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Easten Turko was selected in the third round, 59th overall by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2024 U15 draft.

Held virtually, it was a special moment for Easten and his entire family in McCreary as they shared the special moment. Now living in Brandon for the past couple of years, Turko was provided an opportunity to show off his skills with the Western Hockey League (WHL) club as they held their main camp over the weekend at Westoba Place and the J&G Homes Arena.

It was Easten's first WHL camp and it was one that he will forever remember.

"It was an awesome experience, you always get excited for camp to get going," said Turko. "My camp went great, I believe I did very well. It was great fun to be out there will all the guys, it was a great weekend."

As an undersized defenceman standing in at just 5'7" and 137lbs, it's up to Easten to find different ways to be effective. He notes his great skating ability is exactly what is needed at all times.

"My skating is top-notch and allows me to keep up, my stick work is also very effective against the older players," said Turko. "I was quite effective in poke-checking the puck off the older guys' sticks while keeping up with them with my skating. The coaching staff had some positive things to say in my exit meetings so I was pleased with how things went."

While Easten does not possess the towering size that some other blue-liners do, he doesn't shy away from contact. He has been working hard in the gym to gain muscle which allows him to come out of battles with the puck. 

It was also a family affair at Wheat Kings camp as Easten was joined by his brother Brady. Brady helped the U18 Wheat Kings win a provincial championship last year and also scored the game-winning goal against Saskatoon at the Telus Cup West Regionals.

In a draft day steal, Brady was drafted in the fifth round, 97th overall in the 2022 draft. Brandon's coaching staff often pitted the two against each other and Easten enjoyed trying to stop his brother.

"Brady and I played a lot of minor hockey growing up in McCreary and to be drafted by the same WHL team is very special after all those years in our hometown," offered Easten. "Playing against him in camp was super fun, we're both very competitive guys. I look forward to playing with him in the future."

Brady also notched eight goals and 11 points in the Telus Cup last year. While they are two different players, Easten is always improving his offensive capabilities and it's Brady that helps him plenty along the way.

"It's awesome watching Brady, he's always someone that I have looked up to," said Easten. "He's always there for me and always helps me out with tips and pushes me. To get the chance to play on the same WHL team would be extremely special and I'm looking forward to watching what should be a great year for him."

Easten will continue living in Brandon as he prepares for the new season and his first with the U18 club. They open their season on September 28 in Winnipeg against the Bruins at the Southdale Community Centre.

The U18 organization is coming off last year's historic season and while they graduated several players from last year's team, they are once again expected to be very competitive. Easten has gone from being a young gun on the U15 team to a veteran on the team and now, he's heading back to being a young gun on the U18 team which is always a challenge that he looks forward to.

Making the jump from U15 to U18 is not an easy task for many but all indications lead towards Easten not only making the jump but doing so seamlessly and excelling at a high level.

"I expect the pace to be quicker and guys are bigger and faster," said Turko. "I'll do my best to keep up with the pace which I believe I will be able to do."

Turko will be one of several U15 players set to join the U18 team.

Over the past two years with the younger team, Easten amassed great success. Posting 20 points across 47 games including playoffs during the 2022-23 season, Easten helped the U15 Wheat Kings win a provincial title.

Back last year with another year of experience under his belt, the McCreary star took his game to the next level with 11 goals and 34 assists in 32 regular season games and another seven assists across 11 playoff games.

The result? The same as the previous year as Turko once again helped the Wheat Kings win a provincial title. It was a magical two-year run for the program and Turko loved every moment of being a part of it.

"It feels great, winning back-to-back with the guys was an incredible feeling," offered Turko. "Everyone loves winning, so it was very special."

Easten is also extremely grateful for every opportunity that he was given during his time in McCreary playing minor hockey in his hometown. He was often called up to play in higher age groups and played alongside his brother for many years.

McCreary is a small town with a population of roughly 500 and year after year, stars from that community are shining bright. Another case is Ryan Gower who's currently with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL.

"I played with the McCreary Mustangs and made so many amazing memories over the years," ended Turko. "I had a great chance to bond with my brother and improve my skills. I had some amazing buddies and I am very proud to say that I am from McCreary."

