The Manitoba Junior Hockey League's MGEU East Division is about as close as it could get.
The OCN Blizzard is on top with their 31 points after starting the season with 15 wins in their first 21 games. Then you have a complete logjam for the next few spots as Dauphin currently occupies the second spot in the division with 24 points. Waywayseecappo is right behind with 23, the Virden Oil Capitals have 20 and the Neepawa Titans are in last place but they have 15 points and are right within striking distance.
The Swan Valley Stampeders, meanwhile, have 22 points as they're first in the division as more than a third of the season has come and gone. Swan Valley has scored 59 goals, four of which came on Tuesday night in a 6-2 loss against Waywayseecappo. Prior to Tuesday's loss, the Stampeders were red-hot as they won four straight contests, all of which came by one goal.
The Stampeders trailed in three of those four wins but found a way to earn two points to stay right in the thick of things in the West.
While Barry Wolff says the team is still trying to find ways to start games on time and not fall behind, he is pleased with how the team is finding a way to climb back in contests to win games.
"We're definitely getting to where we want to be," said Wolff. "Anytime you can come back like we have been doing lately, it builds character in the room and belief."
Justin Keck leads the Stampeder offence with 22 points (10g) while Jakob Jones is just behind with 18 points, 10 of which are goals. Trey Sauder; meanwhile, is the top local producer with six goals to go along with five assists. Since coming from the Winnipeg ICE, Steven Arp has been very solid with four goals and four assists in 13 games.
The team also boasts a very strong goaltending tandem of Kobe Grant and Loic Mainguy-Crepault. While Grant is 6-8, he has a solid .926 save percentage to go along with a 2.77 goals-against average. Mainguy-Crepault is 4-0-1 with a .922 save percentage and a 2.55 goals-against average.
The team's power play is tied for fifth in the league and after a six-game series to end their season last year against Dauphin, the Stampeders appear to be trending to a top-two spot in the division, compared to last year's team that just snuck into the post-season.
Seven members of the team are also on their way to Stride Place to play in the MJHL's 1st Annual Top Prospects Showcase which goes next Tuesday and Wednesday in Portage. Trey Sauder is among the seven heading to the event and Wolff is pleased to have such great representation from his club.
"Anytime you can get on the big stage like that, it's awesome for the guys," said Wolff. "They will have a great opportunity to showcase themselves. The games are going to be high-end with a lot of skill and it's going to be a great event."
