The race to the 2025 Turnbull Cup playoffs is about to explode with intensity as the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) teams dive into their second-half schedules this Friday. The stage is set for thrilling matchups, high stakes, and unforgettable moments in the battle for playoff glory.
For most of the league's 13 teams, the action heats up at the end of the week, while Steinbach and Niverville gave fans a taste of the excitement on New Year’s Eve. Steinbach's commanding 6-3 victory over Niverville highlighted the razor-thin margins in a league where just eight points separate the top six teams. Every game counts, and every goal matters as teams jockey for position in both divisions.
In the West Division, the drama is already building to a fever pitch. The Dauphin Kings and Northern Manitoba Blizzard are deadlocked atop the standings, each with 43 points as the calendar flips to 2025. The rivalry between these two powerhouses has been electric, with three head-to-head clashes in December that saw Dauphin edge out two victories. The Blizzard, however, surged into the tie with a pre-holiday sweep of Neepawa, setting the stage for an epic second half.
Dauphin (21-8-1) holds a strategic advantage with five games in hand over the Blizzard and four over Neepawa, who sit just behind with 38 points. But in a division where anything can happen, every game is a potential game-changer. The Kings may be in the driver’s seat, but the Blizzard and the rest of the West are ready to hit the gas.
While the race for the top spot in the West will be an exciting one, the race for the final playoff spot in the division will be just as thrilling. Entering 2025, both Waywayseecappo and Virden have 24 points apiece.
Swan Valley finds themselves at the bottom of the West and while they're just eight points back of the final playoff spot, it is assumed that they will be sellers at the trade deadline which is just more than a week away (January 10). Despite winning only six games this year, the Stampeders have a tremendous trio of offensive producers led by Landen Gulutzan with 38 points, Will Brown with 31, and Adian Taylor with 28.
West Division Players to Watch: A Star-Studded Showcase
Dauphin Kings
- Cayden Glover: Lighting up the league with 23 goals—the most in the MJHL—paired with 14 assists. Glover is the definition of clutch.
- Naaman Hofer: The playmaker extraordinaire with 32 assists, leading the charge with his elite vision and puck distribution.
- Cole Sheffield: A rock between the pipes with 18 wins and 1,520 minutes played, more than anyone else in the league. If you want to score on Dauphin, good luck.
Northern Manitoba Blizzard
- Taye Timmerman: Ending 2024 on fire with 12 wins, including a jaw-dropping 42-save performance against Dauphin. A game-stealer in every sense.
- Marlen Edwards: A dual threat with 14 goals and 15 assists, and fresh off winning bronze with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge. Big-game player vibes.
Neepawa Titans
- Mason Hartley: Quietly lethal with 11 goals and 17 assists. Hartley is the engine driving Neepawa’s offense.
- Mason Lobreau: A netminder who thrives under pressure, with 10 wins and the ability to completely shut down opposing offenses.
Waywayseecappo Wolverines
- Jaxon Grosdidier: Consistently delivering with 12 goals and 14 assists. Watch for him to elevate his game in crunch time.
- Dru Mushumanski: A key depth contributor with 6 goals and 10 assists, ready to step up when it matters most.
Virden Oil Capitals
- Noel Englot: A steady producer with 12 goals and 15 assists, driving Virden’s playoff push.
- Bryce Bryant: With 7 goals and 13 assists, he’s already punched his ticket to Division I hockey at Bemidji State—expect him to play like he’s got something to prove.
Swan Valley Stampeders
- Landen Gulutzan: The total package with 14 goals and 24 assists, leading the Stamps in scoring and always a threat on the ice.
- Will Brown: Bringing the heat with 10 goals and 21 assists, consistently making big plays for Swan Valley.
- Aidan Taylor: Adding depth and firepower with 10 goals and 18 assists. The Stampeders’ offense is stacked.
These players are the ones to watch as the West Division amps up for a thrilling playoff chase. Whether they’re scoring goals, setting up plays, or locking it down in net, they’re set to be the difference-makers in the battles ahead.
The East Division is a hotbed of action, headlined by the Steinbach Pistons, who sit atop the standings with an impressive 24 wins in their first 32 games. Already a dominant force, the Pistons are poised to become even more dangerous as the trade deadline approaches.
At the heart of their success is Christian Green, who has been stellar in the net. Despite some struggles late in the first half, the 20-year-old has 18 wins and ranks near the top in all major goaltending statistics. Offensively, the Pistons are stacked. Since returning from the BCHL, Ty Paisley has tallied four goals and four assists, reaffirming his status as one of the league's premier offensive threats. Meanwhile, Connor Paronuzzi has been a revelation, racking up 47 points in 32 games. Add in the fact that nine players have at least 21 points, and Steinbach’s depth looks nearly unstoppable.
Just four points behind, the Winkler Flyers—the reigning champions—are mounting a strong defense of their title. With 22 wins and a red-hot streak to close out 2024, the Flyers are surging. Their final six games of the year included four consecutive shutouts, thanks in large part to second-year goaltender Liam Ernst. Ernst has been sensational, boasting 16 wins, a sparkling .941 save percentage, and a minuscule 1.56 goals-against average. Winkler is big, skilled, and exceptionally well-coached, making them a must-watch team in the second half.
The playoff race tightens just below, where Portage and Niverville are separated by only two points. Portage leans heavily on their 18-year-old goalie Mitchell Kathler, who has been a rock and ranks near the top in every major category. Niverville counters with Adam Vigfusson, currently third in league scoring and tied with Portage’s Cameron Bullinger.
For the Selkirk Steelers, the fight for a playoff spot is all too familiar. They find themselves three points behind Niverville in what’s shaping up to be another fierce battle for the final playoff berth. The Steelers will need to dig deep if they hope to keep their postseason dreams alive.
At the bottom of the division are the Winnipeg Freeze and Winnipeg Blues, two teams unlikely to make waves at the deadline. With few major assets, they appear set to stand pat and focus on building for the future.
As the East Division barrels into the second half, every game feels like a playoff showdown. The stakes are high, and the drama is just beginning.