The Philadelphia Flyers have assigned Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender Carson Bjarnason to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, their AHL affiliate. A number of local golf courses have opened for the season including: Wheat City Golf Course (April 19), Shilo Golf & Country Club (April 17), Deer Ridge Golf Course (April 19), and the Glen Lea Golf Course (April 19).     Speaking of the Shilo Golf & Country Club, the course was recently rated at the 3rd best best public golf course and hidden gems in Canada by golfpass.com. The Wheat City Golf Course found themselves 4th on the list. Hockey Manitoba announced their 2025 U18 POE Top 40 camp roster and the roster features a number of selections with ties to Brandon; Reese Shutte (Westman Wildcats), Shayla Scinocca (RHA Winnipeg), Sydney Sass (Brandon Wheat Kings), Chloe Kachur (Brandon Wheat Kings), and Danica Averil (Brandon Wheat Kings). The camp will be held in Brandon at the J&G arena from June 6 – 8, 2025. Week 2 of the Source for Sports AAA Summer Hockey Challenge takes place this weekend in Brandon. Teams from Regina, Prince Albert, Winnipeg, Bismark, and many more will travel to the Wheat City to take part in the 4-day event. Games are free to attend. Brandon's Burke Hood was named to Team Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team pre-tournament camp roster taking place April 12-15 in Oakville, Ontario. Hood suited up for the Vancouver Giants this past season and recorded an impressive .910 save % in 42-games.

Winnipeg Jets fans in Brandon and the surrounding area turned out in full force today as the Whiteout Hype Tour rolled into town, bringing excitement, energy, and a wave of blue and white to the Shoppers Mall. Running from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the event saw a steady stream of fans eager to show their support for the Jets ahead of the playoffs. Jets merchandise was flying off the shelves from the Jets Gear trailer, with fans snapping up everything from jerseys and hats to foam t-shirts and rally towels. The atmosphere was electric, with families, kids, and longtime fans proudly donning their Jets gear. Adding to the fun were beloved mascots Mick E. Moose and Benny, who were on hand for photos and plenty of high-fives, bringing smiles to fans of all ages. “This is just awesome,” said one attendee. “You can really feel the playoff buzz. It’s great to see this kind of energy in Brandon.” The Whiteout Hype Tour is making stops across Manitoba, building excitement and uniting fans across the province as the Jets gear up for their postseason run. Today’s stop in Brandon was a clear success, proving once again that Jets Nation runs deep beyond Winnipeg.

As a member-owned financial institution, Fusion believes that success should be shared.  At the Annual General Meeting held last evening via webcast conference, Fusion announced a $1.26 million return to members in the form of patronage allocations and cash pay-outs to select members.  The $1.26 million in total returns for 2025, based on 2024 results, includes a patronage allocation of $800,000, plus an estimated $468,000 in cash payouts to select members. “Our members are at the heart of everything we do,” states Darwin Johns, Chief Executive Officer at Fusion Credit Union.  “This return is more than just numbers – it’s a reflection of our commitment to helping our members and our communities thrive.” A patronage allocation is a value returned to a member of Fusion Credit Union based on their relationship with the credit union.  The patronage amount is a portion of interest paid and earned during the past year and varies from member to member.  All patronage allocations are retained in a Surplus Share account and select member groups receive cash payouts. The credit union is returning value directly to those who make our communities strong.  “From family farms to small businesses to individual households, every dollar reinvested back to our members helps to strengthen our communities,” says Johns.  “The return is our way of saying thank you for trusting us with your financial journey.” This year an estimated $468,000 will be paid out in cash to members 65 years of age and older and those under age 19, as well as members who hold over $15,000 in surplus shares.  A new addition this year is a cash distribution of over $82,000 to non-profit or charitable organizations.  All eligible members will receive their pay-outs in May, while patronage allocations will appear on member statements in April 2025.  Over the past seven years, Fusion Credit Union has rewarded members with over $10.9 million in patronage allocations and cash pay-outs. “Our success is built on strong relationships, and this $1.26 million return is just one of the many ways we can show our appreciation to our members,” says Johns.  “We care about our communities and the people who live in them.  When we succeed, we all succeed together.”

The Manitoba government is providing $500,000 in one-time grant funding to ensure the continued success of Dauphin’s Countryfest, Premier Wab Kinew and Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Nellie Kennedy announced today. “As Manitobans are increasingly impacted by tariffs down south, it’s important to preserve the organizations here at home that create economic activity, drive tourism and support culture – making us proud,” said Kinew. “Supporting this event will make sure country music lovers can continue to kick off their summer with first-class entertainment.” With the help of more than 2,000 volunteers, Dauphin’s Countryfest is the longest-running Canadian country music festival. In addition to internationally well-known and well-established headliners, the festival frequently showcases local Manitoba-based artists, noted the premier. “Dauphin’s Countryfest has played an important role in launching the careers of Manitoba artists and is a driving force in supporting the vitality of the Dauphin area and community,” said Kennedy. “Our government is proud to provide this grant funding to ensure the festival’s continued success.” Dauphin’s Countryfest is an important event for the City of Dauphin, which relies on the festival’s success to provide important investments that drive economic activity in the region, noted the minister, adding the festival also supports a variety of community initiatives and organizations. “Our board is beyond thrilled with the provincial government’s acknowledgement of just how vital a role we play in Manitoba,” said Duane McMaster, president, Dauphin’s Countryfest. “We are truly thankful to be able to invite all Manitobans to once again join us at Canada’s longest-running country music festival, not just this year but for many years to come.” The 2025 festival runs from June 26 to 29 at the Selo Ukraina site, 10 kilometres south of Dauphin. To learn more about Dauphin’s Countryfest, visit https://countryfest.ca/.

The Winnipeg Whiteout Hype Tour will make a stop at the Shoppers Mall in Brandon on Friday, April 18 from 11:00am-1:30pm. During the event, in the parking lot beside East Side Mario’s, fans can expect; White Out gear available for purchase, prizes to be won, and music, games & tons of fun.