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While you will still have to wait to get your first swings in at the Gilbert Plains Country Club, you can spend a few hours at the course on Saturday, May 4 while having some laughs and plotting in your head how you plan to get around the course when it does open.

Presented by the Battle for the Belts two-person scramble, the Club will host a 'Tee Off to Summer' Party at the event centre right by the pro shop. The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. and 2-for-1 shots will be offered from 7:00 to 8:00. 

Prizes and food will also be available.

Easton Hedley is a board member for the event centre and as she says, it will be a night you won't want to miss out on.

"We're also going to have a late-night lunch," said Hedley. "It's just a great opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate the start of spring and the start of the golf season."

Only individual tickets are available and they go for $50. Please feel free to call Scott McCallum at 648-7834. Entertainment for the night will be the Dueling Keys, sure to get the party going. 

The event centre is somewhat of a new course feature, and Hedley is very proud of it.

"So many people have put so much thought and energy into this," ended Hedley. "It's a place where people can celebrate monumental events and special moments will be shared at this facility. We are very proud of it."

It's the 'Tee Off to Summer' Party at the Gilbert Plains Country Club this Saturday. If you are in Dauphin and you're looking to get a ride to the event, you can do so for just $20 and it will return you to Dauphin as well. The bus leaves the Rotary Arena at 5:30. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 30, 2024 - 11:22 am

The Turnbull Cup was in the building.

Fans not at the arena well ahead of the 7:00 p.m. puck drop were denied entry. It was a capacity crowd as the Winkler Flyers looked to win the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) title in game four against the Steinbach Pistons.

Three days removed from a goal from Lucas Ens that put the Pistons on the brink of elimination, Winkler had an opportunity to win their first league championship since 1998 and 1300 fans were in the stands to witness the action.

Jayce Legaarden, who was outstanding in the playoffs, felt how much the fans of Winkler wanted a championship.

"It was crazy loud, the loudest that I have ever seen a rink," said Legaarden. "The fans were insane, they were yelling all game, just crazy to be a part of."

In a back-and-forth game four, the Grandview star scored his eighth of the playoffs shorthanded with just 14 seconds left in the first frame as Winkler went up 3-2 after 20 minutes. The Flyers then extended their lead to two thanks to Avery Anderson's fifth of the playoffs.

Trailing by two entering the third, the Pistons scored one to get within a single goal, and then with just 39 seconds left in regulation, Parker Jasper's third of the playoffs tied the contest to force overtime. Overtime didn't last long; however, as Zach Nicolas scored his sixth of the playoffs for Winkler and the rest was history.

The goal gave Winkler their first league title since 1998.

"It was incredible, it was so loud, and the fans came on the ice when we won," offered Legaarden. "For us to win a championship in front of our home fans at our rink, what a great finish."

Jayce also talks about Nicolas' game-winning goal.

"We couldn't believe that we won the league, what an accomplishment," said Legaarden. "We just wanted to all get on the ice to celebrate. We have worked so hard for this."

From the small community of Grandview, Legaarden had a torrid playoff run. His eight goals were more than anyone else in the league and his 11 points were tied for seventh. 

In two years, Jayce has gone from scoring 46 regular season goals with the Parkland U18 Rangers to being one of the most important pieces to this year's championship team and he certainly felt the love from fans back in his hometown.

"I know many people from back home came to see the game to support and my parents were in the stands," said Legaarden. "I love representing Grandview, it was an incredible place to grow up with so many great people."

Winkler will now make their way to Oakville next Tuesday for the Centennial Cup. Their first game is next Thursday against the Sioux Lookout Bombers of the Superior International Hockey League (SIJHL). 

They will then play either the Flin Flon Bombers or Melfort Mustangs on May 11, followed by games against the host Oakville Blades on May 13 and they wrap up their round-robin on Tuesday, May 14 against either the Miramichi Timberwolves or Summerside Capitals of the Maritimes Hockey League.

The last Manitoban based team to make noise at the national tournament was the Dauphin Kings when they made the semi-finals two seasons ago. Legaarden knows the team's greatest test is ahead of them and he's ready for the challenge.

"We're excited about this, it's going to be a great experience," ended Legaarden. "To get the chance to play on the national stage and against the best teams in the country, it's very rewarding and our goal is to win. That's what our goal has been since day one."

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Contributed by Michael Brossart

Published: Apr 29, 2024 - 9:35 am

The Brandon U18 Wheat Kings will be bringing home silver medals.

Advancing to the national final at the Telus Cup in Nova Scotia and being driven by a pair of Parkland stars, the Wheat Kings came up short against Cantonniers de Magog, 4-1. 

Brandon was dealt an early low blow when Jaxon Jacobson took a high hit in the first period which forced him to leave the game and the star from Brandon never returned in the defeat.

