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JJ Love, named after his father Jeremy, has spent four years making his mark with the Brandon Bobcats men's volleyball team. During this time, Jeremy has logged countless kilometers, never missing a chance to cheer his son on.
In his freshman year during the 2021-22 season, JJ played seven sets, notching three assists, one kill, a dig, and one solo block. Moving forward to the following season, JJ's university career took off as the team's setter with 748 assists. JJ was also a force to be reckoned with as an attacker with 60 kills, hitting .330 with nine solo blocks, 14 aces, and 119 digs in 94 sets.
Armed with another year of experience, JJ returned for his third season with the Bobcats and made a statement. Leading the team with 28 aces, JJ posted a career-high 823 assists, proving himself as a floor general. But Love wasn’t just about setting—his 77 kills on a .323 hitting percentage and 147 digs showcased his all-around game. By then, he had solidified himself as one of the top setters in the Canada West conference, blending precision passing with size, smarts, and a knack for turning defense into offense.
JJ helped the Bobcats qualify for the playoffs last year, winning 16 of their 24 games. Unfortunately, it was a short run as they lost two straight matches to the powerhouse Trinity Western Spartans. With a bitter taste in his mouth after that defeat, Love remained focused and put in extra work. The Bobcats were awarded the 2025 U-Sport National Championship, hosted at the Healthy Living Centre last week.
Love was all in, but it was an up-and-down season for the Bobcats in his fourth season. They won 10 of their 20 matches, and while that was enough to qualify for the playoffs, it again was a short-lived postseason for the team as they lost back-to-back matches against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.
"We had a younger team this year; we graduated three guys from our very strong team last year," said Love. "Everyone wanted to work hard. Everyone is very strong in Canada West, you have to come to play every night. Everyone put in a ton of effort, and winning 10 games was an accomplishment."
Love continued to stuff the stat sheet with 661 assists, 14 aces, seven solo blocks, 151 digs, and 40 kills in 78 sets. His 151 digs were a career-high.
"I was proud of my play, it could have been better at times, but when it came down to crunch time, my passers passed well and made my job easier," continued Love. "I wouldn't change a thing, it was a good year."
Despite getting swept in the first round of the playoffs, Love and his teammates finished the regular season with three straight wins, one of which came against the eventual Canada West champion, Winnipeg Wesmen. In the back half of a home-set against the Wesmen on February 8, JJ had 31 assists, nine digs, and five kills as the Bobcats pulled off the upset win in four sets.
"Yeah, that was an awesome feeling. Our motto this entire year has been believe," continued Love. "The Wesmen were an outstanding team, but we believed we could get the job done, and that's exactly what we did. It was a big win for our group."
The two longtime provincial rivals would battle again just more than a month later. As the Bobcats hosted the national championship, they were the eighth-ranked team heading into the event, which put them up against the top-ranked Wesmen.
With the home crowd on their side, JJ notched 28 assists, and the Bobcats cruised past the Wesmen in stunning fashion, 25-19, 25-19, and 25-22. It was a win that shocked many in the Canadian volleyball scene, but not Love and his teammates. They had prepared for weeks for this moment, and when it was time for first serve, they were ready.
"It was pretty close to sold-out, and when you're playing in front of a crowd like that, it's hard not to be excited," continued Love. "We felt on top of the world, it was a huge win for us. We knew that it was possible and made it happen."
JJ also wants to give a big shoutout to his family, who were in the front row.
"To see my parents and siblings sitting in the front row was such a special feeling. They have always supported me, and it means the world," offered Love. "My high school coach (Taylor Schmidt) also came. It was so surreal having them here in the biggest stage."
Step one on their quest to win a national title was in the books. Things wouldn't get much easier. The Saskatchewan Huskies, who won the bronze medal at the Canada West Championships, were next. The two teams split two games in the regular season, with the Bobcats winning in five and the Huskies in four.
The Huskies came out the gates swinging and cruised past the Bobcats in the first two sets, 25-21 and 25-20. JJ and his teammates believed. They weren't ready to be relegated to the bronze medal match. They stuck with it, and after winning a tight third set, 25-23, it was all Bobcats. They cruised to a 25-15 fourth set win, and in the fifth set, the Bobcats finished off the reverse sweep, 15-10. JJ finished the match with 51 assists and two kills.
The Brandon Bobcats were off to the national final.
