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The Neepawa Golf & Country Club is preparing for what should be a very exciting summer on the links. It was previously announced that the top amateur players in the province will head to Neepawa from July 15-18 as the course hosts the amateur men's championship.
Although plenty of snow began to fall starting on Monday evening, Landon Cameron says the snow shouldn't push back opening day for long. He anticipates opening within the next two to three weeks.
"My best guess would be anywhere from April 8 to 15, so that's exciting," said Cameron. "We're just really waiting for mother nature to cooperate, but that snow shouldn't really push things back."
The weather is expected to take a turn for the better starting on Wednesday with a high of zero. Starting Thursday, things look great with a high of 10 while Friday should see a high of 16. In fact, double digits are expected for five days straight starting on Thursday.
A devastating flood hit the community of Neepawa last summer, a flood that closed the course for the better part of two weeks. But thanks to a ton of hard work post-flood, Cameron says things are looking good.
"Our guys did a great job getting it somewhat back to normal last fall," offered Cameron. "There is still a little bit of repair left to do, but everything looks like it wintered very well for the most part."
Landon is entering his 12th year as general manager and CPGA head golf professional and he says Neepawa is such a special community, one that he has grown to love.
"With my wife and I not being from Neepawa, the community has been very welcoming and friendly," ended Cameron. "Our membership is also very loyal, we have a great core of members and that makes coming to work everyday fun."
The course is also one of the best in the province and if you're near Neepawa, you can get a membership for last year's price of just $875 for an adult and that fee includes league play. For more details, you can head to membership.
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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers say in their 2020 annual report that restrictions introduced to combat the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in a $7-million loss.
The Blue Bombers said the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus and related restrictions had a ``devastating impact'' on sports across Canada, including the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season.
The report states that team revenue decreased by $32.3 million in comparison to 2019, when the Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup and posted a $3.5-million operating profit.
The team also says it incurred expenses of $3.4 million related to the operation of the IG Field despite no events being held at the stadium since February 2020.
The Bombers say they took a number of steps to reduce expenditures in 2020, including a reduction of labour costs, other operating costs, and working with vendors to renegotiate contracts.
The club says it also accessed government programs and secured financing to assist with the impact of COVID-19 on the club's operations.
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The Cornell Big Red finished the 2019-20 season with nine straight wins as they went 23-2-4 (18-2-2 in conference play) that season and Tristan Mullin was a big piece of the team's success.
In 29 games, the former Dauphin King and Swan Valley Stampeder scored nine times and added 13 assists. Heading into this season, Mullin was set to be the team's captain in his final season of NCAA Division 1 hockey. Ultimately, Mullin was only captain for about two months and he never had the chance to wear the 'C' in a game as the conference scrapped this season because of the novel coronavirus.
The news that an ECAC season wouldn't take place left Tristan without a place to play, although not for long. Mullin would transfer to the University of Vermont for his final year. Tristan says he was grateful to get the chance to play with Vermont, but it was a tough year.
"It was one of the wildest years I have been a part of. I was so looking forward to being captain with Cornell, we were set up for a big season," said Mullin. "It was a grind this year. With protocols, we went in and out of quarantine multiple times and that was tough, it was hard for us to get on a roll. It was probably one of the most mentally frustrating years that I've been a part of."
Tristan ended up playing 11 games with Vermont, in which he scored four goals and added one assist. But unlike the success he enjoyed team-wise in Cornell, that wasn't the case in his final year of college as Vermont went 1-10-2, with 11 of their losses coming in conference play. The team's lone win came on Friday, January 8 against the University of Maine. Vermont's in the middle of a rebuild after an entirely new coaching staff was brought in.
"They have a bright future ahead of them, without a doubt," offered Mullin.
College journey:
Tristan ended his college career with 100 games played with his career-high coming back in the 2018-19 season when the former King suited up in 34 contests. Tristan scored 25 goals while adding 29 assists.
And while he didn't get the chance to finish his college days with the same team he started them with, Mullin still remembers some of the great things that happened during his time with Cornell.