Magog finished a perfect tournament with the victory. Since 2018, the program has three silver medals and now, a national gold medal. 

Brady Turko of McCreary finished sixth in tournament scoring with eight goals and three assists. Easton Odut; meanwhile, scored five times while adding one assist. Jaxon just edged Turko as Brandon's leading scorer with one goal and 11 assists.

Brandon will now return home after one of the most successful seasons in U18 AAA history. Despite the loss, the team put together a season to remember. Stay tuned in the coming days as Easton and Brady join 730CKDM to chat about their experience on the national stage. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 28, 2024 - 9:12 pm

The Flin Flon Bombers will just not go away in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) final.

Facing elimination for the second straight game, the Bombers went to work offensively and put up five goals in a 5-2 victory against the Melfort Mustangs. With the win, the Bombers now trail three games to two and they can force a decisive game seven with one more win.

Five different Bombers scored in the game including Carter Anderson, Justin Lies, Anthony Piccininno, Riley Niven, and Alexi Sylvestre. Harman Laser-Hume was fantastic in net as he made 31 saves in the victory.

Thd best-of-seven league final will now head to the Northern Lights Palace where another capacity crowd of 2500 is expected as the Mustangs look to win the Canterra Seeds Cup on home ice. The Flin Flon Bombers can force game seven with a win at one of the most storied arenas with one of the best atmospheres you will find in junior hockey at the Whitney Forum.

Game six goes Tuesday night. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 28, 2024 - 2:16 am

A pair of Parkland stars are playing for a national title  

Brady Turko capped off an incredible performance with his third goal of the game late in the third as Brandon beat Calgary, 4-1, in a national semi-final.

Scoring Brandon's other goal was Easton Odut.

Brandon will now play Team Quebec on Sunday afternoon and the game will be televised on TSN. The puck drops at 3:00 p.m.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 27, 2024 - 9:09 pm

Grandview will be getting the chance to welcome a Turnbull Cup Champion back to the community.

In front of an electric crowd on Friday night, the Winkler Flyers got the job done with a 5-on-3 goal in overtime to down the Steinbach Pistons, 5-4, wrapping up the series in four games. Winkler looked like they would win in regulation; however, the Pistons scored with just 39 seconds left in the contest to tie the game at four and force overtime.

Jayce Legaarden of Grandview scored another goal for the Flyers, this one of the shorthanded variety, as he finished the playoffs with eight goals. It is Winkler's first championship since they beat the St. James Canadians back in 1998. 

Winkler will now make their way to Oakville for the Centennial Cup with their first game coming against the Sioux Lookout Bombers of the Superior International Junior Hockey League on May 9.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 26, 2024 - 10:42 pm

Easton Odut broke out in a big way on Friday as the Brandon Wheat Kings secured their third win of the Telus Cup.

Playing a very good Markham Waxers team, he scored two goals while adding one assist in a 7-4 win as Brandon wrapped up their round-robin with three wins and two losses.

Brady Turko was once again excellent for Brandon as he scored two goals in the game. Turko scored five goals in five round-robin games. Jaxon Jacobson led the way in the assists category as he had eight of them.

With the victory, Brandon avoids the first-place Cantonniers de Magog of Quebec, who beat Brandon earlier in the week 5-1 and won all five of their round-robin games. 

Brandon will now play in Saturday's semi-final as they go up against the Calgary Buffaloes. The Wheat Kings led after 20 minutes against Calgary in their round-robin matchup, before falling 3-1. The winner of Saturday's game will play in the national final on Sunday on TSN. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 26, 2024 - 8:18 pm

The Dauphin Kings will get a great look at what their future could hold this weekend.

The team will host their Prospects Camp at Credit Union Place which opens with players arriving between 10 and 12 on Friday. With players born in 2006 to 2009, the yearly camp provides head coach and general manager Doug Hedley along with the team's assistant coaches and scouting staff a look at up-and-coming talent.

On-ice sessions begin at 1:00 p.m. on Friday and following five skill sessions, games begin Saturday at 9:00 a.m. A player/parent information meeting takes place at Countryfest Community Cinema on Saturday afternoon, followed by a goaltending session and three more games.

Sunday will feature three more games with the Kings officially putting a bow on the year at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Among those set to participate include two of the team's top American prospects. Hunter Bauer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), and Easton Swift (St. Paul, Minnesota) will be on hand.

Swift comes in at 6'1" and 185 pounds and is expected to bring a solid physical edge and offensive touch. This past year with Cretin Derham-Hall, Swift had 11 goals and 17 assists in 30 games as he set a new career-high for himself. Hunter Bauer; meanwhile, just recorded one of the best seasons in Minnesota's high school history. He went 21-1-2 with Minnetonka High, amassing a .947 save percentage to go along with a 0.94 goals-against average. 

