Neepawa seeks MJHL playoff upset
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The Neepawa Titans ended an ugly trend and started a new one, but they’d like more now.
They’ve qualified for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League post-season for the third straight year, something they hadn’t done this century.
However, Neepawa hasn’t celebrated a playoff series victory since 2007, and the West Division’s top-ranked Virden Oil Capitals won’t make it easy to change that.
Addison McIntosh of the Neepawa Titans grabs a puck from the corner against the Winnipeg Monarchs during Manitoba Junior Hockey League action at the hockey for all centre in November. (Submitted)
For now, Titans head coach and general manager Ken Pearson is pleased with what the club has accomplished thus far and has them ready for puck drop in Virden today at 7:30 p.m.
“For most of the guys, it’s a good accomplishment, for our 20-year-olds especially,” Pearson said.
“For our new guys … they’re happy we’re going to get a chance to play some playoff hockey.”
Neepawa went 28-28-1-1, while Virden finished 39-14-3-2.
The season series was more lopsided, with the Oil Caps taking it 5-1. The Titans’ lone victory came right before the Christmas break, a 3-2 triumph to go with five multi-goal losses.
“They’ve got some real good players up front, led by Bryce Bryant. As he goes, and as (Ty) Plaisier goes on the back end, those are two guys we think really drive that team and are going to have to find a way to slow those guys down,” Pearson said, adding the first six games don’t matter now.
“The records from the regular season go by the wayside. We all start at zero and it’s a race to four now.
“We look forward to each game, each period, each shift and go from there.”
The Titans lack the top-end talent of the MJHL’s elites, but have a balanced offence with four 50-point scorers and eight players cracking 30 points. They’re led by 18-year-old Jack Clark, who piled up 32 goals and 28 assists.
Overall, the Titans scored 207 goals, good for fifth in the 13-team league. They allowed 213, which is the most among playoff teams.
However, their team total is somewhat inflated by a few offensive outbursts against non-playoff teams late in the season.
If they’re going to survive a quarterfinal, Pearson feels it’ll be a result of sound defence and discipline.
“We’re not kidding anyone. We’re not going to outscore anyone in five-on-five,” Pearson said. “We know what we are: We’re just a hard-working group that’s going to have to grind it out.
“Virden’s a team that missed the playoffs last year and did a real good job retooling to get back to where they are. We’re just going to play the best we can and look at it as a David and Goliath-type series.”
The Titans had good news on the injury front after Christmas, as Brandon’s KC Couckuyt returned between the pipes. Pearson said Couckuyt had surgery following the 2025 season for a lower-body injury, so the team eased him back into action after the break.
He played six games, with a .898 save percentage and 4.03 goals-against average. The other overager, Zach Burleigh, posted a team-high .904 save percentage and 3.30 GAA, with Alex Myers playing 20 games as the backup and posting .899 and 3.52.
“We’re going to go with the guy that gives us the best chance to win that night. With KC back in game form, him and Zach both 20-year-olds and KC with that experience from last year, that’s going to play a big role with us,” Pearson said.
“Alex, when we needed a spark to pick us up, he went in and played well.”
Game 2 is at Yellowhead Centre on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The rest of the series is as follows:
• Tuesday, March 24 in Virden at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 26 in Neepawa at 7:30 p.m.
If necessary:
• Saturday, March 28 in Virden at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, March 29 in Neepawa at 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 31 in Virden at 7:30 p.m.
In the other West Division series, second-place Dauphin (68 points) takes on Waywayseecappo (63).
The East Division matchups feature the top-ranked Niverville Nighthawks (103) against the Winkler Flyers (72) and the No. 2 Steinbach Pistons (96) taking on the Portage Terriers (72).
If the Titans advance, they’ll face the highest-finishing East team remaining.
Should Virden move on, it will face the lowest-seeded East team remaining, but would only have home-ice advantage against Portage or Winkler.
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com