"Scoring a goal against Harvard in front of a packed rink in my freshman year, that was super cool," stated Mullin. "I also scored my first goal against Boston University at Madison Square Garden so I'll never forget that."
Next move:
Tristan's next goal that he wants to achieve is playing in a professional game and it looks like that could be right around the corner. Not long after finishing up at Vermont, he signed his first amateur tryout contract with the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.
Tristan has arrived in Cleveland and he's currently quarantining in a hotel. He is set to join his teammates for practice on Wednesday ahead of their final game of the month on Wednesday night against the Rochester Americans.
And although it's unlikely that Tristan will make his AHL debut with just one practice under his belt, his next chance to suit up in a game could come as early as Saturday, April 3 when the Monsters challenge the Grand Rapids Griffins.
"It's a pretty cool feeling signing this contract, I don't think it's sunk in," ended Mullin. "I'm going to play the game I love and make money doing it, it's really special. I've had a lot of people reach out to me and I appreciate all the support."
Dauphin Kings fans will remember Tristan from the 2013-14 season when he played in 39 games and Mullin then made his way to Swan River to play with the Stampeders the following season, in which he suited up in 62 contests.
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The Grandview Lakers are hoping to field a few softball teams this summer.
The age groups are U12, U14, and U16, and registration is now open. It's $85 for U12, $95 for U14, and U16 is $105. This includes a couple of practices a week and games are played on weekends. Games will be played against teams from around the Parkland.
It looks like there will be several teams in the region this summer, including teams in Dauphin, Ste. Rose, and Roblin, just to name a few.
For more information and to register, email Erin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Riese Gaber came up just short in what went down as the longest game in NCAA hockey tournament history on Saturday night.
Playing the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs for a spot in the Frozen Four starting next Thursday in Pittsburgh, the Fighting Hawks came up short as the Bulldogs sealed the game in the fifth overtime.
There was 119 shots fired in the game between the two teams. UMD will make its fourth straight appearance at the Frozen Four after winning titles in 2018 and 2019. They will play UMass in the national semifinal on Thursday at PPG Paints Arena.
UMass took down Tyler Jubenvill and the rest of the Bemidji State Beavers in a regional final in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
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Softball is making a return to Dauphin.
Phil Fafard says registration is now open to play this summer at various age groups. There are teams at the U10, U12, U14, U16, and U19 levels which means if you're just getting into the game or you've played it for years, there is a spot for you.
The cost associated with playing this summer will depend on how many players sign up, but Fafard doesn't expect it to be much more than $100 if it's even that.
The season would include weekly practices and games against teams from across the province, which would include an opportunity to play in provincials as well.
"Softball is such a tremendous life sport," said Fafard. "I think every child should learn how to catch, hit, and throw a ball.
There is set to be teams from across the Parkland competing this summer such as Ste. Rose, Grandview, and Roblin, just to name a few. If you are interested in playing softball this summer, you must contact Phil before April 1 by emailing him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or you can call him at 204-572-6433.
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Riese Gaber and Tyler Jubenvill are now just one win away from heading to Pittsburgh.
Playing in regional semifinals on Friday, both the North Dakota Fighting Hawks and Bemidji State Beavers picked up big wins.
In Bridgeport, the Beavers took down the Wisconsin Badgers, 6-3. The Badgers entered the regionals as the number 1 seed in their region, but they couldn't solve Bemidji State. Tyler Jubenvill and the Beavers now play on Saturday against UMass. The winner heads to the Frozen Four beginning next Thursday.
Meanwhile in Fargo, there was a scary moment in the second period when Gaber was hit hard into the boards and he left the game. However, it appears that Gaber is good to go for Saturday's tilt. In Friday's contest, the Gilbert Plains native had one assist in a 5-1 win against American International College.
North Dakota plays the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on Saturday.
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Rod Carberry has spent the past six years at the helm of the Dauphin Clippers rugby program. Coaching both the men and women, Carberry has dedicated countless hours to grow the game of rugby in Dauphin at the high school level and he has certainly achieved that.
