It’s time for another Three Stars of the Week, which is brought to you by Paull Funeral Home and Crematorium. Every Monday we will be awarding three players who had a big week and giving them stars. We will be doing this week-to-week with points being collected throughout the season. The top three will players will be recognized and presented an award during our final home game of the regular season.The Swan Valley Stampeders split a weekend road trip going 1-1 and improving their record to 3-3-1. Swan Valley has had another odd start to the season, struggling to keep them above .500. They always say the best teams in sports sometimes need a road trip or a bit of time away from home to find their identity. Well, Swan confused a lot of spectators with an odd performance Friday night against the league’s best team – the Steinbach Pistons. It was a rough first period trailing 2-1, losing in the shot department 23-8 and took way too many penalties against a team that can score. Kobe Grant was the game’s first, second and third star with an unreal, lights out performance against the Pistons, stopping 46/48 shots he faced. Swan couldn’t muster and kind of offence in an oddly played game on their behalf.
Saturday was a bit of a different story, as it should have been, against the Winnipeg Freeze (second last team in the league). The Stampeder offence finally snapped out of their terribly long drought finding the back of the net six times. Justin Keck, Adam Rajsigl and newcomer Noah Wilson lead the charge on offence, helping their team find two much needed points. Kobe Grant continued his dominating performance in net, kicking aside 19/20 shots he faced to help his team improve to 3-3-1 on the season.
A couple of firsts also took place last week. Landen Gulutzan and Noah Wilson each collected their first MJHL goals.
The “Three Stars of the Week” is brought to you by Paull Funeral Home & Crematorium, and will be awarded week-to-week with points being collected throughout the season. The top three will players will be recognized at the end of the season.
Three stars point system is as follows:
1st Star = 3 points
2nd Star = 2 points
3rd Star = 1 point
Check back every Monday for the Paull Funeral Home & Crematorium Three Stars of the week.
THREE STARS (Sept. 25 – Oct. 2)
3rd Star
Adam Rajsigl jumps into this weeks star selection collecting three points on a southern road swing. The 20-year-old from Tecumseh, ON, collected a goal (short-handed breakaway) and added a pair of assists in Saturday night’s win against the Winnipeg Freeze. Rajsigl sits second in team scoring with two goals and five assists.
2nd Star
Justin Keck finds himself back on the three stars of the week. The 20-year-old from Morris, MB went point hunting for his team this past weekend, collecting two goals (one short-handed breakaway), and a pair of assists against the Steinbach Pistons and the Winnipeg Freeze. The 5’10” 175lbs speedster sits first in team scoring with three goals and five assists.
1st Star
Kobe Grant jumps to the first star of the week with an outstanding performance on the team’s recent road trip. The 20-year-old Vernon, BC native put together one of the most dominating performances I have ever witnessed, stopping 46/48 shots he faced. The 6’1” 180lbs net minder followed that up with another solid performance, and maybe a bit of an easier win Saturday night stopping 19/20 shots sent his way. He put together a 1.50 GAA and a .956SV% over the past two games and sits third overall in the league with a 1.84 GAA and a .942SV%.
Swan Valley will now travel to Virden on Friday, Oct. 7 to face the Oil Capitals. Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm. The Stampeders will then return home Saturday, Oct. 8 for a matchup with the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. A game proudly presented by Rough Country Ag. Puck drop goes at 7:00 pm. Tickets are available online at stampedershockey.com or at the door.
Point Leaders
6 – Jakob Jones
2 – Myles Mason
2 – Collin Jennings
1 – Kobe Grant
1 – Justin Keck