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Beyond the Box Score: Local Sports News for March 9, 2025

Full lineup released for Rockin’ The Fields Of Minnedosa 2025

Bringing Sweetness to Every Celebration: A Family’s Popcorn and Cotton Candy Business

Locally made handcrafted perogies, cabbage rolls, and dumplings now available in Brandon

Beyond the Box Score: Local Sports News for March 2, 2025

Brandon Bits and Bites #8

50th annual MBA Family of Festivals Jazz Band Festival celebrates music-making, sharing, and learning with 1,000+ students in 47 bands

Westman Communications Group Announces Connecting Westman Tour Locations

Beyond the Box Score: Local Sports News for March 9, 2025

The Brandon Wheat Kings have secured a spot in the WHL playoffs. Following this afternoons game in Calgary, they will have six remaining regular season games to close out the season. Assiniboine Cougars volleyball athlete, Kylee Peake, has been selected as an all-Canadian by the Canadian College Athletic Association. This is the first time that an Assiniboine athlete has been recognized as an All-Canadian. Full story here. The Brandon AAA U18 Wheat Kings swept their first round playoff matchup against the Eastman Selects, winning three strait in the best of 5 series. In the second round of the Manitoba AAA U18 Hockey League playoffs, the Wheat Kings will now tackle the Southwest Cougars with the first game taking place Tuesday, March 11 at J&G Homes Arena. Brandon’s Cayden Glover was recently named a first-team all-star in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.  In his final season of junior hockey, Glover had an impressive 33 goals in 38-games before an injury sidelined him on January 31 in a game against the Virden Oil Capitals. Assiniboine College hockey team have officially clinched a spot at the 2025 ACHA Nationals in St. Louis which kicks off on Friday, March 21. NHL Shooting Coach Tim Turk will be in Brandon April 1 - 3 hosting a co-ed shooting camp for all ages from u9-u18. You can register here. Here is a link to Tim’s Website: https://www.timturkhockey.com/ BU Bobcats basketball player Sultan Haider Bhatti was recently named a Canada West First Team All-Star, while Bobcat volleyball player Philipp Lauter was recognized as a  Canada West Second Team All-Star. In the Tiger Hills Hockey League, four teams remain in the hunt for the league title. In the East Division Final (Best of 5), Rivers leads Killarney 2 games to 0. Virden also sports a 2-0 series lead in their best of 5 series against Hartney.  

Full lineup released for Rockin’ The Fields Of Minnedosa 2025

The 2025 Rockin’ The Fields Of Minnedosa will be held on August 1-3. In early November, organizers of the annual event revealed the first round of the 2025 lineup which includes the Headstones, Loverboy,  Glass Tiger,  I Mother Earth, Trooper,  Haywire, Bif Naked, & Streetheart. This morning they announced the full lineup of artists at this year's event. Wide Mouth Mason, Honeymoon Suite, and Lee Aaron were among the more notable names added to the festival. Three tribute bands were also added: Ultimate Escape (Journey), Deb of Roses (Bon Jovi), and Dreams & Rumors' (Fleetwood Mac). Adding to the music, RFM provides great onsite vendors, camping opportunities and other activities. The festival site itself features an amphitheater with built in bench and folding chairs overlooking the main stage and lake.  With hot showers, vendors, ice, camping, water and septic service, garbage and recycling pick up, onsite security and first aid there are many ways to keep yourself comfortable.

Bringing Sweetness to Every Celebration: A Family’s Popcorn and Cotton Candy Business

