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It was a game the Parkland U-18 Rangers expected to win, especially after their outstanding performance just two days prior against Southwest.
Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. Kyle Pelletier gave up six goals on 27 shots as the last-place Yellowhead Chiefs came to Dauphin and downed the Rangers, 7-5, on Tuesday night at Credit Union Place.
The Rangers scored the first two goals in the game but Yellowhead wasn't phased as they put their best offensive performance forth of the season, including in the third when they scored four times.
Dayson Martin scored twice for the Rangers while Forrest Karlson, Landyn Garton, and Ryzlie Nepinak also scored for Parkland in the defeat.
Yellowhead won for just the fifth time this season while the Rangers are now tied for sixth place in the league, two points behind Eastman, with a game in hand. Things get much tougher for Parkland as they're off to Brandon to play the first-place Wheat Kings on Wednesday.
That's followed by games against the Thrashers and Lightning this weekend on the road.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Carter Zalischuk grew up with the Dauphin Kings as more than just his hometown hockey team—they were his heroes. From a young age, he was the wide-eyed kid in the stands, never missing a game, always ready to collect autographs from the players he idolized. Little did he know, he was destined to skate in their footsteps.
Carter’s own journey was nothing short of remarkable. A standout player in Dauphin’s minor hockey scene, he quickly earned a reputation for being a game-changer. With a national title as part of Team Manitoba under his belt, and a historic playoff run with the U-18 Rangers in 2022—breaking a 20-year drought—it was clear he was a player built for big moments. By the spring of that same year, his childhood dreams became reality: Carter Zalischuk was officially a Dauphin King.
In his rookie season with the Kings, Carter proved himself, playing 44 games, scoring five goals, and adding five assists. He returned the following season, suiting up for 47 games and continuing to make his presence felt with eight points. But his value to the team wasn’t measured in goals alone—it was in his grit, heart, and hustle. Whether it was killing penalties, delivering a thunderous hit, or energizing his teammates, Carter became the player his coaches could always rely on.
With Carter in the lineup, the Kings battled their way to the Turnbull Cup playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Fans won’t soon forget the seven-game showdown against the Blizzard—a series that will go down in Dauphin hockey lore.
Fast forward to the 2024-25 season, and everything changed. Just as Carter was gearing up for another year with his hometown team, the unexpected happened: a trade. He was sent to the Swan Valley Stampeders, a team in the middle of a rebuild, with a roster brimming with untapped potential. For the first time in his career, Carter packed his bags and left the familiar comforts of home behind, embarking on a nearly two-hour journey north to Swan Valley.
Now, 27 games into his debut season with the Stampeders, Carter is thriving. While he misses the tight-knit community of Dauphin and the faces he grew up with, life in the valley has brought new challenges and fresh opportunities. Surrounded by a mix of rising stars and seasoned talent, Carter is carving out his place in this next chapter of his hockey career, proving that no matter where he plays, his passion for the game and his drive to succeed remain unshakable.
"Things have been going great, we have a great group of guys, we're all super tight," said Zalischuk. "I'm having a ton of fun here and I have a great billet family as well, definitely happy to be a Stampeder."
Carter has stepped into a new role with the Stampeders. He is enjoying more ice time and while it has been a relatively tough season for the team, Carter is soaking it all in and trying to improve his game while helping the team make a jump up the standings.
"It's been an awesome experience meeting new guys and it means a lot to me knowing how I was welcomed with open arms," said Zalischuk. "We have had a lot of fun as a group and everyone is pushing to become the best versions of themselves."
Recently, Carter Zalischuk took center stage at the Swan Valley Stampeders' inaugural skills competition inside the buzzing Centennial Arena. It was a clash between Team White and Team Black in a series of thrilling events: the hardest shot, fastest skater, obstacle course, shootout, and the jaw-dropping goaltender goal challenge.
Carter, representing Team Black, didn’t just show up—he put on a show. In the highly anticipated obstacle course event, all eyes were on the Dauphin native as he navigated the cones and challenges with precision and great speed. With a blazing time of 25.66 seconds, Carter narrowly edged out his fierce competitor, Landen Gulutzan, dramatically clinching the crown.
The competition wasn’t just about the results—it was about camaraderie, entertainment, and celebrating the skill and spirit of the game. Players and fans alike left the arena energized and excited for what was to come, and Carter once again proved why he’s a fan favourite—both for his on-ice brilliance and his love for the game.
