Early playoff exit gives Wolverines extra motivation

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This article was published 13/09/2022 (1327 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After strengthening their roster at the trade deadline and earning the second-most wins in franchise history, it was expected that the Waywayseecappo Wolverines could make some noise in the 2022 Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoffs.

Instead, their postseason journey lasted a whole nine days as they were swept aside by the Virden Oil Capitals in a best-of-seven quarterfinal matchup that saw all four contests decided by a single goal.

That bitter disappointment is all the motivation that the Wolverines need heading into the 2022-23 campaign, which begins Friday against the Oil Capitals in Virden with a rematch between the West Division foes slated for Saturday at the Waywayseecappo Arena Complex.

“There’s definitely a little bit of a chip on our shoulder, especially for the returning players,” Wolverines head coach and general manager Taylor Harnett said.

“If you look at the pro level, there’s many teams that have had a tough finish to their season and used that as motivation to have even more success the following year. I think that’s going to be a huge part of our mindset this season.”

The Wolverines – whose only playoff series win came in 2015 when they swept the Dauphin Kings in a best-of-three survivor series – were the fourth-best team in the entire MJHL during the 2021-22 campaign.

They recorded a 33-18-2-1 record to finish second in the West Division, found the back of the net on 241 occasions (the second-most they’ve scored in a single season) and gave up 187 goals (the second-least they’ve allowed in a campaign).

“We have several players coming back from that team and that experience factor is huge,” Harnett said.

“Even though our playoff run only lasted four games, they now have a better idea of what it takes to be successful and they can carry that into this year to help our younger guys.”

There will be a different look to the Wolverines this season as forwards Boston Bird (64 points), Kolton Shindle (45 points after being acquired from the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Lloydminster Bobcats), Caleb Petrie (35 points), Joey Moffatt (30 points after being acquired from the North American Hockey League’s Anchorage Wolverines), Jacob Charko (27 points) and Logan Wotton (25 points) have all aged out of the program, as have blue-liners Lonan Bulger (61 points), Reagan Rabbit (30 points) and Eric Krywy (a combined 24 points with the Wolverines and the Selkirk Steelers).

They’ve also dealt away some talent as 20-year-old defenceman Reese Malkewich (12 points) is now with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Nipawin Hawks and 19-year-old twin forwards Adam and Spencer Paplawski (13 and seven points respectively) have joined the SJHL’s Kindersley Klippers.

Nineteen-year-old goaltender Brett Mirwald (7-7-0 with a 2.95 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage) had his rights dealt to the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos during the summer, but he is currently vying for a spot with the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants.

The Wolverines offence is also expected to be without the services of Carberry product Luke Robson (29 points) after the 18-year-old signed a contract with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings last weekend.

“We wish him all the best,” Harnett said. “Luke wore our uniform with price and represented us well.

“We’re excited to see what the future has in store for him and we’re proud to have been part of his journey.”

There are still some strong veterans returning to the Wolverines, however, with Morden’s Andrew Boucher (46 points), Carson Baptiste of Maskwacis, Alta., (34 points) and Boone Mathison of Tomah, Wis., (15 points) leading the way up front, while Owen Wheatley of Abbotsford, B.C., (18 points), Leyton Smith of Edson, Alta., (16 points) and Edmonton’s Lucas Eagle (12 points) are on the backend.

Russell’s Aiden Ziprick, who won’t turn 17 until December, is also returning after being reassigned to the Wolverines from the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes.

“He’s put a lot of work in during the offseason and we expect huge things from Aidan this year,” Harnett said.

“A lot of our veterans came into camp in great shape to have the best seasons possible. They also provide some great leadership … so we’re really happy with the group that we have there.”

The new faces on the Wolverines rosters bring a mix of youth and experience.

Twenty-year-old twin forwards Caden and Cole Carlson of Fond du Lac, Wis., join the program after spending the last two years with the Philadelphia Hockey Club of the National Collegiate Development Conference.

Oakville’s Cody Blight – who played in seven games for the Portage Terriers during the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 season – is also coming over from the City of Brotherly Love for his final season of junior hockey.

On the blue-line, Altona’s Guerin Apperly was acquired from the OCN Blizzard, where he had 15 points in 60 games over the last two campaigns.

In addition to those older players, Harnett is excited to see what those who are new to junior hockey will bring to the lineup.

Among that group are forward Ben Roulette of Rivers and defenceman Kurt Rookes of Manson, who were first-round picks in the 2020 MJHL draft and played for the Yellowhead Chiefs under-18 program last season.

“Isaac Nett (a forward from the Selects Academy under-18 program in South Kent, Conn.) has a great shot with good offensive instincts and Landon Van Engelen (of the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers under-18 AAA team) has a lot of fire to his game,” Harnett said.

“We also have Jackson Roth and Owen Pringle, who were a defensive pairing last year (for the Maple Leaf Athletic Club under-18 AAA squad in Edmonton) and have looked fantastic during training camp.”

In goal, 18-year-old Foxwarren product Tresor Wotton has returned to the club following a brief stint with the SJHL’s Yorkton Terriers.

He started the 2021-22 campaign with the Wolverines, where he posted a 5-2-0 record with a 3.25 gaa, an .883 save percentage and a shutout.

After being dealt to Yorkton at the trade deadline, Wotton wrapped up his rookie season of junior hockey with a 5-0-1 mark, a 2.74 gaa and a .911 save percentage.

“Tresor had a great finish to the season and we think he and Michael Bashaw (who played in the NAHL last year for the Minnesota Magicians) are going to be a strong pair,” Harnett said.

“All in all, we’re really happy with where we stand going into the opening weekend against Virden. Now we just need to put all the pieces together and find that chemistry as we go about building our identity.”

ICINGS: The Neepawa Titans acquired 18-year-old goaltender and Brandon product Mason Lobreau from the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos on Tuesday in exchange for future considerations. Lobreau, who signed a contract with the Broncos in May, had a 19-2-2 record with a 2.46 gaa, a .919 save percentage and one shutout for the Brandon Wheat Kings under-18 AAA program last season. In the playoffs, he had an 8-3 record with a 2.62 gaa, a .919 save percentage and two shutouts.

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