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COVID-19 restrictions in Manitoba have started to ease and when it comes to sports, golf courses have opened across the Parkland and the province which is exciting. However, that's not the case everywhere.
In Great Barrington, Massachusetts, restrictions are still heavily intact and that includes golf courses being closed. If golf courses do open in Massachusetts, the course will at minimum, lose their liquor license. Although this doesn't affect any of us, it does pose a problem for a former Swan Valley Stampeder goaltender.
Parker Rey lives in Great Barrington with his family and Rey happens to be a massive golfer, so big that he usually hits the links five or six times a week on a normal year. This summer; however, is all but normal, especially in Great Barrington.
In a normal year, he would have likely had about a dozen rounds in already, but at this time, he's still waiting for his chance to drive it down the centre, followed by hitting his approach shot tight and then, his first birdie of the year will follow.
"It's a pretty unfortunate thing to be going through. But I know so many people are going through the same thing right now and so many people have it so much worse, so I can't feel bad for myself," said Rey. "I just know that when the courses do open up, I'll be out there every day, that's a guarantee."
Before the pandemic:
It was set to be another year in the hockey journey for Rey. Albeit it, his first in a new country. After playing all of his hockey in the United States, Rey made the move to the Battlefords as he joined the North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Battlefords is a team that was by far the best points-wise in the SJHL and they were a top 3 team in all of Canada.
They racked up 45 wins in the regular season, nine more than the Flin Flon Bombers who had the second most with 36, and Battlefords 92 points were 13 points more than the Bombers. In the playoffs, they were one win away from advancing to the second round.
When it comes to Rey, he went 9-3-1 with them and he sported a 2.4.4 goals-against average to go along with a .913 save percentage. However, Rey didn't see any playoff action with the North Stars, in fact, he didn't suit up for the team in the final two months of the regular season.
That's because, on trade deadline day, Rey was dealt to the MJHL's Swan Valley Stampeders, one of two Parkland teams in the league. Earlier in the season with Battlefords, Rey suffered a concussion that sidelined him for about a week.
In his first game with Swan Valley which was on January 11, Parker posted a 28 save shutout as Swan Valley beat Neepawa, 2-0. Rey was the odd man out in Battlefords which is why the SJHL powerhouse traded him. All he did to show Battlefords that was the wrong move was a 28 save shutout in his MJHL debut.
"I really wanted to prove to Battlefords that they made the wrong decision, it wasn't a great feeling to find out I was the odd man out when I thought I was having a pretty solid season," continued Rey. "I also wanted to prove to coach Wolff that signing me was the right decision and I wanted to show my new teammates that I could help this team win games."
Leaving Battlefords wasn't easy for the man who is now living in Great Barrington. But, the goaltender knew he was going to a great organization, one that had a goal of getting one step further than last season and winning a title.
"Swan Valley was a great place. I really got the sense that the community loved this team and really supported it," added Rey. "The atmosphere in the arena was also great and what else could I ask for. All of us 16-20-year-olds live for playing in front of lively crowds."
Next in Rey's tenure with Swan Valley was a start just four days later against the OCN Blizzard; however, he didn't finish the game. He suffered his second concussion of the season and this time, he missed two weeks.
In all, Rey suited up in seven games with the Stampeders.
"I don't really think I ever got back to my form after that second concussion," said Rey.
Next chapter:
He may not be able to golf and Parker Rey can't do other things that he's used to and loves to do right now. However, he can certainly get excited about what the future is set to bring. He still has one year left of junior eligibility and that may be an option for next season.
Or, Rey will begin his college career in September. That's because he has committed to play with the Ohio University Bobcats men's hockey team who play Division 1 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Rey isn't 100 percent sure what he will do next year. As mentioned above, he still has one year left of junior eligibility and if he gets the right offer, he may go down that route.
If he doesn't, he'll play against some of the best college hockey players south of the border for the next few years of his career.
The process of committing to college hockey began when a former teammate of his on the U18 Cleveland Barons asked him if he was interested because the Bobcats were looking for a goalie.
"I'm really excited to play with the Bobcats, there's no doubt about that," concluded Rey. "I'm not sure if it'll be next season or the season after, but whenever it is, I can't wait and I know it's going to be an amazing experience."
Whenever Rey does join the Division 1 team, he knows he'll be joining a program that wins a lot. They went 24-8-4 in the regular season this past season.
Rey's stop in the Parkland may have been a short one if he doesn't come back for the 2020-2021 season, but it was one that he very much enjoyed and he won't forget about his time in the Swan River playing on a team that had title aspirations.
