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There was very little time for the Dauphin Kings to rest in February.

The team played 13 games, six of which came over two weekends. Dauphin won five of their first eight games in the month and finished February with a respectable record of 7-4-1-1. They took the second place in the MGEU East Steinbach Pistons to a shootout and beat the league-leading Winkler Flyers.

Dauphin ended February with a gutsy 2-1 win over the Neepawa Titans at the Yellowhead Centre. Cole Sheffield was brilliant making 25 saves and the team's captain, Ethan Williment scored the game-winner in the third period. 

Dauphin returned to the familiar and supportive atmosphere of Credit Union Place the very next night, but it wasn’t the smooth start they had hoped for.

The Kings were absolutely pinned down in the first period, surrendering a staggering 24 shots to Niverville while only managing five of their own. Thankfully, goaltender Sheffield stood tall, stopping 23 of those shots and keeping Dauphin in the game.

The Kings, visibly shaken but not broken, came out with renewed energy in the second period, firing 16 shots on goal. However, despite their increased pressure, neither team found the back of the net, and Dauphin trailed by a single goal as the second intermission loomed.

The turning point came early in the third when Ty Pratte kicked off the scoring for the Kings, netting his sixth of the season just over five minutes in. With that goal, the floodgates opened, and Dauphin’s offence erupted. Gavin Nemis (14), Josh Schmidt (7), and Rylan Gage (16) all added their names to the scoresheet, securing a 4-2 victory and two crucial points.

Head Coach Doug Hedley was quick to emphasize the shift in momentum following the first period, saying the message was crystal clear, and the team responded with a relentless effort in the final two frames.

Dauphin was looking to extend their win streak to four when the Northern Manitoba Blizzard was in town earlier this week, however, it wasn't to be. Dauphin only mustered 21 shots and the Blizzard got an extremely lucky bounce late to post a 1-0 shutout victory over Dauphin.

The Sheff Is Cooking:

After making 40 saves in a 5-4 defeat against Steinbach on February 21, the 20-year-old from London missed the team's next two games because of an illness. Bryson Yaschyshyn stepped in and was outstanding the following day against Niverville as he made 36 saves. He gave Dauphin a chance to come back and the team rewarded him by scoring two goals to force overtime as the Kings earned a hard-fought point. Just weeks after his remarkable performance against Winkler, Bryson was back in the net the following night as he made 22 saves in a 4-2 win against the Winnipeg Blues.

The Kings returned home and after a couple of maintenance days, the team was back on the ice, Sheffield was feeling better and has sparkled since returning to the pipes. In three games, Sheffield has stopped 94 of the 98 shots faced. That includes a 38-save performance against Niverville last weekend. Cole turned away another 31 shots against Northern Manitoba on Tuesday.

Welcome to The All-Star Club:

The MJHL announced its all-star teams on Wednesday and three Kings made them.

Cayden Glover and Naaman Hofer made the first all-star team while Cole Sheffield made the second all-star team.

Cayden Glover: 

The 20-year-old stud from Brandon hasn't played for more than a month but only one player has scored more goals than him. Glover was on pace for 50 goals when he was injured on January 31 against the Virden Oil Capitals.

Glover was carving out a season for the record books—until fate had other plans. With a blistering 33 goals in just 38 games, he was on track to hit the elusive 50-goal mark, a feat untouched in the MJHL since Jesse Sinatynski's 59-goal explosion for the Kings in 2011-12.

Glover is still 12th in league scoring.

Naaman Hofer:

What else can be said about Naaman Hofer? His future is already set with his commitment to the University of Alaska-Anchorage starting in the 2025-26 season.

Hofer glides across the ice with effortless precision, making even the most intense pressure situations look like a walk in the park. His ability to escape tight spots and transition the puck up the ice is second to none. A rock on the back end and a force on offence, Hofer has been electrifying this season, racking up six goals and 48 points in 49 games.

