Virden defenceman Nolan Wallace leads by example on blue-line

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This article was published 04/04/2024 (791 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After falling short last season in the championship final, the Virden Oil Capitals are on a mission to win the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Turnbull Cup this spring.

And veteran D-man Nolan Wallace from Brandon is part of the Oil Capitals’ leadership group looking to bring this MJHL trophy back to Virden to show it off to their loyal home fans at the Tundra Oil and Gas Place.

“We came close last year, so my training for this season was a goal for our team to get back to the finals, and get the job done,” said Wallace.

One obstacle to winning the Turnbull Cup for the West Division leaders (40-12-3-3) was their opening best-of-seven playoff series with the fourth-place Neepawa Titans (28-29-1-0).

“Neepawa played us well in our series,” said Wallace following his team’s 4-3 win Tuesday night in Neepawa.

“For the last half of the season, [the Titans] were playing playoff hockey to get into the playoffs. So, they played us hard, especially winning two games in their arena, where it’s a smaller ice surface, and their fans gave them a lift.”

Wallace also pointed to the solid goaltending of another Brandonite on the opposing team, Titans goalie Mason Lobreau.

“[Mason] made some big saves for their team, as did our goalie Eric Reid on our side, so it was a good series going six games. We found a way to win on their ice [in Game 6] when it was looking like a series where the home teams won games.”

With his second goal of the playoffs, Evan Groening tallied the game-winner for the Oil Capitals during the 4-3 triumph, where Virden battled back from a 2-1 deficit after 40 minutes.

Key to the victory was Virden’s two goals in 80 seconds during the third period.

Grady Lane had two goals, while Roux Bazin added a single marker. Answering for the Titans were Ewan Poirier, Hayden Stock and Logan Paquette.

The next obstacle to advancing to the championship series will be the second-place Winkler Flyers (42-11-2-3) after they knocked off the third-place Portage Terriers (36-14-4-4) in their quarterfinal series 4-1.

“Depth is important playing in the playoffs. To be successful, you need to be rolling four lines and three D pairings. I see our ability to do this, and am confident we can roll all 23 of our players.”– Nolan Wallace

“We beat [Winkler] in three of our four games during the regular season, but yes playoffs are different than the regular season,” offered Wallace. “If we continue working hard, playing our game the right way, we can win. We have the depth and scoring, and a will to play at a higher level … we have a goal to get back to the final, and get the job done.”

Based on statistics, while the Flyers won two more games than the Oil Capitals during the regular season, so have home-ice advantage in the semifinals when the series starts on Friday.

Offensively and defensively the teams are close. Virden outscored its opponents 229-134, while Winkler outscored its opposition 234-122.

Wallace, who plays physical from the defensive zone out, stands five-foot-10 and weighs 177 pounds. The right-shooting D-man believes his team’s depth will be a factor in the series with Winkler.

“Depth is important playing in the playoffs,” he explained. “To be successful, you need to be rolling four lines and three D pairings. I see our ability to do this, and am confident we can roll all 23 of our players.”

Playing with a lot of instinct and talent honed thanks to great coaching since he started playing in the Hockey Brandon system, Wallace has seen his game also grow since he played three seasons with the U18 AAA Brandon Wheat Kings starting in the 2018-19 season. His 2020-21 season saw him only play eight games because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For sure it was a big jump from U18 to playing for Virden at 18,” he recalled. “I had a role in Brandon and I embraced it. But when I arrived in Virden [as a rookie] I had to find my footing on the team. The coaches and older players helped me so I could play and have success.

“It was a big transition for me from the Wheat Kings to Virden … the speed of the game is faster, you’re facing bigger and older guys, so you have to learn and adapt to what you are now experiencing playing junior hockey.

“For me, I had to speed up my game, use my instincts, and catch up to the speed of the game.”

During Wallace’s rookie season, he had one assist and 44 penalty minutes in just 26 games.

“As a rookie, I was in and out of the lineup,” he recalled. “Once you did dress, I made sure I took advantage of my opportunities so the coaching staff would give me more ice time, including playing on the PK.”

During his sophomore season, he saw more ice time, which translated to playing 55 games. He recorded four goals, four assists and 98 penalty minutes.

“When it comes to my role on the team, I’m a stay-at-home defenceman, I play tough, block shots, get the puck out of my zone with a quick [first] pass and will stick up for my teammates.”

This past season, Wallace had a goal and eight assists in 50 games. Plus, he spent 67 minutes in the penalty box.

Wallace is the first to say he will never be compared to Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey or Cale Makar when it comes to his offensive prowess.

During his U18 AAA seasons with the Wheat Kings, he had five goals and 49 assists in 104 games. His best season offensively was during the 2019-20 campaign when he scored four goals and added 32 assists in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League.

“I might not be a goal scorer, but I have another role on my team where I make sure the other team is not scoring in my net,” he offered. “I like to talk with my goaltenders so we know what they want. This is my third season playing with Eric [Reid], so we know each other’s tendencies.

“I like to talk to our goalies and see what they see from their position in the net … what do they want when it comes to shot angles. Conversations with your goaltender help with our chemistry working together on defence. Your goalie sees the whole game from their position, so why not rely on them to help out your own game.”

When it comes to Wallace’s strength as a D-man, he concedes he won’t scare opposing goalies with a howitzer-like shot from the point, but he knows how to put the puck on a teammate’s tape so they can deflect it or bury the puck from this pass.

“I like think I have an ability to defend … to play strong on my opponents, and take away their time and space. Plus, I’m good at shot blocking,” he said.

Prior to their semifinal series with Winkler, Wallace and his teammates will peruse plenty of game film on the Flyers.

“It’s good to know a team’s tendencies going into a game,” he said. “This allows us to dictate the game, to react to what they are going to do because we’ve seen them do it from game film.”

Wallace knows the opponent will be doing the same, but it’s better to be prepared for a team rather than going in cold and just working on the game’s Xs and Os when practising.

Asked to assess his growth from his rookie to senior season playing for the Oil Capitals, Wallace paused for a moment to think about his answer.

“That’s a good question … I’ve come a long way from my rookie season, where I had to adjust to the speed of the game,” he said, “but now I’m comfortable playing in this league where I have to face skilled forwards, who can still make you look silly if you are not on your game.”

Wallace can thank his dad for putting in a backyard rink for his love of the game. He spent many hours on this outdoor ice during winter so he could learn to skate before being registered for Timbits hockey.

Now, he skates with and trains alongside his younger brother Owen, now playing in the Telus Cup west regional tournament in Winnipeg with the U18 AAA Brandon Wheat Kings, in the off-season.

The brothers are both defencemen and are cheerleaders for each other when an opportunity happens so they can watch each other play.

Ironically, Wallace’s younger brother has signed with the MJHL’s Winkler Flyers, and if the Wheat Kings don’t advance to the Telus Cup nationals this spring, he could join the Flyers for their playoffs.

“Owen is paving his own way in hockey, and if he wants my two cents in advice, I’ll offer it. I’m just proud of him for his play being my younger brother,” he said. “It would be fun to play against him if that was to happen and his team did not go to nationals.”

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