"That was a lot of fun to be able to do that in front of some great fans, it was great for the organization and I know everyone had a blast," continued Zalischuk. "I was happy to win that medal in the obstacle course, it was an event that I won't forget. I was hoping our team came out on top but that's okay," said Zalischuk with a chuckle.
Carter was back on the ice with the team practicing on Monday as they prepare for a pair of games this weekend against the Blues and Waywayseecappo and when they hit the ice on Friday, they'll do so riding a three-game winning streak.
Powered by an 11-goal output in two games against the Wolverines over the weekend, Swan Valley completed their first-weekend sweep of the season. The two wins also saw the team sit within four points of the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division. Swan Valley beat Virden right before dispatching the Wolverines twice.
The Stampeders have also won five of their last seven games and are quietly becoming a team that if you take any shifts off, they'll make you pay.
"The morale in the room is very high right now, we want to make a push to the playoffs," ended Zalischuk. "I believe that we have the group to make that push and get into the big dance. Exciting times here, we're looking forward to moving ahead with this group."
Carter has two goals and five assists this season, to go along with 41 penalty minutes.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Russell U-11 Rams took the Hamiota Arena by storm over the weekend and arrived back home with another banner to hang up in the rafters.
Brixton Desaulniers was named to the tournament all-star team as the team capped off the tournament with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win against Virden in the championship final. Previously, the Rams earned a spot in the final by downing the hosts, 9-5.
In other action for the team throughout the weekend, they beat Tri-Valley, 11-0, Deloraine, 9-1, and they also opened up the tournament with a 10-1 win over Deloraine. This was the team's second championship this season as they also won the Dauphin event.
They placed third in their home tournament in November and will look to capture their third championship this weekend when they head to the Grand Plains tournament.
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Just one game didn't allow the Dauphin Kings to jump up the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Top 20 rankings as they perhaps could have.
The Kings regained the top spot in the West Division on Saturday when they beat the Winnipeg Blues in their first game of 2025 and are ranked 18th this week. The Kings are 22-8-1 on the season and are nine points behind Steinbach for first place in the league.
Note that the Kings have games in hand for two of the three teams ahead of them. They have three on Steinbach and two on Portage. The Kings are three points back of Winkler and both clubs have played 31 games. Two games are on tap for Dauphin this week as they're in Portage on Wednesday before hosting the Freeze on Saturday.
You can hear Friday's game right here on 730CKDM with Darnell Duff, the Parkland Source for Sports pregame show hits the airwaves at 7:20 from Stride Place.
Dauphin was one of four teams in the MJHL in the rankings, topped by Steinbach who stayed pat at number eight in Canada. Steinbach played their first game of the second half on New Year's Eve and put up a six spot to double up Niverville. They scored nine more goals over the weekend, and they're 3-0 since returning from the Christmas break. Powered by Connor Paronuzzi's 51 points and Christian Green's stellar goaltending, the Pistons have hit their stride and it will be interesting to see what additions they make ahead of Friday's trade deadline.
Jayce Legaarden and the Winkler Flyers jumped up three spots to 10th in Canada. At 23-6-2, the defending Turnbull Cup champions are six points behind Steinbach for first overall with three games in hand. The Flyers pulled off four straight shutouts in December and have 17 goals in their last three games, five of which came over the weekend against Niverville.
The Flyers have won seven straight games and have not lost since November 29. Liam Ernst is flying high in net and Grandview's star is ninth in league scoring as Jayce has 18 goals and 19 assists.
The Portage Terriers, who rank third in the East Division and league, are honourable mentions this week.
Backed by the outstanding play of Mitchell Kathler between the pipes, the Terriers beat the Freeze 5-1 over the weekend in their first game back from the Christmas break. The Terriers have won seven of their last eight games and are preparing to host Dauphin on Wednesday night.
Portage is paced offensively by Cameron Bullinger who has 14 goals, 28 assists and his 42 points are fourth-most in the league.
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The Parkland U-18 Rangers secured two huge points on Sunday against one of the top teams in the league.
Playing Southwest in Souris, Parkland scored three times in the third period to come from behind in a 3-2 win against the Cougars, who are in fourth place.
