Preseason schedule unveiled
- Details
- Published on Friday, August 17, 2018
MJHL News and Notes
By Eoin Devereux
Neepawa Banner & Press
The preseason for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) has been released. The action will kick off on Monday, Sept. 3 and will wrap up on Sept. 18. MJHL commissioner Kim Davis said via media release that the preseason is an exciting time for players trying to make an impression on their respective coaches.
The preseason is the first step into junior A hockey,” noted Davis. “Teams are carefully evaluating their talent, both long-term prospects and those players who could potentially be in the line-up for opening night. Preseason is also a good opportunity for fans to see the stars of the future.”
As for the Neepawa Natives, they’ll play six games in the preseason schedule, with their first three all on the road. Those games will see them travel to Winkler on Sept. 4, Waywayseecappo Sept. 7 and Portage la Prairie on Sept. 8.
The club will return to the Yellowhead Arena for the final three games of the exhibition season. The first game will be Sept. 11 versus the Winkler Flyers. On Sept. 12, the Natives will host Waywayseecappo Wolverines and then on Sept. 15, they play the final preseason matchup against the Portage Terriers. The start time for each of those games, set to take play at the Yellowhead Centre, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The complete preseason schedule can be viewed on the MJHL website. The regular season kicks off Friday, Sept. 21, when the defending MJHL champions Steinbach Pistons play at home against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. Neepawa’s 30th season in the league will start on Sept. 21, with a road game in Winkler. The club’s home opener will follow the very next night when the Natives host the Flyers at the Yellowhead Centre.
Let’s make a deal
The Neepawa Natives have traded forward Ryan Heino, as well as the MJHL list rights of defensemen Tyson Fincaryk to the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. In exchange, Neepawa received defensemen Drayson Skulmoski, the MJHL List Rights of Kurtis Luke F (2000) and future considerations.
Shortly after the deal was completed, Waywayseecappo traded Heino to the Melville Millionaires of the SJHL in exchange for forward Isaac Embree. In his rookie year with the Natives last year, Heino accumulated 27 points (7 goals - 20 assists) in 51 games. Skulmoski, meanwhile, had 22 points (9G - 13A) in 48 games for both Wayway and the Virden Oil Capitals.
