We’re heading into the final stretch of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) regular season, and the battle for playoff spots is reaching a fever pitch. With just two weeks left, every game is a high-stakes showdown—some teams are fighting for better positioning, while others are scratching and clawing to stay in the race.
Buckle up, because the drama is about to hit its peak. Let’s dive into what promises to be an electrifying finish to the MJHL season!
MGEU West Division: (as of February 26, 2025)
1st place - Dauphin Kings (32-15-2-1)
After finishing a stretch that saw them play 13 games in 24 days, the Dauphin Kings earned a well-deserved break. Following Sunday's win against the Winnipeg Blues, Dauphin does not play again until Friday when they make the short trip to Neepawa to play the Titans.
Dauphin holds a six-point lead over Northern Manitoba as they chase a West Division crown. Just as February was hectic for the team, March continues that trend. Including Friday, Dauphin plays eight games in 16 days.
The team's final regular season game is at Credit Union Place on March 15 against Waywayseecappo. The team will continue to play Friday without three of their best offensive producers Cayden Glover (upper-body), Madden Murray (upper-body), and Havryil Simchuk (lower-body) remaining out for Dauphin.
Dauphin has proven time and time again that even without their top players, they can compete and beat the powers in the league. They beat Winkler earlier this month, beat Niverville, and played Steinbach very tight.
Despite Simchuk, Murray, and Glover still sidelined, the Dauphin Kings refuse to back down. They've proven they can battle with the league’s best, and once they get their firepower back—watch out. This is a team that not only believes they can make a run but is ready to shake up the playoff picture when the time comes.
2nd place - Northern Manitoba Blizzard (30-19-0-1)
They brought in another American goalie with the hopes he would be as dominant as Tomas Anderson was last year. Alex Reedy has not lived up to the hype, however, Taye Timmerman has come in and slammed the door. The 17-year-old rookie out of Winnipeg has been sensational for the Blizzard, with 18 wins, and ranking fourth with his 2.46 goals-against average.
Beyond the crease, few teams in the league can match the relentless work ethic of the Northern Manitoba Blizzard. They may not boast the deepest offensive arsenal but make up for it with grit, tenacity, and a never-back-down mentality. Led by 20-year-old Miguel Bouvier and his impressive 60 points, this team is in your face every shift, making life miserable for their opponents. Quincy Supprien is one of the fastest players in the league and plays tenacious while Marlen Edwards, who won a bronze medal with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge, has 37 points and is a workhorse.
This team may have taken a slight step back from last season when they pushed Steinbach to seven games in the semi-final, but they aren't a team to take lightly. They will grind and attempt to break teams down. They're looking to chase down Dauphin while staying ahead of Neepawa, which would guarantee home ice in the first round of the playoffs.
3rd place - Neepawa Titans (27-19-2-3)
Big props to what hometown star Ken Pearson has done with the Titans. Neepawa is heading to the Turnbull Cup playoffs, but they're not satisfied. While catching the Kings is unlikely, chasing the Blizzard certainly is.
Neepawa enters the weekend just two points back of Northern Manitoba for second place. Neepawa recently lost the services of one of their top defenders as Ryan Gower of McCreary has joined the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Neepawa has beaten all the top teams in the league and after they were embarrassed against Dauphin in a 7-1 loss on February 14, the Titans have caught fire with wins in four straight.
They've scored 21 goals in that time while only allowing eight. Neepawa's schedule for the remainder of the regular season is by no means easy and it doesn't help that the Blizzard have a game in hand on them, but never say never.
The Titans host Dauphin on Friday night. You can hear that game with Darnell Duff here on 730CKDM, beginning with the Parkland Source for Sports pregame show at 7:20.
4th place - Waywayseecappo Wolverines (21-28-2-1)
Everyone in the community of Waywayseecappo is chanting 'Mariko, Mariko'.