Sitting third in team scoring and second among all MJHL defencemen, he’s proving to be the complete package—steady, smart, and downright dangerous with the puck.

Cole Sheffield:

The 20-year-old from London is third in the league with 28 wins while playing the most minutes of any goalie (2599). Sheffield's .920 save percentage ranks fourth in the league and his 2.42 goals-against average is also fourth.

Sheffield is known to make saves that no goalie should ever make and when playing calmly in the net, he's nearly unbeatable. He turned away 31 shots on Tuesday and gave Dauphin a chance to win against the Blizzard, however, the team was unable to get anything going in a 1-0 defeat.

Cole also dazzled for Team MJHL at the Showcase against Team SJHL and while he has not yet received an NCAA Division 1 scholarship, don't be surprised if he does. The Dauphin Kings will go as deep in the playoffs as Sheffield can take them. 

Good News:

As fans know, the team has played without Glover since January 31. They've found a way to win without him in the lineup, but they could soon be getting a boost. Glover had a doctor's appointment earlier this week and should be back in the lineup soon.

Home Stretch:

With only five games remaining in the regular season, Dauphin is on a mission to hold onto their spot at the top of the standings. As they head into Friday's crucial showdown with Portage, the Kings are holding a four-point lead over the Blizzard, firmly gripping the top spot in the MGEU West.

After Friday’s battle, Dauphin will hit the road with a trip to Swan River to take on the Stampeders on Saturday, followed by a visit to Waywayseecappo next Tuesday. Then, they’ll face off against Neepawa on Friday, before wrapping up the regular season on home ice next Saturday against the Wolverines.

As for the Portage test, the Kings haven’t faced the Terriers since January 8, when Portage handed them a 5-2 defeat. The Terriers have had the upper hand in the season series, winning two of the three matchups so far, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rubber match.

You can hear Darnell Duff's full chat with Doug Hedley during the Dauphin Kings Power Play Show on Friday afternoon at 4. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Mar 6, 2025 - 4:35 pm

Shayne Yaschyshyn has spent the past 16 years shaping young athletes on the basketball court in Swan River, but this season is extra special—he’s coaching alongside his granddaughter.

Having previously coached his own kids during their school years, Shayne also cherished seasons without family ties on the roster. Now, as the Tigers push deeper into the season than they did last year, he’s relishing every moment, embracing the thrill of the game and the bond it’s strengthening with his granddaughter.

"Yeah, that's very special to have the chance to coach her," said Yaschyshyn. "It's pretty nice having my granddaughter on the team, pretty special, and something I can brag about."

Swan Valley played in four tournaments this year, opening with a seventh-place finish in Brandon at the Crocus Plains tournament. After that tournament, the team refused to settle. Fueled by a desire to prove themselves, they pushed harder than ever—fine-tuning their game, sharpening their intensity, and stepping onto the court with a fire that couldn’t be ignored. The result? A string of performances that showed exactly what they were capable of.

In their next tournament in Lorette, the Tigers downed the Linden Christian Wings, 52-44, to win the consolation championship. To start the new year, the team found themselves in Neepawa and what a weekend it was. After beating Ste. Rose in their first game, the Tigers came up short against an excellent Vincent Massey Brandon team. 

That dropped the group to the bronze medal match where they played the host Neepawa Tigers. Swan Valley got some clutch baskets late and stepped up defensively to finish on the podium with a thrilling 54-49 win.

Then in their most recent tournament, Shayne and his team hosted their tournament at the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School (SRVSS). They hammered Margaret Barbour and Kamsack in the round-robin to advance to the winner-take-all championship game.

With their home crowd roaring, the Tigers left it all on the court, locking in defensively and delivering clutch buckets when it mattered most. In a hard-fought battle against the Margaret Barbour Spartans, Swan Valley refused to back down, grinding out a gritty 56-49 victory. As the final buzzer echoed through the gym, they not only defended their home turf—they etched their names in history, raising a championship banner that will hang in the rafters as a lasting testament to their determination and heart.

