MJHL Notes: Portage coach Spiller notches 700th career win

Portage Terriers head coach Blake Spiller has reached another milestone.

After the Terriers defeated the Waywayseecappo Wolverines Nov. 29, Spiller became the first coach in MJHL history to reach 700 wins.

Last season, Spiller passed Doug Stokes for the league’s all-time coaching wins record.

This year, the Terrires have stormed back from a slow start to hold second-place in the East Division standings, and are three points behind first-place Steinbach.

Junior A Challenge

Five players from the MJHL were named to the Team Canada West roster for the World Junior A Challenge, including a pair of local defenseman.

Both Lorette’s Avery Laliberte and Oakbank’s Reece Gault will be donning the Maple Leaf for the tournament, which features two Canadian teams, USA and Sweden.

“Anytime there is an opportunity to bring together the best Junior A players from across the Canadian Junior Hockey League, we know difficult decisions will have to be made,” Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations Scott Salmond said in a news release announcing the rosters.

“We feel we have assembled two strong and competitive teams that will proudly represent Canada and compete for a gold medal.”

Jackson Kostiuk, a forward who plays for Steinbach alongside Gault, was also named to Team Canada. Northern Manitoba’s Marlen Edwards and Waywayseecappo’s Dru Mushumanski are the other players from the province named to the roster.

The World Junior A Challenge is taking place in Canmore, Alberta, with the gold medal game broadcast on TSN Dec. 15.

MJHL goalie makes WHL leap

Virden Oil Capitals 2007-born goalie Peyton Shore is back in the Western Hockey League and making an impact with the Red Deer Rebels.

Shore started the season with Red Deer but couldn’t find a spot on the team. After the Rebels traded Rhett Stoesser, a spot on the team opened up, and Red Deer made the call.

In his brief time with Virden in the MJHL this season, Shore posted a 0.920 save percentage and 4-2 record.

The move wasn’t related to the recent NCAA rule change, as Shore had already committed to play major junior hockey before the season began.

The Winnipeg Product stopped 38 shots in a 3-2 victory Nov. 29 in his WHL debut.

Gaber notches first AHL goal

Riese Gaber, who helped Steinbach win their second MJHL championship after being traded from his hometown Portage Terriers notched his first AHL goal Dec. 6.

After aging out of junior hockey, Gaber spent four years at the University of North Dakota, captaining the hockey team in his senior year.

The 1999-born forward currently plays for the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL-affiliate of the Florida Panthers.

LeGall thriving in WHL

Raiden LeGall’s transition into major junior has been a smooth one.

The former Niverville Nighthawks goalie was named the WHL’s goaltender of the week Dec. 9 after posting his first shutout.

LeGall, an 18-year-old from Morden, is still wearing his Niverville mask with the Everett Silvertips, posting a 2-0 record and 0.951 save percentage for his team last week.

The Bemidji state commit was the first MJHL player to go to major junior following the recent NCAA eligibility rule changes.