Acquired by the Wolverines from the Notre Dame Hounds earlier this season, Mariko Bercier brought his best game to the Arena Complex on Tuesday as the Wolverines earned two critical points. The 18-year-old turned away all 32 shots he faced in a 1-0 win. That gave the Wolverines a three-point lead over Virden for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West. Keep in mind that the Oil Capitals could cut that to a single point if they beat the Blues on Wednesday night.
They were dealt a blow when Dru Mushumanski left the team and joined the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), but the Wolverines, led by first-year head coach and general manager Landyn Cochrane have stuck with the process.
Jaxon Grosdidier leads the Wolverines' attack with 46 points while welcoming back Jack Clarke provides the team with a massive boost up front. Clarke had 52 points last year with the team before starting this year with the Kenai River Brown Bears in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). Fuelled by great community support, the Wolverines are a great organization from top to bottom and a return to the playoffs is certainly within their grasp.
5th place - Virden Oil Capitals (20-29-1-1)
They spoiled the Ukrainian Night party and beat the Dauphin Kings late in January. One week later, they embarrassed the Kings in an 8-0 win. It looked like the Tyson Ramsey-led Virden Oil Capitals could run away with the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division.
Now heading into their game on Wednesday, they're in chase mode and things won't be easy. Following Wednesday's game against Winnipeg, the Oil Capitals have six games left, five of which come against playoff teams. This includes two against Neepawa and one each against Niverville and Steinbach.
They improved when adding Loic Morin at the deadline and started to roll through the beginning of February. Come the middle of the month, Virden has completely cooled off, with losses in six straight. Barring an upset, they would come within a single point of the final playoff spot on Wednesday.
The battle for the final playoff spot in the West is set to be an all-out war—who will seize it when the dust settles? Meanwhile, the race at the top is just as intense. Can Northern Manitoba close the gap on Dauphin? Will Neepawa surge past the Blizzard to claim home ice for the first round of the dance? Buckle up, because the final stretch is going to be a thriller!
The West Division playoff race is a dogfight, but the same can’t be said for the East. While the Niverville Nighthawks haven't officially punched their ticket, their magic number sits at three—meaning it would take a complete meltdown and a miracle for them to miss out. As for Selkirk, their postseason hopes are almost extinguished, setting them up for another year on the outside looking in.
1st place - Winkler Flyers (40-7-3-1)
It's rare for a reigning champion to be a championship contender the following season in junior hockey—rosters turn over, key players move on, and the competition only gets tougher. That was the challenge facing Winkler after last year’s title run, as they bid farewell to several top talents, including Dalton Andrew (now at NCAA Division 1 powerhouse UND), Trent Penner, Jakob Jones, and Zach Nicolas. Yet, despite the departures, the Flyers haven’t missed a beat, proving that championship pedigree runs deep in Winkler.
Winkler returned a great nucleus. Jayce Legaarden is back and leads the team with 60 points while Brody Beauchemin, who was also a key piece to last year's team, is back and is second in team scoring with 57 points.
Between the pipes, Liam Ernst has been nothing short of spectacular. Remarkable? Sensational? Breathtaking? Take your pick—because night after night, he’s putting on a goaltending clinic and proving why he’s one of the league’s elite. He leads the league with eight shutouts, has 27 wins, and a 1.63 goals-against average that is the best in the league, and it's not even close. The next closest is Mitchell Kathler of Portage who has a 2.25 goals-against average. Isaiah Peters leads all defencemen in scoring with 49 points and can't forget about Nicholas McKee whose 55 points are eighth-best in the MJHL.
Since a 2-1 loss against Dauphin on February 9, the Flyers have won seven straight games. They play Steinbach on March 1, Portage on March 9, and other than that, four of their games come against teams that will not make the playoffs and they also play Waywayseecappo. They're firmly in a position to clinch the East Division crown and home-ice advantage for as long as they make it in the playoffs.
