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The Home Hardware two-man classic in support of the Gary Brandon Sports Bursary has been postponed.

Originally set to take place from May 28-30, Ray Karlson confirmed on Monday morning that the organizing committee has decided to postpone the event for now. 

"It's just not the same tournament if we can't get together like we normally do," said Karlson. "For the meals, the Calcutta, and just everyone getting together. It was a tough decision, but we needed to make it."

Although a new date hasn't been set, the event will take place at some point this summer. It was played in September last year after the original date was also postponed because of the pandemic.

If you had already signed up your twosome for the event, you won't need to again. Karlson says the list will remain intact.

"We don't plan on restarting our list, if you're signed up, you will be in," ended Karlson. "Whenever restrictions allow us to do so, we will host this event and it will be another great weekend."

The Dauphin Lake Golf Club is coming off an extremely busy weekend and Karlson says the course is in tremendous shape. You can call 638-9400 to book your tee times. Do keep in mind, the restaurant is only open for takeout and no fivesomes are permitted on the golf course. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: May 10, 2021 - 9:37 am

This summer will be a big one at the Gilbert Plains Country Club with the golf season in full swing.

52 new adult members have joined this season, some of which took advantage of the $600 deal that was up for grabs until May 1. So the next time you head to the GPCC, don't be surprised if you see a new face or many new faces.

"It's just been an absolute surge this year," said Scott McCallum, General Manager. "It's really taken off this year and we're really excited that more people are getting into the game."

While the GPCC does offer memberships, the course remains open to the public. That means even if you aren't a member, you can enjoy a round of 18 holes with a cart for just $60. You can book your tee times at 548-3030 and it's recommended that you book yours soon if you hope to play this weekend, as the tee sheet continues to fill up.

"Everyone is welcome, I think we do a really good job of making sure everyone feels that they are a member even if they aren't," offered McCallum. 

Known as Parkland's premiere golf destination, Gilbert Plains provides a challenge for elite golfers and it's very playable for the recreational player. Playing to just less than 6000 from the white tees, the course features a good variety of shorter holes and longer holes. Despite a lack of rain, the course is in great shape.

"I just can't believe how the course has greened up," ended McCallum. "Our grounds crew does an incredible job here. Our irrigation system is in full swing and it's certainly starting to show."

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: May 7, 2021 - 10:33 am

The Parkland Source for Sports 4-on-4 hockey league took last summer off, but it's set for a return this summer inside of Credit Union Place.

Starting on July 19, teams will play two games per week for five weeks ahead of training camps. 

The first division is for players born from 2006 to 2008. Each team will play eight games and it costs just $160. Games will be played on Monday and Wednesday. 

The second division is for players born in 2005 and anyone prior to that. Games will be played on Tuesdays and Thursdays with the cost being $160 for eight games. Doug Hedley runs the league and he says it's a great opportunity to get on the ice before tryouts begin.

"The pace is always really good with elite players suiting up," said Hedley. "I'm hoping to have Junior A and college guys this year, it should be very competitive."

Right after the league wraps up, the Dauphin Kings will run their development camp for young players in the region. 

The organization is partnering with Park Fit for the camp and they will be handling the dryland training with trainer, Haley Choma. 

"This is right before training camps so it's a great opportunity to get on the ice and get in hockey shape," ended Hedley. 

You can register for the league by calling Hedley at 572-4036. Registration and full schedule details for the camp are on the way in the coming weeks. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: May 6, 2021 - 9:50 am

Success runs in the Geekie family. Morgan Geekie has won a Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers and he's now with the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. Noah Geekie is playing college baseball with Emporia State University and he has a .262 batting average to go along with three home runs and 19 runs batted in.

And then there is Conor Geekie who could have also played baseball collegiately, but he decided hockey was the way to go. After three years with the Yellowhead Chiefs, his home region AAA team, Conor joined the Virden Oil Capitals of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) to begin this past season. In nine games, Conor scored once while he added three assists.

Conor's last game with Virden was back on November 6 in a 5-4 win against Swan Valley and that ended up being the Oil Capitals' final game of the season as the MJHL initially paused its season before cancelling it. So Conor spent the next few months in the gym and at the outdoor rink as he couldn't skate inside because the government's public health orders closed all indoor facilities at the time.

