MMJHL Canucks almost unstoppable in 2022-23

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/05/2023 (1188 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At the start of the 2022-23 Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League season, the big question was whether the St. James Junior Canucks could totally dominate the loop from start to finish for a second straight winter.

In 2021-22, without the use of their regular home arena, the St. James Civic Centre, which was being renovated, the Canucks won both the Art Moug Trophy for finishing atop the league’s regular-season standings, as well as the Jack McKenzie Trophy, which is awarded to the MMJHL champions at the end of the league finals. Their combined regular-season and playoff winning percentage was 86.4.

Tyrone Willan scored the first regular-season MMJHL goal in the newly re-christened Ab McDonald Arena at the Civic Centre on Oct. 7, 2022, to kick off this past season. He joined Jim Johnston (on opening night in 1966), and Mitchell Lockhart (in the 2016 50th anniversary game) as scorers of legendary St. James Civic Centre goals.

The Canucks dominance continued throughout 22-23. They lost only four regular season games and only one game in regulation time on the road. They had a 15-goal game for the second consecutive season, notching five goals per period in a Dec. 15 game against the Stonewall Jets. Matthew Mason-Vandel, Zach Greenwood, Troy Borthistle, Rory Neill and Willan all had multiple-goal games in the 15-0 win, during which the Canucks registered 75 shots.

The 2022-23 Canucks were dominant at every position this season. Goalie Noah Gilbert led the league in goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts, was named the most valuable player of the playoffs, and won the Ron Smith Memorial Trophy for outstanding goalie. Neill, a defenceman, scored 49 goals in 43 games. Willan, Neill, and team captain Kale Price finished 1-2-3 in the league’s scoring race, while Brady Whitely was the second highest-scoring defenceman in the league behind Neill, who won the 2022-23 MMJHL MVP and top defencemen Awards.

During the playoffs, the Canucks also proved that they could come from behind. The St. Boniface Riels and Transcona Railer Express both won the opening games in their matchups with the Canucks, who nevertheless rebounded and won both series in five games. On April 23, I enjoyed a hot chocolate from the canteen at St. Vital Arena as I watched the Canucks defeat the St. Vital Junior Victorias 5-2 to complete a four-game sweep of the MMJHL final. Incredibly, the 2022-23 edition of the Canucks improved their combined regular-season and playoff winning percentage to 88.9.

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of the Canucks, including team president Justin Steeves, general manager and treasurer Gavin McLachlan, assistant GM Kyle Brazeau, business operations directors Jerry Jones and Mike Mooney, and past-president Tom Miller; the coaching staff of head coach Blair Moone and assistants Blake Harris, Jordan Mikkelson, Mike Sigfusson and Scott Forcand; and trainer Kira Putnam.