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Lyle Bauer, a former CFL player and executive, has died. He was 65.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the team Bauer played for and later served as CEO, announced Bauer's death on its Instagram page Wednesday.
Bauer, a Saskatoon native, played his entire 10-year CFL career as an offensive with the Blue Bombers (1982-91). He was named the team's top offensive lineman in 1988 and won three Grey Cups with the Blue Bombers (1984, 1988, 1990).
Bauer, who played collegiately at Weber State in Utah, was inducted into the Blue Bombers Hall of Fame in 1998.
Bauer became CEO in 2000 with the franchise struggling financially and helped the community-owned club regain its footing, on and off the field. During Bauer's front-office tenure, the Bombers reached the Grey Cup twice (2001, 2007).
Bauer helped create the Never Alone Foundation in 2004 after being diagnosed with throat cancer. The foundation assists cancer patients and their families in battling the disease.
Bauer resigned from the Bombers on December, 17, 2009. In January 2010, the Calgary Stampeders announced hiring Bauer as their CEO and president.
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Aiden Ziprick and Ryder Thompson hail from a tight-knit community with fewer than 1500 residents.
Despite its small size, Russell boasts a proud tradition of nurturing top-tier athletes. Now, these two hometown heroes, Ziprick and Thompson, are making waves in the Conference Finals of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Ziprick laces up for the Moose Jaw Warriors, while Thompson skates for the Portland Winterhawks. Moose Jaw squares off against Saskatoon, while Portland takes on Prince George. The victors of each series will battle it out in the WHL Final, vying for a chance to compete in the 2024 Memorial Cup in Saginaw.
This prestigious national tournament will feature teams from the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Maritimes Hockey League, and the Western Hockey League.
Keep an eye below on the live WHL playoff bracket for updates as the action unfolds.
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He had spent the previous five years with the Coquitlam Express of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).
He was set for a culture shock heading into the 2018-19 season. Coquitlam is home to roughly 145,000 people. Swan River; meanwhile, is home to less than 5000. Barry Wolff was hired as the Stampeders head coach and general manager ahead of that season and while it may have been a little bit of a culture shock to start, Wolff says his time in the valley has been incredible.
"I have enjoyed it, it's a great community with great people, and we get great corporate support," said Wolff. "When you think something won't happen here, the community rallies together to get things done. I enjoy being a part of that."
Wolff's thoughts came right after Swan Valley confirmed that they will continue operations moving forward. In early April, the team put up a desperate call for board of directors and volunteers or else they would not be able to continue operations. In the end, as Wolff expected, the community rallied and the Stampeders are now in a great spot as the off-season rolls on.
"It's great to see, our board of directors and volunteers run our organization, without them, there would be no Stampeder hockey," offered Wolff. "It's incredible to see how quickly people jumped on board to help. It just goes to show how much this team means to people in the community."
In his first year at the helm, Wolff led Swan Valley to their winningest season in franchise history. They won 42 regular season games to finish in second place and following a four-game sweep against Dauphin in the first round of the Turnbull Cup playoffs, the Stampeders needed six games to bounce Steinbach from the playoffs as the second-most northern team in the league advanced to their first league final.
Going up against a stacked Portage Terriers team in the final, the Stampeders and Terriers went shot-for-shot, splitting the first six games which meant a winner-take-all game seven was in store and it was another thriller.
After staying alive with a 5-2 win in game six, the Terriers returned to Stride Place to host game seven, a game in which they led with less than 10 seconds left. That's when Matthew Osadick for Swan Valley found the back of the net with just seven seconds left to force overtime. In overtime, Reece Henry scored his sixth of the playoffs 5:26 in as the Stampeders were one goal away from their first championship.
Despite the loss, it was a historic season for Swan Valley and to this day, it remains as their best season ever.
Barry left the organization at the start of the 2019-20 season as he returned to the BCHL to become the Merritt Centennials head coach and general manager. His tenure in Merritt was very short as he was relieved of his duties on October 16, 2019, and just less than two months later on December 11, he was brought back on to lead the Stampeders.
Barry has since remained with the club and his lone goal is to bring a championship back to the valley for the first time.
"I would love nothing more than that, that has always been our goal," said Wolff. "It will always be our goal and the community deserves that, they are so strong-willed and are incredible people."
Barry will get that chance to bring a championship back to Swan River as he has signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the club through the 2025-26 campaign.
In a release from the Stampeders, bringing back Barry was a no-brainer.
“Wolffy has done some amazing things for our organization and his passion for the game, the players, the community, and the team overall is second to none,” said Stampeders President Cramer Coulthart. "We have full confidence that he will continue to operate the way he always has, with a winning mindset and the best interest of the team and the community in mind at all times,” continued Coulthart. “We look forward to seeing what he and his team will bring to our organization in the coming seasons.”