Conor went more than four months without playing a game, but that all changed a couple of months ago. Drafted second overall by the then Kootenay Ice in the 2019 WHL draft, Geekie played seven games when the franchise moved to Manitoba to become the Winnipeg ICE in the 2019-20 season.

Projected to be an impact player for many years to come, Conor joined his ICE teammates in the Regina bubble. With no contact from the outside world for two months during the WHL season, Conor says living in the bubble was very unique.

"It was pretty cool, it was an experience that I will never forget," said Geekie. "It was probably one of the tightest teams that I have ever played on. Everyone could hang out with everyone and it was just a great vibe."

The Brandon Wheat Kings ended up winning the Subway Cup, awarded to the East Division's top team at the conclusion of the 24 game season. Winnipeg, meanwhile, finished in second -- one point behind Brandon -- as the ICE went 18-5-1 and finished with 37 points to Brandon's 38. The ICE finished their season with eight wins in their final 10 games and didn't lose a contest in their final seven outings.

Geekie says the chemistry that was built off the ice translated on the ice.

"Things went really well for us, I believe we could have made a run if it was a normal season," offered Geekie. "I think next year's going to be a big year for us, we should have what it takes to make a deep run. I know every team says that, but we're going to have something special because we're so young and we have some great guys coming up."

Conor failed to record any points in seven games during the 2019-20 season with Winnipeg, but that was far from the case this go around. Geekie suited up in all 24 of the team's games and he scored nine goals while adding 14 assists. His 23 points were the fourth-most on the team and he was second in rookie scoring, only behind Connor Bedard who is currently in Texas playing with Team Canada at the U18 Championships, Bedard is the first player in WHL history to be granted exceptional status. 

One of Conor's goals was a game-winner and he also scored twice on the power play.

"I got lucky enough to play with some great players," ended Geekie. "My line clicked immediately and we played consistent hockey all season. Our coach harped on us getting better every day and I believe our team succeeded in doing just that."

Now back in Strathclair quarantining, Geekie says he's looking forward to getting on the diamonds and on the golf course this summer. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: May 5, 2021 - 9:47 am

After excelling and doing great things in Dauphin playing baseball, Will Hlady moved south of the border a few years ago as he joined the Iowa Wesleyan Tigers. The Dauphin product ended up playing two years with the Tigers before he transferred to Valley City State where he would continue his college career with the Vikings.

And now two years later, Will is hoping that his college career still has a few more solid weeks left in it. As the team prepares for their conference tournament, this will be Hlady's final chance to win a conference title as he's playing his senior season. The team hosted Presentation College this past weekend for four games as Will played in the final homestand of his college days. The series offered up four wins and Valley City outscored PC, 51-17. 

Hlady says the last few years have been amazing and he won't ever forget about the memories made from his time in Iowa and of course, his two years with the Vikings.

"It's kind of emotional to think that the end is getting near," said Hlady. "With that said, I'm not focusing on the end. Our goal is to keep winning games and we'll go from there."

Heading into their final game before the NSAA Tournament that begins this weekend, Will has helped the Vikings win five of their last six games and they've won their last four games. Valley City is 14-9 in conference play which has them finishing conference play in third place. The Vikings have been most dominant at home, where they have gone 10-3. 

"Things have been going pretty well. There have been some bumps along the road, but that's expected throughout a season," offered Hlady. "We've been hitting the ball well all year and our pitching staff has come together at the right time."

WIll's 17 appearances on the mound were the second-most on the team behind Matthew Suda who hit the mound 19 times. Will's five wins were also second-most and he also recorded two saves for a Valley City team that is trending in the right direction at the right time. 

The Dauphin native prides himself on being very accurate on the mound and he was throughout the season, as the right-hander gave up just 15 walks in 43.2 innings pitched. 

"I would say I had a pretty good year overall," added Hlady. "I gave up more runs than I would have hoped in some situations, but that will happen when you pitch a lot. I'm peaking at the right time and I feel really good about my game right now."

A 9-inning game on Wednesday in Morris, Minnesota against the University of Minnesota-Morris will be followed up with a game on home field against Waldorf University on Friday and there will be some added pressure in that contest as it's the opener of the NSAA Tournament.

Valley City beat Walford twice this season with both wins coming in the past two weeks. The championship game will be played next Monday and the winner will advance to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national championship opening round that is played from May 17-20. Ultimately, the NAIA World Series takes place from May 28 to June 4 at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. 

