Wolverines; Stampeders kick-off 2019/20 MJHL season with victories
The Swan Valley Stampeders opened up their 2019/20 MJHL season on a winning note on Friday night as they doubled up the Dauphin Kings 6-3 at the Centennial Arena in Swan River.
After a 1st period that the Stamps played pretty well, it was the visiting Kings that got the fortunate break to strike first as Cole DeKonick's long point shot would go off a leg in the high slot and go right back-door to 18 year old Nakodan Greyeyes who made no mistake to get the only goal of the 1st.
Shots after 1 were 14-7 for Swan.
The Stampeders would even it up 2:33 into the middle frame as 19 year old Nathan Carl would nab his 1st as a Stamp after taking a nice feed from Carter Cockburn. They would then grab their first lead of the night as 20 year old Quebec product Tommy Cardinal buried his 1st after a nifty feed from Luke Beerman to make it a 2-1 game. But the Kings would respond as after a big rebound, Leaam Tivers would grab it and beat a sprawled out Michael Davis to make it 2-2. Leyson Coleman who was named Captain of the Stamps earlier in the day would regain his team their one goal lead by taking a dish from Josh Maucieri (pictured above) and sniping it home. Cardinal would add his 2nd of the period late to help his team take a 4-2 advantage after 40 minutes of play.
After some great chances earlier in the game on the powerplay, they would finally convert on the PP as newcomer Frazer Dodd would re-direct a nice pass from Josh Maucieri again to make it a 5-2 game just 4:57 into the 3rd. But just under a minute later, Nakodan Greyeyes would add his second of the night to make it a one goal once again. But some insurance would be added late, as while on the penalty kill, Maucieri would cause a turnover at his own line and then go in alone on the breakaway and convert to complete the scoring and complete his 4 point opening night.
20 year old Michael Davis earn the victory between the pipes making 32 saves on 35 shots while his counterpart Mattias Smith turned aside shots in the losing cause.
The two teams will meet in the back-end of their season opening home and home on Saturday night from Dauphin's Credit Union Place with puck drop at 7:30PM MB time.
Elsewhere,
Jack Kennedy scored twice while Lonan Bulger netted his 1st MJHL goal as the Waywayseecappo Wolverines began their new season with a 4-1 victory over the Neepawa Natives on the road.
Jaymes Knee also scored for Wayway who got 15 stops from Thomson Phoney in the win.
Eli Lieffers had the lone marker for Neepawa.
The two teams will meet up once again on Saturday this time in Waywayseecappo.
Other Friday MJHL results:
Winnipeg 2 Portage 4
Virden 5 Selkirk 2
Winkler 2 Steinbach 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mils; Terriers both fall on home ice on Friday night
The Melville Millionaires had their 2 game win streak come to a end after falling 6-3 to the Melfort Mustangs in the Rail City.
Braden Larochelle, Jaden Hewes (1st SJHL goal) and Nic Porterfield (6th of the year) scored for the Mils in the loss.
Hunter Adams started for Melville and allowed 3 goals on 16 shots before being relieved by Kaleb McEachern who made 19 stops in relief.
The Mils' next game will be at the SJHL Showcase in Warman on Tuesday night at 7PM when they take on the Nipawin Hawks.
Meanwhile,
The Yorkton Terriers dropped their 3rd straight game losing 5-1 on home ice to the Notre Dame Hounds.
Jarrett Penner and Jake Dale scored twice to lead the Hounds while Chantz Petruic's 2nd of the season was the lone piece of offence for Yorkton.
Riley Kohonick won his 3rd straight start making 35 saves in the win while Terriers' G Phillipe Bond made 38 saves on 43 shots in the loss.
The Terriers' will kick off their SJHL Showcase in Warman on Tuesday morning at 10AM vs. the Melfort Mustangs.
Elsewhere in SJHL on Friday,
Humboldt 3 Flin Flon 5
Estevan 1 Kindersley
Nipawin 5 La Ronge 3