Piet Mierau was sensational as he made 45 saves in the win while Cade Legaarden, Carter Moncrief, and Dayson Martin scored for the Rangers in the win. The Rangers remain in a tie for sixth with the win and they're just two points back of Eastman for fifth
The Rangers have won five of their last six games and host Yellowhead on Tuesday night before heading to Brandon on Wednesday.
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The Dauphin Clippers hockey team had no trouble filling up the scoresheet on Sunday in their first game of 2025.
The Clippers put up a dozen goals in a dominant 12-2 win against Major Pratt, highlighted by a third period that saw the team score six times. Major Pratt remained winless in the defeat.
Ethan Carnegie, Ronin Mouck and Will Busby all scored a pair of goals apiece for Dauphin while Jorden Braun, Lyric Smith, Drayson Demeria, Josh Yakielashek, Noah Hanneson, and Julien Lopez all scored once.
Dauphin (11-3-0-1) head to Minnedosa on January 14 in their next league game.
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The Dauphin Kings are back atop the West with four games in hand.
Opening 2025 on home ice, the boys in Blue & Black put together a solid effort in a 4-1 win against the Winnipeg Blues.
Dauphin (22-8-1) got two goals each from Cayden Glover and Havyril Simchuk in the win. Cole Sheffield was outstanding as he made 26 saves to earn his 19th win.
Dauphin is now two points ahead of the Blizzard with four games in hand.
To note, Sunday's game between the Kings and Blizzard has been postponed. It will be made up at a later date.
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The Parkland U-18 Rangers came out flying, opened the scoring but a late goal from the Wheat Kings to end the first was the difference.
Brandon scored to tie it midway through the first and scored to take a 2-1 lead with just four seconds left as they cruised over the Rangers, 7-2, on Friday night at Credit Union Place.
Noah Smigelsky and Dayson Martin scored for the Rangers, who saw their four-game win streak snapped.
They head to Souris on Sunday to play Southwest.
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Growing up in the small town of Roblin, Hailey Hojnocki’s love for hockey began early, carving a path that would soon take her to incredible heights on the ice.
Her talent blossomed with Roblin Minor Hockey, and before long, she was skating circles around expectations. With growing confidence and an undeniable passion, Hailey set her sights on the elite level.
Starting with the Parkland Women’s Rangers and then joining the Yellowhead Chiefs in grade 10, Hailey’s skills kept soaring. But her big break came with an unexpected opportunity—an invite to play for Pilot Mound Academy’s U-18 team in grade 11. Trading comfort for ambition, Hailey packed her gear, said goodbye to home, and embraced a new adventure four hours away.
Pilot Mound Academy wasn’t just a team—it was a gateway to growth. Competing in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League and travelling across North America, Hailey made her mark, tallying 13 goals and 17 assists in just two seasons.
“It was too good to pass up,” Hailey shares. “Being on the ice and working out daily pushed me to new levels. It was challenging but absolutely worth it!”
Two years in the books and Hailey was thrilled with how she grew.
"It was insane how much I improved, practicing with my team every day and even during free skate," continued Hojnocki. "I developed so much faster being on the ice every day, we all pushed each other and that's important."
"Exceeded my expectations, I was not expecting to have that great of a season," commented Hojnocki. "I was very pleasantly surprised. I had some great teammates which is also a bonus."
With the Gray Owls this year, Hailey picked up right where she left off as she has 20 points. Her highlight so far was a three-goal, two-assist performance against the Western Predators less than a month ago.
"There are some days where I feel so confident in my abilities and sure of myself," said Hojnocki. "I just had a feeling going into that game that I was going to play well and I was able to do so. Sometimes performances like that happen and that was one of those days."
Hailey is on fire this season, with 20 points putting her just behind league leader Rayley Goetz, who sits at 24. The race to the top is heating up, and Hailey’s relentless determination and eye for the net make her a serious contender.
With the Gray Owls set to face the Northern Stars this Sunday, all eyes will be on Hailey to deliver another standout performance. Whether it’s lighting the lamp or creating plays, she’s proven time and again that she thrives under pressure.
Hailey hasn’t forgotten her roots, either.
“The support from everyone back in Roblin means the world to me,” she says. “It pushes me to keep striving for greatness.”
After making her debut in the league's all-star game last season, Hailey has gotten the nod again as she's now a two-time all-star.
"It's very special, it's nice to see that all of my hard work is paying off," ended Hojnocki. "Many great players play in this league so for me to be amongst an elite group, it's a great thing for me."