What started as a memorable celebration for their second-born daughter’s baptism has now become a small family business bringing joy and sweetness to events across Brandon. Inspired by their childhood memories of cotton candy in the Philippines, where the sweet treat was a staple at parks, churches, and street vendors, this husband-and-wife team saw an opportunity to introduce a nostalgic and fun addition to local celebrations. “Cotton candy has always been a big part of our childhood,” they shared. “Every time we had one, we shared it with our family and siblings. In the Philippines, it was common to have cotton candy, sweets, or ice cream stands at private celebrations, but here in Brandon, we noticed that no one included it in their events. That’s what gave us the idea to start our small business named "Colorful Sweet by JJ.” To balance out the sweetness, they decided to add popcorn to their offerings, catering to both kids and those who are kids at heart. Today, they provide rental services for popcorn and cotton candy machines, ensuring that every event they serve is filled with delicious treats and cherished memories. Currently, their business focuses on popcorn and cotton candy rentals, but they are looking to expand their offerings. “We’re looking forward to adding more sweetness that will cater to everyone’s preferences,” they said. Their rental service is comprehensive, providing not just the machines but also an operator for each booking, ensuring that guests can enjoy freshly made snacks without the hassle. They also offer a wide variety of flavors, giving clients plenty of options to make their events even more special. For popcorn lovers, the available flavors include: White Cheddar Jalapeño Cheese Cheddar Cheese Sour Cream For cotton candy enthusiasts, they offer: Blue Raspberry Green Apple Pink Vanilla Orange Grape Bubblegum The business has already served a variety of clients, catering to events such as business and store openings, birthdays, weddings, baptisms, family days, and graduations. “Whatever gathering you have—if you want to add some sweetness and crunch—we can always be there,” they said. By bringing these nostalgic treats to local events, this family-run business is not just serving snacks but also creating moments of joy, reminiscent of childhood memories. With plans to expand their offerings, they are excited to continue spreading sweetness to even more celebrations in the future.

Locally made handcrafted perogies, cabbage rolls, and dumplings now available in Brandon

The newest addition to the local culinary scene, Multi Cook, is now officially open for business, bringing fresh, handmade meals to the community. Located at (155-18th St. Unit B)  this innovative food shop prides itself on offering high-quality, locally made dishes prepared entirely in-store. The business, owned and operated by Oksana Golovka and Kateryna Doboshynska, has created 12 new jobs, providing opportunities for skilled workers and food enthusiasts alike. What sets Multi Cook, a Ukrainian franchise,  apart is its dedication to handcrafted, fresh food. Every meal is prepared on-site by a team of passionate employees who prioritize quality and taste. Unlike mass-produced frozen or pre-packaged meals, Multi Cook’s offerings are made with recipes from the Ukraine & Europe as well as fresh ingredients, guaranteeing a homemade touch in every bite. Visitors to the new location can expect popular dishes like borscht, pierogi, and cabbage rolls, as well as gourmet options inspired by diverse culinary traditions. Delivery service is also available. Stop by today  (155-18th St. Unit B) and experience the difference of locally made, handcrafted meals! a grand opening event has been scheduled for March 22.  

Beyond the Box Score: Local Sports News for March 2, 2025

The Brandon Wheat Kings are excited to bring hockey fans a night to remember with the highly anticipated Legends Game on March 12th at Westoba Place. The evening kicks off with a WHL showdown between the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Saskatoon Blades at 6:00 PM, followed by an unforgettable exhibition featuring NHL greats. One ticket grants access to both games, making this a must-see event for fans of all ages. Confirmed legends include: Bryan Trottier, Bernie Nicholls, Brian Propp, Kevin Stevens, Cliff Ronning, Duane Sutter, Dave Ellett, and Billy Smith, Tickets can be purchased here. Canadian Wrestling's Elite will be holding shows in Rivers (Sat May 24) and Sioux Valley (Sun May 25). Headlining the card will be TNA Wrestling Legend "Cowboy" James Storm! For tour detail and information as it becomes available visit www.cwecanada.ca. The Brandon AAA U18 Wheat Kings opened up their 2024-2025 playoffs against the Eastman Selects at the J&G Homes Arena with a 4-3 OT victory to take a 1-0 lead in the 1st round of the best of 5 playoffs in the Manitoba AAA U18 Hockey League. Cole Dupuis notched the OT winner. Game 2 goes Monday evening in Beausejour. The Brandon Female AAA U18 Wheat Kings inaugural season in the MFHLU concluded Saturday night as the team dropped a thrilling 3-2 OT loss to the Yellowhead Chiefs in their best of 5 series. Stick Fix Brandon specializes in Hockey Stick Shaft Repairs, using HockeyStickMan's tried and true SRS technology. They also carry Pro Blackout sticks and come in Junior, Intermediate, and Senior sizes, with any different curves available. BU Bobat basketball player Sultan Haider Bhatti was named a Canada West First Team All-Star. Philipp Lauter, volleyball, is a Canada West Second Team All-Star. The U SPORTS Men's Volleyball Championship will be held in Brandon, at the Healthy Living Centre, from March 14–16, 2025. Trevor Winter is looking to start a senior men's basketball league in Brandon starting on April 6, 2025. A 9 game season with year end single elimination tournament is being proposed. Interested party's are asked to message him for details trwinter@icloud.com