Last week was a successful, record-setting one for the Virden Oil Capitals.
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League team went 3-0 last week to extend its winning streak to eight games, as of Sunday. Two of those wins came in front of scouts from various levels of hockey at the MJHL Showcase in Winnipeg.
The recent success improved the Oil Caps’ record to 18-11-1-4 this season after the weekend that put the squad in fifth place in the 11-team league.
Goaltender Dalton Dosch was a runner-up for the Recycle Everywhere MJHL Player of the Week.
“We had a pretty good week again,” Virden head coach Troy Leslie said. “Rolling right along.”
Leslie earned his 200thMJHL victory last Friday. In addition, Ben Dalke became the team’s career points leader.
“It was nice to reach the two milestones together,” Leslie said. “Ben has been a big part of this organization.”
Leslie Reaches Milestone
Leslie has been the team’s lone head coach since the franchise moved from Winnipeg to Virden in 2012.
“It is certainly more an organization success than an individual success,” Leslie said. “It is a reflection of all the people we’ve had here.”
He said, “Any coach knows you don’t get wins without good players.” Leslie praised the players, scouting staff, assistant coaches, and other members of the organization he has worked with over the years. The Elkhorn product is pleased to have success in the area where he grew up.
After his accomplishment, several former Oil Caps took to Twitter to congratulate him. Zach Whitecloud, now a pro in the American Hockey League, tweeted, “Congratulations Troy on reaching 200. Will always be grateful for this organization and its only head coach for giving me an opportunity when nobody else would. Great person and great coach. On to the next milestone!”
Dalke Breaks Record
Last week Dalke surpassed former teammates Dylan Thiessen, Devan Schram and Virden’s Tyler Kirkup to become the Oil Capitals’ all-time points leader. The trio are all tied at 157. After the weekend, Dalke had 161 points in his fourth season with the team.
“It is an honour to be the points leader here,” he said. “It’s beyond what I could have imagined coming into the league and it makes it that much better to do it for such a great organization.”
While the record recognizes Dalke’s points producing prowess, Leslie praised the captain for his leadership. He said he sets the example for interacting with the community and for playing the game the right way.
Leslie emphasized the importance of the leadership of Dalke and the other captains to the team this season. “He takes a lot of pride in how he helps lead this organization.”
Dayman Helps Medal Winners
Oil Capitals athletic trainer Hailee Dayman was a member of the staff that helped Team Canada West win the bronze medals at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge in Bonnyville. The Estevan product is in her second season in Virden.
This Week
Virden wraps up the 2018 portion of its schedule with a Saturday night tilt in Dauphin. Earlier this week the team played in Selkirk on Tuesday and hosted Winnipeg on Thursday.
Oil Caps 8, Flyers 2
Less than six minutes into the game, Brett Paddock caused stuffed animals to be thrown onto the ice as his power-play marker was the home team’s first goal of the night on Dec. 14 for the Virden Truck and Trailer Teddy Bear Toss. The Oil Caps kept lighting the lamp from then on. They held leads of 3-0 and 6-2 at the intermissions and prevailed 8-2.
Displaying the team’s depth, eight different Oil Caps scored. In addition to Paddock, goals came from Jack Einarson, Tristan Thompson, Hunter Cloutier, Dalke, Blake Sidoni, Dylan Halliday, and Kolten Kanaski. Dalke had three points on the night, while Thompson, Cloutier, Sidoni, Halliday, Kanaski, and Tristen Cross all had two.
On the other end, Dosch made 23 saves on 25 shots. The Oil Caps kept the Flyers goalies busy with 42 shots on net.
The game, with 1,033 in attendance, was the second Valleyview Co-op Tin for the Bin night. Combined the events collected $750 worth of food, which the Valleyview Co-op matched so a total donation of $1,500 was made to Virden Christmas Cheer.
Oil Caps 2, Pistons 1
Area players showed well in the Oil Capitals’ second game at the MJHL Showcase on Dec. 12. After two scoreless periods in Winnipeg, Cross – who is from Virden – scored the game’s first goal.
Steinbach was able to match it. However, Cross got his second of the day in overtime. Oak Lake’s Riley Wallace made 28 saves on 29 shots to backstop the team to a 2-1 victory.
“(Tristen) was a difference maker in that game, as was Riley Wallace. … (Riley) really kept us in early,” Leslie said.
Oil Caps 4, Flyers 2
The Oil Capitals got their MJHL Showcase stint started by using a three-goal third-period to propel themselves to victory on Dec. 11. Winkler had led 1-0 in the first period, but Virden tied things up at 1-1 in the second. The Oil Caps outscored the Flyers 3-1 in the final period.
Leslie said the team did not play its best hockey but found a way to win, which it was not doing earlier in the season.
Scoring for Virden were hometown product Tanner Andrew, Brayden Pawluk, Dalke and Jayden Wojciechowski. Dosch had 34 saves.
