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By RYAN NESBITT
Crossroads This Week
March 18th, 2011 Edition

The Waywayseecappo Wolverines definitely gave the Winkler Flyers all they could handle in their MJHL Addison Division semi-final series.  The series was a wild one, featuring five one goal games and four overtime games - one of which went to triple overtime.  But in the end, Winkler was able to squeak by a Wolverines team that was discounted by many after finishing 18 points behind the Flyers in the regular season.  With the series tied 2-2 heading into game five, the Flyers picked up a 2-1 victory in a triple overtime marathon in Winkler, before clinching the series on the road with a 3-1 win in game six.

Flyers 3 Wolverines 1
Winkler scored three times in the final frame to finish out the series with a 3-1 win in game six on Sunday, March 13 in front of 585 fans in Waywayseecappo.  Jordan Neduzak had a pair of goals for the visitors - one of which was into an empty net - while Chapen Leblond added a single.
Paul Van De Velde's first period powerplay goal gave the Wolverines a 1-0 lead, which they were able to hold onto until Winkler hit the scoresheet five minutes into the third period. Reed Peters stopped 28 shots to take the win in goal for the Flyers, while Ryan Benitez turned aside 26 in his second straight start for the Wolverines.  Winkler was assessed five of eight minor penalties on the night.

Flyers 2 Wolverines 1
Michael Wilgosh scored 1:07 into the third overtime period to lift the hometown Flyers to a 2-1 win in game five on Friday, March 11.  Steven Duda opened the scoring for the Wolverines seven minutes into the third period, before Chapen Leblond replied with a powerplay marker for Winkler 1:52 later.  Ryan Benitez made his first start of the playoffs in goal for Waywayseecappo, turning aside 50 shots in an active game for both goaltenders. Peter Alexander made 54 saves in the Winkler net.  The teams split six minor penalties in front of the 821 fans in attendance.

The Winkler Flyers will now take on the Selkirk Steelers in the Addison Division final. The Steelers closed out their series against the Winnipeg Saints with a 5-1 win in game five.
In the Sher-Wood Division, the Portage Terriers have advanced against the Swan Valley Stampeders, winning the series 4-2. Tied 2-2 through four games, Portage picked up 5-2 and 4-1 victories to move on. The final game resulted in 86 games in suspensions after a hit from behind by the Stampeders Jesse Enns set off a brawl with 0:03 seconds to play.  The Dauphin Kings will meet the Terriers in the Sher-Wood Division final after topping the OCN Blizzard 2-1 in game seven of their series on Wednesday, March 16. 2,033 fans packed Credit Union Place as the Kings' Kyle Johnson scored the overtime winner with 0:55 seconds left in the extra frame.

WOLV TALK - Game six was the only game of the series that was not decided by one goal, due only to an empty net tally with less than a minute to go... The visiting team won every game of the series with the exception of game five in Winkler.

By GREG NESBITT
Crossroads This Week
March 11th, 2011 Edition

The Addison Division best of seven semi-final series between the Waywayseecappo Wolverines and Winkler Flyers is now a best of three affair.  Jordan Neduzak's shorthanded goal at 14:39 of the first overtime period gave the Flyers a 2-1 victory of the Wolverines on Tuesday, March 8 sending most of the 676 fans at the Waywayseecappo Arena home disappointed.  That's been the story of the series. Each team has now won two games in the opponent's rink.

Jake Rombach opened the scoring for the Flyers just 31 seconds into the second period, with assists going to Brad Haber and Neduzak.  Waywayseecappo tied the game on the powerplay with 1:44 remaining in the second. Defenceman Stephane Robidoux snuck in from the point to put the puck past Peter Alexander. The assists went to Josh Daley and Paul Van De Velde. Both netminders were outstanding, with Alexander finishing with 33 saves. He had help from a post in overtime, just prior to the Flyers scoring the game winner.  Brett Gagnon, who made his fourth straight playoff start, stopped 22 shots.

Game five will be played in Winkler on Friday, March 11, with game six in Waywayseecappo on Sunday, March 13. If game seven is needed it will be played in Winkler on Tuesday, March 15.

Wolverines 4 Winkler 3 (OT)
The Wolverines scored two goals in the final eight seconds of the third period to force extra time and then scored the game winner with 5:22 left in the first overtime period to record a 4-3 win over the Flyers in Winkler on Sunday, March 6.  The hosts led 1-0 and 2-0 by periods and held a 3-1 lead late in the third. Dave Williams pulled the Wolverines to within one with eight second left, and amazingly Ryan Duhaime tied the scored with just a second on the clock. Shane Goodrunning, with his second goal of the contest, scored the overtime winner. Jordan Neduzak, Seth Ronsberg and Jake Rombach scored for the Flyers.  Brett Gagnon finished with 42 saves for the Wolverines, while Reed Peters made 36 saves in the Winkler net.

