At last… MJHL back in action

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This article was published 09/10/2020 (1853 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The MJHL made its long-delayed return to consequential hockey Friday night.

Six regular-season openers were on the slate, highlighted by the inaugural game for the expansion Winnipeg Freeze, which dropped a 2-0 decision to the visiting Steinbach Pistons before 253 fans at the Rink Training Centre.

After a 212-day break since the pandemic forced a shutdown of the 2020 playoffs, players were understandably excited about the return to play.

“There was a lot of enthusiasm prior to the game,” said Pistons general manager/head coach Paul Dyck.

“Everybody has a good understanding that today was the first day of sanctioned hockey junior (A) hockey in Canada and, you know, that’s a real privilege. And I don’t think anybody took that for granted.”

MJHL commissioner Kevin Saurette was pleased with the orderly rollout, complete with a methodical process for bringing fans into the arena.

“No. 1, it’s great to see the players on the ice and playing meaningful hockey,” said Saurette. “I just want everything to go smooth.

“It went smooth in pre-season and now with attendance moving up to 50 per cent capacity — with social distancing in place — I just want everyone to enjoy the game and to be supportive of the teams and the organizations.”

Neo Kiemeney scored during a 5-on-3 man advantage with 1:55 left in the first period.

Midway through the third, Matt Osadick added a second power-play marker for the Pistons, which finished the night 2-for-6 with an extra skater.

The Freeze went 0-for-8 with the man advantage, due in large part to the stellar play of Steinbach goaltender Simon Harkness. Harkness stopped 25 shots in his MJHL debut.

Freeze goaltender Will Gurski also had a good night, making 36 saves.

The Pistons suffered a tough blow Wednesday when defenceman Curtis Ireland, named captain earlier in the week, suffered a broken leg in practice. He is scheduled for surgery next week.

“That’s a tough start for him but hopefully he can heal and rejoin us,” said Dyck.

“I don’t know when that will be, if it’s after Christmas or maybe shortly before.”

Stringent entry policies at the gate were in force Friday night. Spectators were required to answer a standard list of COVID-19 questions and undergo a required temperature check while submitting their name and telephone numbers.

Oh, and masks were mandatory.

“I haven’t heard any negative comments about the processes we have in place,” said Saurette, noting the league hasn’t registered any positive COVID-19 tests so far.

“So it’s actually been pretty refreshing, considering all the expectations on them. But there’s been nothing negative and I think people understand that (the guidelines are) necessary and it’s kind of the new normal now.”

The teams meet again tonight at the T.G. Smith Centre.

 

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14