Season ends for Neepawa Titans

News from around the MJHL

By Eoin Devereux Neepawa Banner & Press

The Neepawa Titans are starting their off-season schedule a little bit earlier than they had hoped for. But while post-season play was not in the cards for this year, the leadership of the MJHL franchise still feel as though they’re on the cusp on something special going into next season.

The Titans played their last regular season games against the Selkirk Steelers on Mar. 17 and 18 and ultimately, closed out the year with a 22-27-8-1 record. Those results were good enough for 53 points overall, a three win and six point increase from the previous year. Neepawa was also in the thick of the playoff chase for almost the entirety of the schedule. For a large portion of the year, only a few points separated first from last place in the extremely competitive Western Division.

Titans head coach and general manager Ken Pearson said while this gradual improvement is a step in the right direction, he understands if there is some disappoint in the end results. Pearson noted a slow start to the season (3-7-3 in first 13 games), compounded by several key injuries to high impact players, put them in a deficit early. He added, however, the club started to turn things around, after their roster was 100 per cent healthy. As well, the addition of forward Briley Wood from the Western Hockey League, made an immediate difference to the club’s fortunes.

One notable change as the season went on was seen in the power-play, as it went from near the bottom of the league early on, to a top-5 unit by the close of the season. Pearson stated that was something the players and his coaching staff worked hard on improving over the course of the year.

For coaches at any level of play, the end of the hockey season simply means the beginning of planning for the next season. Pearson said there will not be much downtime, as the Titans Spring Prospects Camp is just around the corner.

As for what the roster could look like next year, Pearson said that several key contributors have already committed to returning. This will provide the Titans with an experienced and skilled core, which could mean another year-overyear improvement in the standings.

Wood recalled to Winnipeg

Titans forward Briley Wood will have the chance to experience some postseason excitement this year. The 20-year-old Rivers product has been recalled by the Winnipeg ICE, of the Western Hockey League. The ICE hold Wood’s Major Junior player rights and are a favourite to win the WHL title. Winnipeg is the top ranked team in the league overall, with a 55-10-1 record on the season. The Western Hockey League playoffs begin on Friday, Mar. 31.

Graduating players

For this year’s version of the Neepawa Titans, there were seven players who have aged out of their Junior “A” eligibility. Those players are John Blake, Cameron Trimble, Will Highet, Josh Romanyk, Brayden Michalchuk, Camden Smith and Dean Noonan. The Neepawa Titans thank those players for their dedication to the organization this season.