare this year, Anning is optimistic.
“We have an older group returning here, and our younger guys are going to be able to contribute,” he said. “We’re happy with where our group’s at, but it’s tough to say where everyone else is at – a lot are still carrying 25 plus players.
“But I like our chances – I think we’ll be right in the mix.”
• The Portage Terriers will open their season in their new rink with a bang.
The Terriers – my early favourite to win the Sher-Wood Division this year – will play in the brand new PCU Centre this season. And to open the rink the right way, the Terriers hired Howling the Night Away Productions – a Brandon-based entertainment company specializing in sporting events – to handle the game-day entertainment.
“We figured, ‘Let’s do it right’,” said Terriers president Dale Deschouwer told Eric MacKenzie of The Daily Graphic. “It should be a good show to say the least, never mind a good hockey game.”
According to their website Howling the Night Away Productions know what they’re doing – clients include the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Manitoba Moose and Brandon Wheat Kings.
• The Dauphin Kings lost the services of netminder Brett Willows for three games after a scrap against a SJHL opponent.
Willows has been suspended three games for fighting on Sept. 10 versus Battlefords North Stars.
• The MJHL wants all fans who pack a camera to the rink to submit their best shots on a weekly basis.
Fans can email pictures to media@mjhlhockey.ca – and they might end up on the league’s website (www.mjhlhockey.ca).
They are looking for just about anything at the rink – bench shots, fan pictures, on-ice action – you name it.
The MJHL continue to reach out to their fan base. This is a great idea which could pay off for the league.
Fresh off helping the Dauphin Kings place second in the country, David Anning take over as the head man on the bench with the Saints.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Anning via telephone, as he took his team to Winkler to face the Flyers in the final MJHL preseason game of the year. “Leaving Dauphin wasn’t an easy decision, but I put a lot of thought into it and I was comfortable with the Saints’ organization. It felt like the right fit and I’m excited to be back with the team I played for.”
As a defenceman, Anning played four seasons with the Saints. In his final three years he scored 15 goals, added 59 assists and collected 165 penalty minutes in 179 games. He was also the team captain in the final two years.
The Winnipeg native quickly made the transition to coach, serving as an assistant coach with the Saints in the 2007-08 season before joining the Dauphin Kings as their assistant coach and marketing director in the next year.
Ironically, Anning’s first game of the year will be against his former team. The Saints open the season against the Dauphin Kings.
“That’s going to be nice – I get to see a lot of my friends up there who I got to know over the years,” said Anning. “But at the end of the day, it’s the Dauphin Kings and Winnipeg Saints players out there, and it’s not about me.
“But it’s a great facility and I love going back there.”
At home, the Saints will play out of St. Adolphe (just south of Winnipeg), a move which suits Anning just fine.
“It’s been excellent – a bit of a blessing in disguise,” he said. “Dakota (their former home rink) was good to us for a lot of years, but we’re moving on and St. Adolphe has been great for our organization. They’ve taken care of us, been flexible, and it’s really worked out so far.”
As for how the Saints will fare this year, Anning is optimistic.
“We have an older group returning here, and our younger guys are going to be able to contribute,” he said. “We’re happy with where our group’s at, but it’s tough to say where everyone else is at – a lot are still carrying 25 plus players.
“But I like our chances – I think we’ll be right in the mix.”
• The Portage Terriers will open their season in their new rink with a bang.
The Terriers – my early favourite to win the Sher-Wood Division this year – will play in the brand new PCU Centre this season. And to open the rink the right way, the Terriers hired Howling the Night Away Productions – a Brandon-based entertainment company specializing in sporting events – to handle the game-day entertainment.
“We figured, ‘Let’s do it right’,” said Terriers president Dale Deschouwer told Eric MacKenzie of The Daily Graphic. “It should be a good show to say the least, never mind a good hockey game.”
According to their website Howling the Night Away Productions know what they’re doing – clients include the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Manitoba Moose and Brandon Wheat Kings.
• The Dauphin Kings lost the services of netminder Brett Willows for three games after a scrap against a SJHL opponent.
Willows has been suspended three games for fighting on Sept. 10 versus Battlefords North Stars.
• The MJHL wants all fans who pack a camera to the rink to submit their best shots on a weekly basis.
