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The Virden Oil Capitals’ offence was on full display last week.

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League squad scored 16 goals over three games. It went 2-1 over that period. The Oil Caps beat the Waywayseecappo Wolverines, 7-4; fell to that team, 4-3; and defeated the Neepawa Titans, 6-3. The team enters the week with a 6-3-0-0 record. With 12 points, that tied them with the Dauphin Kings for tops in the MGEU West Division.

The Oil Capitals’ three-game home stand comes to a close when the Winkler Flyers visit on Oct. 17. The next night, the team is in Steinbach to play the Pistons. As of Oct. 12, the Pistons paced the MJHL with an 8-0-1-0 record.

Bryant Earns Star of the Week

Virden product Bryce was named one of MJHL’s Stars of the Week for Oct. 6-12. He collected five points, including four goals, over three games.

Oil Caps 6, Titans 3

At home, in front of 702 fans, the Virden squad outshot the visiting Titans, 40-26, on its way to a 6-3 victory. The Oil Capitals led 3-1 after the first period and 4-2 following the second. Dysen Drake scored the first two goals of his MJHL career and earned the First Star.

“I liked our start to the game and how we were able to stick with the plan when Neepawa pushed back in the middle part of the game,” Virden head coach Tyson Ramsey said. “Dysen is a very, very skilled player. He has a great brain for the game and can make plays that others are not able to, which was evident on both of his goals. We are very excited about the potential we see in Dysen.”

Bryant found the back of the net twice and recorded an assist. He was the Second Star. The game’s Third Star, Cohen Lewko, also scored. Virden’s other goal came from defenceman Rhylan Baxter, who also recorded an assist. Carson Wright assisted on two goals. Oil Caps goalie Micky Gross made 21 saves for his third straight win. Colten Worthington was named the team’s Hardest Working Player.

Neepawa’s goals came from Tyler Wamboldt, Keenan Skrupa, and Sebastian Hetterich. Titans netminder Alex Myers made 10 saves

on 13 shots in the first period. Zach Burleigh came on in relief and turned away 24 of the 27 shots he faced.

Wolverines 4, Oil Caps 3

The visiting Wolverines outscored Virden 2-1 in the second period to take the lead for good on Oct. 10 in Virden. The teams had been knotted at 2-2 after the first frame. London Hoilett and Noel Englot had the Oil Caps’ first period markers. Bryant scored in the second on a power play.

Ben Roulette had two goals for Waywayseecappo. Blake Farthing and Manson’s Kurt Rookes also scored for the Wolverines. Roulette and Rookes each recorded three points and were the First and Third stars, respectively. Hoilett was the Second Star. Wright was tabbed as the Hardest Working Player.

In front of 724 fans, Oil Capitals goalie Braxton Burdeny had 26 saves. Jase Wareham stopped 30 for Waywayseecappo.

Oil Caps 7, Wolverines 4

The Oil Capitals had a strong start on the road on Oct. 8 in Waywayseecappo. After Aidan Herring scored for the Wolverines, the Oil Capitals reeled off four goals to hold a 4-1 lead at the first break. Scoring for Virden were Oak Lake Beach’s Tyson Draper, Hoilett, Englot and Nate Schaefer.

In the second session, Waywayseecappo scored twice but the Oil Caps got one and held a 5-3 lead. Brooks Siemens scored for Virden. The Wolverines got goals from Mikey Thomas and Cale Livingston.

The Wolverines pulled to within one, 5-4, on a Sebastien Hicks marker 2:09 into the third period. The Oil Capitals scored twice to close out the game. Bryant and Hoilett, getting his second of the night, did the scoring. Hoilett was the First Star with three points. Draper and Liam Goertzen, who had two assists, were the Second and Third stars.

When asked what allowed his team to score seven goals, Ramsey said, “A good forecheck, with good feet and good sticks and, as a result, we were able to force turnovers and get pucks and bodies to the net.”

Burdeny made 22 saves. Mariko Bercier started in net for Waywayseecappo. He stopped eight of the 12 shots sent his way. Wareham played the final two period and made 15 saves.

Oil Caps’ offence producing in two wins last week

By Robin Wark