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Sep 4, 2024 - 9:41 am

Declan Hoad was the hero on Sunday afternoon as Team Trotz downed Team Fee in an entertaining JoFo Cup, 4-3. A great crowd was also in attendance for the contest.

Hoad's goal was scored with just more than three minutes left in the game as Team Trotz held off a charging Team Fee, who trailed 3-0 in the contest halfway through. Cole Sheffield was fantastic as he went 11-for-11 for Team Trotz while Austin Seibel turned away eight of the 11 shots he faced for Team Fee.

Returning forward Cayden Glover scored two goals for Team Trotz in the win while Rylan Gibbs also scored when he pounced on a puck in front of the net. After a slow start to the game, Gabriel Bugeaud got stronger as the game went on and finished the night with two goals.

Jack Bechard, who has looked very impressive throughout the weekend, also scored for Team Fee in the defeat.

The Kings will now turn their focus to their preseason opener as they host the Northern Manitoba Blizzard on Tuesday evening. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Sep 2, 2024 - 5:23 pm

The Brandon Wheat Kings have opened their main camp at Westoba Place and four Parkland stars are there.

Noah Smigelsky:
The Dauphin star put together an impressive season last year with the Parkland U15 Rangers, notching 29 goals in 32 games and 47 points in the regular season.

A forward that possesses silky mitts and a knack for finding the back of the net, Smigelsky notched eight more playoff goals in five games and 12 points. Noah also had a chance to play four games with the U18 club and did not look out of place whatsoever.

This weekend provides Noah with a great opportunity to polish his skills and get ready for what should be another exciting season for the young star from Dauphin. 

Brady Turko: 
From McCreary, Brady is coming off a season that no one will forget as it was a historic campaign for the McCreary star and the Brandon U18 Wheat Kings.

The U18 club went 43-0-1 in the regular season and did not lose a game until the Telus Cup West Regionals in a contest that was meaningless when it came to the standings at that event. Turko then scored the game-winner against Saskatoon as the goal sent Brandon to the Telus Cup.

Turko was a key cog in the team's success all year, finishing second in the league scoring with 41 goals and 49 assists for 90 points. Brady kept plugging away in the playoffs averaging more than two points per game with nine goals and 11 assists in nine games. He finished second in playoff scoring. Brady then went on to post eight goals in seven games and 11 points at the Telus Cup, Canada's U18 national championship. 

The McCreary forward also had a taste of what the Western Hockey League (WHL) lifestyle is like as he played seven games with the big club, scoring once while adding two assists. He was a plus-3. 

Easten Turko:
Brady's younger brother is also set to put his talents over the weekend.

He was a member of the U15 Wheat Kings last year and helped the team win their third straight provincial title. An extremely steady defender, Turko also possesses a very nice offensive touch as he recorded 11 goals and 45 points in 32 regular season games last year. Then he posted seven more assists in 11 playoff games as Brandon went on to win it all.

He was named to the league's First All-Star Team and was drafted in the third round, 59th overall in the WHL Bantam Draft. Turko won't challenge for a spot on the team this year as he is still only 15 years old, but the Wheat Kings will get a great look at what the young star has to offer. This is the team's main camp meaning he will go up against players that are several years older than him.

Easton Odut:
Like Brady, Easton was a key cog in the U18 Wheat Kings historic season last year.

A gritty player who will do whatever it takes to help his team win, Easton posted 23 goals and 63 points in the regular season last year before putting up 12 more points in nine playoff games. As Brandon competed in the Telus Cup, Easton stepped up his game with five goals and six points in seven games.

Also like Brady, Easton played seven games with the WHL's Wheat Kings last year and had one assist. He now has nine career games played in the WHL and will challenge for a spot on the team this year.

Three Other Notables:

Carson Bjarnason:
Carson will without a doubt be the team's number one goalie this season after being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023 and since signing with the NHL club. The 19-year-old from Carberry grew up watching the Wheat Kings and is now heading into his third season with them.