When asked how he felt to sign the extension, Wolff was thrilled.
“The Swan Valley community is a great spot with first-class people who live here,” he said. “We have great community and corporate support. It is an honour and I am proud to be part of the Swan Valley community and part of the Stampeders Hockey Club. As a team, we have a great group returning and a lot to prove, in our opinion. Our goal is to be a hard-working team that the community can, and wants, to feel part of and proud of on and off the ice."
Barry has returned to British Columbia and the recruiting process has begun. The 2024-25 season is set to commence on September 20, 2024.
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It's the curse of the league final for the Flin Flon Bombers.
In the final of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) against the Melfort Mustangs, the Bombers lost in six games, ending with a 4-1 defeat on Tuesday night. The Bombers have lost the SJHL Final three straight years and in five of the last seven years.
Justin Lies tied up the game for Flin Flon early in the third after Melfort opened up the scoring; however, the lone Manitoban team in the Saskatchewan circuit gave up three goals the rest of the way in the defeat. Flin Flon had won two straight games and was one win away from forcing a game seven; however, it wasn't to be.
Melfort now advances to the Centennial Cup in Oakville from May 9 to 19. Swan River's Bo Eisner is on the team and played a crucial role on the team's back end. Stay tuned to hear from him ahead of the national tournament.
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While you will still have to wait to get your first swings in at the Gilbert Plains Country Club, you can spend a few hours at the course on Saturday, May 4 while having some laughs and plotting in your head how you plan to get around the course when it does open.
Presented by the Battle for the Belts two-person scramble, the Club will host a 'Tee Off to Summer' Party at the event centre right by the pro shop. The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. and 2-for-1 shots will be offered from 7:00 to 8:00.
Prizes and food will also be available.
Easton Hedley is a board member for the event centre and as she says, it will be a night you won't want to miss out on.
"We're also going to have a late-night lunch," said Hedley. "It's just a great opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate the start of spring and the start of the golf season."
Only individual tickets are available and they go for $50. Please feel free to call Scott McCallum at 648-7834. Entertainment for the night will be the Dueling Keys, sure to get the party going.
The event centre is somewhat of a new course feature, and Hedley is very proud of it.
"So many people have put so much thought and energy into this," ended Hedley. "It's a place where people can celebrate monumental events and special moments will be shared at this facility. We are very proud of it."
It's the 'Tee Off to Summer' Party at the Gilbert Plains Country Club this Saturday. If you are in Dauphin and you're looking to get a ride to the event, you can do so for just $20 and it will return you to Dauphin as well. The bus leaves the Rotary Arena at 5:30.
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The Turnbull Cup was in the building.
Fans not at the arena well ahead of the 7:00 p.m. puck drop were denied entry. It was a capacity crowd as the Winkler Flyers looked to win the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) title in game four against the Steinbach Pistons.
Three days removed from a goal from Lucas Ens that put the Pistons on the brink of elimination, Winkler had an opportunity to win their first league championship since 1998 and 1300 fans were in the stands to witness the action.
Jayce Legaarden, who was outstanding in the playoffs, felt how much the fans of Winkler wanted a championship.
"It was crazy loud, the loudest that I have ever seen a rink," said Legaarden. "The fans were insane, they were yelling all game, just crazy to be a part of."
In a back-and-forth game four, the Grandview star scored his eighth of the playoffs shorthanded with just 14 seconds left in the first frame as Winkler went up 3-2 after 20 minutes. The Flyers then extended their lead to two thanks to Avery Anderson's fifth of the playoffs.
Trailing by two entering the third, the Pistons scored one to get within a single goal, and then with just 39 seconds left in regulation, Parker Jasper's third of the playoffs tied the contest to force overtime. Overtime didn't last long; however, as Zach Nicolas scored his sixth of the playoffs for Winkler and the rest was history.
The goal gave Winkler their first league title since 1998.
"It was incredible, it was so loud, and the fans came on the ice when we won," offered Legaarden. "For us to win a championship in front of our home fans at our rink, what a great finish."
Jayce also talks about Nicolas' game-winning goal.
"We couldn't believe that we won the league, what an accomplishment," said Legaarden. "We just wanted to all get on the ice to celebrate. We have worked so hard for this."
From the small community of Grandview, Legaarden had a torrid playoff run. His eight goals were more than anyone else in the league and his 11 points were tied for seventh.
In two years, Jayce has gone from scoring 46 regular season goals with the Parkland U18 Rangers to being one of the most important pieces to this year's championship team and he certainly felt the love from fans back in his hometown.
