Oil Caps Fans! It’s September, which means The Comfort Inn & Suites Fall Training Camp is right around the corner! This season is going to be unique in many ways.
Training camp will be held September 18-20th, and camp numbers will be capped at 34 players. The Virden Oil Caps will hit the ice at Tundra Oil & Gas Place for their first preseason game on September 23rd when they host the Waywayseecappo Wolverines. They then will travel to Portage for their final two preseason games on September 27th and October 2nd. The Caps kick off the regular season with the Valleyview Co-op Home Opener on October 9th against the Portage Terriers, game time set for 7:30 pm.
“We are very, very excited to get things started here next weekend,” said GM and Head Coach Tyson Ramsey. “It’s been a long stretch without hockey, and we feel very fortunate to be able to start the season for a few different reasons. Our players feel like there is some unfinished business from last season, and also, we are very excited to get our fans and community businesses back into Tundra Oil & Gas Place. Our staff has worked extremely hard to put a plan in place to have hockey return safely in Virden. We feel like this season can be a great community builder during a difficult time in our lives.”
The MJHL has put in place a shortened 40 game regular season schedule due to the later start. The team will play the Portage Terriers four times to begin the regular season. The Return to Play format for 2020-2021 will have the league divided into three divisions. The Oil Capitals have been placed in the Central Division along with the Portage Terriers, Neepawa Natives, and Winkler Flyers. Each team will play their divisional opponents eight times throughout the season and play a home and home against each of the teams in the other two divisions to make up the 40 regular-season games. All MJHL clubs will make the playoffs this season!
There has also been an expansion team added to the league this year. The Winnipeg Freeze is set to join to make it 12 teams in the league. They will join the Blues as Winnipeg’s second MJHL team, and they will play their games out of the Max Bell Arena at the University of Manitoba.
Up to this point, the organization has sold 440 season tickets, and there is still room for you!! To allow for proper physical distancing protocols, the Oil Caps will be selling a maximum of 500 season tickets at this time. Early Bird prices will remain in effect throughout the season, and due to the shortened season, this year’s price will also include your Playoff Tickets for the first two home games of round one. The deadline for purchasing season tickets will be Friday, September 11th. Please call the office at 204-748-4848 or call Teresa at (204) 748-5940 to get your tickets now!
“The league has done a great job in creating a schedule that takes into account the safety of all of the teams’ players and staff,” said Ramsey. “Our season ticket holders and businesses have shown tremendous support to our hockey club, and we are looking forward to providing them with an exciting team to watch this season.”
For anyone who has already purchased your Season Tickets, you will be contacted about any seat changes! We have to follow all Social Distancing Protocols.