A former member of the U15 Southwest Cougars, Carson won 24 regular season games last year as Brandon booked a ticket into the WHL Playoffs, where they lost to Aiden Ziprick and the Moose Jaw Warriors in round one. As you know, the Warriors then went on to win the WHL title.

While Carson will be the number one, he is expected to be away from the team for a period when the Flyers open their camp next month, which will likely pave the way for Ethan Eskit to get in some starts as he returns to the team after winning nine games with the team last year.

Prabh Bhathal:
Many eyes will be on the 15-year-old phenom from Winnipeg.

Eligible for the 2027 NHL draft, Prabh is coming off one of the best seasons in U15 AAA history. In just 32 regular season games, Bhathal had 83 goals and 36 assists for 119 points. As captain of the Winnipeg U15 Thrashers last year, his 119 points were the fourth-most all-time in a single season. Only Jonathon Toews (193) Roblin's Brayden Dube (130), and Tyder Lafournaise (126) recorded more in a single season.

Bhathal is known for his outstanding speed and ability to blow past defenders. 

Rylen Roersma: 
Big things are expected from the now 20-year-old all-star forward who is entering his fourth full season and fifth overall with the Wheat Kings.

Across 64 games last year in the regular season, Roersma posted 20 goals and 58 points and in a tough first-round playoff series, he impressed with four points in as many games.

The Wheat Kings are expecting to take a step this season and should they, it will be Roersma that is front and centre doing so. Rylen is known as a deceptive player who has a knack for sliding a pass through a defender to a teammate waiting in the slot. He also has great puck-handling skills. He was drafted 16th overall by the Wheat Kings in 2019.

Wheat King Notes:

• The team will open their preseason schedule next Friday at Westoba Place against Saskatoon at 7:00 p.m.;
• New seats were installed at the arena to make it a more enjoyable visit for fans;
• Brandon will play three of their first four games on the road, their first visit to play Brayden Dube and the Prince Albert Raiders will come on September 27;
• They will play 11 of 12 games on home ice between October 16 and November 23; and
• The team's longest road trip will be seven games when they head to Calgary, Victoria, Everett, Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops, and Prince George from January 12-24.

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Aug 30, 2024 - 11:19 am

Eric Prokopowich is enjoying one of his best summers on the golf course.

A Dauphin Lake Golf Club member, Eric added to his summer accomplishments by recording his third hole-in-one as the Dauphin star aced the 4th hole at the River Oaks Golf Course.

The perfect shot came from 110 yards with his 58-degree wedge.

Previously this summer, Eric finished in sixth place at Golf Manitoba's amateur championships at the Rossmere Golf & Country Club which earned him an opportunity to Golf Canada's amateur championships in Saskatoon.

Eric also teamed up with Jackson Delaurier to win the two-person Ebb & Flow Annual Treaty Day event. Eric also recorded a career-low of 6-under par on the front nine at Dauphin Lake earlier this summer. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Aug 30, 2024 - 8:38 am

There will be 149 days between their final game of last season and the start of training camp.

They came up short against the Blizzard in the first round of the Turnbull Cup playoffs last year, but it was still a series to remember. It included a victory in the fifth overtime in game six. Now the focus has shifted and long has.

It's not about what has happened in the past, it's about what will happen next. For the Dauphin Kings, that happens to be the main camp which will open up on Friday afternoon at Credit Union Place. 18 players from last year will return. While spots aren't guaranteed if a player comes to camp out of shape or is outperformed, there is a special buzz surrounding what this team could look like this year. Their younger players from last year gained vital experience throughout the second half of the season and in the playoffs.

Returning Forwards:
Rylan Gibbs, Cayden Glover, Ashton Paul, Ethan Williment, Rylan Gage, Kyan Grouette, Joshua Schmidt, Gavin Nemis, Carter Zalischuk, Sheldon Shyiak, Madden Murray, and Gabriel Bugeaud.

Returning Defence:
Naaman Hofer, Brett Magarrel, Aiden Murray, and Ty Pratte.

Returning Goalies:
Cole Sheffield and Austin Seibel.