"Hands down, that was the craziest environment I have ever played in," offered Love. "The energy in our crowd was so cool to play in front of; what a special moment. We believed in ourselves after losing the first two sets, and we did."
The stage was set. It was the Brandon Bobcats against the Alberta Golden Bears. The Tantramar Trophy was on the line. Brandon was in fine form, and so was Alberta, after they swept Windsor and beat Sherbrooke in five sets.
Brandon and Alberta played twice in the regular season, splitting the matches. The Golden Bears are one of the best programs in the country and were the defending champions. Going shot for shot, Brandon and Alberta split the first two sets. Brandon won the third set, 28-26, and with the home crowd on their side, the Bobcats were national champions. They hammered the Golden Bears in the fourth set, 25-17, and for the first time in Bobcat men's volleyball history, BU were national champions.
They also became the first team since Laval in 2013 to win a national title on their home court.
"It feels so surreal, it's hard to even put words to it," offered Love. "I'm so proud of our guys and coaches. We took care of business, and it's so awesome to say we're national champions."
As a tip of the cap, JJ was named the Mikasa Player of the Game in the final. He hit .500 with five kills and seven digs, 40 assists, and one solo block. It was a monster performance, and it helped lift Brandon to the top of the Canadian volleyball world.
"It's not about personal accolades, but it's nice to see that I was recognized in the national final," ended Love. "With that said, I wouldn't have been possible without my passers and hitters."
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The hero cape looks amazing on Gavin Nemis.
For the third game in a row, the 18-year-old Dauphin King star scored the game winner as the Kings downed the Waywayseecappo Wolverines in an overtime thriller on Tuesday night, 3-2.
The win gives Dauphin a three games to nothing lead over the Wolverines, with an opportunity to complete the sweep on Thursday night when the Wolverines host game four.
Both teams traded goals in the second period as all four goals prior to overtime were scored in the second frame. Matthew Thomas (2) and Cayden Glover (2) did the scoring for Dauphin while Maddox Mason (1) Sebastian Stone (2) scored for Waywayseecappo.
In overtime, Nemis made a gorgeous play behind the net and stuck with the puck before skating to the high slot and firing a shot just under the bar as Dauphin won for the third straight game.
Big kudos to Mariko Bercier. He made 53 saves for the Wolverines and gave Waywayseecappo a chance to win this game. Cole Sheffield turned away 23 shots in the win.
Dauphin heads to Waywayseecappo for game four against the Wolverines on Thursday night. You can hear that game with Darnell Duff and Jeff Henson starting with the Parkland Source for Sports pregame show at 7:15.
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Just like they were against the Swan Valley Tigers, the Dauphin Clippers are on the brink of elimination.
They won two straight games against the Tigers and will now have to do it against the powerhouse Vincent Massey Vikings, who have now won 39 straight games in league play. A 40th would give them a league championship.
The Clippers pushed the Vikings on Tuesday, however, it wasn't to be. The Vikings took a one game to nothing lead in the best-of-seven with an 8-5 win at the J&G Homes Arena.
Layne Wolfenden, Ethan Carnegie, Julien Lopez, Cody Zurba, and Ronin Mouck all scored a goal for Dauphin in the defeat.
Dauphin will return to the friendly confines of Credit Union Place on Wednesday to host game two. That will be a must-win game for Dauphin.
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Alexis Campbell of Kinosota can add a silver medal on the national stage to her impressive resume on the ice.
With the Assiniboine College (AC) Cougars at the Division 2 national championships in St. Louis, Campbell and her teammates came up short on Tuesday in the national finale against Sault College, 6-2.
Tied at one almost halfway through the first period, Sault College ran away with the game as Materia Land scored three straight goals to give her team a 4-1 lead after 20 minutes, and they never looked back.
Campbell and her teammates unleashed a spectacular surge to secure a playoff spot, sweeping their way through the round-robin stage with three big victories. After a commanding 4-1 triumph over Providence College, the Kinosota native had an assist as the Cougars stifled Central Michigan University, limiting them to a mere 12 shots and cruising to a 5-2 victory.
In their final round-robin showdown, Campbell added another assist, helping propel the team to a resounding 7-1 rout of Eastern Michigan University.
Assiniboine College beat the United States Naval Academy, 2-1, on Monday to advance to Tuesday's national final. What a season it was for Alexis and her teammates.
Campbell had one goal and seven points in 22 conference games this season, helping the Cougars go 21-2-2 before their great performance on the national stage.
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They completed their title defence.