"It was pretty special to come out of that one with a win, we've struggled in our tournament the past few years," said Yaschyshyn. "Last year we had some nagging injuries, but we've been fortunate enough to stay healthy this year. The girls were so excited to get the job done on our home court, they deserved it."

Proud of their accomplishments, the Tigers knew the job wasn't done. The Tigers played in the Zone 8 championships against the Dauphin Clippers. A best-of-three series with the winner advancing to the provincial championships qualifier.

Swan Valley hit a late three in game one to secure a 62-60 victory at the DRCSS. The two teams returned to Swan River for game two on February 24, and the Tigers had an opportunity to sweep away their Parkland rival. However, it wasn't to be. The Clippers came out on fire, locking up a 74-50 win, which set up a winner-take-all game three. 

"That third game was back and forth, it was pretty nice to win at home," continued Yaschyshyn. "Either team could have won, we're just glad it was us."

The Tigers won the game, 52-44. Swan Valley ended Dauphin's season and in the process, advanced to the qualifier tournament this weekend in Virden. The Tigers have a tall task ahead of them as they play the second-ranked Garden Valley Zodiacs. Garden Valley has had an outstanding season with two tournament titles, two silver medal finishes, and a consolation championship.

Yaschyshyn believes this is a special Tigers group that is ready for battle.

"It's always nice to play in March, this is what you play for," ended Yaschyshyn. "Our goal is to get to the provincials and we will see what happens. It's going to be a lot of work to get past the teams we will see this weekend, but I believe we're up to the challenge."

Swan Valley will play Garden Valley at 3:00 p.m. on Friday.

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Contributed by Michael Brossart

Published: Mar 6, 2025 - 10:29 am

Three Dauphin Kings have been named to all-star teams.

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) announced all-star teams on Wednesday and Cayden Glover is joined by Cole Sheffield and Naaman Hofer. Glover, who has not played since January 31 after suffering an upper-body injury against Virden, still leads Dauphin in scoring with 52 points despite not playing for more than a month. Glover has been named to the league's first all-star team.

Glover was carving out a season for the record books—until fate had other plans. With a blistering 33 goals in just 38 games, he was on track to hit the elusive 50-goal mark, a feat untouched in the MJHL since Jesse Sinatynski's 59-goal explosion for the Kings in 2011-12.

Even after his injury, Glover’s dominance lingered—he sat atop the league’s goal-scoring charts for nearly a month before Northern Manitoba Blizzard’s Miguel Bouvier finally inched past him with 35. What could have been? We'll never know—but one thing’s certain: Glover’s impact on this season won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Glover could end up with the second-most goals in the league as Connor Paronuzzi of Steinbach and Jayce Legaarden of Grandview both have 27. Glover remains week-to-week and the Kings are hoping to have him back for the Turnbull Cup playoffs which begin on March 22. 

What else can be said about Naaman Hofer? His future is already set with his committment to the University of Alaska-Anchorage starting in the 2025-26 season.

Hofer glides across the ice with effortless precision, making even the most intense pressure situations look like a walk in the park. His ability to escape tight spots and transition the puck up the ice is second to none. A rock on the back end and a force on offence, Hofer has been electrifying this season, racking up six goals and 48 points in 49 games.

Sitting third in team scoring and second among all MJHL defencemen, he’s proving to be the complete package—steady, smart, and downright dangerous with the puck.

A power-play specialist, Hofer will need to continue his great play if the Kings want to have a long playoff run.

Miguel Bouvier (Northern Manitoba), Connor Paronuzzi (Steinbach), Isaiah Peters (Winkler), and Liam Ernst (Winkler) round out the six-man squad. 

Cole Sheffield has put together a brilliant season and has been named to the second all-star team. 

The 20-year-old from London is third in the league with 28 wins while playing the most minutes of any goalie (2599). Sheffield's .920 save percentage ranks fourth in the league and his 2.42 goals-against average is also fourth.

