MJHL PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Jeremey Leipsic ’ s Amazing Season Continues
By Johnston Hall Photo by Tara Miller
It ’ s been a wonderful season for Portage Terriers ’ diminutive scoring sensation Jeremey Leipsic .
At the end of the regular season , he was named the winner of the Lorne ( Windy ) Lyndon Trophy for Hockey Ability and Sportsmanship and then , when the season ended , he was named winner of the Mike Ridley Trophy as the MJHL ’ s scoring champion .
Of course , it didn ’ t hurt that Leipsic was named the Manitoba Junior Hockey League ’ s February Player of the Month . It was the third time during the 2016-17 regular season that Leipsic has been named MJHL Player of the Month . He earned the award in both October and December .
In February , the 19-year-old Winnipeg product scored seven goals and 20 points in 11 games . He had five multipoint games and was named a game star on three occasions .
Leipsic , an undersized 5-foot-8 , 165-pound leftwing / centre , easily won the MJHL ’ s scoring title this season . On the final night of the season , he had a goal and an assist to finish the season with 33 goals and 100 points . He scored the game-winning goal in a 5-4 victory over Waywayseecappo . In the end , he finished 20 points ahead of the league ’ s No . 2 scorer , his linemate , Chase Brakel .
Equally impressive is that he ’ s had only 12 minutes in penalties this season .
“ A lot of people think as a smaller guy you ’ re not going to be physical or go in the corners ,” Leipsic told Game On Magazine . “ I like to try and prove people wrong in that sense .”
While working through his junior hockey career , Jeremey has leaned on his brother Brendan , a star with the American Hockey League ’ s Toronto Marlies . After finishing his last season of midget AAA with the Winnipeg Wild in 2014-15 , Jeremey made the decision to move out west and play his first season of junior hockey with the Powell River Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League .
He thought it was the best opportunity to better himself , but 112 GAME ON 2017 PLAYOFF EDITION
that ’ s not how it turned out . After scoring 20 goals and 84 points in his last year of midget , Jeremey had a different role with Powell River and his offensive numbers declined – five goals and 17 points in 34 games .
“ I really feel like I just wasn ’ t getting the opportunity I was looking for when I moved out there ,” he said .
Jeremey wound up being dealt to the Portage Terriers at the CJHL trade deadline . Now , at a crossroads for the first time in his young career , he turned to his older brother for support during the process .
“ He told me this could be a blessing in disguise and it was ,” Jeremey said . “ I won an MJHL championship with a great group of guys and a great team .”
With his future getting brighter , Leipsic wants to play NCAA Division 1 hockey .
“ Playing college hockey is the goal ,” he said . “ I would definitely lean towards playing NCAA Div . 1 if I can , but I can ’ t rule out U SPORT either . I ’ m not really sure now where my next step will be after junior yet .
“ But I love the game . I ’ ve loved it since I was four- or five-yearsold . I for sure want to keep playing for as long as I can .” n