On the road last Friday, the Oil Caps beat the Dauphin Kings, 6-4. Dauphin had come into the week leading the MJHL West and being ranked 14th in the county. The Virden team trailed 3-1 early in the second period but rallied to down the Kings.
“It was certainly a good win for our group and nice to see us stick with our game plan even when we got down in the game,” Oil Caps head coach Tyson Ramsey said.
Carson Buydens found the back of the net twice for Virden. Also scoring for the Oil Caps were Dylan Halliday, Bryden Kiesman, Colin Cook, and Tyler Thoendel. Braden Fischer recorded three assists. Virden netminder Ethan Kadatz earned the win with 27 saves on 31 shots.
The next night, the Oil Caps fell 5-1 at home to the Kings. Cook had Virden’s lone goal. Virden outshot Dauphin, 33-29. Kadatz made 15 saves on 20 shots before Eric Reid came on and turned away all nine shots he faced. Dauphin goalie Keaton Woolsey had 32 saves.
The Oil Caps enter the week with a 5-6-1-0 record. They sat fourth in the West – tied in points with the third-place Swan Valley Stampeders (5-6-0-1), the Oil Caps next opponent. The teams play in Swan River Friday and are in Virden on Saturday.
“The focus this week will be on our compete one-on-one and being consistent with that effort,” Ramsey said.
The Oil Caps’ schedule early this season pits the team against an opponent for four straight games split over two weekends. Virden captain Logan Rands said battling a team four consecutive games is something players “aren’t used to seeing in the regular season.”
“There have definitely been more rivalries forming quickly this year,” the veteran defenceman said. “After a couple games back to back, there is usually some bad blood that continues into the next weekend. I think it definitely makes the games a little more fun to play and brings some extra excitement for the fans.”
Some observers have remarked the weekend-focused schedule so far this season emulates college hockey, where many MJHL players aspire to play. The four games against the same squad are similar to some postseason situations.
“It definitely feels like the playoffs in a way, only playing the same team for four games straight,” Rands said. “I think the way the schedule is set up is really good for the younger guys to show them what the playoffs will feel like and prepare them for it.”
Notes: Kids in costume get in free to Saturday’s game and receive a treat bag. … Through Monday, Fischer was third in the league in points with 22, tied for fourth with 13 assists, and tied for fifth in goals with nine goals. … Former Virden Oil Capital Conor Geekie of the Winnipeg Ice has been graded as an “A” prospect in the National Hockey League Central Scouting’s 2022 NHL Draft preliminary players to watch list. The grade indicates the bureau expects the Strathclair product to be a first-round pick.
