Blues rebuilding

The Winnipeg Blues are off to a tough start this season. They entered the second week of November with only five victories in 22 games and sat in fourth place in the Addison Division. However, if the playoffs were to start today, they would lose out in a crossover situation.
Though the Blues had only won five of 22, they only had 11 regulation losses. The Blues had lost six games via shootout or in overtime – basically the difference between fourth and third place in their division.
“We just don’t have the mix we need yet,” said Blues head coach and general manager Don MacGillivray. “We have 10 or 11 new faces on our team, and several of them haven’t played junior A hockey before. So there’s a bit of an adjustment.
“We’ve played with everybody, we’re just giving up a lot of goals.”
The Blues went with a young team last season, and they were hoping to compete for a divisional crown this year. However, the departure of two of their outstanding rookies last year – Brendan O’Donnell and Peter Stoykewych – has hampered the team’s progress.
“That’s part of the process – we had some success last year with younger guys, and they were good players but they’ve moved on to a higher level.
“That’s what this level of hockey is all about, but unfortunately for our team this year, we have some gaps. We would have liked to have had at least one of those guys back, and maybe two.”
Instead, MacGillivray had to elevate other players into key spots O’Donnell and Stoykewych could have played in, leading to some growing pains.
“That’s the difference for us this year, we don’t have that guy for that key situation,” he said.
MacGillivray though feels that with time his team will be right in the thick of things. Considering how close most games have been this year, it wouldn’t take much of a winning streak to vault up a few spots in the standings.
• Speaking of the Blues, they were sure fired up on their northern trip through the Sher-Wood Division last weekend.
The Blues got into several scraps in both OCN and Swan Valley, and as a result, suspensions were handed out.
Winnipeg Blues players Dustin Pearson and Ben Sveinson were suspended two games for participating in a multiple fight Nov. 5 against the Blizzard. MacGillivray was also given a one-game suspension.
OCN Blizzard players Rory McKie and Erik Pushka were also suspended for two games for their role in the mini-line brawl.
Their coach Scott McMillan was also suspended one game.
On the trade front, the Neepawa Natives acquired 19-year-old defenceman Lane Werbowski from the Penticton Vees of the BCHL for future considerations.
Also, the Winnipeg Blues have traded 18-year-old defenceman Ryan Breen to the Waywayseecappo Wolverines for future considerations.
• Better late than never, here are the MJHL’s first players of the month for this year.
Selkirk Steelers’ forward Joel Ridgeway was been named the RBC Player of the Month.
Ridgeway, 20, had 26 points (13-13) after 18 games.
Also considered for this award Brett Chartier of the Winnipeg Saints and Shane Luke of the Dauphin Kings.
The Sher-wood Hockey Defenceman of the Month is Winkler captain Troy Kliever.
The 20-year-old player has been a pillar on the blueline for the Flyers. He entered the month of November with 19 points (two goals, 17 assists).
Also considered for this award was Clark Byczynski, from the Swan Valley Stampeders and Chris DelaLande from the Selkirk Steelers.
The Husky Energy Rookie of the Month is Brent Wold of Portage Terriers.
The 17-year-old from Lac du Bonnet led all MJHL rookies in scoring with 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) in September and October.
Also considered for this award was 16-year-old forward Brendan Harms of the Portage Terriers and 17-year-old goaltender Jayson Argue of the Swan Valley Stampeders.
The MJHL Goaltender of the Month is OCN’s Matt Krahn.
The netminder played so well he earned a spot on Team West at the World Junior A Challenge in Penticton, B.C.
The netminder, who has WHL experience, posted a 5-3-1-2 record with a 2.33 GAA and .923 save percentage to earn him this award.
Also considered for this award was 20-year-old Wendell Vye of the Neepawa Natives and 18-year-old Jason Kasdorf of the Portage Terriers.
Vye, who hails from Moncton, did win the MJHL Player of the Week honour. He posted a 3-0 record with a 1.67 GAA and .948 save percentage to take the weekly award.
Swan Valley’s Byczynski had eight points, including six assists in one game, to be considered for this award. The other runner up was 20-year-old forward Dave Williams of the Waywayseecappo Wolverines, who had six goals in four games.