AS I SEE IT COLUMN: ‘Too late’ MJHL thoughts and predictions

I know it might come off as disingenuous, but I saw the Niverville Nighthawks season coming.

There were two predictions I made before the start of this Manitoba Junior Hockey League Season that I considered outside common knowledge.

That the Niverville Nighthawks were the best team in the league and that the Winnipeg Blues would be competitive for a playoff spot.

While the Blues have certainly taken a step forward, it’s not quite as big a leap as I had hoped. But the Nighthawks have certainly made me look smart to anyone I told those two predictions to before the start of the year.

What the Nighthawks have that allured me so much is experience. It’s no surprise they’re dominant to start the year, as the other teams in the MJHL’s East Division were dealing with massive turnover across their rosters. With so many quality returners, I thought the sky was the limit for this Nighthawks team.

But it’s one thing to be pre-season favourites, it’s another to prove it on the ice in spectacular 21-1 fashion. Credit needs to be given to the coaching staff for ensuring the players are locked in.

Dreams of an all-Eastman MJHL final are definitely alive and well, as Steinbach and Niverville are 1-2 in the league standings.