MANITOBANS IN THE NHL
Another Superb
Season for
Manitobans
in the NHL
Once again more than 25 Manitobans finished the
2016-17 season on the rosters of NHL teams. This year,
however, players such as Jonathan Toews, Alexander Steen,
Mark Stone and Travis Zajac had banner seasons. It’s a tribute
to Hockey Manitoba’s programs and coaches that we’re
producing more of the game’s best every year.
By Carter Brooks
Photos by Jeff Miller, Bruce Fedyck and James
Carey Lauder
O
nce again, the NHL was flooded with Manitoba-grown tal-
ent. In the 2016-17 season alone, there were 27 Manito-
bans who played at least one game in the world’s best
hockey league this season.
For a second-straight season, Chicago Blackhawks captain, Jona-
than Toews led the way with 21 goals and 58 points – identically
matching his 2015-16 point total. Following shortly behind him were
fellow Winnipeggers, Mark Stone (54 points), Alex Steen (51 points),
106 GAME ON
2017 CHAMPIONS EDITION
and Travis Za-
jac (45 points).
Just off the
pace of the four
stars from Manitoba’s
capital came a couple of
interesting Nashville Preda-
tors.
Colin Wilson, a winger for the Preda-
tors, was born in Greenwich, Conn., while his father, Carey spent
time with the New York Rangers and Hartford Whalers. However,
Colin grew up in Winnipeg and has been a point-every-second-game
kind of player for the Predators over his career, and he hit the nail
on the head this year, finishing the season with 35 points in 70
games.
Meanwhile, his Nashville teammate, Cody McLeod,
has enjoyed a roller coaster of a year. He began the
2016-17 season with the dismal Colorado Avalanche, be-
fore being dealt to the playoff-bound Predators in early January.
By putting together five goals, and more importantly 145 penalty
minutes, McLeod has proven to be a key addition to a very surpris-
ing Nashville team that shocked the world this spring, sweeping the
Cup-favourite Blackhawks in the first round, before easily handling
the Manitoban-laced Blues in the second round.
“I don’t think the trade could have gone any better, and I’m re-
ally happy here,” McLeod told Game On Magazine before the play-
offs. “The guys have been awesome. We’ve got a great group here.
It’s tough, though, leaving a place that you’ve been for almost ten
years, but I wish them the best of luck. It’s definitely tough right
now in Colorado, but like I said, it’s been awesome here and a lot of
fun. Hopefully we can make a good run in the playoffs.”