As a 17-year-old rookie, Waskada’s Justin Lee has certainly proven he can compete in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
The Virden Oil Capitals defenceman was chosen as the MJHL’s IBAM Rookie of the Month for October. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Lee played in all situations and collected 13 points in 14 games from the backend.
“He has been really good,” Oil Caps head coach Troy Leslie said. “He is pretty committed on and off the ice. He works hard on his game.”
Last week the Oil Capitals beat the Dauphin Kings, 8-1, on Friday at Tundra Oil & Gas Place and 8-3, on the road on Saturday. As of Monday, Virden was fourth in the MJHL with an 11-5-0-0 record.
“It was a good weekend for us,” Leslie said. “The guys played hard. Everything was clicking.”
When asked about his team’s success against the Kings, the Virden bench boss said: “I think we did a really good job of possessing the puck. We made good decisions with it. … When you have the puck you aren’t having to play defence or chase it.”
This week Virden played Swan Valley on Wednesday after the Empire-Advance deadline. The Oil Capitals host Neepawa on Friday and tangle with the Winnipeg Blues on the road on Sunday. OCN visits the Tundra Oil & Gas Place on Nov. 16.
As of Sunday, Lee had 16 points, including two goals, in 16 games. Hometown product Tristen Cross and Lee were tied for the team lead in blue line points. Cross was a runner-up for the Sher-Wood MJHL Defenceman of the Month award for October. Of Lee, a Virden Collegiate student, Leslie said:
"He handles the puck well. He sees the ice well. He makes good, hard passes.”
The step up to the Junior A level can be hard for defencemen as their mistakes are often magnified by the red light going on behind their goalie. However, Lee has succeeded and turned heads.
“I think it comes from he is a pretty motivated kid,” said Leslie of Lee’s success. “He has some schools from down south talking to him.”
A first team all-star at the prestigious Mac’s international AAA midget hockey tournament in Calgary, Lee said he had to make some adjustments moving up to junior hockey.
“I think the biggest thing is the bigger guys who are faster and stronger on the ice and the pace of the game is faster as well,” Lee said.
He has been enjoying his rookie season.
“I love the fans and the atmosphere every night in our rink,” Lee said. “I think just the atmosphere day in day out that we have around the rink has just been great and everyone in the town is nice and the fans are so supportive. I love everything about Virden.”
Oil Caps 8, Kings 1
After eight days off the Virden Oil Capitals didn’t look rusty as they pummeled the visiting Kings, 8-1, in front of 759 on Nov. 3. Virden led 2-0 after the first period. The Oil Capitals scored three goals in a minute and eight seconds in the third period to take a stranglehold on the contest. Virden was up 6-1 at the second intermission.
Kolten Kanaski, Graeme Hore, and Virden’s own Tyler Kirkup each had two goals for the Oil Capitals. Jeran Knorr and Hunter Cloutier scored Virden’s other goals. Kirkup, Knorr and Kyle Salaway all had three points on the night.
Virden goalie Riley McVeigh allowed only one goal on 17 shots. The Oil Capitals threw a whopping 52 shots at the Dauphin net. The Kings were forced to use bothIsmael Ralsten (17 saves on 22 shots) and Matt Kustra (27 saves on 30 shots). Matthew Boren had Dauphin’s lone goal.
Oil Caps 8, Kings 3
One night later, this time on the road, three third-period goals sealed the game for Virden. Dauphin led 2-1 with about six minutes gone by in the first period. The Oil Capitals led 4-3 and 5-3 at the intermissions. McVeigh was much busier than the night before as he turned away 31 of the 34 shots he faced.
Salaway led the way for the Oil Capitals with two goals and four points. With his prolific points production, he was a runner-up for the Recycle Everywhere MJHL Player of the Week award. Dylan Thiessen, Cross, Kirkup, Hore, Braden Billaney, and Cloutier had goals for Virden.
Kustra made 44 saves on 52 shots. McCullough Park, who was with Virden early this season, Kyle Oleksiuk, and Riley Shamray scored for Dauphin.
Catching Up With
Ben Williams (2012-2015) is currently in his third year playing and studying at Red Deer College. The former Oil Caps captain and Souris product is pursuing a business management degree.
“I would say the things I most enjoyed about playing with the Oil Capitals is the sense of community around the team and seeing the fan support at all the games and all around the town,” said Williams, who billeted with Ryan and Kelli Potter. “Also being welcomed into a great billet family that made it feel like home.”
