By Derek Holtom
Hours before the Waywayseecappo Wolverines moved into sole possession of first place in the MJHL, they got some great news about the upcoming Western All-Star Challenge. Defenseman Adam Chipelski and trainer Jason Hart will join Head Coach and General Manager Landyn Cochrane at the annual showcase between the SJHL and MJHL.
“It's a huge honour to be selected and have the opportunity to represent the MJHL at this event,” says Cochrane. “There are a lot of great coaches throughout our league, so to be given this opportunity is something I'm very grateful for.
“I also look at it as a reflection of the work our entire organization has put in,” he added. “Our coaching staff, players, and everyone behind the scenes have played a part in our success. I'm looking forward to working alongside some great coaches, learning from them, and representing our league and the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.”
Cochrane also heaped praise on Chipelski and Hart for being named to this highly-scouted event.
“I'm extremely happy for both Jason and Adam,” he said. “Jason does a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes for our organization, and he's someone our players and staff rely on every day. He puts a lot of time and effort into making sure our guys are taken care of, so it's great to see him recognized for that.
For Adam, it's a well-deserved opportunity,” added Cochrane. “He's a player who has continued to develop his game and has become an important part of our hockey club. His work ethic, compete level, and willingness to improve every day are things we really value. I'm excited for him to have the chance to compete alongside some of the best players in our league. It's a great recognition for both of them and something our organization can be proud of.”
Last week
The Wolverines had their winning streak snapped at seven Saturday night in Niverville in a classic clash against the Nighthawks.
Max Collyer (ninth) opened the scoring for the Wolverines in the second period, but before the period ended the Nighthawks would take a 2-1 lead. And that would be all the offense in this game as both netminders held the line the rest of the way.
Mariko Bercier made 25 saves while taking the loss.
Wolverines 5, Terriers 3
The Wolverines won their seventh straight Friday night, scoring twice in the second and third periods on their way to a 5-3 victory over the Terriers in Portage la Prairie.
Noah Oughton (fifth, sixth) scored twice – including the eventual game winner 6:42 into the third period. Blake Farthing (fifth), Max Collyer (eighth), and Dylan Duzan (sixth) had the other goals for the Wolverines. Collyer’s goal was a short-handed goal – the fourth for the team this season.
Mariko Bercier earned the win with a stellar 47-save effort.
Wolverines 4, Oil Capitals 1
An early-season battle for first place last Tuesday saw the host Wolverines rise to the occasion as they defeated the visiting Virden Oil Capitals 4-1. With the victory the Wolverines edged past the Oil Capitals into not only first in the division but first in the MJHL.
“I thought our guys played a really solid team game today,” says Cochrane. “We knew coming in that Virden is a very good hockey club. I think what makes us successful against them is our willingness to play a hard, direct game and stick to our structure.
“Our guys get excited for these types of games, and it's a good measuring stick for where we're at as a group,” he added.
Wayway earned their fifth of sixth points off Virden in a special matinee game which drew 505 fans – most of which were area students. The Wolverines held period leads of 1-0 and 3-1 and were in control of the game throughout.
Noah Oughton (fourth) opened the scoring for the home team with a short-handed goal in the first. Henry Thunderblanket (first) scored the eventual game winner in the second, while Jonah Lemoine (fourth, fifth) had the two insurance goals.
Wayway’s Blake Farthing and Virden’s Brooks Siemens also added some spice to the game with their third-period fight.
Wayway netminder Mariko Bercier earned the win with a stellar 30-save effort.
Up next
The Wolverines are back on the ice Friday night following a mid-week break for those taking part in the MJHL-SJHL Challenge. The Wolverines will host the Northern Manitoba Blizzard on Friday night, with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. The Blizzard won the only meeting between these two teams this season back in September.
Wayway also visits Selkirk on Saturday to take on the Steelers. The Wolverines are 1-0 against the Steelers this year.
The Wolverines also play next Tuesday as they host the Neepawa Titans, who they are also 1-0 against this season.
CLAW MARKS – The Wolverines now sport a record of 12-3-0-1, leaving them one point back of the Oil Capitals for first in the division and the league … The Wolverines also sport a league-best goals for and against at plus 29. They have scored 68 goals and only allowed 39.