2nd place - Steinbach Pistons (38-10-2-1)
They're the highest-powered offence in the league with 228 goals while only allowing 123. Ty Paisley was a massive addition to the team early in the season as he can take over a contest with his great speed and sweet release. Add Noah Szabo on the back end and Connor Paronuzzi, who is well on his way to the scoring crown, the Pistons are primed for a deep playoff run.
They're also the hottest team in the league with eight straight wins. They have scored at least four goals in five straight games, including a 10-goal explosion on February 15 against the Blues. Much anticipation continues to build as Steinbach is close to moving into their new arena, the Southeast Event Centre for the final two games of the regular season on March 14 and 15. They've been playing at the HyLife Centre in LaBroquerie for the past two seasons and have certainly made the most of it, going 47-4-2-1 on home ice in the regular season over the past two years.
There aren't many flaws in Steinbach's game. They can score, and play a tight-checking defensive game and Christian Green has been steady between the pipes. He's won a league-leading 31 games and is second behind Cole Sheffield (2419) in minutes played (2393).
Steinbach is legit and just like every year, they are contenders and will be a tough out come the playoffs.
3rd place - Portage Terriers (37-13-0-1)
They play on Wednesday night which means their statistics will change. Portage’s backbone this season? Look no further than Mitchell Kathler. The rookie sensation from Airdrie has been nothing short of outstanding, racking up 25 wins while posting a rock-solid .922 save percentage and a stingy 2.25 goals-against average. Calm, composed, and clutch—Kathler has been the difference-maker the Terriers needed.
The Blake Spiller-led Terriers are a well-oiled machine that can win games in a multitude of ways. They'll light up the scoreboard if need be and are perfectly fine winning a 2-1 game. Led by Cameron Bullinger's 59 points, Portage has seven players with 26 points.
There are some lingering questions surrounding the Terriers after a tough 5-1 loss to Swan Valley over the weekend. However, let’s not forget—they were on a four-game win streak before that hiccup. Every top team has its off nights, and that defeat doesn’t define their potential.
One thing is clear: Portage has the tools to make a deep run, but their fate will largely rest on the shoulders of Kathler. The playoffs are a different beast entirely, and if Kathler continues his stellar regular-season form, the Terriers have the firepower to contend. With just four points separating them from Steinbach and a favourable schedule ahead, the race for home-ice advantage is far from over. Can they catch the Pistons, or will they fall short in the final stretch? Only time will tell.
4th place - Niverville Nighthawks (30-16-2-1)
They play Portage on Wednesday so things will change a bit. What won't change, however, is the fact that the recent play of the Nighthawks has turned them into contenders in the MJHL. Led by the solid goaltending of Austin Dubinsky, Niverville has strung together an excellent stretch of hockey.
While Niverville has lost three of their last four games, they strung together seven straight wins before that. Adam Vigfusson leads Niverville with 56 points but has been held out of the lineup because of injury as of late. The addition of the smooth-skating Sean Williams was key and Merik Boles has been producing at an elite level, with 46 points in 49 games. Matteo Speranza, who scored the overtime winner against Dauphin on Saturday as a part of a two-goal performance, has 38 points. This is a very well-rounded Niverville team who have seven players with at least 23 points.
While they are contenders, the real question is, can they get past the Winkler Flyers? They have been outscored 7-3 against the Flyers in their past two games and to beat Winkler four times in a seven-game span is daunting.
Wrap-up:
Playoff hockey is almost here, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. In the East Division, two powerhouse teams will see their championship dreams crushed in the opening round, while in the West, the battered but resilient Dauphin Kings are clinging to the top spot. Meanwhile, the battle for the final playoff berth in the West is shaping up to be a dramatic fight to the finish.
As for Selkirk, their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. A scorching 10-0 start gave way to a brutal 13-22-3-2 skid, leaving them needing a near-miracle to sneak in.
Buckle up, hockey fans—the Turnbull Cup chase is about to hit full throttle!