The 16 skaters returning combined for 287 points last year while Seibel was also credited with two assists. Cayden Glover led the way with 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points while Hofer had six goals and 45 points. Dauphin returns two of their three top scorers from last season. They also welcome back six of their top 10 scorers from one season ago.

Sheffield; meanwhile, was second in the league in wins with 28 and tied for third with four shutouts. His decision to return to Dauphin was very pleasant news.

"Sheffield knows that he is going to be one of the top goaltenders in this league and he knows that he is going to play a lot," said Hedley. "We're trying to do everything we can to get him to Division 1, he deserves to be there, and we'll do everything we can to give him a chance to play at the next level."

Sam Swanton of Dauphin, who was on the Kings playoff roster last year and played game one, will also be at camp.

"There's a lot of excitement going into this weekend, I think when the dust settled and our veterans from last year realized what we can achieve, they wanted to come back," said Hedley. "Talent doesn't mean a whole lot when it doesn't work hard, but we have a great nucleus from last year coming back and they want to wear the crest. I believe we have a special group."

Players to Watch: 

71 players in all make up the team's camp roster and there will be several other players to watch throughout the weekend and preseason.

Jack Bechard. From Regina, Jack played two games with the Kings last year before going back to his hometown to play with the Regina Capitals of the Prairie Junior Hockey League where the soon-to-be 19-year-old lit it up. He had 34 goals and 29 assists in 37 regular season games and another 32 points in 19 playoff games. 

All reports have Bechard coming into camp after a great summer with something to prove. He previously played four games with Flin Flon of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) before his short tenure in Dauphin.

Hunter Bauer.  Doug Hedley confirmed in a recent conversation that Sheffield and Seibel will be the two team's goalies heading into the regular season. Hunter Bauer is hoping to have something to say about that. From Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bauer is coming off a sensational season south of the border playing with Minnetonka High School. He had a record of 21-1-2 with a 0.94 goals-against average to go along with a .947 save percentage. 

The big question is, can Bauer's success at the high school level translate to the junior ranks? If it does, Hedley and the coaching staff could have a tough decision. Sheffield is a lock, that we know. Bauer also had 12 shutouts last season and in the prior year with Minnetonka High, he won all five of his starts with a .973 save percentage and 0.40 goals-against average. The battle between the pipes will be an intriguing one.

Piet Mierau. At just 17 years old, Mierau is unlikely to challenge for a spot. However, he is a goalie who has already impressed Doug Hedley and his coaching staff during previous camps over the past couple of years. He is a gamer and has already expressed great interest in being a King.

Mierau could be the future of the Kings and will be fun to watch throughout the weekend. In two playoff games last year with Pilot Mound Academy U17 Prep, Piet had two wins and a .942 save percentage. 

Easton Swift: From St. Paul, Minnesota, Swift comes to Dauphin after signing with the organization in the off-season. He played with Cretin-Derham Hall last season, the same team that former King Marko Belak played for, and was solid with 28 points in 30 games. 11 of those points were goals. The biggest question that will have to be answered is can he make the leap from high school hockey to junior. It's the same question that will be answered when it comes to Hunter Bauer.

Play isn't as physical south of the border and that's what has held back many Americans in the past. Bauer does; however, come in with some good size at 6'1" and 190 pounds. This year's team will be deep so the American will have to come into camp and push himself, there's no time for anything less than 100 per cent. 

Hayden Seib: This is one of the feel good stories. From Russell, the 18-year-old is coming off a five-year run with the Parkland Rangers program. Seib posted his best season last year with the U18 club as he scored 16 goals while adding 24 assists. 

Hayden wasn't even sure that he would have a team to play on this year, but Doug Hedley answered that question by signing the former Ranger. Seib is a part of a local contingent that will be asked to step up their games. It would appear that the Kings are in win now mode and with many players battling for spots, Hayden will have to bring his A-game. He has had an excellent summer of training and we will soon find out how he can transition from AAA to junior. 

Locals In Action:

Plenty of local talent will be featured throughout the weekend. The list includes Rylan Gibbs, Kyan Grouette, Madden Murray, Carter Zalischuk, Sam Swanton, Chase Glover, Ryzlie Nepinak, Cash McCallum, Quinten Fisk, and Hayden Shtykalo. 

