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 season.
The Swan Valley Stampeders took to the ice at the Centennial Arena Friday, Oct.15 looking to shake off back-to-back losses to the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. Instead, they found themselves on the losing end of a shootout to the Neepawa Natives. Cody Barnes and Jamie Valentino have been red hot as of late and the two young men found a way to chip in when the team needed them in a losing cause Friday night. Barnes collected a power play marker in the second period while Valentino picked up a pair of assists.
The Stampeder offence hasn’t really sputtered since the team hit its stride three weeks ago, but it has definitely disappeared during long stretches during games.
The Titans proved to be the better team Friday night defeating the Stampeders 3-2 in a shootout but the Stampeders did collect a point which would prove to be very useful Sunday in Neepawa.
The Stampeder players had a busy day Saturday helping in the community. The players took time during the morning to help clean up the community as part of the recycle everywhere #CleanMB program. The initiative is to help bring awareness and beautification to the community, reducing litter, and supporting sustainability in Manitoba. Later in the day, they all took turns helping out at the Swan Valley Museum and the Halloween event that was a huge success for all involved.
The Stampeders closed out the weekend home-and-home series against the Titans with a 5-4 shootout win at the Yellowhead Centre in Neepawa Sunday evening. The Stampeders didn’t start on time finding themselves trailing 2-0 in the first eight and a half minutes of the game, but they finally found third gear and took off in the second period. Jamie Valentino (2), Quinn Mulder (1) and Cody Barnes (1G) helped the team’s offence Sunday night. It was a back and forth contest and one that would need overtime and a shootout for the second consecutive game. This time the Stampeders found a way to win and snap their three-game losing streak, propelling them into third place in the west division.
A couple of firsts happened this weekend, Quinn Mulder found the score sheet for the first time this year while Goaltender Kobe Grant picked up his first MJHL win Sunday night.
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 (Oct. 10 – Oct. 17)
3rd Star
Adam Rajsigl returns to the Three Stars of the Week after a brief hiatus. The 18-year-old from Tecumseh, ON found his offensive ways over the past two games against the Neepawa Titans. The 5’10” 165 lbs defenceman collected one goal Friday night in a 3-2 shootout loss. He would collect an assist in Neepawa Sunday, Oct. 17 as his team would skate away victorious with their own 5-4 shootout win. Rajsigl sits third overall in team scoring with three goals and five assists.
2nd Star
Cody Barnes stays this week’s 2nd star of the week with his dominating play. The 6’4” 201lbs power forward has found his way onto the power play unit and hasn’t looked back. The Kelowna, BC product scored a power play goal in each of the games this weekend. In his last four games, the 20-year-old has put up five goals and one assist, propelling him to second overall in team scoring.
1st Star
Jamie Valentino has been on fire for the past two weeks. The Thompson product collected five points in two games this past weekend against the Neepawa Titans and moving him into the lead for team scoring. The 6’2” 180lbs shifty forward added a pair of assists Friday night in a 3-2 shootout loss on home ice. The 19-year-old put the team on his back scoring a pair of goals, adding an assist and scored in the shootout to help his team snap a three-game skid with a 5-4 shootout win Sunday night. His performance this past week regains him as the first star of the week.
Honourable mentions this week go to Quinn Mulder (1G), Brad Fortin (1A – Shootout winner), Adam Rajsigl (1A) and newcomer Jacob Palor-Chow (1A).
The Stampeders will have a four-day break in their schedule before travelling south to face the same Neepawa Titans Friday, Oct. 22. The fourth and final game of their mini-series will conclude on home ice Saturday, Oct. 23 – The Swan Valley Consumers Co-op Fan Appreciation game. Make sure to follow all of our social media accounts to follow their take-over and purchase your tickets for some goodies that will be handed out during the first period.
Game day tickets can be purchased online at stampedershockey.com, at Patty’s Sports Excellence or at the door.
Also, our online 50/50 tickets can be purchased anytime this week leading up to our home game Saturday, Oct. 23. You can purchase your tickets early by following this link – https://www.fundingchange.ca/svstampeders/YWWx_WWcbUSuF4jE
STANDINGS (Point Leaders)
3 – Jamie Valentino
3 – Jackson Betcher
3 – Adam Rajsigl
3 – Jordan Gagnon
2 – Cody Barnes
2 – Carter Cockburn
2 – Dylan Black
2 – Jamie Valentino
1 – Jordan Gagnon
1 – Noah Fladager
1 – Myles Mason
1 – Darius Makse