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The Dauphin Clippers football team are back in the win column.

In a thriller against Southwest, the Clippers downed the Sabres, 31-30. Cody Zurba and Morgan Fleck had impressive offensive days with 117 yards throwing apiece while Julien Lopez ran for 57 yards. Ronin Mouck had a monster game with 181 yards receiving.

Brenden Higgins and Julien Lopez were both rock solid defensively with 11 and 10 tackles respectively. 

Next up for the Clippers is their homecoming game on Friday when they host Swan Valley at 4:00 p.m. 

Neepawa scored first, they didn't score again.

Dauphin tied it and completely took over the game, dominating the final 40 minutes in a 4-1 win over the Titans on Friday night. 

Mason Hartley's goal just less than 12 minutes in saw Neepawa get off to a good start but Gabriel Bugeaud responded for the Kings to send the game into the dressing room tied at one after 20.

Joey Kubas then gave Dauphin their first lead of the game in the second with his first goal as a King and Cayden Glover padded the lead for Dauphin as they led 3-1 after 40.

Gavin Nemis then scored on a rocket of a shot from the shot on the man advantage in the third as Dauphin skated off with a convincing win, their third straight. 

Dauphin (3-0) will host Neepawa (2-1-0-1) on Saturday at 7:30.

Carter Zalischuk is set to wear number 16 and make his season debut on Friday night for the Swan Valley Stampeders.

Zalischuk was traded by the Kings to Swan Valley in exchange for a player development fee. Across 98 games with his hometown Kings, Zalischuk scored eight times while adding 10 assists. He is only a few seasons removed from putting up 41 regular season points in 44 games and six playoff points in seven games with the U18 Rangers during the 2021-22 campaign.

Swan Valley will play Steinbach on Friday before heading to Winnipeg to play the Blues on Saturday and wrapping up their weekend on Sunday in Niverville. 

Saturday is a big day in Dauphin.

That's when the Grand Opening Celebration will take place for the new basketball court located within the Myles Haverluck Sports Facility at the DRCSS. The free youth basketball program will kick off the event at 11:30, followed by the Opening Ceremony and free community BBQ at 12:30. 

That leads us up to the three-point competition at 1:00 to go along with giveaways and at 2:00, there will be a local all-star game.

Clayton Swanton has had this day circled on his calendar for months.

"We're excited, it's great to be able to showcase that new court and have a celebration," said Swanton. "We know that it has been used a ton and we just can't wait for people to come out and celebrate."

While students at the DRCSS have been using the court a ton, it is available and free for everyone in the community. So whether you want to polish up on your three-point shot or get in a game, the court is waiting for you.

"Any time you can build a recreational asset that can be used by everyone, that's so important," offered Clayton. "Our rec department does an incredible job. This is a great addition to the community."

Swanton also wants to give a big shoutout to the Rotary Club of Dauphin for stepping up and being the main group to fund the artwork on the court.

"It's so inclusive. We have the medicine wheel in the middle, the metis symbol, and the blue and yellow colours to represent the Ukrainian heritage," ended Swanton.

So head to the court behind the high school along Kerr Avenue in Dauphin from 11:30 to 3:00 on Saturday to celebrate Dauphin's newest basketball court. 

Kyan Grouette is heading to Oil Country.

The Dauphin Kings completed a trade with the Virden Oil Capitals, sending Grouette to Virden in exchange for a player development fee. After returning from the Western Hockey League's Everett Silvertips after 18 games last season, the Dauphin product played 20 games with his hometown team, securing three goals and three assists.

The move to Virden will give Grouette a great opportunity to get plenty of ice-time and develop. Grouette could make his debut with the Oil Capitals as early as Saturday when Virden hosts the Northern Manitoba Blizzard for the first of two games at Tundra Oil & Gas Place.

Virden is 1-2 after three games to open the campaign. 

Madden Murray has one goal this year. It’s to win a ring.

He doesn’t care how many points he produces, he only cares if the team wins. The hometown Dauphin star is all about the team.

Madden grew up watching the Dauphin Kings play. Gifted with great skills at a very young age paired with an incredible work ethic and passion for the game, Murray had always dreamt of playing with the hometown Junior A team.

His boyhood dream came true last year when Madden played 33 regular season games with the Kings and three in the playoffs.

Murray is now back with the team and loving every minute of it.

“I have always wanted to be a King, I have looked up to this organization since I was a young kid,” said Murray. “It’s pretty cool to come full circle and play in front of the fans and kids, it’s an incredible feeling.”

After his rookie season concluded with Dauphin, Murray hit the weight room and had a great summer of growth, putting on muscle in the process. Murray came into training camp on a mission and was one of the most impressive players on the ice.

In talks with Doug Hedley before the team’s first game last week, he was very impressed with Murray and how he came prepared.

