Jason La Rose
The Winnipeg Wild made it three in a row, capturing the MMAAAHL regular-season title for the third-straight year. The Wild was lights-out early, winning its first 11 games and 19 of its first 20, and was even better late, closing its schedule with 13 consecutive victories. Winnipeg topped the MMAAAHL at both ends of the ice; it scored a league-high 251 goals – led by No. 2 scorer Kaden Bryant (45-44—89) – while allowing only 91. Between the pipes, Carson Cherepak paced all netminders in goals-against average (1.60) and save percentage (.940) while posting a 23-4 record.
PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS 1) Winnipeg Wild vs. 8) Winnipeg Bruins 2) Yellowhead Chiefs vs. 7) Pembina Valley Hawks 3) Brandon Wheat Kings vs. 6) Eastman Selects 4) Southwest Cougars vs. 5) Winnipeg Thrashers
FINAL STANDINGS (W-L-OTL) Winnipeg Wild – 84 points (41-5-2) Yellowhead – 76 points (37-9-2) Brandon – 72 points (35-11-2) Southwest – 71 points (33-10-5) Winnipeg Thrashers – 65 points (30-13-5) Eastman – 59 points (27-16-5) Pembina Valley – 54 points (24-18-6) Winnipeg Bruins – 50 points (22-20-6) Kenora – 42 points (20-26-2) Central Plains – 37 points (18-29-1) Interlake – 24 points (10-34-4) Norman – 18 points (8-38-2) Parkland – 18 points (7-37-4)
LEADING SCORERS Nolan Ritchie (Brandon) – 39G 55A 94P Kaden Bryant (Winnipeg Wild) – 45G 44A 89P Conner Roulette (Winnipeg Thrashers) – 41G 47A 88P Reese Belton (Winnipeg Wild) – 43G 44A 87P Jake Poole (Yellowhead) – 40G 41A 81P
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE 2011 (Winnipeg Thrashers – gold medal)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES (since 1984) 6 (1991, 1994 (host), 2004, 2008, 2009 (host), 2011)
LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 (Winnipeg Thrashers)
TOTAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2 (2004, Brandon Wheat Kings; 2011, Winnipeg Thrashers)