"I have nothing but great things to say about my time with Swan Valley, I loved it all," concluded Rey.
For now, Rey will patiently wait to hit the tee box and when he does, he plays to a four handicap so not only does he know his way around the crease, he knows his way around the golf course as well.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Two seasons ago, Madden Murray was playing bantam house league hockey in Dauphin, a league where he enjoyed a lot of success.
So, the Dauphinite decided to make a jump up and he joined the Parkland bantam Rangers this past season for his first-ever AAA campaign.
Although Madden has made many memories throughout his young hockey days, there is no doubt that many things in 2019-2020 will be right near the top of his list.
Even though the season was cut short right before Murray was set to play in his first AAA provincials, there are so many great things to look back on.
The first of which is he helped the Rangers to their most successful season in the program's history. A feat that Murray thinks is super cool. Murray also put up 18 goals and added 11 assists for 29 points in 33 games.
He ended up sixth in team scoring and he averaged 0.88 points per game, also the sixth-most on the team. Madden had five power-play goals.
"I didn't really set any expectations for myself, I just wanted to see how things turned out," said Murray. "I was pretty proud of myself with how I did. I also couldn't have done it without my teammates, I was a first-year AAA player so they really helped me and our coaches were great."
Special day:
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Neepawa Natives have had a tough past couple of seasons.
The organization has won just 22 games in the past two seasons so moving forward, the team is looking for impact players that can come in and immediately produce to turn things around.
And, the club is also in search of a player that can come into the program in a few years and produce at an elite level and that’s where Murray comes in.
On MJHL Bantam Draft day, Murray was selected 23rd overall by Neepawa which means Murray is officially a member of their organization. Murray was the first selection in the third round.
"I was really excited to hear my name be picked," said Murray. "About halfway through the year, I realized that I actually had this chance so I was really excited and honoured to be selected."
Murray now plans to try out for the U18 Rangers in the fall as he continues his journey to junior hockey.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Marley Quesnel wasn't known as a new athlete going into the past year with the Assiniboine Community College Cougars women's athletic programs.
She had played on their hockey team in the past and their soccer club as well. When Quesnel was approached by the futsal coach, her schedule got a bit busier. She decided to join the team and in all, Quesnel suited up in 40 games across three sports being soccer, futsal, and hockey. That 40 number is the most of any Cougar athlete during the 2019-2020 academic year.
"It was definitely exciting being a part of so many teams, I really enjoyed it all," said Quesnel. "When I was asked to play futsal, I jumped at the opportunity because I love playing sports."
For anyone that doesn't know what futsal is, it's played mainly indoors and there are four players a side plus a goalie.
Although it was her first year of playing college futsal, Quesnel immediately made an impact and ended up being one of the team's strongest players. She ended up with two goals and she was recognized after the season with an award. The Dauphinite was presented with the Cougars' Coaches' Award.
"Receiving that award was pretty big for me, I really didn't expect it," continued Quesnel. "I certainly couldn't have done it without my teammates and coaches. They helped me succeed and they always pushed me to become the best player I could be."
Two seasons ago, Marley helped the Cougars hockey team win a national championship in Dallas when they defeated Minot State in the finals. This year, the team was well on their way to repeating as champions as they were favourites heading into the big dance.
ACC racked up a 21-0 conference record and she sported a .946 save percentage.
"It was a super exciting season and we were really excited to head back to Dallas," added Quesnel. "It was pretty unfortunate when the season was cut short, but we couldn't do anything about it. I think everyone is just more motivated to get it done next season, our goal is to win the 2021 nationals."
So Marley played more than 40 games between soccer, futsal, and hockey. She won Coaches' Choice Award and that's not it. Marley has been named the Cougar's female athlete of the year after a year that included a perfect season, her debut playing futsal, and some more games on the outdoor pitch.
"I was super shocked to win the award, I really wasn't expecting this," continued Quesnel. "It was unbelievable; I couldn't have done it without my teammates and coaches. It truly is a really big honour and I'm really happy about it."
And of course, Marley isn't going about her journey alone when it comes to family and Parkland connections. Her sister Megan also plays on the hockey and soccer team. Winnipegosis' Jasmin Denby is on the hockey team as well. So it's safe to say, the Parkland has made a significant impact on women's sports at Assiniboine Community College.
"It's great to have them right by my side," concluded Quesnel.
Marley will return to ACC next year as she looks to add some more awards to her trophy case.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Like many Parkland bantam Rangers players this past season, Bo Eisner was a second-year who played his rookie season the campaign prior. In the 2018-2019 season, Eisner put up five points in his 36 games, two of which were goals.