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The Parkland U-18 Rangers are charging into the second half of their season with momentum and confidence.
Closing out 2024 in spectacular fashion, the Rangers notched four consecutive victories, including a thrilling home-and-home sweep of the Pembina Valley Hawks and decisive wins against Yellowhead and Central Plains. These triumphs have propelled them to fifth place in the league standings with an impressive 32 points.
"We ran into a bit of a slump where it seemed that everything was going wrong for us," said Tom White, Head Coach. "I have to give a ton of credit to our players, they stuck with it and now we're pointed in the right direction."
First up for the Rangers to open 2025 is a test against the league-leading Brandon Wheat Kings. The defending league champion Wheat Kings are 23-4-0-2 this year and four points ahead of the Bruins. This will be Parkland's first meeting with Brandon this season and will be played at Credit Union Place on Friday at 7:30.
Following that game, they head to Souris to play the Cougars on Sunday. The Cougars are in third place and hold a 10-point gap over the Rangers, who are tied with the Thrashers and Selects.
A key leader for the team this year has been Quinten Fisk. The Dauphin star is tied for eighth in league scoring with 22 goals and 18 assists. Only two other players (Connor Hoemsen, 28, and Cole Dupuis, 23, have scored more) while Tyler Wamboldt also has 22.
Fisk has five power-play goals to go along with one game-winning goal and is averaging 1.43 points per game. He also has 10 multi-point games including a four-assist performance during the team's win against Central Plains right before the Christmas break.
Fisk, who signed his Letter of Intent with the Kings earlier this season, is primed for a big second half.
"He is by far our hardest working player on the ice, he comes to the rink every day, whether it's a practice or game ready to compete," continued White. "He's a player that leads by example and makes everyone around him better."
Between the pipes, Piet Mierau's 1197 minutes played are the most in the league. With 11 wins to his credit, including six starts with at least 40 saves, Mierau won his final three starts of 2024 and can steal a game on any given night.
He has gotten in extra work this year as he practices daily with the Kings. In his final three starts of 2024, Piet made 126 saves.
"Piet is a fiery competitor, he's always competing and battling," said White. "He shows everyone how badly he wants to be successful and other guys feed off that."
Piet's goaltending partner is Kyle Pelletier. Kyle has won five games this year while playing 493 minutes. From McCreary, Kyle's best performance came on November 17 when he turned away 37 shots and got the win against the Kenora Thistles.
"He's a good young goalie that puts in the work," ended White. "He's only going to improve with time. He's a great kid and we're happy to have him on our roster."
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The race to the 2025 Turnbull Cup playoffs is about to explode with intensity as the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) teams dive into their second-half schedules this Friday. The stage is set for thrilling matchups, high stakes, and unforgettable moments in the battle for playoff glory.
For most of the league's 13 teams, the action heats up at the end of the week, while Steinbach and Niverville gave fans a taste of the excitement on New Year’s Eve. Steinbach's commanding 6-3 victory over Niverville highlighted the razor-thin margins in a league where just eight points separate the top six teams. Every game counts, and every goal matters as teams jockey for position in both divisions.
In the West Division, the drama is already building to a fever pitch. The Dauphin Kings and Northern Manitoba Blizzard are deadlocked atop the standings, each with 43 points as the calendar flips to 2025. The rivalry between these two powerhouses has been electric, with three head-to-head clashes in December that saw Dauphin edge out two victories. The Blizzard, however, surged into the tie with a pre-holiday sweep of Neepawa, setting the stage for an epic second half.
Dauphin (21-8-1) holds a strategic advantage with five games in hand over the Blizzard and four over Neepawa, who sit just behind with 38 points. But in a division where anything can happen, every game is a potential game-changer. The Kings may be in the driver’s seat, but the Blizzard and the rest of the West are ready to hit the gas.
While the race for the top spot in the West will be an exciting one, the race for the final playoff spot in the division will be just as thrilling. Entering 2025, both Waywayseecappo and Virden have 24 points apiece.
Swan Valley finds themselves at the bottom of the West and while they're just eight points back of the final playoff spot, it is assumed that they will be sellers at the trade deadline which is just more than a week away (January 10). Despite winning only six games this year, the Stampeders have a tremendous trio of offensive producers led by Landen Gulutzan with 38 points, Will Brown with 31, and Adian Taylor with 28.
