FINAL UPDATE - January 29 - 7:00 p.m.
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League has defended home ice.
Taye Timmerman (Northern Manitoba) and Brett O'Halloran (Kindersley) put on a show for their respect clubs between the pipes, however, it was Team MJHL 18U that got the last shot in as Max Lavoie (Winkler) scored in the 15th round of the shootout in a thrilling 2-1 win for Manitoba.
After Lavoie scored, Timmerman made a game clinching save to give Manitoba its fourth straight win after a tough start. Gavin Nemis was on Team MJHL for this week.
This was the second straight exceptional game for these two teams as they also took part in a shootout on Tuesday, which was won by Team MJHL.
Both leagues will resume league play on Friday, the Dauphin Kings are heading to Virden to play the Oil Capitals. Darnell Duff will have the call of that game, beginning with the Parkland Source for Sports pregame show at 7:20.
What a week it was in Manitoba's capital and now it's time for the MJHL to continue its push to the Turnbull Cup playoffs.
UPDATE #5 - January 29 - 4:00 p.m.
The first two games did not go the way Team MJHL hoped for. They gave up 14 goals and lost two straight. Since the all-stars from Manitoba have been firing on all cylinders.
After a masterful performance from Dauphin Kings goaltender Cole Sheffield on Wednesday morning, Team MJHL picked up their third straight win during the afternoon session as six different all-stars from Team MJHL 20U Red scored in a 6-4 win against Team SJHL 20U White.
Isaiah Peters (Winkler), Brody Beauchemin (Winkler), Quincy Supprien (Northern Manitoba), Adam Vigfusson (Niverville), and Sean Williams (Niverville) all scored a goal apiece. Grandview star and Winkler Flyer forward Jayce Legaarden had the other goal paired with one assist. Austin Dubinsky (Niverville) earned the win in net.
Reilley Kotai (Melfort), Jaron Desnoyers (Yorkton), Dustin Renas (Yorkton), and Jacob Strizzi (Humboldt) responded for Team SJHL and Justen Maric (Battlefords) received the loss in net.
Manitoba will look to win its fourth straight game on Wednesday evening when Gavin Nemis and the 18U all-stars from Manitoba take on the 18U all-stars from Saskatchewan.
UPDATE #4 - January 29 - 1:00 p.m.
All hail King Sheffield.
The Dauphin Kings star goaltender dazzled on Wednesday as Team MJHL 20U Black beat Team SJHL 20U Gold, 5-1, to wrap up their two-game event. Sheffield made 43 saves in the game, 21 of which came in the third. Sheffield made a penalty shot save late in the second period, propelling his team to victory.
Sheffield was named the CCM Star of the Game.
Cayden Glover (Dauphin) also had a great performance with two assists while Cameron Bullinger (Portage) led the way for Team MJHL with two goals. Matteo Speranza (Niverville), Grady Hoffman (Steinbach), and Nolan Nenow (Portage), all scored a goal apiece for Team MJHL. Anthony Piccininno (Flin Flon) responded for Team SJHL.
Sheffield, Glover, Naaman Hofer, and Matthew Thomas will now return to Dauphin, practice on Thursday, and board their charter bus on Friday as the team resumes regular season play at Tundra Oil & Gas Place against the Virden Oil Capitals.
Gavin Nemis of Dauphin will play in the 18U all-star game on Wednesday evening.
UPDATE #3 - 9:00 p.m.
What a finish to day one of the MJHL/SJHL Showcase in Winnipeg.
It took seven rounds and 14 shooters combined, a stop by Mitchell Kathler of the Portage Terriers and Team MJHL 18U earned a win on Tuesday night. The final was 3-2 in a shootout.
After dropping the first two games, Team MJHL was looking to salvage a win and that's what they did. Esteban Cinq-Mars (Northern Manitoba) and Adam Matar (Winnipeg Blues) did the scoring for Manitoba while Ethan Sautner (Kindersley) and Rylan Wieler (Kindersley) responded for Team SJHL 18U.
Mitchell Kathler made 27 saves in net for the MJHL.
Both 20U teams from the MJHL and SJHL will battle once more on Wednesday and Wednesday night will see these same 18U teams play a rematch.
League play resumes Friday with Dauphin in Oil Country to play the Oil Capitals.
UPDATE #2 - 5:00 p.m.
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's biggest guns are on full display, at the expense of Team Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
In the second game of the Showcase in Manitoba's capital, Keenan Ingram (Yorkton), Zac Somers (Melfort), and Jacob Strizzi (Humboldt), all scored two goals apiece while Kristian Coombs (Melfort) turned away 18 shots in a commanding 9-4 win over the Team MJHL 20U Black.
Christian Green (Steinbach) had no answer to a high-powered SJHL roster. Team SJHL opened up the floodgates with six goals in the second period before scoring another three in the third.
Decker Mujcin (Portage) scored twice while Wyatt Witham (Selkirk) and Matteo Speranza (Niverville) scored one goal apiece.
Team MJHL will have one more chance to finish day one with a victory when Gavin Nemis and the 18U all-stars hit the ice at the Seven Oaks Sportsplex.
UPDATE #1 - 3:00 p.m.
Jayce Legaarden notched an assist, however, there wasn't much else going on for Team MJHL 20U Red.
Opening the Showcase at the Seven Oaks Sportsplex, Legaarden assisted on the team's goal scored by Brody Beauchemin as Team MJHL took a 1-0 lead, but they lost 5-2.
Team SJHL, led by a few stars from the Flin Flon Bombers, scored three straight. Anthony Piccininno, Keefe Gruener (both of Flin Flon) and Ethan DeKay (Weyburn)
Niklas Gudmundson (Winkler) brought Team 20U Red back within a goal for Manitoba, but that was as close as they would get. Kent Moors (Estevan) and Jerome Maharaj (Weyburn) scored to seal a 5-2 opening victory for Team SJHL.
Jayce was named his team's Star of the Game.
NEXT: Team MJHL 20U Black vs Team SJHL 20U White. This game features Naaman Hofer, Cole Sheffield, Cayden Glover, and Matthew Thomas.
It's a clash between Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is going up against the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) at a Showcase in Winnipeg at the Seven Oaks Arena. 60 of the top players from each league made the cut.
Five Dauphin Kings are at the event. Cole Sheffield, Naaman Hofer, Cayden Glover, Gavin Nemis, and Matthew Thomas. Jayce Legaarden of Grandview is playing on Team 20U Red. Glover, Hofer, Thomas, and Sheffield are on Team 20U Black. Gavin Nemis of the Kings is on Team 18U White.
The event features scouts at all levels including the professional ranks and collegiately. Stay tuned throughout the next two days to find out how Team MJHL did.