Gibbs, Zalischuk, Grouette, Murray, and Swanton all played games with the team last year and it is safe to assume that all are locks for the opening day roster. Whether they are in the lineup on September 20 when Dauphin plays in Virden to open the 2024-25 season is another question, but they should all still be around. 

Weekend Schedule:

The Kings will then begin their preseason on Tuesday evening when the Northern Manitoba Blizzard come to town for a 7:30 puck drop at Credit Union Place. 

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Aug 29, 2024 - 2:54 pm

They held a two-week spring camp in June before classes ended.

Then they hit the field the first Tuesday after the August Long Weekend and have been going strong since. There's a buzz in the air as Dauphin Clippers football is back for another exciting season on the field.

Playing home games at the DRCSS field and on the road around the province, the Clippers are always contenders year after year playing in the Rural Manitoba Football League. The team will have three more full practices before opening their season next Friday when they welcome Parkwest from Shoal Lake to town.

That game will kick off at 5:00 p.m. and like always, there is no admission and there will be a concession. 

Robbie Tomkins is back as the team's defensive coordinator and is feeling great heading into next week.

"We have a very athletic team this year and we also have some size," offered Tomkins. "A lot of our core players were a part of the Manitoba Games, so they came into camp in incredible shape. Things have been going very well."

After a slow start to last year, the Clippers hit their stride late in the season and won a B-side championship. While they did lose some key personnel to graduation after the season, Tomkins says this year's group will be very competitive.

"Things are a little bit different, we now have guys who are more multi-sport athletes," said Tomkins. "They will jump into roles they have never been in before and because they have such great sports backgrounds, they will learn quickly."

The Clippers will play a seven-game schedule throughout just more than a month against Parkwest, Neelin, Moosomin, Souris, Swan Valley, Neepawa, and Virden. Playoffs will then follow with a championship side and consolation bracket.

The team's first two games will be played on home turf before heading to Moosomin for their first road game on September 21.

Schedule:
September 6 - Parkwest @ Dauphin 5:00 p.m. 
September 13 - Neelin @ Dauphin 5:00 p.m.
September 21 - Dauphin @ Moosomin - 3:00 p.m.
September 27 - Dauphin @ Souris - 4:30 p.m.
October 4 - Swan Valley @ Dauphin 4:00 p.m.
October 13 - Dauphin @ Neepawa 2:00 p.m.
To Be Announced -  Virden @ Dauphin
Playoffs TBA

The team's play on the defensive side of the ball is once again expected to be the team's strong suit this season.

"Our defense has always been inside the top three or even the top defensive teams over the last three years," mentioned Tomkins. "We pride ourselves on playing a very strong defensive game. It's a testament to how hard our players work."

Tomkins also says the team has some great offensive pieces this year and they will be ready to hit the field strong next Friday.

"Everyone is very excited, stoked would be a good word to describe how everyone is feeling," ended Tomkins. "A lot of our young guys are chomping at the bit to get their first experience on the field."

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Aug 29, 2024 - 10:09 am

They have a full set of volunteers and the community stepped up when board members were needed.

At one point last season, the Swan Valley Stampeders nearly had to end what has been a historic run at the Centennial Arena since joining the league in 1999. They were in desperate need of volunteers and board members and as the 2024-25 season approaches, they are no longer needing that help. In fact, the Stampeders are in a great spot when it comes to gameday volunteers and their board of directors is full.

Now it's about focusing on putting together a championship team. While the Stampeders have never won an MJHL championship, they have been extremely competitive for many years. Their most successful season was back in the 2018-19 season when they advanced to the league final where they came up just short against the Portage Terriers. 

Since that season, the Stampeders qualified for the Turnbull Cup playoffs in three of the last four full seasons. A streak of making the big dance came to a halt last year when the team won just 11 games and finished at the bottom of the West Division.

The Stampeders went very young at the trade deadline and while it was a tough season, it provided their younger players with a great opportunity to get a lot of ice time while developing and learning how to play and succeed at the junior level. 

