Wareham joins MJHL crew at Minot State

The Minot State Beavers continue to replenish their cupboards from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League well.

Waywayseecappo Wolverines netminder Jase Wareham has committed to the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s men’s Division 1 squad out of Minot, N.D., for the 2026-27 season, which is lining up to have an abundance of talent from Manitoba’s top junior league.

“Obviously, I really enjoyed my chapter in Wayway, it was some of the best times of my life, but now going to Minot, it’s a little scary at first but it’s definitely exciting too,” said Wareham on Monday. “It’s a new chapter and all the guys there and coaches and everyone have been super welcoming and supportive, so I think they’ll make it pretty easy on me and I’m sure I’ll have a great time.”

The 20-year-old from Rivers will join a group of newcomers which includes Wolverines teammate Ryley Cyca, former Yellowhead Chiefs teammate Cooper Kasprick, who’s served as captain of the Neepawa Titans the last two seasons, and former Regina Pats defenceman and Virden Oil Capitals captain Ty Plaisier.

Defenceman Kieran Cooke and Logan Rands, forwards Brett Tataryn, Slade Stanick, and Sheldin Howard, and former Wolverines Eric Krywy, Jaxon Grosdidier, Sean Williams and Joey Moffatt are also former MJHLers returning for another year in Minot. In total, the club now has 15 Manitobans on the roster, with Wareham and Plaisier being the latest additions.

Wareham said he’d only begun conversations with Beavers bench boss Wyatt Waselenchuk and the team till after Wayway’s season ended with a second round loss to the Turnbull Cup champion Niverville Nighthawks, however, coming to a place with a lot of familiar faces was a big enough appeal for him to make a quick decision.

Wayway head coach Landyn Cochrane, a Minot alumnus who played with the team from 2018 to 2023, was a strong middle-man in the deal, as he insisted his goaltender make a deal happen, according to Wareham.

“Lando (Cochrane) was pushing on it and saying it’ll be pretty good because he played there and really enjoyed it and he really wanted to see me go and play at the next level,” he said. “He was definitely a big factor pushing me to kind of go to Minot.

“All I’ve been hearing is good things and obviously I know a couple guys on the team down there, so I’ve been talking to them about it lots and everyone was really excited and obviously I’m very excited to kind of get going,” Wareham added.

The five-foot-11, 175-pound crease patroller is coming off his best season in junior, notching a 15-12-1 record along with a 3.07 goals against average and .909 save percentage. Wareham’s taken some time to find his way between the pipes, but he’s certainly come a long way from the guy who failed to make the Wolverines lineup in his first eligible year as a junior.

In 2023-24, Wareham collected an 11-5 record and a 3.44 GAA and .896 save percentage for Wayway in 20 appearances, and then followed that up with a 3.63 goals against average and .905 save percentage through 32 games last year.

Wareham struggled with consistency at times this season, just like any goaltender, but he still was able to propel the Wolverines into the post-season with a 29-24-5 record. He then played his best at the best of times in the playoffs, helping his club to a sweep of the Dauphin Kings thanks to a 1.63 GAA and .951 save percentage after they entered the matchup as underdogs.

And although Wayway lost in five games to the powerhouse in Niverville, Wareham kept his team in each and every game and also delivered his opponents their only loss of the post-season following a 3-1 victory in Game 2 on April 4.

His ability to rise to the occasion was evident, and it clearly didn’t go unnoticed, as Minot reached out soon after.

“I think that definitely helped my stock for sure,” Wareham admitted. “Just proving the way I play and proving that I can play in big games and be the guy to win games for my team there, I think really helped. Who knows where I would have been if it hadn’t gone that way.”

Wareham will now shift his focus to the fall, where he will study business and fight for minutes behind William Dyke, the team’s six-foot-six starter who was named a first-team all-MCH and helped the Beavers to a 30-1-2 record this year before taking home their second consecutive Midwest College Hockey Division title with a 3-1 win over the University of Mary in February.

Adrian College eliminated them from nationals with a 4-1 quarterfinal decision in Maryland Heights, Mo in March.

Wareham will have to work for his opportunities, but the circumstances are no different than any other league he’s played in. He’s used to earning his playing time and believes it’s made him a better goaltender.

“It’s kind of like I always have, I guess,” said Wareham. “Nothing’s really given to you and I’ve just battled for everything and done whatever I can to help the team win and give myself a chance to play.

“I’ve kind of always played with that chip and proving people wrong, just kind of working for every single inch and now obviously I wanna prove to Wyatt and Minot they made the right call for taking a chance on me.”

» mdelucataronno@brandonsun.com