By Scott Fisher /

WAYWAYSEECAPPO WOLVERINES

Jason Bowles has been unstoppable.

The Elkhorn, Man., product racked up six goals and a league-leading 22 points through the first eight games and was named the MJHL’s RBC player of the month.

But the Wolverines (7-0-1), who are ranked No. 5 in the CJAHL, have also been solid on the back end. Goaltender Jayme Janzen (Plum Coulee, Man.) leads all goaltenders with a stingy 1.75 GAA and .947 save percentage.

Wayway acquired F Jerrett Bicknell, 19, from the SJHL’s Kindersley Klippers for futures. He had two pints in his first game with his new club.

DAUPHIN KINGS

Goaltender Adrian Rubeniuk has been a busy man.

He played more minutes than any other ’tender in the league over the first nine games.

The Grandview, Man., product posted a 7-1-1 record during that span with a 3.20 GAA and .905 save percentage. Rubeniuk, 20, was named the league’s top puckstopper in the opening month.

The Kings, who also acquired F Brendan Arniel, 19, from the BCHL’s Westside Warriors for future considerations, also received a major contribution from d-man Kevin Falloon, 20, who chipped in with three goals and six points over the first nine games.

PORTAGE TERRIERS

There’s one single message every opposing coach will stress prior to facing the Terriers: Don’t take any penalties.

Portage (7-1-0) has cleaned up on the powerplay early in the MJHL season, clicking at an astronomical 46.2%. Eric Delong, who led the league in goals in early October, scored one third of his dozen markers with the man advantage.

Blueliner Kyle Fischer, 20, picked up the league’s first defenceman-of-the-month honours while goaltender Bryan Mountain was named runner up for the goaltending award. And freshman Brent Wilson, 18, was named the league’s top rookie for the opening month.

OCN BLIZZARD

The Blizzard are finding ways to win.

OCN is off to an impressive 7-3-1-1 start to the season and six of their seven Ws have been by two goals or less.

A strong (4-0-1) home record at the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre (GLMC) is the biggest reason for the Blizzard’s quick start. It took the Blizzard until Oct. 19 last season before the club won its first home game.

Brandon, Man., product Zeanan Buternowski has led the way offensively. Three of his team-high 11 goals have been game-winners.

OCN traded 20-year-old Pierre-Olivier Lemieux, who was runner up for MJHL goaltender of the month honours, to the Neepawa Natives for future considerations.

SWAN VALLEY STAMPEDERS

The Stampeders’ special teams have been a story of polar opposites through the first month of MJHL action.

Swan Valley penalty killers have been successful 87.1% of the time — good for top spot in the league.

However, the powerplay has yet to hit its stride, converting on just 12.% of its opportunities (second-worst in the circuit).

Myles Stevens, out of Norway House, Man., has been the offensive bright spot. The 18-year-old produced 14 points in seven games while Craig Cornelsen lit the lamp nine times in 10 outings.

NEEPAWA NATIVES

The Natives are the only remaining team in the MJHL still looking for that elusive first win (0-8-0-1).

With the league’s third-worst offence (2.78 goals per game) and second-worst defence (5.89 GA per game), Neepawa has some work to do.

Shael Hechter (13 points) and Shane Jury (11 points) are the only players averaging better than a point per game.

Goaltender Pierre Olivier Lemieux, recently acquired from the OCN Blizzard, should help out.

The Natives also brought in Nickolaus Dvorak, 20, from the SJHL’s Battlefords North Stars for Kurtis Kubel, 18, and future considerations.