Last week the Manitoba Junior Hockey League club won 5-1 in Waywayseecappo and fell, 2-1, to the OCN Blizzard at home. The latter game ended a five-game winning streak. As well, the OCN contest started a four-game home stand. The Oil Caps host the Neepawa Titans on Wednesday after the Empire-Advance deadline. The Virden team is 15-5-1-1 going into that game. The Winkler Flyers visit on Friday, while the Blizzard are here Sunday.
“It’s a privilege to get to play in front of the fans in Virden,” veteran Oil Caps defenceman Nolan Wallace said. “Every night they come out to support us, right from preseason all through the winter and into the spring. They never let us down and are always there to cheer us on. Our team and organization are extremely fortunate to have such a great community to be a part of.”
Oil Caps 5, Wolverines 1
The Oil Capitals exploded for four goals in the third period to beat the Wolverines 5-1 on the road Nov. 24.
“I think just getting back to our structure and bringing an extra effort in the third was something that allowed us to be successful,” Virden head coach Tyson Ramsey said. “We were not happy with our second period at all, and I think we were able to reset and get back to what we are good at.”
Virden’s own Bryce Bryant gave his squad a 1-0 lead in the first period. The Wolverines’ Jesiah Bennett knotted things up at 1-1 in the second. Just 40 seconds into the final frame, Naton Miller lit the lamp to give Virden the lead for good.
The goals kept coming. Josh Lehto, who led the MJHL in points with 30 in 22 games as of Monday, scored. Ethan Guthrie and Nolan Chastko also lit the lamp. Chastko was the league leader in goals with 15, as of Monday.
Defenceman David Bielik recorded three assists. As of Sunday, he was ranked sixth in the league in points by a defenceman with 19. Virden product Eric Reid stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced for the Oil Caps. For the hosts, Caleb Allen made 24 saves.
Blizzard 2, Oil Caps 1
OCN scored in the first and third periods to build up a 2-0 lead on Nov. 26. Chastko got the Oil Caps on the board with just less than five minutes to play, but they were unable to tie things up.
“OCN is a very good team that has excellent structure, and they are very consistent workers,” Ramsey said. “I was not unhappy with our game but obviously we need to do more to beat the top teams. It was a decent effort, but we are striving to be more than just decent.”
Reid made 24 saves. Tomas Anderson stopped 29 for OCN. The Blizzard’s Adam Belzil and Sam Zagari scored.
With Owen LaRocque injured, U18 AAA Southwest Cougars goalie Micky Gross from Cornwallis was called up to back up Reid for both games last week.
Catching up With
Kyle Salaway (2015-2018) now lives in Regina and works for SaskPower. Regarding his three seasons with the Oil Caps, he said:
“The community in Virden was great. The people I got to meet and the friendships I made were what I enjoyed most about my time there.”
The Estevan product played for Red Deer College after his time in Virden. He studied electrical engineering technology at that school.
