SELKIRK, Manitoba- It took six games for the Selkirk Steelers to down the Winkler Flyers to decide the Addison Division Champion for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. After coming from behind 2-0 after forty minutes of play the Steelers Colam Jackson scored the winning goal in the second overtime to help the Steelers claim their 15th Addison Division Championship.
Meanwhile in Dauphin, Manitoba the Portage Terriers where trying to close out their series against the Dauphin Kings and were able to do so in just six games with a 4-1 victory giving them the Sher-Wood Division Championship and punched their ticket to the finals. There is an interesting history between the two teams.
First the Steelers have been in the MJHL since the 1966-67 season and since then have been able to claim 15 division titles, 11 MJHL Championships, one national championship and have claimed three ANAVET Cups, played between the MJHL champions and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
The Terriers on the other hand also have a great history since the inception of the MJHL winning 4 Turnbull Cups and a Memorial Cup. But come Friday night none of the past histories of either team will matter as they hit the ice in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba for game one of the best of seven series to decide a Manitoba Junior Hockey League Champion. The Steelers have packed some punch with the likes of Kyle Mulder who in the regular season was able to suit up for 39 games and collect 37 points. During the playoffs Mulder has been able to pick up his game, with only nine games played this year Mulder is already sitting at 17 points including four power play goals. Mulder was been a key player during this run and will continue to be a force in the finals. If the Steelers want to make an honest and being crowned champions this year Mulder will have to stay healthy and effective.
Joey Rewucki will also have to remain healthy between the pipes during the finals for the Steelers to win. Although his numbers are not great he has the best of the three goalies on the team with a 2.74 GAA and a save percentage of 93% which is three percent higher his teammate Jordan Washburn. The Portage Terriers have also packed some punch for the playoffs. Tyler Moore, who is tied for second in playoff scoring with fifteen points, is a twenty-year-old who was able to dominate the league during the regular season netting 60 points in 58 games including nine powerplay goals. Moore sits at 15 points in 12 playoff games and will be a key to helping the Terriers try to hold off the Steelers in the championship series.
Jason Kasdorf has been leading the way between the pipes for the Terriers, logging almost six hundred minutes this year. Kasdorf is sitting at a 92.4 save percentage but has allowed nineteen goals in the nine games he has played. Kasdorf will have to step up his game to help his team win this year. The winner of this series will move on to the ANAVET Cup which will be played between the MJHL and SJHL Champions for a chance to move on to the RBC Cup in Camrose Alberta, best of luck to both teams.
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