Weekend Overview

Let's start with Manitoba, where the Wayway Wolverines are quietly STILL without a loss in regulation. I use the word quietly because I don't think many people outside of their dressing room expected a lot out of the Wolverines this season. Yes, it's early, and no, they haven't faced the likes of the Kings, Terriers, or Saints yet, but it's not a bad place to be (5-0-1). The top of the Sherwood is a log jam early on, with Wayway, OCN, Dauphin and Portage all within a point of eachother. The Wolverines and Blizzard are tied for first as of today, and meet tonight at the Rec Complex in Wayway in the league's only game of the night. How 'bout Jason Bowles? The 20-year-old Wolverine (pictured) leads the league with 18 points in 6 games (5-13). He had 5 points (2-3) in Saturday's 6-3 win in Beausejour, while linemate Dave Lamouche had 4 (2-2). Carey Dyck also picked up his first MJHL win in goal (35/38). Friday the Wolverines knocked off the always-dangerous Selkirk Steelers 5-2. Ira Gladue led the way with a goal and 2 assists, but the story was goaltender Jayme Janzen, who made 43 saves on 45 shots, as Wayway was out-shot 45-25 and still managed the win.

The Swan Valley Stampeders went 1-and-2 on a 3-game trip over the weekend. The Stamps lost 4-2 Friday in Portage, beat the Winnipeg South Blues 5-4 Saturday, then lost 5-1 to the Blues on Sunday. Saturday's game saw Myles Stevens (pictured) return from a 2-game suspension in a big way, racking up 5 points (2-3-5). Kyle Severson also found the offense, scoring a hat trick. Chris Ward faced 46 shots in the win. On Sunday Craig Cornelson scored a short handed goal 25 seconds into the game, but the WSB came back and potted the next 5.

The words "bounced back" could be used for both the Melville Millionaires and Yorkton Terriers this weekend. The Mils suffered their first loss of the season Saturday in Notre Dame. The Hounds won 4-3 thanks to 3 goals and 1 assist from Rylan Schwartz. Melville had second period goals from Aaron Decorby, Tyson Melnychuk and Shane Stanicky. Then Sunday, the Mils put 56 shots towards La Ronge goalie John Jobin in a 4-1 win on home ice over the Ice Wolves. Levi Lind had points on all 4 Melville goals (1-3), Daniel Hope had a pair of goals and an assist, while Shane Stanicky had a goal and a helper. The only other Millionaire to register a point was defenseman Kirk Mastad, who hit the score sheet for the first time this season. Travis Bosch, who's still played every minute in Melville's net, made 32 saves in his 5th win of the season. Through 6 games, Lind, Hope, Decorby and Kale Dolinski are all tied with 8 points to lead the team. The 5-and-1 Mils are tied with Yorkton for second in the Sherwood.

On Saturday La Ronge was in Yorkton to take on the Terriers. The Terriers took their first regulation loss of the season two nights earlier in Battlefords, and were given a scare on Saturday, but wound up getting the two points. Yorkton led 4-2 with a minute to go, before La Ronge scored with 28 seconds left, and again with just 2 seconds left to force overtime. Then Evan Neibrandt (pictured), with 2 goals on the night already, finished off the hat trick with only 7 seconds on the clock in overtime for the 5-4 (OT) Terrier win. Yorkton (4-1-2) is home again tomorrow (TUE) night against the 6-and-0 Humboldt Broncos.