Neepawa Titans looking for consistency

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This article was published 27/12/2022 (1135 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Neepawa Titans headed into the holidays with their longest win streak of the 2022-23 Manitoba Junior Hockey League season.

Thanks to their 7-4 triumph over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines at the Yellowhead Centre on Dec. 20, the 14-14-6-1 Titans rattled off three straight victories and were four points back of the Wolverines and Dauphin Kings for the last playoff spot in the West Division.

For Titans head coach and general manager Ken Pearson, the team’s recent play is a welcome sight after an inconsistent start to the campaign.

“We battled some injuries early and lost some tight games, but we’ve played a lot better over the last little bit here and that’s been reflected in our results,” Pearson said.

“If we can figure things out a little bit more and play with some more consistency, I think that will set us up in a good spot here down the stretch.”

The Titans had a balanced attack offensively in the first half as 12 players reached the double-digit mark in points.

“We don’t have a 50-goal guy so to speak that’s going to find the net for us every night, but we do have different lines that are stepping up for us in each game,” Pearson said.

“We have good depth on all four lines and we’re playing good hockey for the most part. Now that we have everyone back in the lineup, we’re hoping to see that play continue in January.”

Forward Hayden Stocks is leading the way on offence for the Titans.

After recording 45 points last season with the Beaver Valley Nitehawks of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, the 19-year-old Edmonton product has 30 points – 15 goals and 15 assists – in 34 games.

“He’s dangerous every time he gets the puck,” Pearson said. “Hayden sees the ice so well, has deceptive speed and has a real nose for the net.

“He had to make some adjustments early on as things were a little bit quicker in our league compared to what he was used to, but once he figured that out, his game has really taken off.”

The arrivals of 19-year-olds Briley Wood of Rivers and Connor Thompson of Lino Lakes, Minn., have also strengthened the Titans’ forward corps.

After spending the last two-and-half seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Winnipeg Ice, Wood has hit the ground running in Neepawa with 27 points in 17 games.

“Since he was with us a couple of years ago, Briley’s matured quite a lot and he’s a little more vocal in the dressing room,” Pearson said. “He goes about his business and the guys really look up to him in that aspect.”

Although Thompson – who had 55 points in 44 games for the El Paso Rhinos of the North American Tier III Hockey League last year – has just five goals and one assist in 18 contests for the Titans, Pearson says his contributions go beyond the stat sheet.

“Connor can play anywhere in our lineup,” Pearson said. “He practices at full tilt and that makes everyone on our team have to step up a level so they can be at that pace.

“Those habits have made us a better team and it has carried over into our games.”

Parker Korman (21 points), Brayden Michalchuk (20 points) and defenceman Camden Smith (17 points) make up the rest of the top five in team scoring.

On the blue-line, the Titans have seen breakout campaigns from Cade Bendtsen and Ewan Poirier, as they have already set career highs in points with 16 and eight respectively.

“Cade’s been a big surprise offensively and physically for us,” Pearson said.

“Ewan’s game has gotten so much better in the last 12 games and he’s confident at both ends of the rink. He didn’t play much last year but he’s worked hard both on and off the ice and he’s been rewarded for that patience.”

Another impressive player for the Titans in the first half has been 18-year-old netminder Mason Lobreau.

After being acquired from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Humboldt Broncos before the start of the season, the Brandonite has a 10-6-3 record with a 2.59 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage and a shutout.

“We really liked Mason’s game with the U18 Wheat Kings last year and we were pretty happy to have the chance to acquire him from Humboldt,” Pearson said.

“He doesn’t get too rattled out there and he’s brought a real calming influence to our team.”

With a healthy roster at their disposal when they return to action at home on Jan. 6 against the Niverville Nighthawks, the Titans will look to control their own destiny in the second half as they look to clinch their first playoff appearance since 2017.

“We can’t worry about what the other teams are doing, especially with how tight our division is,” Pearson said.

“If we can win our games, the rest will take care of itself.”

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