MJHL Notes: Wolff steps down from Swan Valley Stampeders
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Swan Valley Stampeders general manager and head coach Barry Wolff has resigned from the organization.
Wolff helped lead the Stampeders to a Manitoba Junior Hockey League finals appearance in 2023, but the team has fallen off since that playoff run.
A news release posted to Swan Valley’s website included statements from both Wolff and Stampeders president Evan Morden, and noted the team and coach had mutually agreed it was time to part ways.
“(Wolff) has led the team through some difficult times and proven his dedication and commitment to the organization over and over again,” Morden said.
“We wish him nothing but the best going forward.”
Swan Valley finished last season with 25 points, only ahead of the two Winnipeg franchises and at the bottom of the West Division standings. Up until last season, the Stampeders made the playoffs in each of the years Wolff had managed the organization, beginning in 2018.
“Thank you to the Swan Valley community, the Stampeders Hockey Club, all the players, the minor hockey organization and for the corporate and community support,” Wolff said.
“It was truly an amazing time and I wish you all the best.”
The Stampeders had a 1-9 record on the year when Wolff left the team. Swan Valley assistant coaches, Darren Webster and Brad Fox are acting as interim general manager and interim head coach respectively.
N. MICHIGAN MINING MJHL
Yet another MJHL player has committed to Northern Michigan University.
Selkirk’s Owen Warnick became the third player from the league to make the commitment to the NCAA division one school, joining Steinbach’s Brody Green and Niverville’s Avery Laliberte. Northern Michigan’s head coach, Dave Shyiak, is from Manitoba.
In a news release posted to the MJHL’s website, Warnick noted he trained this summer with both Green and Laliberte. The 2006-born Warnick has been hot to start the season, just like most of the Steelers forwards, racking up 22 points in 15 games to lead the league.
The Steinbach Pistons’ Reece Gault, who hails from Oakbank, also committed to Northern Michigan this week. The 2007-born defender announced the commitment Oct. 22.
SELKIRK STUMBLES
After a 10-game winning streak to start the season, the Selkirk Steelers have finally hit a bump in the road, losing three of the next four games, including a 9-0 blowout at the hands of Winkler Oct. 15.
The Steelers still top the East Division standings, having played 15 games so far this season, five more than both the third place Winkler Flyers and second place Steinbach Pistons.
All three teams were named to the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s national top 20 ranking this week.
BEAUCHEMIN STAR OF THE WEEK
Ile des Chenes’ Brody Beauchemin, who plays for the defending champion Winkler Flyers, earned honours from the MJHL this week after notching five points in his last three games.
Beauchemin got off to a slow start to the season, points-wise, only posting a single point in his first five games, before heating up in his next nine.
Winnipeg Freeze goalie Braxton Burdeny (saved 59/60 in a 3-1 victory) and Neepawa Titans forward Colton Alexander (three assists, three goals, including an overtime winner) were also named stars of the week by the league.
For more MJHL coverage, be sure to check out The Carillon’s print edition, which features game recaps, standings and statistics every week.