DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Way too early MJHL season predictions

Just over 100 days after the Niverville Nighthawks lifted the Centennial Cup in Summerside, P.E.I., the Manitoba Junior Hockey League pre-season will kick off.

The media survey asking for picks went out already, so here are some of my pre-training camp thoughts based on last year’s rosters.

(I do reserve the right to change these opinions after seeing a few weeks of training camp.)

Last season all it took was to look at Niverville’s roster of returning players to realize they were due for a historic season. There likely won’t be a Niverville this season, but I do like what Virden could bring.

They’ve got a good group of 2006-born players, so if they can replace Braxton Burdeny in goal, I think they’ll be in good shape to contend again.

Winkler pulled off what in my opinion was the biggest move of the summer, managing to nab Taye Timmerman. Timmerman was the best goalie in the league and was a major reason the Northern Manitoba Blizzard swept top-seeded Winkler (one of the best regular season teams I can think of in a season I covered the league) in the 2024/2025 season.

That series clearly had an impact on Winkler, who made sure to get the goaltender who beat them.

Out West, I really liked Northern Manitoba’s off-season. After that championship, most of their top players left for higher leagues and they were basement dwellers last season.

With former Winnipeg Blues coach Josh Gratton now at the helm, they’ve made some quality pick-ups, and should be much more competitive. Playoffs might not be in the cards this year, but they’ll put up a better showing.

In the East, I’d guess it’s yet another year with Winkler, Steinbach, Niverville and Portage making the play-offs. If I had to pick a shock playoff team to make a playoff push, it would be the Winnipeg Monarchs.

I liked their hire for head coach and they followed it up by hiring two assistant general managers, an assistant coach and a new goaltending coach. It seems like the Monarchs are investing in themselves, and could be building themselves up.

Steinbach and Niverville will be hosting pre-season games Sept. 5.