"We're feeling pretty good right now, we know we can play with anyone in our conference," ended Hlady. "We'll take things inning by inning and we'll see how it goes."

No matter the end result of this season, Will will continue playing against collegiate players for the next few months. At the conclusion of his season with Valley City, Will will join the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks of the Expedition League. It was announced that they will play their season in Grand Forks.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: May 4, 2021 - 9:52 am

If you're looking for a cheap round of golf every Monday throughout the season, the Neepawa Golf & Country Club has you covered.

For just $16, you can play 18 holes. You must also purchase a cart which means you can play one of the province's finest courses for just $36.

You can also take advantage of this deal at the Minnedosa Golf & Country Club. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: May 3, 2021 - 11:26 am

Colby Robak posted seven goals and 17 assists in his first season as a professional with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League in the 2010-11 season. A veteran of 47 NHL games, Colby spent the first eight years of his professional career playing in North America which included games with the Anaheim Ducks and Florida Panthers.

Colby joined Sport of the Finnish Liiga for the 2018-19 season, a 29 game campaign where the Gilbert Plains native had nine assists. One season is all Colby would end up spending in Finland as he signed with the Schwenninger Wild Wings of the German-based DEL.

In 34 games during his first season in Germany, Robak scored five goals while adding five assists. After that season, it was decision time for the Robak family as that completed season was a part of his one-year contract with the Wild Wings.

Ultimately, Germany was the place to be for Colby and his family so he signed a two-year contract and he's now heading into the second year of that deal. Colby says when the opportunity arose to sign a new contract, he was all over it.

"We're really comfortable in Germany. The team takes good care of us and we really like the city, it's got a small-town feeling," said Robak. "The hockey is also great, it's very high paced and skilled."

Returning to Germany with a fresh contract and feeling good about his game, Colby certainly proved to management that he could get it done at an elite level, on a consistent basis. One year removed from a 10 point campaign, Robak exploded this past season as he scored six goals and added 27 assists.

Colby's six goals were the most he's recorded in a season since back in the 2013-14 campaign when he lit the twine eight times. Colby's 33 points were 23 more than he put up in the previous season and he says he was given a good opportunity to help the team produce.

"It was a good year, we had a good team so it's always easier to produce when the team has success," offered Robak. "Not much really changed in my game, I just simplified things and shot the puck more often. I played with confidence and I think that's something that helped me throughout the year."

Colby is now back in Canada quarantining before the family can get outside and enjoy everything that the Parkland has to offer in the summer. With one more year on his contract, the Robak's know where they're heading in the fall and that's all that Colby is thinking about at this time. He still loves playing the game and he isn't thinking about what will happen after next season.

"Of course I still love it and I enjoy waking up every morning knowing I get to play this game professionally," said Robak. "I'm just going to enjoy it as much as I can at this point, to be honest."

Colby's 33 points were tied for the 20th-most in the league with Joseph Whitney and Jason Akeson leading the way with 45. He was also tied with Zachary Redmond for the most points by a defenceman. The Wild Wings ended up missing the playoffs by just one point this season. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: May 3, 2021 - 9:30 am

Barry Trotz, Ryan Pulock, and the rest of the New York Islanders have officially earned their right to compete for a Stanley Cup.

A 3-0 win against the Rangers clinched the Islanders a playoff spot.

With a handful of games left, New York trails Pittsburgh by four points for the top spot in the East Division. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: May 1, 2021 - 9:42 pm

The golf season is well underway and the Gilbert Plains Country Club is ready for what should be a very busy weekend at the course.

With Saturday's high expected to reach 18 with a mix of sun and cloud, Scott McCallum says the tee sheet continues to fill up. You can book a tee time by calling the pro shop at 548-3030.

"The course is in great shape, we've been getting compliments on how good the greens look and they're rolling really well," said McCallum. "Everyone seems to be happy and that's great to see."

The promotion on memberships comes to a close on Saturday. If you haven't been a member since 2018, you can secure yours for this summer for just $600. On top of regular golf, the GPCC is happy to offer different leagues throughout the summer.

Monday night is women's night with there being a competitive and non-competitive side while Tuesday and Thursday are men's night. Regardless of what night you would like to play, all nights are open to players of any skill level. There is also seniors day on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.