Sheffield is known to make saves that no goalie should ever make and when playing calmly in the net, he's nearly unbeatable. He turned away 31 shots on Tuesday and gave Dauphin a chance to win against the Blizzard, however, the team was unable to get anything going in a 1-0 defeat.

Cole also dazzled for Team MJHL at the Showcase against Team SJHL and while he has not yet received an NCAA Division 1 scholarship, don't be surprised if he does in the near future. The Dauphin Kings will go as deep in the playoffs as Sheffield can take them. 

Cam Bullinger (Portage), Jayce Legaarden (Winker), Adam Vigfusson (Niverville), Noah Szabo (Steinbach), and Parker Scherr (Portage) round out the six-man squad. 

News & Notes Around the MJHL:

• Niverville can clinch the fourth and final playoff spot in the MGEU East Division with a win on Wednesday against the Freeze. Doing so would eliminate Selkirk from playoff contention;
• Waywayseecappo has a five-point lead over Virden for the fourth and final spot in the MGEU West Division, the Oil Capitals are the coldest team in the league with losses in seven of their last eight;
• Winkler's magic number to clinch first place overall is four;
• Brett Sabel of the Virden Oil Capitals committed to play NCAA Division 3 hockey at Marian University;
• and the Kings welcome the Portage Terriers to town on Friday before heading to Swan River to play the Stampeders on Saturday night. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Mar 5, 2025 - 1:30 pm

At just five years old, Lucas Boulbria took his first steps onto the pebbled ice—a moment that would spark a passion and drive him toward greatness.

Nine years later, the Dauphin-born curler has transformed that love for the game into an impressive list of accomplishments, proving that dedication and hard work pay off.

Known for his clutch shot-making and ice-cold composure when the pressure is at its peak, Lucas has solidified his reputation as a top-tier skip, not only in his hometown but across the provincial curling scene.

Last season, he joined forces with Jack Yakimishen, Conner Shanowsky, and Brock Romanow, forming a formidable Parkland foursome. Now in their second year together, the team is turning heads with their standout performances. In a recent chat with CKDM Sports, Brock highlighted the chemistry that has made them such a dominant force.

"I've played on teams in the past where we weren't friends off the ice; these guys are some of my best friends. I love playing and winning with them," said Romanow. "It's never a dull moment; we're always having a blast. We also know when to be serious and focus on the task at hand; we're a special group."

For Lucas, curling alongside Jack, Conner, and Brock isn’t just about competition—it’s about camaraderie, unforgettable moments, and the thrill of chasing championships with his closest friends.

"It's a fun group, we all like each other, and we support one another," said Boulbria. "We're always laughing but also know when it's time to bear down and be serious. We're pretty good at what we do."

With a few bonspiels under their belt this season, Team Boulbria has put the province on notice. They won their first 15-U event of the year in Yorkton and followed that by taking home the title at the Erickson Legion junior bonspiel. Aiming for a third championship, the foursome advanced to the final of a Viterra event in Rivers last month. Team Boulbria made some incredible shots and fought until the end, but they came up short.

Even in defeat, Team Boulbria proved they belong among the best, extending their podium streak to three straight events. With two championship titles and a hard-fought silver to their name, their dominant winter season speaks for itself. And the best part? This powerhouse squad isn’t going anywhere—they’ve already locked in their plans to stick together for another year.

"It feels good, we put the time and effort in to do what we do," said Boulbria. "We win and lose together. It feels great to know where we are right now, we're doing very well, and we're all proud of ourselves."

Lucas also wants to thank Dawn Steiner and Peter Prokopowich for stepping up to coach the team.

"We wouldn't be where we are without them," continued Boulbria. "They teach us so much and are great people."

Lucas, Jack, Conner, and Brock will also curl together at the Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School (DRCSS) next year. They'll look to qualify for the high school provincial championships together and if they can, Lucas will be no stranger to the event. 

Lucas helped Team Avery Scott win the Zone 8 championships this year qualifying the team for the provincial championships last month in Beausejour.

