Eastman Selects maintain their hold on first

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This article was published 03/02/2022 (1299 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Eastman Selects, who ran their latest win streak to six games with victories over the Interlake Lightning and Winnipeg Thrashers last weekend, remain in first place in the Manitoba U18 ‘AAA’ Hockey League.

But to pull it off and finish first in the loop they will need to win all four of their remaining games in the regular season schedule over the next two weeks.

With all games against the Kenora Thistles wiped out this season due to COVID-19, it has changed the landscape of the top tier of the standings, as the Selects moved into first past the Brandon Wheat Kings and Winnipeg Wild.

Eastman sits in first place with a record of 28-5-3, two points ahead of the Wheat Kings and three ahead of the Wild. But both those clubs have four games in hand on the Selects.

The Selects received a little help from the Southwest Cougars last night as they scored a 5-3 upset win over the Wheat Kings.

Eastman travelled to Teulon Saturday night where they crushed the Interlake Lightning 7-1.

Carter Johannesson paced the Selects with two goals and an assist while Trey Sellen, Isaac Gordon, Bryce Warkentine, Loch Stefanishyn and Merik Boles added singles. Kaycee Coyle picked up three assists on the night.

Andrew Blahy stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced in net for the Selects.

The Selects returned home to Beausejour on Sunday as they doubled the Winnipeg Thrashers 4-2. It was the fourth win over the Thrashers for the Selects in the last 10 days.

Getting the Eastman goals were Carter Johannesson, Bryce Warkentine, Declan Whiteman and Merik Boles.

Andrew Blahy had another strong game in net for the Selects making 40 saves as the Thrashers outshot the Selects 42-39 in the contest.

The Selects have three games this weekend, including Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Beausejour against the Interlake Lightning.

They then hit the road to Brandon for a pivotal two-game series against the Wheat Kings, playing for the first time at the J & G Homes Arena, the new home of the Wheat Kings, after having played for decades at the aging Sportsplex. Game times in Brandon this weekend are 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Eastman will close out the regular season Feb. 13 in Winnipeg against the Wild.