Winkler 5 Wolverines 4 (OT)
The Wolverines squandered a 4-1 second period lead and dropped a 5-4 overtime decision to the Flyers in game two played in front of 610 fans in Waywayseecappo on Saturday, March 5. Brad Haber scored the game winning goal midway through the second overtime period. Matt Loopkey scored twice for the Flyers, who pulled to within two goals of the hosts at the end of the second and then tied the game in the third. Kyle Wells and Michael Wilgosh were the other Winkler marksmen.  Josh Daley, Joe Carney, Dave Williams and Paul Van De Velde replied for the Wolverines.  Peter Alexander made 46 saves in goal for Winkler, while Brett Gagnon stopped 38 for the Wolverines.

Wolverines 2 Winkler 1
Dave Williams' second period powerplay goal stood up as the game winner as the Wolverines edged the Flyers 2-1 in front of 884 spectators in Winkler on Thursday, March 3. Zaine Walker opened the scoring for the Wolverines midway through the first period. Jake Rombach cut the Wolverines' lead in half with a powerplay goal at 17:59 of the second, but Waywayseecappo netminder Brett Gagnon stood tall in the third to preserve the win. Gagnon finished with 32 saves, while Peter Alexander of the Flyers made 35 stops.

 The Selkirk Steelers have a 3-1 lead over the Winnipeg Saints in the other Addison Division semi-final.  The Saints won game one 3-2, but the Steelers came back with 7-4, 5-1 and 7-4 wins to take a commanding lead.

In the Sher-Wood Division, the Dauphin Kings lead the OCN Blizzard 2-1 in their semi-final series after a 5-2 in Dauphin on Tuesday, March 8. The Kings won game one 3-2 in overtime, with the Blizzard winning game two on home ice by a 5-2 score.  The Portage Terriers and Swan Valley Stampeders are tied 2-2 after the Stampeders scored a 3-1 home ice win on Tuesday, March 8. Portage won the opening two games on home ice by scores of 4-3 and 2-1, with the Stampeders winning 2-1 in Swan River.

By GREG NESBITT
Crossroads This Week
March 4th, 2011 Edition

It has been said that the playoffs are a whole new season, and the Waywayseecappo Wolverines hope the saying holds true as they begin their Manitoba Junior Hockey League series with the Winkler Flyers.  The Flyers finished first in the Addison Division with a record of 38-17-7 for 83 points. The Wolverines, meanwhile, finished fifth in the Sher-Wood Division with a 29-26-7 record for 65 points. Because the Wolverines had more points than the fourth place team (Winnipeg Blues - 48 points) in the Addison Division they were awarded the crossover playoff spot. For the record the Wolverines did not have any luck against the Flyers this season.
In Winkler the Wolverines lost 4-1 and 6-2, and 5-3 and 4-2 in home games in Waywayseecappo. Despite losing all four games, the Wolverines match up quite evenly with the Flyers. The Flyers are led by the league's third leading scorer Michael Wilgosh (81 points), with a supporting cast of Chapen Leblond (61) and Seth Ronsberg (57). The Wolverines count on scoring from Paul Van De Velde (72 point), who finished sixth in the league scoring race, along with Ryan Duhaime (57) and Shane Goodrunning (56).
In goal, the Flyers' duo of Reed Peters and Peter Alexander allowed 196 goals, while the tandem of Ryan Benitez and Brett Gagnon gave up just 204.

The best of seven series began in Winkler on Thursday, March 3, with game two in Waywayseecappo on Saturday, March 5. Game three is back in Winkler on Sunday, March 6, with game four in Waywayseecappo on Tuesday, March 8.
Games five and seven, if necessary, will be in Winkler on Friday, March 11 and Tuesday, March 15, with a possible game six in Waywayseecappo on Sunday, March 13.
All games begin at 7:30 p.m.

Swan Valley 4 Wolverines 3
Swan Valley netminder Dylan Wells was the first star as the Stampeders edged the Wolverines 4-3 in the final regular season game played before a crowd of 512 in Waywayseecappo on Friday, Feb. 25.  Wells stopped 31 of the 34 shots he faced to hold the Wolverines at bay. Brad McDonald scored twice for the Stampeders, who led 2-0 and 3-2 at the intermissions. Single markers came off the sticks of Beau Taylor and Dylan Reimer.  Paul Van De Velde, Josh Daley and Dave Williams replied for the Wolverines.  Brett Gagnon stopped 13 of the 17 shots he faced in the Wolverines' goal.

March 11 Playoff Action