"It was a new type of excitement, an interesting experience," continued Boulbria. "I had a ton of fun with my teammates. I'm so happy for the opportunity, it was an event I will never forget."

Earning a spot at the provincial championship was a huge achievement, but for the Clippers, simply getting there wasn’t enough—they had their sights set on something bigger. So Lucas helped the foursome win their three round-robin games and the quarterfinals against Arborg. The Clippers came up short in their semifinal against the eventual provincial champion Steinbach Regional, however, they didn't let that get them down. Lucas, Scott, Stuart Fisher, and Marlee Hadway responded.

They beat Oak Park for the second time in the tournament, with a bronze medal on the line as Lucas added to his trophy case.

"It was great. We lost to get to the final, which kind of sucked," said Boulbria. "We'll aim to get there next year. But to win the bronze medal with that group was special, meant a lot for every one of us."

Lucas aims to keep his blazing-hot season rolling as he hits the ice once again with his club team this weekend, competing in the Legion Bonspiel at the Dauphin Curling Club.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Mar 5, 2025 - 10:00 am

It was the bounce of the year and the Northern Manitoba Blizzard are okay with that.

Tied with no goals scored in the third, Tyler Dahms dumped the puck into the right corner and it took a wicked bounce right out front and Dahms was able to find it and potted it past Cole Sheffield for the only goal of the game.

Sheffield was brilliant as he made 31 saves in the game and you certainly can't fault him for the lone goal against. Dauphin went 0-for-2 on the power play and struggled heavily creating much offence as Taye Timmerman made 21 saves to earn the shutout.

Dauphin is now just four points ahead of the Blizzard for first place in the MGEU West Division with 71 points. The Blizzard have 67 and both teams have five games remaining.

The Kings return to the ice on Friday night when they welcome the Portage Terriers to town, 7:30 puck drop.

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Mar 4, 2025 - 11:21 pm

It was another great weekend in the pool for the Parkland Gators Swim Club.

Harper Rudkavich brought home multiple silver medals and proved that hard work pays off. (bold denotes gold medal finish)
25m fly stroke - silver medal
25m backstroke - silver medal
25m breaststroke - silver medal
25m freestyle - silver medal
100m individual medley - silver medal
100m free relay flutter kick - gold medal 

Roman Polovinka also hit the podium multiple times.
50m fly stroke - bronze medal
50m backstroke - fourth place
50m breaststroke - bronze medal
50m freestyle - fourth place
200m individual medley - bronze medal 

Dylan Phillips put on a show for the fans.
200m free relay flutter kick - gold medal
200m individual medley - silver medal
50m freestyle - silver medal
50m breaststroke - fifth place
50m backstroke - bronze medal
50m fly stroke - bronze medal

It was a monumental weekend for Madisyn Morden as she was all over the podium, in every single race.
25m fly stroke - gold medal
25m backstroke - gold medal
25m breaststroke - silver medal
25m freestyle - silver medal
100m individual medley - silver medal
100m free relay flutter kick - gold medal

Holly Marcynuk padded her resume with a gold medal.
200m free relay flutter kick - gold medal
50m fly stroke - sixth place
50m backstroke - sixth place
50m breaststroke - seventh place
50m freestyle - sixth place

Lauren Lesiuk continued to improve her times.
200m free relay flutter kick - gold medal
50m fly stroke - eighth place
50m backstroke - fifth place
50m breaststroke - sixth place
50m freestyle - seventh place
200m individual medley - fifth place

Blakely Kolida was instrumental in helping the relay team capture gold.
100m free relay flutter kick - gold medal
25m backstroke - 4th place
25m freestyle - 4th place

Naomi Hockridge helped her team as well.
100m free relay flutter kick - gold medal
25m freestyle - bronze medal
25m backstroke - bronze medal

Rachel Cottrell competed well
25m backstroke - fifth place
25m freestyle - fifth place

Meredith Cottrell was all over the podium for the Gators.
200m free relay flutter kick - gold medal
50m fly stroke - silver medal
50m backstroke - gold medal
50m breaststroke - gold medal
50m freestyle - fourth place
200m individual medley - gold medal

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Mar 4, 2025 - 1:23 pm

Jayce Legaarden of Grandview and the Winkler Flyers continue to jump up the Top 20 rankings, released by the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).