The Parkland Vipers 14-U volleyball team won the Club West tournament over the weekend, for the second straight year. They won it as a 13-U team last year.
In pool play, the Vipers were dominant, downing the Westman Wolves and Club West #2, both in straight sets. The Vipers split with the Westman Wave. In the crossover, the Vipers downed Offspeed #2, 2-0. That was followed by a dominant straight-set win over Swan Valley Smash before a two-set win against the Predators, a win that advanced them to the finals.
In a thrilling championship match against Team Phoenix, the Vipers came up clutch and won in three sets.
The team's roster includes Brynn Fortin, Ava Thompson, Edie Fleck, Tori Yaciuk, Brynlee Brasch, Scotia Smith, Adi Ledoux, Jetta Larocque, Kennedy Beer, Chayse Paradis, Grace Houle, and Logan Wolfenden. Chris Wolfenden and Matt Thompson are the team's coaches.
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It was a weekend to remember for the Parkland Vipers 13-U girls' volleyball team.
Playing in the Club West tournament in Elkhorn, the Vipers opened the event by sweeping Westman 13-U and Bandits 13-U before winning the split against Phoenix 13-U. On day two, the Vipers continued to roll. They won the split against Club West 13-U and Ace 13-U and beat the Vipers in two straight to finish first in their pool.
They carried the momentum into the playoffs as they downed Club West in the championship final, 25-22, and 25-18. It was an undefeated weekend for the group led by head coach Taylor Schmidt.
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Two teams remain in the Westman High School Hockey League.
The puck on the championship series drops on Tuesday evening at the J&G Homes Arena in Brandon. That's where the Dauphin Clippers will be after a dramatic three-game series victory over the Parkland rival Swan Valley Tigers.
The Clippers wrapped up the series on Sunday with a dominant 4-1 win at the Centennial Arena.
"It feels great; it was a great series with three close games," said Jason Alf. "We really wanted this one yesterday. The guys came out hard, played to our systems, and got the job done. It was a great victory for our group."
Dauphin was on the brink of elimination after losing the series opener. Hosting game two at Credit Union Place, hundreds of fans packed the rink to help push Dauphin over the hump as they evened the series. It was one of the best crowds you'll witness in high school hockey, and then, in game three, dozens of fans from Dauphin went to Swan River to cheer on the boys.
Alf wants to thank the fans for your support.
"We had a ton show up in Swan River and in Dauphin, it was an incredible atmosphere, and the boys enjoyed it," offered Alf. "Kudos to the fans of Swan River as well, they showed up in Dauphin and made a ton of noise. When it comes to our fans, a big shoutout. Who knows how the series would have ended without you, so thank you Dauphin Clipper fans."
The only team in the way of Dauphin winning a league championship is a team that is on the verge of history. The Vincent Massey Vikings have not lost a game in league play. They went 32-0 in the regular season and are 6-0 in the playoffs.
The Vikings scored 26 goals in a best-of-three against Birtle before finding the back of the net 23 more times in the quarterfinals. They posted 10 more goals in a sweep against Hamiota and now, they're two wins away from a title.
Jason knows taming the Vikings will be daunting, but the team is looking forward to the opportunity.
"We're feeling pretty good. They're playing well and have lots of bodies that contribute with solid goaltending," said Alf. "We're riding quite a high here off a couple of our series wins."
Dauphin scored 15 goals in a sweep against Roblin to open the playoffs before scoring 10 more in a sweep against Neepawa. That was followed by the team's three-game series victory over Swan Valley and come puck drop on Tuesday, Alf has full belief in the Green & White.
"We've had quite a run here, it hasn't been easy. We've battled through a ton of injuries and adversity," ended Alf. "This is a special group of guys that go to war for each other."
Game two will return to Credit Union Place on Wednesday at 7:30 and if need be, game three is tentatively set for Friday evening in Brandon.
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The Dauphin Kings are returning home with a chance to put the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on the brink of elimination on Tuesday night.
Gavin Nemis scored the game-winner for the Kings on Sunday night, as Dauphin downed the Wolverines, 3-1, to take a two games to nothing lead in the best-of-seven series.
Tied at one after 40 minutes, Nemis scored the game-winner for the second game in a row as he also scored the winner on Friday night in game one. Shortly after Nemis gave Dauphin a 2-1 lead, CG 71 made his return. The 20-year-old star from Brandon scored his first goal since returning to the lineup as Cayden Glover is officially back.
