Last weekend was a bit bittersweet for the Virden Oil Capitals.
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League team, which is 6-7-1-1 this season, fell twice at home. Its 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Blues and Sunday’s 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Winkler Flyers did not take away from the two special events on Saturday.
The team handed out the Cole Hamblin Memorial Playoff MVP Award to Kolten Kanaski for his performance in last season’s playoffs. Kanaski paced Virden with eight goals and 13 points in 10 postseason games. The award is named for the late Hamblin, a former Oil Cap who lost his battle with cancer in 2014.
“Cole was an Eastman Select (U18 player) just like me, so receiving that award was a huge honour,” Kanaski said. “With that being said, hopefully we can make a nice playoff push again this year and bring a championship to Virden.”
On Saturday, the team also held a family skate after the game.
“It was fun having the young kids stay after the game to come skate with us,” third-year forward Jack Einarson said. “I think there were a lot more people (Saturday) than in the last couple previous years so it’s just awesome to see how much the community is supporting us in different ways.”
Blues 5, Oil Caps 2
The Winnipeg Blues took an early 2-0 lead on Saturday, but Kanaski got one back before the end of the first period. Winnipeg went up 3-1 in the second period and 5-1 in the third. Bradyn Smelski scored his first of the season to make the final, 5-2.
Virden outshot Winnipeg 41 to 24. Oil Caps goalie Dalton Dosch made 19 saves.
Flyers 4, Oil Caps 3
The Winkler Flyers scored the first two goals on Sunday. Einarson answered before the first intermission. The teams alternated goals from there. Winkler led 3-2 at the second intermission.
Kanaski and Virden’s own Tanner Andrew scored the Oil Capitals’ other goals. Riley Wallace of Oak Lake made 36 saves for Virden.
This Week
The Oil Capitals host Swan Valley on Saturday. This is the Halloween Faceoff game with kids in costume getting in for free. The Oil Caps are in Winkler on Sunday. The team caps October with an Oct. 29 road contest against Dauphin.