This week, they're ranked sixth, up one spot from last week. The Flyers are 26-2-2-1 in their last 31 games, those two regulation losses came against the Dauphin Kings. At 42-7-3-2, Winkler is six points ahead of Steinbach for first place overall, with five games left for both clubs. Winkler owns the season series with Steinbach which means if Winkler wins two of their remaining five games, they will earn home-ice advantage for the entirety of their playoff run.

Two games are against the six-win Winnipeg Freeze and one against the nine-win Winnipeg Blues. Winkler also plays the Portage Terriers and Selkirk Steelers, who could be eliminated from playoff contention by the end of this week. Winkler has given up just 100 goals this season, giving up an average of just 1.8 goals against per game.

The team's offence is also elite with 227 goals. Liam Ernst leads the league with eight shutouts, a 1.65 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage with 29 wins. Legaarden leads the team with 65 points while Nicholas McKee and Brody Beauchemin have 57.

They're the defending champions and a well-oiled machine. The 2024-25 Winkler Flyers are poised for another long run and are likely to open up their playoffs on March 22 against the Niverville Nighthawks. 

The Steinbach Pistons, who are set to move to their new arena, are ranked 10th this week, down one spot from last week. Holding a firm grip on second place (five points ahead of Portage), the Pistons will look to claim home-ice advantage for the first round, at the minimum. They can still catch Winkler, however, that is extremely unlikely given Winkler's incredible play and weak schedule to end the regular season.

No team has scored more than Steinbach this year (242 goals) while they've only given up 128 (second-fewest). Connor Paronuzzi is on the way to winning the league's scoring title and it isn't even close. He has 27 goals and 88 points, 23 more than Miguel Bouvier of the Northern Manitoba Blizzard. 

Paronuzzi’s season isn’t just impressive—it’s historic. No one has put up more points in a single regular season since Mikol Sartor lit up the scoreboard for the Winnipeg Blues with 93 back in 2019-20. But with five games still to play, Paronuzzi is on track to shatter that mark. Cracking the century mark would be a tall order, but make no mistake—he’s electrifying the league, dismantling defences, and putting on a scoring clinic every time he hits the ice.

Christian Green is dazzling between the pipes with a league-leading 31 wins and just like every year, the Pistons are contenders. Their likely first-round matchup is the Portage Terriers and while on paper the Pistons will enter that series as favourites, don't expect it to be a quick series. The Terriers are legit. It could be a slugfest.

Portage is ranked 13th this week, up two slots from last week. Led by star 18-year-old Mitchell Kathler, Portage could still catch Steinbach and earn home-ice advantage in the first round, but it isn't likely. Trailing by five points, Portage's series against Steinbach will likely open at the Southeast Events Centre in Steinbach. With that said, it isn't a guarantee that those teams will play in the first round, but again, it is very likely.

Portage has won five of their last seven games, their two losses are somewhat shocking. They lost to the eliminated from playoff contention Swan Valley Stampeders on February 23 and lost to Waywayseecappo on Saturday night. The Wolverines are battling for their playoff lives and came out hot. 

This team will go as far as Kathler takes them. He has 25 wins, a .920 save percentage and 2.31 goals-against average. They're in Dauphin to play the Kings on Friday night. To note, Kathler also has five shutouts, the second-most in the league.

Portage believes they can make a run and there's no reason they can't. 

Making Waves in the SJHL:

Bo Eisner of Swan River is back with the defending Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) champion Melfort Mustangs and they've clinched first overall. That means they'll have home-ice advantage at the storied Northern Lights Palace for the entirety of their playoff run. 

