In the midst of a career best junior season, Virden Oil Capital Kyle Salaway said that he has developed and off the ice since coming to the community.
“I feel all parts of my game have improved since I've been here,” the 20-year-old, third-year forward said. “Having a bigger role and more ice time has given me a lot more confidence, which helps a lot.
“Off the ice, I've learned a lot from the older guys I've played with - how to act on the ice and away from the rink. It has really matured me as a person.”
With 13 goals and 31 points in 26 games, the Estevan product is on pace to post junior career-highs in goals and points. He was named the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Player of the Month for October with eight goals and 11 assists in 11 games. Last week Salaway had the game-winning goal in overtime and a three-point night as the Oil Capitals beat Waywayseecappo, 5-4.
“He is coming into his own this year. … He has got some confidence,” Virden head coach Troy Leslie said.
Last week Virden also thumbed Neepawa, 8-3, on the road. The two big wins improved the Oil Capitals’ record to 17-9-0-0. As of Monday, they sat fifth in the MJHL.
This week the team plays at Dauphin on Friday. The squad was slated to host Swan Valley on Tuesday and play in Portage on Wednesday after the Empire-Advance deadline.
In his last seven games, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Salaway has racked up six goals and nine points.
“He has got a big frame and he has a lot of patience around the net with the puck,” Leslie said. “He knows how to score.”
Salaway had 19 points with seven goals as a MJHL rookie in 2015-2016. Last season Salaway doubled that to post 38 points with 17 goals in 60 games. In his final Junior A season, the 20-year-old is on target to better those numbers. When asked about his success, Salaway was quick to credit his regular line mates.
“I think it's been a total line effort,” he said. “(Graeme) Hore, (Jeran) Knorr and myself have been together for most parts of the season now and are really starting to find some chemistry. We've gotten a lot more opportunities in different situations and it’s been a fun line to be a part of.”
Leslie said that the line has performed very well. He said their success speaks to the depth of Virden’s forward group.
Salaway said that everything about his three seasons in Virden has been a blast.
“Playing in a small community that really supports the team is great, but I'd have to say the best part is all the people you meet. I have made many close friends here and relationships that will last a lifetime.”
Zimmer Trade
The Oil Caps acquired talented Russell product Rylee Zimmer last week from the Portage Terriers in exchange for 19-year-old Braden Billaney. The last two seasons the 6-foot-2, 183-pound forward has helped the Flin Flon Bombers to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League finals. He had 17 points in 16 games for Portage this season.
“He is a very skilled guy,” Leslie said. “He’s offensive. He sees the ice very well. He is just a very good hockey player.”
Andrew to Cougars
Virden’s Tanner Andrew was reassigned to the Southwest Cougars midget AAA team. The 17-year-old had two goals and three points in 15 games. He is expected to be in the Oil Caps lineup at times as an affiliated player. The team was looking to get the rookie more ice time.
“Southwest will utilize Tanner in all areas of their game and their coaching staff has a strong belief in his abilities in helping carry their hockey club moving forward,” said Jamie Hodson, director of business and hockey operations for the Oil Caps. “I can’t say enough about the young man and look forward to what he does with Southwest for the duration of the season and with our team as well.”
Tin For The Bin
On Tuesday, the Oil Capitals collected non-perishable food items for the local Christmas Cheer program. The team will be collecting food again on Dec. 15 when they host the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
The Valleyview Co-op will be matching the cash value of the donations. The donations will help provide Christmas hampers for families in need.
WJAC
Rookie defenceman Justin Lee and trainer Hailee Dayman went to the Canada West selection camp for World Junior A Challenge. The camp ran Dec. 2-5 in Calgary. Dayman was the guest equipment manager at the camp, while Lee was trying to earn a spot to compete in the Challenge, which is Dec. 10-16 in Truro, N.S. The team was not announced yet when at the Empire-Advance deadline.
Fight Cancer Night
The Oil Capitals raised $3,410 last Thursday on Fight Cancer Night. Purple warm-up jereys were auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society.
“The Oil Caps organization is proud to be a part of this great initiative,” Hodson said. “Everyone has been affected by cancer in some way, shape or form, so any way our organization can join in on the fight against it, we’re going to do it.”
Oil Caps 5, Wolverines 4 OT
Salaway’s OT winner capped a game where the momentum seemed to swing on Nov. 30. In front of 870 at the Tundra Oil & Gas Place, Virden took a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Hore and Brayden Pawluk. In the second session, Tyler Kirkup scored for Virden but Waywayseecappo had three goals to tie the game at 3-3. Kirkup scored again in the third period to put his team up 4-3. The Wolverines were able to tie things up and force overtime.
Knorr had three assists. Ben Dalke had two assists in his return from injury. He had not played since Oct. 13. Virden goalie Dalton Dosch made 27 saves to improve his record to 5-2. Virden sent 52 shots at Isaac Labelle, who stopped 47 of them.
Virden 8, Neepawa 3
A six-goal second period offensive explosion gave the Oil Capitals control of their Dec. 1 contest in Neepawa. The Natives had led 1-0 after the first period, but found themselves trailing 6-2 at the second intermission.
“It seems like we had the puck most of the team,” Leslie said. “Guys were A. playing fast and B. moving the puck nice. We were really good that period.”
Newcomer Zimmer had two goals and three points. Dalke also lit the lamp twice. Also scoring for the Oil Capitals were Tristen Cross, Salaway, Knorr, and Dylan Thiessen, who had three points. Goalie Riley McVeigh had 26 saves for his 12th win of the season. The Oil Caps racked up 57 shots and forced Neepawa to use two goalies.
Slapshots
Knorr was a runner-up for the Recycle Everywhere MJHL Player of the Week. He had six points in two games last week. … Nov. 16’s game against OCN that was postponed due to bad weather will be played Jan. 11 at the Tundra Oil & Gas Place. … The Oil Capitals sent Alexender Leonidas to the Thunder Bay North Stars of the Superior International Hockey League for future considerations.