Weekend Schedule:

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 26, 2024 - 7:39 am

Hayden Delaloye of Neepawa is a busy man. 

Between playing baseball and participating in track and field, juggling four jobs, jamming with his jazz band twice weekly, and keeping up with his studies, he's constantly on the move. Despite his packed schedule, Hayden always manages to find time for his true passion: golf.

Working on his swing over the winter months inside, Delaloye has been able to take his talents to the driving range over the past few days at the Neepawa Golf and Country Club, and then come this weekend, he will use a scorecard for the first time this year.

Neepawa will open its 18 holes this weekend and for Delaloye, his schedule is about to become that much busier thanks to the three-plus hour rounds that he will play several times a week.

"I'm excited to get the season going," said Delaloye. "It's been a long winter and I have been thinking about this day for a while, so I'm thrilled and we'll see how the summer goes."

The summer ahead promises to be another whirlwind of golfing excitement for Neepawa's standout player. Hayden is set to continue his journey on the Maple Leaf Junior Tour, recognized as Canada's premier junior golf circuit. Additionally, he plans to participate in a selection of Golf Manitoba events. However, the pinnacle of his summer aspirations rests south of the border.

Delaloye finds himself contemplating whether his game is up to par for the prestigious United States Junior Qualifier. This tournament boasts a storied history, having been conquered by golf luminaries such as Tiger Woods (three-time champion), Jordan Spieth (two-time champion), and recent titans like Scottie Scheffer (2013), Will Zalatoris (2014), and Min Woo Lee (2016), among others. For Hayden, this potential challenge represents a thrilling opportunity to test his skills against some of the world's top young golfers.

Recognizing the formidable competition awaiting him in the qualifying tournament, Delaloye acknowledges the necessity of being in peak form. He plans to assess his performance in the early stages of the season before making a final decision on whether to pursue entry.

"I'm working on my short game, that's what cost me a lot in tournaments last year," said Delaloye. "My long irons have been very good in the past couple of years. As long as I can hit fairways and dial in my short game, I believe I can compete with anyone I go up against."

Later this year, Hayden is poised to graduate from Neepawa Collegiate and embark on his post-secondary journey come fall. Last July, he received a call from Calvin Freeman, head coach of the men's golf team at Southeast Community College. Freeman extended an invitation for Hayden to visit the campus.

In November, Hayden and his family journeyed to the community college situated approximately 40 minutes from Lincoln, Nebraska. Despite the prospect of relocating nearly 12 hours away from home, Hayden believed the move would align seamlessly with his future aspirations.

"I liked the campus because it almost feels as if I'm back at home in Neepawa, they have small classes with like 17 kids which is nice," said Delaloye. "Everything is a pretty short walk at campus as well. The golf course is amazing, 7200 yards from the tips and it was very challenging."

Hayden and family then returned to Neepawa after the three-day trip and then it was decision time. Ultimately, the opportunity to play college golf was far too tempting to pass up, so Delaloye will move in August and begin classes at Southeast Community College on August 19. 

When it comes to playing golf at the next level, Delaloye knows it will be a challenge, but the young man has never shied away from competition. 

"I just have to stick to my game, I know it will be a rollercoaster full of nerves," offered Delaloye. "Golf is challenging, you have to deal with ups and downs, it happens. It's all about having a positive mindset for 18 holes. I believe in myself and I'm looking forward to this next chapter of my life."

Hayden was also a recipient of a $2000 scholarship from MJT. He is the only Manitoban to receive the scholarship and is one of five in the country. 

"That's very special to me," ended Delaloye. "I'm very appreciative of the opportunities that MJT has provided me over the years and I am thrilled that they chose me for a scholarship, it will help a lot when it comes to moving down south."

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 26, 2024 - 7:23 am

The Flin Flon Bombers travelled home overnight knowing there would be another game at the famed 'Zoo'.

Facing elimination in game four of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) final against the Melfort Mustangs, the Bombers came up clutch in overtime in a thrilling 4-3 win in front of more than 2500 fans at the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort.

Kylynn Olafson scored 15:05 into the first overtime as Flin Flon kept their season alive after three straight losses to open the series. It was the second straight overtime game in the series after the Mustangs won in double overtime one night prior.

Flin Flon appeared to be on cruise control in the game after opening up a 3-0 lead early in the second period. However, the Mustangs battled back by cutting the deficit to two after 40 minutes. Following a goal by Aidyn Hutchinson with less than 12 minutes left in the third, Ryan Duguay scored his second of the game, and 13th of the playoffs with just 1:01 left in regulation to force overtime. 

Olafson's overtime goal was his second marker of the playoffs. Still trailing three games to one, Flin Flon will look to keep their season alive and force a sixth game when they return to the Whitney Forum for game five on Saturday night. The winner of the series represents the SJHL at the Centennial Cup next month. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 26, 2024 - 6:13 am