Penalties a problem for Neepawa Natives

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Published on Monday, October 5, 2015

Goaltender Troy Pierce makes a save against Winkler at the Old Dutch/MJHL Showcase. Photos by Eoin Devereux

By Eoin Devereux

The Neepawa Press/Neepawa Banner

An inability to stay out of the penalty box, combined with an anemic effort on offence has proven to be a huge factor in the Neepawa Native’s recent losing streak. Heading into their next home game on Wednesday, Oct. 7, the MJHL club has lost four straight, by a combined goal differential of 24-to-3. As well, one-third of the goals that were surrendered by the Natives were given up while attempting to kill off penalties. 

The recent troubles for the club began on Wednesday, Sept. 30, when they suffered an 8-0 loss to the Portage Terriers. Neepawa found itself outmatched by the reigning RBC Cup champions, in particular, by the dynamic combo of Brad and Shawn Bowles of Elkhorn, who combined for eight points on the evening. Brad registered three goals and an assist, while Shawn tallied four helpers. Nick Henry also had a big night for the Terriers, getting a pair of goals and adding two assists. The Natives found themselves in the penalty box 11 times during the game and surrendered two goals while short handed.

Neepawa had little time to dwell on the disappointment of the game, as the focus turned to the Old Dutch/MJHL Showcase in Winnipeg, which began on Thursday, Oct. 1. The first game for the Natives was Friday, Oct. 2, against the Virden Oil Capitals. The Oil Caps started strong in the opening frame, outshooting Neepawa 15-2 and generating a 3-0 lead. Neepawa rallied back in the second and third period, but was unable to solve goaltender Sean Kuehn. Virden added a pair of goals in the second, to cruise to a 5-0 win.

Game two for Neepawa at the Showcase was Saturday, Oct. 3, versus the Winkler Flyers. The Natives were once again stymied by the opposition’s defensive efforts and found themselves unable to light the lamp after 60 minutes, falling by a 6-0 score.

Returning home to the Yellowhead Centre for a matchup against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines, penalties proved to be the deciding factor once again.  Neepawa would give up three goals while short handed and one with the man advantage, on the way to a disappointing 5-3 loss to Waywayseecappo. Patrick Carlin had a strong evening for the Natives, with a pair of goals, while Nolan Richards contributed with the first goal of the night, which helped to energize the home club for the remainder of the game. But despite the strong late effort, Neepawa would still fall to Wayway and drop its record to 2-4 on the season.

After the most recent loss on Sunday, Natives coach Jim Fuyarchuk noted that the players need to keep their emotions in check to ensure they stay out of the box during key moments of the game.

“[Discipline] has to come from within, when it comes to playing the game hard and honest. I understand that there are emotions that run high during the course of the game. The guys take a hit and they want to return the favour, but you just have to pick your time and your spot and they have to be smart about it. Any penalties we take during the game can’t be selfish penalties,” stressed Fuyarchuk.

Over the course of the last four games, some frustration has also set in for the players, as the team went scoreless for just under 188 consecutive minutes. Fuyarchuk noted that as long as the team continues to work hard, the opportunities will come.

“We’ve had some periods where we’ve worked really hard and created some really good chances. We just haven’t been able to score and that’s created the frustration,” said Fuyarchuk. “The first goal tonight [against Wayway], took some of the tension off the player’s minds and you could see, things opened up from there and we started executing like I know we can. It built some momentum and that changes things. Looking back at the last four games, had we been able to score a goal early, as a club, it would have built up some confidence for the rest of the game,” said Fuyarchuk. “We have a lot of skill and speed, but if you’re playing hesitant out there, that skill will not come out.”

The next game for Neepawa is Wednesday, Oct. 7 at the Yellowhead Centre, when the Selkirk Steelers come to town. The Natives will then play a home game in Carberry on Friday, Oct. 9 versus the OCN Blizzard, before returning to Neepawa for another showdown with OCN on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Griffin Chwaliboga (5) attempts to  keep the Virden Oil Capitals player from advancing to the net, at the Old Dutch/MJHL Showcase in Winnipeg on Friday, Oct. 2nd. 

Kyle McDonald (18) takes the puck around the Wayway goal, during the game on Sunday, Oct. 4th.