Eisner joined many players on the team who produced way more in their second seasons. In 35 games this past season, Eisner scored four goals and he had 15 assists for a 19 point total, 14 points more than one year earlier.
Playing in the offensive zone wasn't where Eisner was most impressive; however. His defensive play was what helped the Rangers most in a season where the team was a contender to win the rural provincials before the season was cut short.
"I thought the season went great, we had a great group of guys, and we certainly had a solid chance of winning a provincial title," continued Eisner. "When it comes to my performance, I got a lot bigger and stronger in the off-season. It also helped that I was a year older and I worked on my shot a ton."
Growing up in Swan River as so many young kids did, Eisner often found himself watching Stampeder games inside of the Centennial Arena. His favourite memory was last year when the team advanced to the MJHL Final and they nearly got past Portage for their first-ever league championship.
It was also Eisner's dream to one day play with the team he had grown up watching and now, the Swan River native is one step closer to that. Ahead of the MJHL Draft, the Stamps' auto-protected Eisner which means he is now a part of the Stampeder organization.
"It feels amazing to be protected by the team I grew up watching," he added. "I was kind of shocked; I really didn't expect that to happen."
Barry Wolff, head coach, and general manager of the Stampeders had solid things to say about Eisner as well.
"He's so solid on the back end and he also has that offensive touch," said Wolff. "It's important that we continue to protect local players and hopefully, Bo can become a Stampeder one day."
Now it's decision time for Bo. After a solid season in his last as a bantam player, he's now eligible to join the U18 Rangers in the fall. He also says he has some other options so only time will tell where Eisner lands next season.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
It may be a bit later than the rest of the province; however, the excitement is all the same at the Clear Lake Golf Course.
They've announced that Opening Day is scheduled for Friday, May 15. Known as one of the nicest courses in the Parkland and across the province, they're looking to open up with a special which will be $65 for 18 holes with a cart.
"We're pretty excited to get things going next week," said Matt Nylen, Head Professional. "We just have some things to go over here to get all organized. May 15 will be a pretty great day, we're really looking forward to it."
As everyone knows, the 2020 golf season will be different due to COVID-19. The Clear Lake Golf Course is assuring they will provide a safe atmosphere and you can check out some of the precautions they have in place here.
You must book a tee-time if you wish to play the course, walk-ons will not be permitted. If you're a single player, you must call prior and they will pair you up with a group.
"We'll have everything laid out for players when they come," continued Nylen. "I'm sure everyone is going to do their best to keep everyone safe."
If you haven't played the Clear Lake Golf Course before, you'll certainly be in for a treat when you do. It's a very scenic track with lots of elevation and the odd wildlife will be on the course.
"It's a very fun golf course for everyone, anyone can play and enjoy it," concluded Nylen. "We always get compliments on how playable it is for everyone. It's just a nice place to play."
You can book your tee-times online beginning tomorrow at Clear Lake Golf Course. You can also call 848-4653.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Baseball players, umpires, and coaches will have to wait at least nearly a month more before getting on the field. Phase 1 of the provinces plan to re-open the economy includes outdoor recreations and Phase 2 as early as June 1 includes "non-contact children's sports".
Unfortunately, baseball doesn't fall under either of the phases. That means there won't be any baseball until at least June 1; however, with Phase 2 being laid out as early as June 1, you can expect a bigger delay in the season until Phase 3 arrives.
Jason Miller, Executive Director with Baseball Manitoba is hoping Phase 3 includes the ability to get on the diamond to play ball.
Baseball Manitoba understands that local governing bodies may open baseball diamonds under some precautions. However, Baseball Manitoba sanctioned events won't take place until the time permits it to do so.
"Because we don't know when we'll return, we're just changing our return to play formats to fit whatever mold it looks like so we're ready for when the time comes to play ball," said Miller.
Locally, that means baseball associations in the Parkland won't be holding any games or practices until they get the go-ahead from Baseball Manitoba. Although that timeline is certainly undetermined, Miller is feeling optimistic about baseball taking place this summer, eventually.
"I do believe that baseball teams and players will get on the field. Whatever format that is in, I believe they will get on the field," concluded Miller. "It may not look like the traditional season that we're used to, but I believe baseball in Manitoba will happen this summer."
Baseball Manitoba staff and volunteers continue to work on guidelines that would allow baseball to return in a safe manner. Those guidelines will need to be approved by the Province of Manitoba before any sanctioned events take place.
Just as is the starting of the season, provincial championships are also up in the air. Last month, Baseball Canada announced the cancellation of all national championships. Provincially, there still is a plan to stage provincials at all age levels.
Usually taking place in July, Miller says the possibility of moving the provincials to August or even September is something they're looking at.
With the cancellation of nationals, that does give Baseball Manitoba the chance to do so.
"We don't have to worry about teams or players that qualify for nationals, so that gives us a bit of room," continued Miller.
Miller adds that if provincials don't go forward, regions can continue with their season into the months of August and September.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
On this day in history, last year, Valour FC made sports history in Winnipeg.
More than 9600 fans packed inside Investors Group Field as the soccer club played their first-ever home game.
They did come up short; however, the game will still go down as a history-making event.
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Andrew Liwiski, Brayden Pawluk, and Avery Smith have already committed to play hockey at the next level beginning in the 2020-2021 season. All three played the better part of the past two seasons with the Dauphin Kings.
Another member of the team for the past two seasons has now committed bringing up the total to four players. Landon Russell has announced that he'll be joining Briercrest College who play in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.
The decision came after months of intense conversation with several different schools.
"It's unbelievable honestly, it was a pretty long process," said Russell. "There was no better decision than Briercrest for me. They're close to home and they seem to have a vested interest in my education, well-being, and, of course, taking my game to the next level."
As Russell admits, the past couple of seasons have been tough. He's missed several weeks of action due to upper-body injuries. The former King expects to be fully healthy entering Training Camp later this year and it's his goal to leave the past in the past.
"It's just about moving forward now, there's nothing I can do about the past," continued Russell. "I loved my time in Dauphin and I'm really looking forward to the next chapter in my life."
Not only will Russell be playing for Briercrest, but he'll always be making his coaching debut. His dad took over the U18 Moose Jaw AA Warriors a couple of seasons ago. It'll now be a father-son duo as Landon will be an assistant coach for the team.
"I'm looking forward to that, it should be a pretty neat experience, that's for sure," added Russell.
Landon played 72 games with Dauphin throughout his junior career. In that time, he scored twice and added 16 assists. He also played with the OCN Blizzard in his junior career.
"I absolutely loved Dauphin, it was an amazing place to play," concluded Russell. "Everything about it is great."
Russell is still in town and he plans on being so until August.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
It's a great day for golfers around the province as courses are able to open for the 2020 season. However, if you plan on playing at the Swan River Golf and Country Club, you're going to have to wait a few more days.
Play is scheduled to begin at the club on Friday morning. Clinton Weir is the head pro and he was a very happy man when Pallister announced Phase 1 included outdoor recreation in Manitoba's plan to re-open.
"It's awesome news, it's just fantastic," said Weir. "I couldn't believe it was so quick, I thought they would follow Saskatchewan and allow golfing on May 15."
Friday's opening date is because of the late spring and the maintenance crew continues to work hard to prepare for the course for opening day. And when it does open on Friday, Weir assures that things will be looking beautiful.
If you've never played the Swan River Golf and Country Club before, Weir says it's one of the nicest tracks in Northern Manitoba, especially the back nine.
"It feels like you're not even in a town, you're out in the woods, it's beautiful," continued Weir.
Weir says it provides any golfer with a challenge, but it's very playable for anyone.
Green fees will be standard. When it comes to power carts, you will be charged $1 for each hole you use them. Only one person is allowed on a cart unless you're playing with a family member that lives in the same house as you.
For everything Swan River Golf and Country Club, check out their website.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Winnipegosis Soccer Association has decided to take the summer off.
Due to COVID-19, the 2020 season has been cancelled.
If anyone has further questions, they can contact Marie Sahulka.
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The Gilbert Plains Country Club alongside every other course in the province is open for the season
Outdoor recreation is Phase 1 of Manitoba’s re-opening plan.
"This is great news. I'm not only happy for the course, but I'm happy for our members and all golfers around the province," said Scott McCallum, General Manager. "I know many people were just waiting and this is great news."
CKDM has learned that some precautions that will be put in place include, a maximum of four golfers per tee-time, the flagstick must stay in the hole at all times, and only one person per cart. Public use items such as ball-washing stations and water fountains will be closed.
When it comes to playing at the Gilbert Plains Country Club, Scott assures that they will provide a safe environment for all.
Scott also adds that the golf course is in great shape and it wintered very well despite some of the tough conditions.
If you're looking into a membership at the GPCC, you'll also be in luck.
"The golf course will be honouring our early bird rates for the entire season," said McCallum. "The Board of Directors knows everyone is going through a tough time so I was really happy to hear that."
You can purchase a membership by calling 548-3030 and more information is at Golf Gilbert Plains.
Around the Parkland, the Dauphin Lake Golf Club will also open tomorrow.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