The 2024-25 season is just more than three weeks away as the Stampeders open up the new campaign on September 20 when they welcome the newly-named Northern Manitoba Blizzard to the Swan River Centennial Arena. It's the first of a home-and-home between the two most Northern teams in the league. 

Ahead of that, the team will open their training camp on Friday afternoon at the Centennial Arena and it will include returnees such as Matthew Munro, Linden Perry, Dobie Unrau, and Landen Gulutzan, to name a few.

Barry Wolff is also returning as the team's head coach and general manager. He led the team to their best season in 2019 and he's looking forward to turning things around this year.

"We're all excited and ready to go, you always need that little refresher after the season ends," said Wolff. "Then as the summer goes on, you start to think about the season and wish for it to start. It's an exciting time, we're taking it all in, and getting ready to go."

The team will also welcome back Elias Giaccari-Dimitriou. The 2005-born goaltender from Montreal won four of the team's 11 games last year. While his numbers saw him post a 4.16 goals-against average paired with a .903 save percentage, Elias showed signs of brilliance at times including a 61-save performance on January 12 against Steinbach to go along with a trio of 50-save performances on January 9, February 3, and February 20.

In 24 games played, he faced an average of 39.7 shots per game.

"It was a big learning curve for him, playing junior is the next level, it takes a while for some players to learn and adapt to it," offered Wolff. "He grew the whole year and matured. He has come back after the summer stronger and more prepared. We're hoping that he can carry the mail for us."

Joining Barry on the bench this year will be Darren Webster and Brad Fox. From Swan River, Darren has been an assistant coach with the organization since 2016 and has also spent time as the team's Director of Player Personnel. Fox has been with the Chase Heat of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League since 2020, holding the position of head coach and general manager for the past two seasons. He was also the Heat's Director of Hockey Operations during the 2021-22 season.

"Darren is a mature guy, he's calm on the bench and sees the game, he's also great with the players," offered Wolff. "Fox has spent more than 25 years in junior hockey. He's a mature guy who knows the game and we're pleased to have him."

With a new season right around the corner, Wolff will also be keeping a close eye on how the Parkland U18 Rangers are doing when they open their season next month. Josh Tripp, who spent last year as an assistant coach with Swan Valley, is the new head coach of the Rangers. 

Tripp played three seasons with his hometown Stampeders and helped guide them to the 2019 Turnbull Cup final. 

"He's a young guy that is extremely eager," offered Tripp. "He has a lot of experience on the playing side. We were lucky to have him on our staff last year. He turned into a very good coach as the year went on. He is going to have great success with the Rangers, those kids are lucky to have him."

Following two days of practices and scrimmages to open camp, the Stampeders will open their preseason on Sunday afternoon as they host Waywayseecappo at the Centennial Arena at 1:00 p.m.

The first Battle of the Parkland between Dauphin and Swan Valley will be a special school day game as the Stampeders host the Kings on November 13 at 12:30 before the two storied rivals return to Credit Union Place three days later at 7:30. They will play each other six times throughout the season.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Aug 28, 2024 - 3:31 pm

It was another great weekend on the diamond for the Layne Stars fastball team.

Playing in the Team Bigman tournament at Vermillion Sportsplex, Layne Stars was in a class of their own as they won by mercy in every game, ultimately downing the host Bigman in the final.

The team's roster featured Taran Lacquette, Hayden Lacquette, TJ Catcheway, Harley Garrioch, Terris Jonassen, Eugene Lacquette, Joel Lacquette, Nick Patrick, Jordan Hudson, Matthew Kutnikoff, Max Major, and Ryan Bicknell. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Aug 27, 2024 - 3:14 pm

One of the greatest players to ever don the Blue & Gold is being inducted into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers ring of honour.

Seven-time all-star Charles Roberts will be inducted during the team's Banjo Bowl game on September 7 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Roberts led the Canadian Football League (CFL) in rushing in 2003, 2005, and 2006. 