West Division Players to Watch: A Star-Studded Showcase
Dauphin Kings
- Cayden Glover: Lighting up the league with 23 goals—the most in the MJHL—paired with 14 assists. Glover is the definition of clutch.
- Naaman Hofer: The playmaker extraordinaire with 32 assists, leading the charge with his elite vision and puck distribution.
- Cole Sheffield: A rock between the pipes with 18 wins and 1,520 minutes played, more than anyone else in the league. If you want to score on Dauphin, good luck.
Northern Manitoba Blizzard
- Taye Timmerman: Ending 2024 on fire with 12 wins, including a jaw-dropping 42-save performance against Dauphin. A game-stealer in every sense.
- Marlen Edwards: A dual threat with 14 goals and 15 assists, and fresh off winning bronze with Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge. Big-game player vibes.
Neepawa Titans
- Mason Hartley: Quietly lethal with 11 goals and 17 assists. Hartley is the engine driving Neepawa’s offense.
- Mason Lobreau: A netminder who thrives under pressure, with 10 wins and the ability to completely shut down opposing offenses.
Waywayseecappo Wolverines
- Jaxon Grosdidier: Consistently delivering with 12 goals and 14 assists. Watch for him to elevate his game in crunch time.
- Dru Mushumanski: A key depth contributor with 6 goals and 10 assists, ready to step up when it matters most.
Virden Oil Capitals
- Noel Englot: A steady producer with 12 goals and 15 assists, driving Virden’s playoff push.
- Bryce Bryant: With 7 goals and 13 assists, he’s already punched his ticket to Division I hockey at Bemidji State—expect him to play like he’s got something to prove.
Swan Valley Stampeders
- Landen Gulutzan: The total package with 14 goals and 24 assists, leading the Stamps in scoring and always a threat on the ice.
- Will Brown: Bringing the heat with 10 goals and 21 assists, consistently making big plays for Swan Valley.
- Aidan Taylor: Adding depth and firepower with 10 goals and 18 assists. The Stampeders’ offense is stacked.
These players are the ones to watch as the West Division amps up for a thrilling playoff chase. Whether they’re scoring goals, setting up plays, or locking it down in net, they’re set to be the difference-makers in the battles ahead.
The East Division is a hotbed of action, headlined by the Steinbach Pistons, who sit atop the standings with an impressive 24 wins in their first 32 games. Already a dominant force, the Pistons are poised to become even more dangerous as the trade deadline approaches.
At the heart of their success is Christian Green, who has been stellar in the net. Despite some struggles late in the first half, the 20-year-old has 18 wins and ranks near the top in all major goaltending statistics. Offensively, the Pistons are stacked. Since returning from the BCHL, Ty Paisley has tallied four goals and four assists, reaffirming his status as one of the league's premier offensive threats. Meanwhile, Connor Paronuzzi has been a revelation, racking up 47 points in 32 games. Add in the fact that nine players have at least 21 points, and Steinbach’s depth looks nearly unstoppable.
Just four points behind, the Winkler Flyers—the reigning champions—are mounting a strong defense of their title. With 22 wins and a red-hot streak to close out 2024, the Flyers are surging. Their final six games of the year included four consecutive shutouts, thanks in large part to second-year goaltender Liam Ernst. Ernst has been sensational, boasting 16 wins, a sparkling .941 save percentage, and a minuscule 1.56 goals-against average. Winkler is big, skilled, and exceptionally well-coached, making them a must-watch team in the second half.
The playoff race tightens just below, where Portage and Niverville are separated by only two points. Portage leans heavily on their 18-year-old goalie Mitchell Kathler, who has been a rock and ranks near the top in every major category. Niverville counters with Adam Vigfusson, currently third in league scoring and tied with Portage’s Cameron Bullinger.
For the Selkirk Steelers, the fight for a playoff spot is all too familiar. They find themselves three points behind Niverville in what’s shaping up to be another fierce battle for the final playoff berth. The Steelers will need to dig deep if they hope to keep their postseason dreams alive.
At the bottom of the division are the Winnipeg Freeze and Winnipeg Blues, two teams unlikely to make waves at the deadline. With few major assets, they appear set to stand pat and focus on building for the future.
As the East Division barrels into the second half, every game feels like a playoff showdown. The stakes are high, and the drama is just beginning.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff