MJHL PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Jeremey Leipsic’ s Amazing Season Continues
By Johnston Hall Photo by Tara Miller
It’ s been a wonderful season for Portage Terriers’ diminutive scoring sensation Jeremey Leipsic.
At the end of the regular season, he was named the winner of the Lorne( Windy) Lyndon Trophy for Hockey Ability and Sportsmanship and then, when the season ended, he was named winner of the Mike Ridley Trophy as the MJHL’ s scoring champion.
Of course, it didn’ t hurt that Leipsic was named the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’ s February Player of the Month. It was the third time during the 2016-17 regular season that Leipsic has been named MJHL Player of the Month. He earned the award in both October and December.
In February, the 19-year-old Winnipeg product scored seven goals and 20 points in 11 games. He had five multipoint games and was named a game star on three occasions.
Leipsic, an undersized 5-foot-8, 165-pound leftwing / centre, easily won the MJHL’ s scoring title this season. On the final night of the season, he had a goal and an assist to finish the season with 33 goals and 100 points. He scored the game-winning goal in a 5-4 victory over Waywayseecappo. In the end, he finished 20 points ahead of the league’ s No. 2 scorer, his linemate, Chase Brakel.
Equally impressive is that he’ s had only 12 minutes in penalties this season.
“ A lot of people think as a smaller guy you’ re not going to be physical or go in the corners,” Leipsic told Game On Magazine.“ I like to try and prove people wrong in that sense.”
While working through his junior hockey career, Jeremey has leaned on his brother Brendan, a star with the American Hockey League’ s Toronto Marlies. After finishing his last season of midget AAA with the Winnipeg Wild in 2014-15, Jeremey made the decision to move out west and play his first season of junior hockey with the Powell River Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League.
He thought it was the best opportunity to better himself, but 112 GAME ON 2017 PLAYOFF EDITION
that’ s not how it turned out. After scoring 20 goals and 84 points in his last year of midget, Jeremey had a different role with Powell River and his offensive numbers declined – five goals and 17 points in 34 games.
“ I really feel like I just wasn’ t getting the opportunity I was looking for when I moved out there,” he said.
Jeremey wound up being dealt to the Portage Terriers at the CJHL trade deadline. Now, at a crossroads for the first time in his young career, he turned to his older brother for support during the process.
“ He told me this could be a blessing in disguise and it was,” Jeremey said.“ I won an MJHL championship with a great group of guys and a great team.”
With his future getting brighter, Leipsic wants to play NCAA Division 1 hockey.
“ Playing college hockey is the goal,” he said.“ I would definitely lean towards playing NCAA Div. 1 if I can, but I can’ t rule out U SPORT either. I’ m not really sure now where my next step will be after junior yet.
“ But I love the game. I’ ve loved it since I was four- or five-yearsold. I for sure want to keep playing for as long as I can.” n