Charles spent most of his eight-year career with Winnipeg, being named the league's most outstanding special-teams player in 2001 and was a finalist for the league's top rookie honour. He was also a finalist for the CFL's most outstanding player award in 2006. 

During his time with Winnipeg, Charles had six straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons for Winnipeg and finished with 9,987 career rushing yards as a Blue Bomber. His 64 touchdowns for Winnipeg are the second most all-time, only trailing Milt Stegall who added up 79 during his time in Manitoba's capital.

Charles is sixth on the league's all-time rushing list with 10,285 yards and he will become the 16th member of the team's ring of honour. 

Field Notes:

• The Bombers will look to make it four straight wins when they play Saskatchewan in Regina on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.;
• You can hear the game right here on 730CKDM as we're a proud member of the Blue Bomber Radio Network;
• With a win, the Bombers will move into first place in the West Division, which is incredible considering this team started with just two wins in their first eight games; and
• Winnipeg's 220 points against are the fewest in the league.

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Aug 27, 2024 - 2:20 pm

Junior hockey rosters change from year to year.

Some players run out of eligibility and some decide to play elsewhere. When the 2023-24 season ended in the first round of the playoffs for the Dauphin Kings, it was time to look ahead. As the team's head coach and general manager, Doug Hedley recruits new talent while setting a foundation that makes players want to return the following season.

23 of 25 players from last year were eligible to return with the only exceptions being Alex Senf and Logan Walker, both of which will begin their collegiate careers south of the border this season. As Dauphin experienced plenty of hot weather throughout the summer, Doug Hedley's daily tasks heated up as he looked to ensure many of those players from last year returned.

In his own words, it was an off-season that included some ups and downs, but at the end of the day, it was a positive summer. Hedley and his coaching staff are putting in the final preparations ahead of main camp which takes place this weekend at Credit Union Place.

Beginning on Friday with the first game at 12:30 and running through the annual JoFo Cup on Monday afternoon at 2:00, Hedley is ready to get things going.

"There's a lot of excitement going into this weekend, I think when the dust settled and our veterans from last year realized what we can achieve, they wanted to come back," said Hedley. "Talent doesn't mean a whole lot when it doesn't work hard, but we have a great nucleus from last year coming back and they want to wear the crest. I believe we have a special group."

The list of key returnees includes a now 20-year-old who put on a show for fans in the first round of the playoffs last year as Cole Sheffield will be back between the pipes. From London, Cole won 28 games in the regular season last year which was the second-most in the league. Moving forward into the Turnbull Cup playoffs, Sheffield was a brick wall against the Blizzard as he opened that series by making 46 saves in game one. 

He then made 71 saves in one of the longest games in Canadian Junior A hockey history as five overtimes were needed to decide game six then in game seven, despite coming up short, Sheffield gave Dauphin every opportunity to come out on top as he turned away 52 shots in a triple overtime defeat. 

"Sheffield knows that he is going to be one of the top goaltenders in this league and he knows that he is going to play a lot," said Hedley. "We're trying to do everything we can to get him to Division 1, he deserves to be there, and we'll do everything we can to give him a chance to play at the next level."

Photo Credit - Pederson Photographic

Other notable players who are set to return include Naaman Hofer, Cayden Glover, and Ethan Williment. A solid group of locals will also be there including Rylan Gibbs, Carter Zalischuk, Sam Swanton, Madden Murray, and Kyan Grouette.

Joining Doug on the coaching staff will be Chad Facey, Rick Freese, Brad Dupasquier, and Dan Keeping.

"It's a great staff, really looking forward to it," ended Hedley. "Excited for the year."

Training camp this year will be open to the public free of charge. That includes the JoFo Cup.

Here is the weekend schedule:

The team will then begin their preseason schedule on Tuesday when they welcome the Northern Manitoba Blizzard to town. 

Darnell Duff is back to provide play-by-play this year on 730CKDM with broadcast number one coming on Friday, September 20 as the team opens up their 2024-25 season at Tundra Oil & Gas Place against the Virden Oil Capitals.

A full broadcast schedule can be seen here. 

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Aug 27, 2024 - 10:15 am