“Madden was one of our best players throughout camp and that has continued into the regular season,” offered Hedley, the team’s head coach and general manager. “He has great speed, a great work ethic, and he plays fearless. He is doing what he needs to do. We’re happy to have him; he put a lot of work into this throughout the summer months.”

As Dauphin prepares for a home-and-home with Neepawa, Murray knows points will come if he continues to do what he has been doing. He’s winning races, battles, and creating chances and those chances are certainly soon to end up on the scoresheet.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about us winning, that is what matters,” said Murray. “As long as I’m getting chances, it means that I am doing something right, I just have to find a way to put them in.”

Madden will also always remember his second home opener as a King. He also suited up in last year’s home opener, a 7-1 win against Swan Valley.

This year, Dauphin beat Virden in their home opener, 4-2.

“That was special, especially because so many of my family and friends were at the game,” continued Murray. “It’s awesome getting the chance to play in front of everybody.”

With 15 returnees featured on this year’s roster, Dauphin is expected to be one of the contenders. Nothing is given but Madden believes this team is ready to live up to the hype.

“I feel like from day one that everyone has meshed together, we’re all tight and no one is left out,” commented Murray. “We all trust each other and that’s important, looking forward to the rest of the season.”

While Madden talks very highly of his relationship with Boston Karlson, he is looking forward to keeping a close eye on the Parkland U18 Rangers this year. A past member of the program himself, Madden’s cousin Forrest is with the U18 club this year.

“He deserves everything he has received, I have never seen anyone work as hard as he has,” ended Murray. “I know things will pay off for him in the end. It was awesome to see him get drafted by Red Deer in the spring, I’m very proud of him.”

When it comes to the Kings and when you can catch them in action next, they’ll return to Credit Union Place on Saturday for the back end of their home-and-home with Neepawa. That game is set for 7:30.

Rory Orvis remembers watching the World Dart Championships in 1995 and 1996 on TSN.

He always thought to himself and asked his parents how they got to that point. Rory had already started throwing darts in 1994 with his parents and was hooked from his first throw. Little did he know how much success he would go on to enjoy over the next several years. He believed that he would be good but how things turned out certainly exceeded his expectations.

Orvis, who lived in Kinosota from 2003 to this past April, is a 23-time Team Manitoba member and won his first doubles championship at the 1999 Command Provincial event. This after he finished second the previous two years. Orvis was able to get over the hump on his third try.  

"I was very focused on winning the provincial championship, that was my main goal," said Orvis. "I had to beat guys in the finals that I had lost to in prior years. I wasn't aware that I won until about 15 minutes later, I was that focused on going up against someone else. It was a very special feeling. When you practice all year and achieve your goal, it's very satisfying."

Rory wasn't done there. Now that he had experienced what winning felt like, that's all he wanted. He went on to win the Dominion national men's title before going on quite the run at the National Darts Federation of Canada championships over the next 16 years. 

He won three national doubles men's titles in 2001, 2006, and 2015. His one other great finish was a second-place effort in 2005. 

"When I set my goals to obtain a Canadian national title, it was all I practiced for," said Orvis. "For it to come true, it's quite the feeling. I always went into these events with one thought on my mind and that was to win, that's all that mattered, it's what I wanted."

In 2003, Rory conquered the country, winning the NDFC single men's national title. In the final, he was down four games to one in the best-of-nine. Knowing it wasn't over until he or his opponent won five games, Orvis caught fire as he won four straight games to come from behind to capture the title in a thrilling final. It's a final that he still talks about to this day.

"I thought to myself, he went on a run on me, why can't I go on a run against him," offered Orvis, who lived in Kinosota from 2003 to this past April. "The sense of no give up and no surrender was in there. To win it, I don't even know the right word to say what it means to me, I guess I could use surreal."

Along the way, Rory was among the Final 48 at the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championships and competed in several other world championships at the masters level. Rory also went up against the best of the best in the 2015 World Cup.

Rory still throws recreationally to keep in touch with friends he has met during his incredible journey. He may never compete in a world championship again, but he will never forget all of the great moments in his past events.

"One of my top accomplishments was making it to the world stage," offered Orvis. "I met so many incredible people over the 30+ years I have been throwing darts." 

Orvis was also recently presented with the NDFC/MDAI Lifetime Membership. He's a multiple-time provincial championship winner, a multiple-time champion on the national stage, and has made a bang on the world stage as well. 

Rory Orvis, one of the greatest darts players to ever come out of Manitoba. 

Cole Sheffield is back and what a weekend he put together.

As the Kings opened their season with a home-and-home against Virden, Sheffield won both starts, beginning with a shutout on Friday. Sheffield was back in the net on Saturday and once again dazzled. He turned away all 29 shots he faced on Friday and made 40 saves on Saturday, one of which was at a crucial time when the Oil Capitals were looking to tie it late.

