The 2023 Western Canadian Ringette Championships got underway Thursday in Winnipeg. In the U19 A Division - the Provincial champion Eastman Heat defeated Saskatchewan 7-1 and lost 9-4 to B.C. In the U16 A Division - the provincial champion Eastman Heat lost 11-4 to Saskatchewan and 7-3 to B.C. In the U14 AA Division - Manitoba beat Saskatchewan (2) 3-2 and lost 5-1 to Alberta (3) and in the Open A Division - Manitoba beat Saskatchewan 6-5 and lost 5-2 to B.C.


The Niverville Nighthawks inaugural season in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League will be on the line tonight at Stride Place. St. Pierre's Jayden Catellier made 29 saves as the Portage Terriers defeated the Nighthawks 3-1 Thursday night in Niverville and now lead the best-of-seven East Division semifinal three games to one. Josh Paul scored his fourth goal of the postseason for the Nighthawks who need a win tonight in order to force game six back in Niverville on Sunday. 


Winnipeg Ice goaltender Daniel Hauser, defenseman Ben Zloty and forwards Zach Benson and Connor McClennon were named to the Western Hockey League East Division First All-Star Team. Ice forward Matthew Savoie and Brandon Wheat Kings forward Nate Danielson are second team all-stars. St. Adolphe's Owen Pickering of the Swift Current Broncos, who was assigned to the AHL's Wlkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, was named to the Central Division First All-Star Team. Pickering was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round (21st overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft.


Winnipegger Jett Woo had a goal and an assist as the Abbotsford Canucks downed the Manitoba Moose 4-2 at Canada Life Centre. Jeff Malott and Leon Gawanke replied for the Moose who have lost three in a row. 


Manitoba champions Jordon McDonald and Zoey Terrick have clinched playoff spots heading into the final day of round robin play at the Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. McDonald owns a 7-0 record and Terrick is 6-1. Provincial finalists Jace Freeman and Grace Beaudry are in the playoff hunt. Freeman is 5-1 and Beaudry is 4-2. McDonald defeated Nathan Young of Newfoundland & Labrador 9-3. Freeman downed Chase McMillan of Prince Edward Island 9-2. Terrick beat Elizabeth Cyr of Quebec 7-4 and Claire Booth of Alberta 10-4 while Beaudry downed Reese Wainman of the Northwest Territories 12-4 and Jenna Campbell of New Brunswick 8-6. 


George Springer had five hits and Vladimir Guerrero Junior drove in three runs as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Cardinals 10-9 in St. Louis. Bo Bichette had four hits for the Jays, who set a team record for hits in an opener with 19. St. Louis' Tyler O'Neill tied a major league record by homering on opening day for the fourth straight season.


The Vanier Cup is heading to Queen's University. U Sports, Canadian university sport's governing body, announced its national championship football game will be played at Richardson Memorial Stadium in Kingston, Ontario, in 2023 and 2024. Kingston will become the eighth city to host the Vanier Cup since its inception in 1965.
 

huskiesHuskies captain Brandon Thiessen received the HTJHL championship trophy from league president Darrell Lupky (photo courtesy Makenna Martens)

President Darrell Lupky joins Clayton Dreger and reflects on the 2022-23 season on the Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League Report which airs Fridays at 5:15 p.m. on AM 1250 Radio.