Last weekend the Manitoba Junior Hockey League squad fell twice to the Winnipeg Blues, 7-3 and 4-3. The 15-16-2-0 team’s next challenge is the 23-8-0-0 Dauphin Kings, who sport the league’s second-best record. The teams start their four-game series on Friday in Virden with game two going Saturday in Dauphin.
“Dauphin has been one of the top teams all year and we will need to come ready to compete consistently and stick to our game plan,” Virden head coach Tyson Ramsey said. “We will need to defend well and limit offence from their very skilled defence group.”
In last weekend’s two game series against the Blues, Ramsey felt his team was inconsistent.
“Friday we did not compete hard enough, particularly in the early going,” the head coach said. “We got behind and ended up chasing the game much of the night.
“Saturday was a much better effort, but we again fell behind early and, against good teams, it's tough to battle back. I thought we out chanced them in the second half of the game, however, were unable to tie the game despite some good chances late in the third and their fourth goal is one we can't give up.”
On Friday, the Blues grabbed a 4-2 first period lead. They made it 5-2 in the second session. In the third period, Winnipeg increased the lead to 7-2 before Virden was able to score again. The Oil Capitals’ goals came from Nathan Driver, Colten Miller, and Evan Groening. Driver’s marker was his first goal after being acquired from the Winnipeg Freeze. Coming from the B.C. Hockey League, goaltender Bailey Monteith made his Oil Capitals’ debut. He stopped 20 of the 27 shots he faced. For Winnipeg, netminder Dawson Cowan made 20 saves. In the third period, Virden’s Branden Huminuk dropped the gloves with Joe Kraus, while Oil Cap Braden Fischer tangled with Michael Tanchak.
The Blues reeled off three goals in the first period on Saturday night in Virden. Driver got the Oil Capitals on the scoreboard with less than a minute and a half left in the opening frame. Neither team scored in the second period. Thirty-five seconds into the third period, Virden’s Colin Cook drew his team to within one, 3-2. Jake Dale responded for Winnipeg to make it a two-goal game again, 4-2. Defenceman David Bielik scored for Virden in the game’s final minute, but the Oil Capitals could not get any closer.
Eric Reid made 29 saves for the Oil Capitals. His counterpart, Dawson Green, had 31.
Signings
While the Oil Capitals are seeking success this season, they are also planning for the next. Last week the team announced letter of intent signings for defencemen Ethan Guthrie and Matthew Renville. The 6-foot, 180-pound Guthrie had four goals and 26 points through 30 games this season for his hometown Brandon U18 AAA Wheat Kings. He has played two games with Virden as an affiliated player this season.
A Winnipegger, the 5-foot-10, 177-pound Renville has five goals and 10 points in 28 games for the U18 AAA Winnipeg Bruins this season. He has also played as an AP for St. Boniface in the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League.