During his time with the program, Carberry led the women's team to a league title and back-to-back appearances at the provincials. The men's team also qualified for the playoffs and were very competitive, something that didn't happen much before Carberry stepped in.
But, the Clippers program will be looking for a new coach after next season as Rod is stepping down to spend more time with family and he will also have more time to enjoy his hobbies, one of which includes fishing, which is a regular activity for the Dauphinite. Carberry says the past six years have been incredible as he looks to find a replacement to take over the program.
"It was such a hard decision to step away, it really was," said Carberry. "I've met so many incredible people over the years. I've had a lot of time to spend time with my family, hunt, and fish over the past few months, and I'm looking forward to doing more of that moving forward."
Carberry does plan on staying in the game; however. He plans on certifying as a referee so he can stay on the field and stay connected to the game he loves. Although no one has stepped up at this point to take over the program, Carberry is confident that his replacement will continue growing the game in Dauphin at the high school level.
"It's amazing where this game is right now in Dauphin," offered Carberry. "From barely having enough to field a team on the men's and women's side not long ago to having a fully flourishing youth program from six-years-old to the resurrection of our men's team in the past couple of years, it's incredible."
Rod does plan on continuing to coach at the club level. A couple of Parkland Pirates teams were set to head to Florida for a tournament last year, but that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carberry says he will never forget the nailbiter games and the success that the Clippers program enjoyed over the years.
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It's been seven years since Tyler Jubenvill had nine playoff points in just four games with the Parkland U15 Rangers back in 2014 and now, he's four wins away from becoming a national champion.
Tyler, from Gilbert Plains, is in his third season with Bemidji State Beavers and the team is in Bridgeport, Connecticut for the NCAA Division 1 regional championship. Jubenvill who spent time with the Winkler Flyers before moving south of the border, played in all of the team's 27 games this year. Five of Bemidji State's games were postponed from November 23 to December 5.
They finished 15-9-3 (8-5-1 in conference play) and they advanced to the conference semifinals after sweeping Michigan Tech in the conference quarterfinals.
"We're here at the tournament and this is exactly where we wanted to be at the start of the year," said Jubenvill. "Our business isn't finished either, we're ready for our next challenge."
16 teams have advanced to the regionals with North Dakota entering as the top seed after they won the NCHC. The Fighting Hawks roster includes Riese Gaber who has been enjoying an outstanding freshman season with the top team in the country and they will play American International, a team they have never played in team history.
Bemidji State, meanwhile, will take on the fourth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers. The game will be played on Friday with the winner advancing to the regional final on Saturday afternoon. The four regional winners advance to the Frozen Four with the national championship game being played at PPG Paints Arena -- home of the Pittsburgh Penguins -- on April 10.
"It's exciting even just being here at regionals," said Jubenvill. "With that said, we know we're only four games away from winning a national championship and we have a ton of confidence in our group heading into regionals."
Game preview:
Bemidji State - 15-9-3 (8-5-1 in conference play)
Leading scorers:
Alex Ierullo - 7G, 16A
Brendan Harris - 8G, 12A
Ethan Somoza - 13G, 5A
Bemidji State dropped their only neutral site game of the season. The team's strongest period was the third when they outscored opponents, 76-63. The team had 744 shots while they gave up 675. Tyler has four assists.
In the crease: Zach Driscoll has started 26 of the team's games in which he's gone 14-9-3 with a 2.27 goals-against average to go along with a .924 save percentage. If Bemidji State wants to get past Wisconsin, Driscoll will have to be very good.
Wisconsin - 20-9-1 (17-6-1-1 in conference play)
Leading scorers:
Cole Caufield - 28G, 21A
Linus Weissbach - 11G, 29A
Dylan Holloway - 11G, 23A
Wisconsin went 1-1 in neutral site action this season as they enter the regionals as the top seed. Cole Caufield dominated his opponents this season as he had seven multi-goal games and that includes three hat-tricks. He also helped Team United States win gold at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.
In the crease: Unlike Zach Driscoll who played almost every game for Bemidji State, Wisconsin rotated their goaltenders quite consistently. Cameron Rowe went 9-2-1 in 15 games started while Robbie Beydoun went 11-7 with three shutouts in 21 games started.
