Twisters climbing back up MMJHL standings

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This article was published 24/12/2022 (939 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s not often a hockey season could hinge on a Dec. 18 game, but for the Pembina Valley Twisters that may have been the case this year.

Just 21 games into their season, the Twisters faced off against the St Boniface Riels in Morris to cap off 2022. Heading into the match-up, Pembina Valley was just one point ahead in the standings, sitting seventh in the 10-team Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League (MMJHL).

The Twisters were able to end off 2022 on a high note, beating the Riels in an entertaining 7-5 game, despite getting out-shot 46-26. Pembina Valley held control of the game on the scoreboard throughout, never trailing after taking a 2-0 lead just over four minutes into the game on the strength of goals from Joel and Nico Vigier.

The Twisters used dominant starts to each period to secure the victory, as only two of their goals came more than five minutes into a period. After Keston Worley tallied to stretch the home team’s lead to 3-1 at the end of the first period, Riley Goertzen picked up right where the Vigier’s left off in the first period, scoring under a minute into the frame.

After St Boniface pulled within one to end the second period, Pembina Valley put the game away with three consecutive goals. Derek Wiebe scored the final insurance goal just 5:17 into the third period.

First-year head coach Braeden Beernaerts said his team worked hard to find the bounces, and praised goaltender Logan Enns for keeping the team solid outside of those bursts of offense.

“It’s huge to have a good start,” Beernaerts said after the game.

“You don’t want to be crawling back. That drains you, and you’re blowing chances… you dictate the pace of the game.”

Not only did the Twisters push down the Riels, they also kept pace with the teams just ahead of them in the MMJHL. Pembina Valley is only two points out of fifth place in the league standings, within easy striking distance of the Chaleswood Hawks and Transcona Railer Express. A game between the Hawks and Twisters set for Dec. 16had to be re-scheduled after bad driving conditions wrecked havoc on hockey schedules throughout the province.

“We knew the last three games before Christmas were going to be huge, and we were hoping to get a good run for it,” Beernaerts said. The Twisters went 4-1 in December, only losing to the juggernaut St James Canucks.

“We accomplished our goal, and I’m pretty happy to see what we can do heading into the new year.”

The Twisters were an inexperienced group heading into this season, both on the ice and behind the bench. It’s Beernaerts first time coaching at this level, but he’s no stranger to the Twisters, helping lead them to a league championship in 2019.

“It’s exciting to be on the office side of things,” he said, laughing.

“It’s a little different than playing, but it’s fun and I really enjoy it.”

Beernaerts praised the work of the few veterans who returned to play this season, adding that rookie Slade Southern has been a boost as well.

“We’re a young group, so it takes a bit of time to mold the whole group,” he said.

“Once we get in the same stride it will be going up and up from there.”