With just seven regulation losses to their name, the Mustangs are a well-oiled machine and have all the makings of defending their title. They score a bundle (191) and with back stopper Kristian Coombs playing tremendously, the Mustangs will be a hard machine to beat. Coombs has 23 wins, a 2.03 goals-against average, and a .927 save percentage. 

Also featured on the Mustangs roster is Will Munro of Swan River. He has 14 points in 27 games.

They shocked many last year when they downed the Flin Flon Bombers in the final. This year, they won't surprise anyone, they'll be playing with the biggest targets on their back. 

The Flin Flon Bombers skyrocketed up the standings when they had a point in 26 straight games. They're locked into the second spot and will start their playoff run at "The Zoo". The Whitney Forum is iconic and the Bombers are 19-4-1-1 on home ice this year.

Flin Flon is one of the top organizations in the country, is this the year they get over the hump? They were dealt a blow earlier this year when all-star Carter Anderson left the team and joined the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) but they haven't missed a beat.

Matthew Kieper joined the team after being released by the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and he hasn't disappointed. He's 21-1-1-1 with a .939 save percentage and a 1.73 goals-against average. Statistically, he is the best goalie in the league and it's not very close.

Led up front by Ryder Ringor, the Bombers have seven players with 33+ points and they're a hard-checking team that makes you work for anything you get. If you have the chance to head to the Whitney Forum for a playoff game, you're in for a treat, it is one of the best atmospheres in junior hockey. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Mar 3, 2025 - 5:17 pm

The 15-U Predators are back home with medals around their necks.

Playing in a Volleyball Manitoba Premier Tournament over the weekend, the Predators strung together an incredible stretch of games and when up against adversity in the bronze medal match, the Parkland-based team found a way to rise to the occasion, winning bronze in the process.

The Predators had a perfect round-robin, downing BVC Jill, the Blizzard and the Bandits. The Predators then beat the Wild to advance to the quarterfinals and hitting their stride, the team beat the Carman Spurs in two sets to advance to the semifinals.

Up against an excellent Bisons Brown team in the Final 4, the Predators battled, however, they lost in three sets. The defeat dropped the team to the third place match which was an entertaining one against Team Dynamo. After dropping the first set, 28-30, the Predators had to win two straight. They picked up the second set, 25-23, and dominated the third set, allowing just six points and a celebration followed as they earned a bronze medal competing against many of the top teams in the province.

"Our girls played so hard and this is much deserved," said Dave Sigvaldason. "Thank you to all of our fans for your support, it's much appreciated."

The Predators have a home game in Grandview on Thursday night against RCV at 7:00 p.m. 

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Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Mar 3, 2025 - 10:37 am

It was a historic season for the Vincent Massey Vikings hockey team.

They scored 277 goals, 54 more than the Swan Valley Tigers. They allowed just 44, 34 fewer than the Dauphin Kings. They led the league with 52 power-play goals and went undefeated as the Vikings finished the regular season at 32-0.

They were the class of the Westman High School Hockey League. The Swan Valley Tigers finished with 28 wins and placed second, six points back. Then just behind the Tigers was the Dauphin Clippers.

Dauphin won 26 of their 32 games, scoring 200 goals and only allowing 78. The Clippers won 14 of their last 15 games, including a thrilling 4-3 shootout victory against Swan Valley on February 26. They then put up a six-spot the next evening to end the campaign with a 6-2 win against Sandy Bay.

All was good for the Clippers. They continued to be a perennial power in the league and made special things happen.

"Can't complain at all. There was some good competition and we stuck with the process," said Jason Alf. "Very happy with how the season has gone, there's no doubt about it."

Dauphin's Tremendous Trio led the way offensively this year as Ethan Carnegie finished with 40 goals and 77 points. Just behind was Ronin Mouck with his 40 goals and 36 assists while Julien Lopez tallied 52 points, 14 of which were goals. They were one of the most dynamic lines in the league and a constant threat to take a game over.

