By John Ploszay Photos by James Carey Lauder, Jeff Miller, Bruce Fedyck and Laurie Anderson
Goalie Hunter Ploszay Stonewall Jets
STONEWALL – The 2016-17 Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League season was one of the greatest in the league’ s long, glorious history. And it all came down to one sensational evening on April 21, 2017.
That night at the Seven Oaks Sportsplex, the Raiders Junior Hockey Club, settled into Game 6 of the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League championship series and with a huge crowd of enthusiastic supporters cheering them on. In what was a truly dominant effort, the Raiders, a team that had finished fifth during the regular season, beat the favored Stonewall Jets 5-1 to claim the Jack McKenzie Trophy in six games.
“ They talked the talk and walked the walk” a jubilant Raiders President, Ned Sanders said.“ I’ d call our team’ s playoff run epic. The players, our fans, the coaches, they put it all together, and man was it exciting.”
Indeed, it was, but now a new season beckons and while the Raiders will be champions until they raise the Jack McKenzie Trophy again or are dethroned by one of nine talented challengers, this might be an even better season than the one we all enjoyed last year.
We went around the league and talked with team presidents, coaches, GMs and owners just to give you a look at what to expect this season and there is no doubt the MMJHL has come a long way and is continuing to change with the times. The modern player-athlete wants more than just a chance to play competitive hockey. He also wants the opportunity to combine a well-rounded life, his education and / or a shot at a good job. Today’ s junior-aged hockey player wants a high quality of life and that’ s what the MMJHL offers and that’ s why so many high-quality players are attracted to the league.
The result has been parity and for the fans, very exciting, competitive hockey and based on what we got last year, the 2017-18 MMJHL season might just be the tightest ever. Let’ s take a close look at all 10 teams as they get set for the opening games – five of them! – on Sept. 17.
“ Based
on what we got last year the 2017 / 18 season might just be the tightest ever”
Stonewall Jets
The runners-up last season, the Jets were solid in 2016- 17 and had great production from team MVP and firstteam MMJHL All-Star Chase Faulkner. Plus, they got strong goaltending from Hunter Ploszay, who won the Ron Smith Memorial Trophy as the league’ s MVP goalie and was named to the first All-Star team, as well.
The Jets will lose at least five players to graduation – Robert Smith, Adam Blight, Branden Meier, Eric Swanson and Garrett Bruce.
“ Bruce, who was a league All Star the previous year was a tremendous loss for us on defense, but I give full credit to 16-year-old Brock Bytheway who stepped in and worked hard trying to fill the void,” said Jets GM Ryan Margetts.“ Bytheway got better each game he played in, although the Raiders really took it to us in the final.”
Margetts hopes Bytheway will re-join the team this year but there is demand for the diminutive defenseman from the Waywayseecappo Wolverines of the MJHL. Another AP, Brendan Labossiere, also did a great job and the Jets are hoping he’ ll suit up for the team in the coming season.
SEPTEMBER 2017 | GAME ON | 27