The deadline to register for men's night is Saturday by the end of the day with the action beginning on May 11. After seeing many new faces last season, McCallum is hoping to see more new faces this year.

"Whether you're looking for a hobby or just to meet new people, you have plenty of chances here," ended McCallum. "All of our leagues are really taking off and we welcome new people all the time."

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 30, 2021 - 9:10 am

Calgary has been the curling capital of Canada in the past few months as the coronavirus pandemic has forced the sport to host all of its national championship and grand slam events in a bubble at the Markin MacPhail Centre.

The first event played in the bubble was the Scotties Tournament of Hearts from February 19-28. Team Kerri Einarson went into the event as the defending champions and they were back ready to prove that they could get it done again.

Seven straight wins out of the gate put Team Canada in a great spot. Following a 7-4 loss against Rachel Homan in their eighth game, the Manitoba-based foursome went right back to their winning ways as they won five of their last six games to ultimately win the championship.

Falling behind 3-2 in the final after four ends, Team Einarson scored a big three points heading into the fifth end break and they finished the game with a 9-7 victory. Einarson finished the game at 88% while Briane Meilleur's 95% was the top of any player. 

And as it's now world championship eve, Einarson says winning a national title never gets old, especially because she's now done it in back-to-back years.

"It's such an amazing accomplishment, I never even dreamt about winning back-to-back national titles," said Einarson. "We're very excited about it and we're looking forward to getting back on the ice to practice on Thursday ahead of Friday."

Two weeks after Team Einarson won the nationals, Brendan Bottcher downed Team Koe to win the Tim Hortons Brier. The Bottcher win put a stop to a string of three straight national final defeats. 

At the end of the Tim Hortons Brier, the focus inside the Calgary curling bubble switched to mixed doubles as the top curlers in Canada competed in the Home Hardware mixed doubles championships. Einarson teamed up with Brad Gushue. Gushue's curling resume includes winning 11 grand slam titles, one Olympic title, and he's also won the world championships twice. At the Canadian mixed doubles Olympic trials in 2018 at Stride Place in Portage La Prairie, Gushue finished second to John Morris and Kaitlyn Lawes. 

This time around -- although there was no Olympic berth on the line -- Gushue went all the way. The duo of Einarson and Gushue lost just two of their 12 games and their win against Kadriana Sahaidak and Colton Lott in the final gave them both their first national mixed doubles title. The tournament marked Einarson's first time playing mixed doubles at the national level and clearly, she got the hang of it very quickly. 

"That was a really special moment. I know Brad was pretty disappointed about their performance at the Brier, so he texted me and said let's find a way to win this," offered Einarson. "I laughed and say yup, let's do our very best. We went out and had a lot of laughs and found a way to get the job done."

Kerri and Brad will head to Aberdeen, Scotland for the world mixed doubles championships that will be played from May 17 to 23. But before that, we'll continue to take a look at what a great few months it has been for the entire Einarson foursome.

After Niklas Edin won the men's worlds championships, the action was set to continue for Einarson as her team played in the Humpty's Champions Cup, an event that's part of the Grand Slam of Curling. Team Einarson advanced to a semifinal, but they came up short against Team Homan, a team that went on to beat Team Tirinzoni in the final. Disappointed with their semifinal loss, Team Einarson didn't have to wait long to get back on the ice. 

Just one day after the Humpty's Champions Cup wrapped up, the Players Championship took centre stage and this time, Einarson wasn't to be stopped. Their only loss of the event was against Team Tirinzoni in their third game.

Other than that, Team Einarson ran the table, which included defeating Team Homan in the final. The victory gave Team Einarson their second title in the bubble, while it was Kerri's third after winning the mixed event with Gushue.

Now Team Einarson is hoping to continue with the success they've enjoyed this season. The best women's teams have entered the bubble as the world women's championships begin on Friday. 

Entering the event as one of the favourites, Team Einarson will battle one of the other favourites to open up their event on Friday. Canada squares off at 2:00 p.m. against Sweden, skipped by Anna Hasselborg. 

A full 14-game round-robin will be played with the final set for next Sunday.

"We just want to go out and continue to enjoy this great experience," ended Einarson. "It's really special for us to be given the chance to be Team Canada. Our goal is to have some laughs and we don't want to put too much pressure on us. That's how we can have success."

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Apr 29, 2021 - 11:10 am