"I know many people from back home came to see the game to support and my parents were in the stands," said Legaarden. "I love representing Grandview, it was an incredible place to grow up with so many great people."
Winkler will now make their way to Oakville next Tuesday for the Centennial Cup. Their first game is next Thursday against the Sioux Lookout Bombers of the Superior International Hockey League (SIJHL).
They will then play either the Flin Flon Bombers or Melfort Mustangs on May 11, followed by games against the host Oakville Blades on May 13 and they wrap up their round-robin on Tuesday, May 14 against either the Miramichi Timberwolves or Summerside Capitals of the Maritimes Hockey League.
The last Manitoban based team to make noise at the national tournament was the Dauphin Kings when they made the semi-finals two seasons ago. Legaarden knows the team's greatest test is ahead of them and he's ready for the challenge.
"We're excited about this, it's going to be a great experience," ended Legaarden. "To get the chance to play on the national stage and against the best teams in the country, it's very rewarding and our goal is to win. That's what our goal has been since day one."
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The Brandon U18 Wheat Kings will be bringing home silver medals.
Advancing to the national final at the Telus Cup in Nova Scotia and being driven by a pair of Parkland stars, the Wheat Kings came up short against Cantonniers de Magog, 4-1.
Brandon was dealt an early low blow when Jaxon Jacobson took a high hit in the first period which forced him to leave the game and the star from Brandon never returned in the defeat.
Magog finished a perfect tournament with the victory. Since 2018, the program has three silver medals and now, a national gold medal.
Brady Turko of McCreary finished sixth in tournament scoring with eight goals and three assists. Easton Odut; meanwhile, scored five times while adding one assist. Jaxon just edged Turko as Brandon's leading scorer with one goal and 11 assists.
Brandon will now return home after one of the most successful seasons in U18 AAA history. Despite the loss, the team put together a season to remember. Stay tuned in the coming days as Easton and Brady join 730CKDM to chat about their experience on the national stage.
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The Flin Flon Bombers will just not go away in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) final.
Facing elimination for the second straight game, the Bombers went to work offensively and put up five goals in a 5-2 victory against the Melfort Mustangs. With the win, the Bombers now trail three games to two and they can force a decisive game seven with one more win.
Five different Bombers scored in the game including Carter Anderson, Justin Lies, Anthony Piccininno, Riley Niven, and Alexi Sylvestre. Harman Laser-Hume was fantastic in net as he made 31 saves in the victory.
Thd best-of-seven league final will now head to the Northern Lights Palace where another capacity crowd of 2500 is expected as the Mustangs look to win the Canterra Seeds Cup on home ice. The Flin Flon Bombers can force game seven with a win at one of the most storied arenas with one of the best atmospheres you will find in junior hockey at the Whitney Forum.
Game six goes Tuesday night.
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A pair of Parkland stars are playing for a national title
Brady Turko capped off an incredible performance with his third goal of the game late in the third as Brandon beat Calgary, 4-1, in a national semi-final.
Scoring Brandon's other goal was Easton Odut.
Brandon will now play Team Quebec on Sunday afternoon and the game will be televised on TSN. The puck drops at 3:00 p.m.
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Grandview will be getting the chance to welcome a Turnbull Cup Champion back to the community.
In front of an electric crowd on Friday night, the Winkler Flyers got the job done with a 5-on-3 goal in overtime to down the Steinbach Pistons, 5-4, wrapping up the series in four games. Winkler looked like they would win in regulation; however, the Pistons scored with just 39 seconds left in the contest to tie the game at four and force overtime.
Jayce Legaarden of Grandview scored another goal for the Flyers, this one of the shorthanded variety, as he finished the playoffs with eight goals. It is Winkler's first championship since they beat the St. James Canadians back in 1998.
Winkler will now make their way to Oakville for the Centennial Cup with their first game coming against the Sioux Lookout Bombers of the Superior International Junior Hockey League on May 9.
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Easton Odut broke out in a big way on Friday as the Brandon Wheat Kings secured their third win of the Telus Cup.
Playing a very good Markham Waxers team, he scored two goals while adding one assist in a 7-4 win as Brandon wrapped up their round-robin with three wins and two losses.
Brady Turko was once again excellent for Brandon as he scored two goals in the game. Turko scored five goals in five round-robin games. Jaxon Jacobson led the way in the assists category as he had eight of them.
With the victory, Brandon avoids the first-place Cantonniers de Magog of Quebec, who beat Brandon earlier in the week 5-1 and won all five of their round-robin games.
Brandon will now play in Saturday's semi-final as they go up against the Calgary Buffaloes. The Wheat Kings led after 20 minutes against Calgary in their round-robin matchup, before falling 3-1. The winner of Saturday's game will play in the national final on Sunday on TSN.
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