The Oil Caps beat Dauphin 4-1 on the road last Friday. At home on Saturday, the Virden squad triumphed 4-2. The victories helped the Oil Caps move up two spots in the MJHL MGEU West Division standings to third. As of Monday, Virden had a 30-20-1-0 record. Regarding the team’s success versus Dauphin, Virden head coach Tyson Ramsey said:
“I thought we played a very consistent game both nights. Friday night, I didn't like our first period. I thought we were tentative and lacked execution but after that and into Saturday I thought we did a good job of defending, transitioning from defence to offence and creating chances. I was impressed with our group.”
Homegrown netminder Eric Reid allowed only three goals over two games. Ramsey said Reid was “very solid.”
“He gave us a chance to win both nights, made some solid saves and cover ups when we were under pressure to allow us to get a change, catch our breath or recover defensively,” the coach said. “He has been very solid for us, and our guys feed off of his confidence in the net.”
The Oil Capitals hope to extend their winning streak to four games when they play the Winnipeg Blues this weekend. The teams clash in Virden on Friday and Winnipeg on Saturday.
Last week Ray Charles was honoured the Oil Capitals Volunteer of the Month, sponsored by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries. The longtime Oil Caps volunteer runs the team’s score clock.
On Saturday night, the Oil Caps jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead at home on goals by Roux Bazin, on a powerplay, and Joey Bielik. After a scoreless second, two Kings’ goals knotted the contest at 2-2 with less than three and a half minutes remaining. The Oil Caps responded with Colten Miller and Josh Lehto lighting the lamp to lift Virden to a 4-2 victory. Reid made 28 saves.
“I think our group has come a long way in understanding that there are momentum swings within a game, and we have done a very good job of not getting caught up in that and losing our focus,” Ramsey said. “Our bench was good after the two goals against, and we have belief in each other and the group as a whole. That's a very powerful thing and certainly will be important moving forward.”
Davis Chorney was selected as the Gardewine Hardest Working Player. Colten Miller was the first star. Bielik was tabbed as the second star. Bazin took third star honours. Scoring for Dauphin were Owen Wareham and Mason Smith. Kings goalie Cole Sheffield had 35 saves.
On Friday, Virden led 1-0 and 3-1 at the intermissions on its way to a 4-1 win. Bazin, Bielik, Dean Gorchynski, and Andrew Blocker scored for the Oil Caps. Reid stopped all but one of the 24 shots that came his way.
Alex Senf scored Dauphin’s lone goal. Sheffield made 29 saves on 33 shots.
