U18 shootout victories help MJHL to showcase win

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This article was published 10/02/2025 (409 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Talking to Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) commissioner Kevin Saurette after two games were played at the league’s showcase event alongside their Saskatchewan counterparts, it was clear league brass care about the results on the ice.

While Saurette wasn’t thrilled to see the first two games go the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s way Jan. 28, he must have been delighted to see the Manitobans storm back to win four straight to close out the showcase.

That flip was powered by the league’s U18 team, which managed to win back-to-back shootouts to sweep the SJHL in their two games. The SJHL’s U18 had a chance to tie the overall showcase score, but the Norman Blizzard’s Taye Timmerman would stand tall, ensuring an incredible 15th round goal from Winkler’s Maxime Lavoie would stand up as the showcase deciding goal.

The U18 team featured Steinbach’s Reece Gault, Luke Bogart and Mathis Laplante alongside Niverville’s Avery Laliberte. Laliberte is from Lorette, while Gault hails from Oakbank.

It was an outstanding tournament for Niverville Nighthawks forwards. Both Sean Williams and Adam Vigfusson tallied key third period goals to give Team MJHL Red a 5-3 lead in the final U20 game of the showcase.

Niverville’s Matteo Speranza was an injury call-up to play for the MJHL Black squad alongside Steinbach Pistons Connor Paronuzzi, Brett Kaiser, Grady Hoffman and Sam Noad. Goaltender Christian Green was also on that roster.

Speranza would show up in a big way for the MJHL, looking like one of the best players on the ice in the team’s first game (a 9-4 loss), and following it up with another solid performance the next day in a 5-1 victory. Hoffman also tallied in the win.

Brody Beauchemin had a good tournament as well. The Ile-des-Chenes-born forward plays for Winkler, and suited up on the U20 Red Team. He scored a goal both in the team’s opening day loss as well as a tying goal in their 6-4 come-from-behind victory the next day.