Fans can email pictures to media@mjhlhockey.ca – and they might end up on the league’s website (www.mjhlhockey.ca).
They are looking for just about anything at the rink – bench shots, fan pictures, on-ice action – you name it.
The MJHL continue to reach out to their fan base. This is a great idea which could pay off for the league.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Predictions
A few more trades to announce as teams begin to finalize their rosters for the start of the MJHL season.
The Neepawa Natives traded 20-year-old forward Maxime St. Pierre to the Abitibi Eskimos of the NOJHL for future considerations.
The Natives will be making another trade very soon, as they announced on their website that Jordan Hebert will not be playing with the Natives this years.
Hebert, the leading scorer in OCN last season with 45 points (26 goals, 19 assists), had “philosophical differences” with the coaching staff.
The talented forward was acquired in a deal involving Matt Krahn.
The Natives praised Herbert despite the parting of ways. There is no doubt going to be plenty of interest from other teams interested in acquiring the Ile des Chenes product.
In other moves, the Steinbach Pistons have traded 18-year-old defenceman Landon Hall to the Dauphin Kings for future considerations.
The Kings in turn are shipping Hall to the Grand Prairie Storm of the AJHL.
• Las year the Dauphin Kings were the easy choice as the top dog in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. As the hosts of the RBC Cup, they were inevitably going to ice an extremely strong team.
But what about this year? Who’s going to be the team to beat this year?
Here is but one man’s prediction...
Sher-Wood Division
1. Portage Terriers – This squad finished second in a “rebuilding year”, so they should have plenty of veteran talent. They are also opening up a new arena this year. Recall how a new rink in Dauphin improved their fortunes? I think the Terriers are in line for that sort of bump as well.
2. Dauphin Kings – Will the Kings have a hangover or will they be in the thick of things again this year? When you load up for a run at nationals, it means you graduate plenty of 20 year olds. But the Kings have a deep list, and they have plenty of skill returning. A second place finish isn’t out of the question.
3. Neepawa Natives – Perhaps the busiest team this off season, the Natives should be poised for a strong year. Whether head coach Bryant Perrier can channel all his new players and veterans in the right direction will be the big question.
4. Swan Valley Stampeders – Coming off a bounce-back season last year on the ice, the Stampeders will try to make it two years in a row in the playoffs. Gone is much of their offensive scoring punch from last year, but a strong defensive group should give them stability.
5. Waywayseecappo Wolverines – If the Wolverines were able to play as strong as they did at the end of last year, they would compete for first place. But despite having a young team last year, the Wolverines lost some of the key players who were key to their late-season play. Still they should compete for a playoff spot, either in the Sher-Wood or perhaps the crossover.
6. OCN Blizzard – It seems strange to pick the Blizzard to finish last. For years they were the strongest team in the league, but they have come across tough times both on and off the ice. There’s no quick fix for the Blizzard who now attract far fewer fans then they did in their heyday. Maybe they will surprise this year, but I think it will be another long year for the most northern team in the MJHL.
Addison Division
1. Selkirk Steelers – Arguably the strongest team in the Addison Division the past several years, the Steelers will be in the mix for top spot. Ryan Smith enters his second season coming off a 36-win campaign and a tough first-round loss to the Winkler Flyers. Expect the Steelers to bounce back this year.
2. Winnipeg Saints – Three teams will play in new rinks this year, though the Saints did not exactly ask to move. The Saints had to scramble to play in St. Adolphe. With that drama behind them, the Saints are now focused on the rink. With alumni David Anning now the head coach, what kind of team will the Saints be this year?
3. Winnipeg Blues – The Blues always seem to ice young, talented teams. But last year their most talented players were also their youngest players, and several of them have moved on to other leagues. Don MacGillivray isn’t used to icing teams which are not in the hunt for first place, and with so many local players to choose from, the Blues should be competitive. No word yet if they plan to call themselves the Headingly Blues in honour of their new home community, though I somehow doubt it.
4. Winkler Flyers – A new head coach in John Marks will mean some changes with the Flyers, who lost the divisional final last year. Still the Flyers will as always be in the mix in the Addison, which is generally fairly tight when it comes to the top four teams.
