Last week the Virden Oil Capitals signed two local players who certainly are familiar faces at the Tundra Oil & Gas Place.
Virden’s Tanner Andrew and Oak Lake’s Riley Wallace, as well as Brandon’s Brett Paddock, inked with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League team for next season. All three 2000-born athletes served as affiliate players last season.
The son of Brock and Andrea Andrew suited up for 15 games as a 17-year-old with the Oil Capitals last season. With a deep roster that made it all the way to the MJHL finals, the Oil Caps reassigned Andrew to the Southwest Cougars midget AAA team to continue his development. The forward posted an impressive 34 points, with 12 goals, in 28 games with Southwest.
“Tanner was put in a tough situation last year being sent to the AAA Midget Cougars on Dec. 1,” a statement on the Oil Caps website reads. “He handled it with a great attitude and only used the disappointment to better himself. He grew as a player last year with us and with the Cougars in his development both on and off the ice.”
Wallace and Andrew were Virden’s two local auto-protect picks in 2015. Wallace, the son of Tod and Penny, spent time with the Oil Caps in the preseason last winter and as backup as an AP. He had a 2.67 goals against average with the Cougars.
“He’s grown his skills in AAA midget with the Cougars and will get an opportunity to continue his development now at this level,” Oil Caps management stated on its website. “Riley will compliment returning goaltender Dalton Dosch very well. The goaltending tandem will push each other to be better every day in their craft.”
Paddock captained the Brandon Midget AAA Wheat Kings last winter. The forward had 22 goals and 74 points in 46 games.
Lewis steps away
After six seasons, Dale Lewis is stepping away from the Virden Oil Capitals. When the team moved to Virden in 2012, Lewis served as its first president. He succeeded in that role for five seasons. Last year he took on a new challenge and was an assistant coach to Oil Caps bench boss Troy Leslie. After helping the squad reach the MJHL finals for the first time, Lewis has opted to step away.