The Badgers boast a 6-0-1 all-time record against the Bemidji State Beavers.
"They're a good team with a lot of high-end talent, that's for sure," stated Jubenvill. "With that said, so do we, and I think we'll match up well. We have to lock down their top players and I think we'll do just fine."
Jubenvill and the rest of the Beavers arrived in Bridgeport via a private charter on Tuesday. All members of their team had to quarantine on Wednesday and now, game day is just one day away as the quest for a Frozen Four title continues.
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Nolan Ritchie feels as if he has a lot to prove this season as the Brandon Wheat Kings season rolls on. The Brandon native played just 24 games last season after suffering a broken leg on November 22, 2019, when he slid into the boards in a game against the Calgary Hitmen.
Ritchie scored five goals and had six assists in his 24 games. And in a year where the league's East Division is playing in a bubble in Regina, Ritchie is off to an incredible start.
Just six games into the season and Nolan has already potted four goals and has nine points -- two fewer than he had all of last season -- and he's played 18 fewer games. Nolan is also a plus-two.
Back on Tuesday, March 16, Ritchie had two assists in a defeat against Prince Albert and he followed that up by scoring two goals and adding one assist, two nights later, as Brandon beat Swift Current, 4-1. Two nights later, Nolan kept it going as he scored once more and added one assist for another multi-point game as Brandon got past Regina, 3-2, in overtime.
And thanks to last week's hot play, the Wheat King forward has been named the WHL's Player of the Week, for the week that ended March 21.
"It's a pretty special feeling, and it's really cool to have that honour," said Ritchie. "At the end of the day, it all comes down to the team effort, I couldn't have this success without my great teammates."
Brandon is back on the ice on Wednesday as they battle the Moose Jaw Warriors. The Wheat Kings (3-2-1) trail Moose Jaw for third in the East Division while the Saskatoon Blades have currently set the pace at the top as they've only lost once in six games.
It's a busy week overall for the organization as after tonight, the team plays two more games this week to make up a four-game week, one that started with a 6-4 loss against Saskatoon on Monday. Nolan says the team is becoming closer every day and he believes that will be very beneficial for the team not only off the ice but on the ice as well.
"There are some areas we have to work on, but we're playing pretty well I believe," said Ritchie. "We just need to keep getting better every day and the rest will take care of itself."
Hometown team dream:
Growing up in Brandon, Nolan worked his way up the minor hockey system in the Wheat City. In the 2016-17 season, he scored 51 goals and had 89 points in just 36 games with the U15 AAA Wheat Kings while the young sniper put up 84 points when he joined the U18 Wheat Kings the following season.
It's been nearly two years since Nolan helped his U18 Wheat Kings win the Manitoba AAA U18 Hockey League. He had one goal in the series clincher against the Winnipeg Wild in the final and overall in 11 playoff games, Nolan scored nine times while adding 12 assists.
After missing about half a season due to last year's injury, Ritchie is just happy to be back playing with his hometown team, although the team will play no true home games this season.
"It's a really special feeling to be a Wheat King, I grew up watching every game I could when they played at home," ended Ritchie. "I wear this sweater with a ton of pride."
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The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League hoped to return for an abbreviated season in a bubble -- thought to be in Weyburn -- but that hope has been dashed. The league's return-to-play plan has been rejected by the Saskatchewan government.
The reason behind the rejection is due to the high amount of variants of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. The province was set to give the league an option to wait a few more weeks before looking at it again, but that is not viable at this point.
The Western Hockey League's East Division is currently holding a 24-game season at the Brandt Centre in the Regina bubble. The SJHL now joins the MJHL who had cancelled their season early last month. The British Columbia Hockey League and Alberta Junior Hockey League -- two of the top Junior A leagues in Canada -- will resume their seasons after no hockey was played for months.
Five teams had played six games this season before the pause with Humboldt leading the way at 5-1. The Yorkton Terriers were 3-2-1 while Melville was 4-2.
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