Cole Sheffield was outstanding in the game as he made 27 saves. The Kings also went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and are 7-for-7 in the series.
Dauphin heads home to host the Wolverines on Tuesday night in game three. 7:15 Parkland Source for Sports pregame show with Darnell Duff and Jeff Henson.
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The Dauphin Clippers varsity boys basketball team wrapped up their season over the weekend at the AAA provincial championships.
In the team's first game, Nick Hudyma had 28 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals, but it wasn't enough, as Dauphin was downed against Lorette, 82-63.
Ronin Mouck had 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and three blocks.
Dauphin was back on the court in the consolation semifinals and they weren't denied. Hudyma had 41 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals as the Clippers hammered RD Parker, 76-63. Mouck had another six points while Gabe Beaudin had four points, eight rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.
In the consolation finals, Dauphin came up short, 86-77, against Elmwood. Beaudin had 10 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and five blocks. Hudyma 26 points, 16 rebounds, eight steals, and three assists. Mouck added 21 points.
While they didn't complete their ultimate goal of winning a provincial title, this is a group that should be very proud of themselves. They were ranked inside the top five all season and were a force to be reckoned with.
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The Dauphin Clippers hockey team will play for a championship in the Westman High School Hockey League.
In front of an incredible crowd at the Centennial Arena on Sunday afternoon, Dauphin downed the Swan Valley Tigers, 4-1, to win the best-of-three series in three games. Dauphin won back-to-back games to win the series.
Ethan Carnegie scored twice for Dauphin while Cody Zurba and Ronin Mouck also lit the twine for the Clippers.
A daunting test now awaits the Clippers with a title on the line as they'll play the Vincent Massey Vikings. They scored 10 goals and gave up just two in a two-game sweep against the Huskies. Dating back to the regular season, Vincent Massey has won 38 straight games and have not lost one in league play.
Game one is Tuesday in Brandon before the Clippers host game two on Wednesday. Stay tuned to hear from Jason Alf on Monday morning.
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Their journey has come to an end.
Butch Mouck and his team did an incredible job of qualifying for the playoffs at the senior men's provincial curling championships, however, they lost to a powerhouse team on Sunday afternoon and have been eliminated from contention.
After winning four of their seven round-robin games, Mouck, third Glenn Parrott, second Brad Edwards, lead Fred Scott, and alternate Warren Erickson, advanced to the page playoff.
Tied heading into the eighth against Team Dunstone, Mouck's team needed to generate a steal, but it wasn't to be. Dunstone scored twice in the eighth end to secure a 5-3 win.
It was a great weekend for Mouck and his team.
They needed a steal in the eighth end, however, it wasn't to be.
Butch Mouck and his team dropped their second game at the senior men's provincial championships. This time, it was by a 5-4 scoreline against Team Randy Neufeld.
At 2-2, Mouck, Parrott, Edwards, and Scott are in a five-way tie for third place at 2-2.
They'll play two more games on Saturday.
Good teams bounce back after tough losses and that's exactly what Butch Mouck of Gilbert Plains and his team did.
Butch, Glenn Parrott, Brad Edwards, and Fred Scott won their second game of the tournament to move to 2-1. They beat Team MacKay, 6-3 on Friday morning.
Starting with a two in the first end and another two in the fourth, Butch and his team converted their third multiple-point end of the night with two in the seventh. They then ran Team MacKay out of rocks.
Mouck and his team are in a four-way tie for second place in the Asham Group. Their next game is on Friday afternoon at 4.
After a dramatic comeback in their first game of the day, Butch Mouck and his team couldn't pull off a perfect opening day.
They lost to Team Scinocca, 6-3. They ran away with the game with two steals of two in the fifth and six ends, and while Team Mouck scored two in the seventh, they ran out of rocks in the eighth.
Two more games for the team will be played Friday.
Butch Mouck and his foursome are competing in the Strathcona Trust Senior Men's Provincial Championships this weekend at the East. St Paul Curling Club.
In the Asham Group, it was a perfect start for Mouck as they downed Team Warren, 5-4, on Thursday morning. Butch is skipping, joined by third Glenn Parrott, second Brad Edwards, lead Fred Scott, and alternate Warren Erickson.
It was a come-from-behind victory in their first game. Trailing 4-1 after four ends, Butch and his team stole singles in four straight ends for the nail-biting win.
Stay tuned over the next few days to find out how the team does.
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