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Friday, March 14, 2025

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Hometown products Ty Plaisier and Bryce Bryant took home some hardware, while Noel Englot was named the Most Valuable Player when the Virden Oil Capitals presented their annual awards last week.

The event took place after the Manitoba Junior Hockey League team’s final home game of the regular season on March 6. In his second season with the team, Englot was tabbed as the Still Water Adventures Most Valuable Player. As of March 8, the forward from Candiac, Sask. led the Oil Caps with 40 points in 55 games. He was tied for the team lead in goals with Liam Goertzen, who joined the team in January. Both had 17. Against Swan Valley earlier this season, Englot recorded four goals and five points. What allowed him to have a successful season?

“I think it’s just been being more confident with the puck and having the trust in myself to make plays and put the puck in the back of the net,” Englot said.

Plaisier received a trio of awards last week. The son of Shawn and Debra Plaisier was named the team’s Gardewine Hardest Working Player. He shared the Cross Plumbing & Heating Top Defenceman Award with team captain Ethan Guthrie. After the votes were tallied, Plaisier received the Fountain Tire Fan Choice Award. In all three of his Oil Caps’ seasons so far, he has won or shared the honour.

“It meant so much that I had the support from the fans and the team,” Plaisier said of the trio of awards. “The fan favourite award is one that I am super proud to have been picked for. In Virden, we have the best fans and community in the MJHL, and I am lucky to be a part of that.”

This season Plaisier had three goals and 17 points in 41 games, as of March 8. Through that date, Brandon’s Guthrie had recorded five goals and 20 points over 55 games in his final junior season.

Bryant took home two awards. He was named the CIBC Most Sportsmanlike Player. As well, the son of Daren and Roanne Bryant shared the Twin Valley Co-op Three Star Award with Luke Robson. The awards are indicative of the success Bryant has had in his second junior campaign. As of March 8, the forward was second on the team with 36 points in 41 games. He had 13 goals. Of his successful second season, Bryant said:

“I’ve really enjoyed the grind of the second half and the commitment the team has made to push toward the playoffs. It’s been up and down but in the end it’s another day at the rink working towards the same goal and that’s what’s the best about it.”

Robson is capping his junior career with a strong season.The forward from Carberry had 11 goals and 24 points, as of March 8.

Tyler Dodgson was named the Wallace District Fire Department Unsung Hero. The defenceman from Winnipeg, who is in his last season, was fifth on the team in scoring, as of March 8. He had 27 points, including 13 goals, in 55 games.

“Tyler does a lot of little things on and off the ice,” Virden head coach Tyson Ramsey said. “He is the first in the gym, first to the rink and has quietly scored some big goals for us. He is a natural leader and mature beyond his years. He plays a ton of minutes and competes hard.”

Moosomin’s Marshall Light shared the Alexandria Hotel Most Improved Player Award with Bottineau, N.D.’s Brooks Siemens. As of March 8, Light was fourth on the team in scoring. He had 15 goals and 28 points in 55 games this season. That surpassed the nine goals and 15 points the forward posted in the previous season split between the Oil Caps and the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Battlefords North Stars. In Siemens’ rookie season, the forward has made great strides while recording three goals and nine points in 31 games. Seven of his points have come since Jan. 1.

Brett Sabel received the Black Gold Trucking Top Defensive Player Award. It was the second time the graduating player from Fond du Lac, Wisc. has won the award in his three-year junior career.

Calgary’s Carson Wright quickly immersed himself into life in Virden. The rookie earned the Sunrise Credit Union Most Community Minded Award. He is the team’s RBC Community Ambassador.

Goertzen joined the Oil Capitals in January. He quickly made an impact. The forward from Homewood had eight goals and 12 points in 20 games with the Oil Caps, as of March 8. Overall, he recorded 17 goals and 34 points in 50 games. Goertzen’s successful first season was recognized with the Silverline Oilfield Services Rookie of the Year Award.