For his efforts, Cole was named one of the MJHL's Stars of the Week. He finished the weekend with a 1.01 goals-against average and a .972 save percentage.

Sheffield will lead the Kings into Neepawa on Friday night.

Easton Odut was not in the lineup as the Brandon Wheat Kings opened their Western Hockey League (WHL) season this past Friday in a 5-2 victory over Aiden Ziprick and the defending champion Moose Jaw Warriors.

He instead witnessed history from the stands as Roger McQueen put the Wheat Kings on his back with a four-goal performance, the first of its kind in 15 years. The 6-foot-5 product of Saskatoon had the night of a lifetime as he became the first player to score four goals on the first night of the WHL season since Stephan Novotny achieved the feat back on September 17, 2009. Novotny turned 19 just four days after his remarkable night while McQueen, who is NHL draft-eligible this year, will turn 19 on October 2.

Odut was in awe of what he was watching as his Wheat Kings opened the campaign with a commanding win.

"That was awesome, it was so cool to see," said Odut. "It's great for him especially because it's his draft year. He's a great player, that's just what he does. He will be a huge factor this year."

Easton would debut on Saturday as Brandon made their first trip to the Queen City to take on the Regina Pats, a roster featuring Dru Mushumanski of Rossburn.

"It was awesome, I was excited to get back in the lineup," commented Odut. "It's always more enjoyable when you get to play, I was fired up to be back on the ice with my guys."

Odut didn't wait long to make his mark on the game, scoring his first WHL goal with 58 seconds left in the first period. The Dauphin star who now calls Brandon his home found the puck at the bottom of the slot and fired a quick shot past Ewan Huet. Assists on the goal went to first-year sensation Jaxon Jacobson and Brady Turko of McCreary. 

"That felt amazing, everything worked out for it to happen," said Odut. "The puck was bouncing and I knew that I was in a good scoring area, so I had to capitalize on it which I did."

Nicolas Johnson then scored Brandon's next three goals for his first hat-trick while Nolan Flamand capped off the performance with his first of the season midway through the third as Brandon secured a 5-1 win to cap off a perfect weekend.

Easton's linemates for Saturday's contest were Jacobson and Turko. The tremendous trio dominated Manitoba's U18 AAA Hockey League last year with 260 regular season points before adding another 55 combined playoff points. They continued that success into the Telus Cup West Regionals, ultimately propelling the club to the national final.

"We're very comfortable with each other, we know how we all play and we push each other to succeed," offered Odut. "We bring out the best in each other's games, we work well and create many chances throughout the game. It's a great pairing."

Odut and the Wheat Kings are heading back to Saskatchewan for a pair of games this weekend as they're taking on Brayden Dube, Ryan Gower, and the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday before travelling to the Bridge City to play the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday night. Following that, the Wheat Kings will play 14 of their next 18 games at Westoba Place in the Wheat City.

Brandon's 10 goals over the weekend were tied for the second-most with Portland while the Blades found the back of the net 13 times. Brandon's power play was premium at 37.5 percent while their penalty kill finished the weekend at 80 percent.

"I like our group a lot, we realize that we have a pretty special group," ended Odut. "We have to go hard every day so we don't waste this year with how strong our group is."

Cole Sheffield made an incredible save with less than two minutes left in the game and Cayden Glover then iced the contest.

Playing the Assiniboine College home opener in front of an awesome crowd at Credit Union Place, Glover's goal into an empty-net late was his second of the night as Dauphin downed the Virden Oil Capitals, 4-2, to complete a home-and-home sweep to open the new season.

Ethan Williment, Dauphin's captain, scored Dauphin's two other goals in the contest. Sheffield was named the first star of the game as the 20-year-old star from London turned away 40 shots in the victory. Gavin Renwick, played very good for Virden as he made 25 saves; however, it wasn't enough. 

Dauphin (2-0) will now open a home-and-home with Neepawa on Friday night at the Yellowhead Centre. The two teams return to Credit Union Place next Saturday.

The next broadcast on 730CKDM with Darnell Duff and Jeff Henson comes on Tuesday, October 1 when Jayce Legaarden and the Winkler Flyers pay a visit to town. 

It wasn't the ending they were hoping for but it was an outstanding weekend for the Dauphin Clippers varsity boys volleyball team.

Playing in the Brandon University Bobcats tournament, the Clippers rolled their way to the finals before coming up short against Neelin. It was a finalist weekend for the Clippers as they opened their season by building momentum moving ahead.

To advance to Saturday's final, Dauphin first beat Weyburn in their quarterfinal match in a three-set thriller, 23-25, 25-23, and 15-9. In a wild semi-final against Garden Valley, the Clippers came up clutch with another three-set win, 32-30, 20-25, and 15-12. 

Dauphin lost to Neelin in the final, 13-25 and 14-25. 

Gabriel Beaudin of Dauphin was named tournament all-star after a great weekend.