5. Steinbach Pistons – This is another team which was busy in the off season – but will it be enough to turn the team around? The Pistons’ franchise has, for whatever reason, placed the worst in the MJHL for the past number of years. And until they prove otherwise, they will continue to bring up the rear in the Addison.
The Neepawa Natives traded 20-year-old forward Maxime St. Pierre to the Abitibi Eskimos of the NOJHL for future considerations.
The Natives will be making another trade very soon, as they announced on their website that Jordan Hebert will not be playing with the Natives this years.
Hebert, the leading scorer in OCN last season with 45 points (26 goals, 19 assists), had “philosophical differences” with the coaching staff.
The talented forward was acquired in a deal involving Matt Krahn.
The Natives praised Herbert despite the parting of ways. There is no doubt going to be plenty of interest from other teams interested in acquiring the Ile des Chenes product.
In other moves, the Steinbach Pistons have traded 18-year-old defenceman Landon Hall to the Dauphin Kings for future considerations.
The Kings in turn are shipping Hall to the Grand Prairie Storm of the AJHL.
• Las year the Dauphin Kings were the easy choice as the top dog in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. As the hosts of the RBC Cup, they were inevitably going to ice an extremely strong team.
But what about this year? Who’s going to be the team to beat this year?
Here is but one man’s prediction...
Sher-Wood Division
1. Portage Terriers – This squad finished second in a “rebuilding year”, so they should have plenty of veteran talent. They are also opening up a new arena this year. Recall how a new rink in Dauphin improved their fortunes? I think the Terriers are in line for that sort of bump as well.
2. Dauphin Kings – Will the Kings have a hangover or will they be in the thick of things again this year? When you load up for a run at nationals, it means you graduate plenty of 20 year olds. But the Kings have a deep list, and they have plenty of skill returning. A second place finish isn’t out of the question.
3. Neepawa Natives – Perhaps the busiest team this off season, the Natives should be poised for a strong year. Whether head coach Bryant Perrier can channel all his new players and veterans in the right direction will be the big question.
4. Swan Valley Stampeders – Coming off a bounce-back season last year on the ice, the Stampeders will try to make it two years in a row in the playoffs. Gone is much of their offensive scoring punch from last year, but a strong defensive group should give them stability.
5. Waywayseecappo Wolverines – If the Wolverines were able to play as strong as they did at the end of last year, they would compete for first place. But despite having a young team last year, the Wolverines lost some of the key players who were key to their late-season play. Still they should compete for a playoff spot, either in the Sher-Wood or perhaps the crossover.
6. OCN Blizzard – It seems strange to pick the Blizzard to finish last. For years they were the strongest team in the league, but they have come across tough times both on and off the ice. There’s no quick fix for the Blizzard who now attract far fewer fans then they did in their heyday. Maybe they will surprise this year, but I think it will be another long year for the most northern team in the MJHL.
Addison Division
1. Selkirk Steelers – Arguably the strongest team in the Addison Division the past several years, the Steelers will be in the mix for top spot. Ryan Smith enters his second season coming off a 36-win campaign and a tough first-round loss to the Winkler Flyers. Expect the Steelers to bounce back this year.
2. Winnipeg Saints – Three teams will play in new rinks this year, though the Saints did not exactly ask to move. The Saints had to scramble to play in St. Adolphe. With that drama behind them, the Saints are now focused on the rink. With alumni David Anning now the head coach, what kind of team will the Saints be this year?
3. Winnipeg Blues – The Blues always seem to ice young, talented teams. But last year their most talented players were also their youngest players, and several of them have moved on to other leagues. Don MacGillivray isn’t used to icing teams which are not in the hunt for first place, and with so many local players to choose from, the Blues should be competitive. No word yet if they plan to call themselves the Headingly Blues in honour of their new home community, though I somehow doubt it.
4. Winkler Flyers – A new head coach in John Marks will mean some changes with the Flyers, who lost the divisional final last year. Still the Flyers will as always be in the mix in the Addison, which is generally fairly tight when it comes to the top four teams.
5. Steinbach Pistons – This is another team which was busy in the off season – but will it be enough to turn the team around? The Pistons’ franchise has, for whatever reason, placed the worst in the MJHL for the past number of years. And until they prove otherwise, they will continue to bring up the rear in the Addison.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)