However, Dauphin wasn't winning games only because of that powerful trio. Noah Hanneson finished with 37 points, Sully Fox racked up 25, Josh Yakielashek had 23, Jesse Hockridge tallied 21, and Layne Wolfenden had 20. Everyone on the roster had at least two points and 17 players recorded 11 or more.

Chase Glover was outstanding all year, finishing with 12 wins, a 2.37 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. Ethan Myhre won 10 games while Ben Miner won three. It was a complete team effort and one to be proud of if you're a Clipper.

"Sometimes stats don't show the whole game. We had a lot of good scoring from up and down the lineup, including our first year guys," said Alf. "You don't win with one line. Everyone contributed to the success of our season."

Dauphin's new season begins Thursday. The team opens the playoffs in an all-Parkland battle against the Roblin Raiders. Dauphin owned the season series, winning both games by a combined score of 15-4. Six different Clippers scored in a 6-1 win on November 26. On February 11, Ronin Mouck led the way with three goals, while Jesse Hockridge and Boston Karlson netted a pair each in a 9-3 win.

Roblin won 12 games and finished 11th. Dauphin enters the series as favourites, but Alf knows they can't take Roblin lightly.

"You never can rest on what you did during the regular season, the playoffs are a whole new battle," continued Alf. "They're a hard working team with a lot of pride and some skilled players. They're not going to let us come in and run the show. We have to give it our all."

Game one is Thursday at 8:30 p.m. at Credit Union Place. Then, on Saturday at 5:00 p.m., Dauphin will travel to Roblin. If necessary, Dauphin will host game three on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. 

It's Dauphin strong and Alf is looking forward to watching the group battle for a league title.

"This is a tight knit group, some of the guys have played together for a few years now," ended Alf. "Our rookies have stepped up and are playing great. We play as a team and we're going into the playoffs playing well at the right time, so we will see how it goes."

Around the League: (all series are best-of-three)

Swan Valley (28-3-2) vs Sandy Bay (9-24-2)
Vincent Massey #1 (32-0-0) vs Birtle (5-27-0)
Vincent Massey #2 (8-24-0) vs Killarney (23-9-0)
Neepawa (21-8-3) vs Glenboro (11-18-3)
Boissevain (6-19-7) vs Hamiota (22-7-3)
Renegades (12-18-2) vs Minnedosa (21-8-3)
Crocus Plains (17-13-2) vs Virden (19-12-1) 

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Mar 3, 2025 - 10:10 am

25 teams began the week, but only one remained in the end. Team Glen Toews won this year's Dauphin Clinic Pharmacy Men's Bonspiel, which was played over the weekend at the Dauphin Curling Club.

Toews, Nick Ogryzlo, Nick Solomon, and Reid Procyshyn had an open hit in the last end on Sunday afternoon to beat Team Butch Mouck to claim the top prize. Placing third in the first event was Team Darcy Todoruk while Team Paul Scinocca finished fourth.

2nd Event:
1st - Team Lorne Orpin (Lorne Orpin, Doug Fisher, Ryan Zazuliak, and Mike Zazuliak)
2nd - Team Jared Nigemeers
3rd - Team Ron Hedley
4th - Team Glenn Rozak

3rd Event:
1st - Team Chad Sahulka (Chad Sahulka, Terron Stykalo, Tyson Gillis, and Tere Stykalo)
2nd - Team Ken Levandoski
3rd - Team Morley Bourns
4th - Team Jeff Campbell

4th Event:
1st - Team Bryan Freiheit (Bryan Freiheit, Dan Hudson, Keegan Freiheit, and Kai Schettler)
2nd - Team Logan DeVos
3rd - Team Greg Thompson
4th - Team Kyle Forsyth 

It was an outstanding weekend of curling and organizations would like to thank all sponsors and curlers who made it a success. Plans are already underway for next year's bonspiel. 

Details

Contributed by Darnell Duff

Published: Mar 3, 2025 - 9:01 am