Former Native off to solid start in Virden

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Published on Monday, October 1, 2012

By: Lanny Stewart

myWestman.ca

Former Neepawa Native Richard Olson is off to a solid start in his final year in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

The forward has eight points in five games thus far this year with the Virden Oil Capitals, a club that is in the midst of its inaugural season in the MJHL.

"I really like it; we have a good team," said the 20-year-old Winnipeg product.

Olson spent the entire 2010-2011 season with the Natives organization and ended up having his best statistical season in junior 'A', netting 16 goals and 45 points in 62 regular season games. Despite not making the playoffs during his time in Neepawa, Olson, who was an assistant captain for the Natives at the time, enjoyed his tenure in Neepawa and says he still keeps in touch with some of his former teammates.

"I was kinda skeptical about coming to Neepawa at first, but I thought it was a really good experience," he said.

After beginning last year with Neepawa, Olson ended up having short stints in Dauphin and Steinbach before getting traded to the Saints. He ended up scoring nine goals and 15 points in the playoffs, helping his hometown team reach the MJHL final last season.

After hearing the news that the Saints were purchased by a group in Virden during the off-season and that the team would be moving there, Olson had a difficult time deciding whether he wanted to play hockey in Manitoba's Oil Capital.

"I didn't want to (come to Virden) at all, but now that I'm here, I'm happy I made the decision to come," he said.

Olson has Thursday, Oct. 11 marked on his calendar because that's the day the Oil Capitals host the Natives for the first time this season.

"It'll be awesome to try and beat them," he said with a smile. "I had a lot of fun there."

Olson and the Oil Capitals are currently 2-1-2 so far this year and the veteran forward is currently tied for first on the team in scoring with Jon Gaudet, a former member of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

In photo: Richard Olson, photo courtesy of Virden Oil Capitals