The City of Brandon is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Wheat City Tennis and Pickleball Hub to bring state-of-the-art indoor pickleball courts to the heart of Brandon. This exciting development marks a significant milestone in the City's ongoing efforts to enhance recreational facilities and promote community well-being. The new indoor court sport facility, to be constructed on formerly city-owned lands at 1411, 1305, and 1201 Pacific Avenue, was sold to Wheat City Tennis and Pickleball Hub for $1 for the purpose of brining a new indoor recreation facility to downtown Brandon. The 35,000 sq. ft.  indoor court sport facility will feature 14 pickleball courts, or alternatively, 6 pickleball courts and 2 tennis courts. This project is a testament to the City of Brandon's commitment to revitalizing the downtown area and providing residents with top-notch recreational amenities. The City of Brandon has designated the project site as a community revitalization property, that included the land sale and a 10-year 100% incremental municipal tax reduction. This strategic investment aligns with the Downtown Secondary Plan and the Recreation Master Plan, both of which emphasize the importance of accessible recreational facilities in fostering a healthy, active community. Mayor Jeff Fawcett shared his excitement about the new development: “This partnership is a shining example of how we can work together to enhance our community. The new indoor pickleball courts will provide a state-of-the-art recreational outlet for our residents and attract visitors to our downtown area, boosting local businesses and fostering a sense of community.” Mr. Greenwood, a partner in the ownership group of Wheat City Tennis and Pickleball Hub who operates successful pickleball facilities in Regina and Saskatoon, expressed his enthusiasm for the project. “I’m very pleased and excited to bring this facility to Brandon. Regina and Saskatoon are remodels, where Brandon is designed specifically from the ground up, giving it the best traits from the many venues I’ve played at in North America. This will be a very positive improvement to both the city and the fast-growing pickleball community.” Mr. Schultz, a partner in the ownership group of Wheat City Tennis and Pickleball Hub, a local builder who operates Concept Homes, shares “As an avid pickleball player and a local builder, I was excited to jump in with both feet to be a part of this project. Pickleball has been a favourite sport of mine since I first played with my father in Saskatoon at one of the facilities started by Phil Greenwood. Now, my wife and our 4- and 6-year-old children play the sport whenever we get the chance. It is exciting to be a part of this project that is going to help re-shape the landscape of Brandon’s downtown to help growth of pickleball in the Brandon area.” “This facility has the potential to spur increased pedestrian presence and overall economic activity in the downtown and Brandon in general. As an organization mandated to drive the revitalization of downtown Brandon, we see the alignment of this project with the Downtown Brandon Secondary Plan. This investment can simultaneously increase home values in the downtown neighborhood, generate more sales for local businesses, and attract new jobs and employees.” – Emmanuel Ahaneku, Executive Director, Brandon Downtown Development Corporation. “This indoor sports facility is fantastic on multiple fronts. For the local pickleball and tennis community it will be a huge boon to have a dedicated indoor space for our long winters. For all residents, it’s an increased opportunity for winter sports; and for downtown Brandon it is a fresh project to utilize an undeveloped space into something beneficial for so many. The BIZ is excited for the project and looks forward to continuing collaborations with the Wheat City Tennis and Pickleball Hub.” - Emmy Sanderson, Brandon Downtown BIZ Executive Director. The new facility is expected to attract substantial foot traffic, with projections ranging from 12,000 visitors in the first year to nearly 60,000 by the tenth year. This influx of visitors will benefit local businesses and contribute to the overall economic development of the downtown area. Construction is set to begin soon, with the facility anticipated to open its doors to the public by Fall 2025, weather dependent. The City of Brandon and Wheat City Tennis and Pickleball Hub look forward to celebrating the grand opening of this landmark project and welcoming the community to enjoy the new indoor pickleball courts.

Tyson Kozak, a forward from Souris, Manitoba, made his NHL debut tonight with the Buffalo Sabres in their game against the Winnipeg Jets. Selected in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Kozak has steadily climbed through the ranks with his hard work and versatile two-way game. Known for his grit and strong play in defensive and penalty-killing roles, he has been a key contributor for the AHL's Rochester Americans this season, where he matched his career-high with five goals in just 14 games. His NHL call-up comes amidst injuries to key Sabres players, and his ability to bring energy, hustle, and strong faceoff skills makes him a fitting addition to the lineup. His journey is an inspiring example of determination, proving that even late-round draft picks can earn a place in the NHL through perseverance and consistent performance. Kozak spent two seasons with the Southwest Cougars U18 AAA team before moving on to join the WHL's Portland Winterhawks. He is also an alumni of the AAA Hockey Challenge held in Brandon each spring/summer.   Debut-ready. 🤩#LetsGoBuffalo | @TysonKozak18 pic.twitter.com/mLH6vfNe9P — Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) December 5, 2024

Photo: Scramble Studio Carson Bjarnason, the Brandon Wheat Kings' standout goaltender, has been invited to Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. The camp is set for December 10-13 at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario. It features 32 players, including four goaltenders, vying for a spot on the final roster. This prestigious event will lead up to the championship, which begins on December 26 in Ottawa, ON. The camp will include practices and exhibition games against U SPORTS all-stars to determine the final roster​. Bjarnason, known for his composure and athleticism, is among the top young talents in the country. A Philadelphia Flyers prospect (drafted round 2 #51 overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft). he has been making waves in the Western Hockey League and is considered a strong contender for the Canadian squad. The IIHF tournament will see Canada face tough competition, starting with Finland in the opening match on Boxing Day. Fans can follow the action through broadcasts on TSN and RDS.

Brandon's Cole Temple was traded tonight from the Regina Pats to the Everett Silvertips in Washington. Born in 2007 Temple a 5th overall WHL draft pick has 12 points in 22 games played this season. Also from Brandon Everett GM Mike Fraser quoted tonight. “We’re excited to be able to add Cole to our group,”. “He is a strong skating and skilled forward who can play both center and wing. He will make an immediate impact with our club while also giving us added versatility up front in future years.” Temple was traded for Julien Maze

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is pleased to announce that the city of Kelowna, British Columbia, has been chosen to host the 106th edition of the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026. The Kelowna Rockets were one of five Western Hockey League (WHL) franchises to submit a formal written bid back in September, which represented the largest number of CHL clubs vying to host a Memorial Cup since 2009. With Kelowna Rockets head coach Kris Mallette on the ground in Oshawa for the 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge presented by Kubota Canada, the CHL will host a media availability with Kris Mallette at 5:20 p.m. ET today at the Tribute Communities Centre. Additionally, CHL President Dan MacKenzie and WHL Commissioner Dan Near will be available at 6:30 p.m. ET upon request. We ask that you confirm your attendance for either availability by emailing Christopher Séguin (CHL Manager of Media Relations) at cseguin@chl.ca. “We are excited to be heading to Kelowna for the 2026 Memorial Cup,” said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. “With the largest number of CHL teams seeking to host a Memorial Cup in more than 15 years, the selection process for the 2026 tournament was incredibly competitive given the strong bids put forth by all five bidding clubs, including the Brandon Wheat Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Spokane Chiefs. I’d like to express my gratitude to these four finalists for all the work they put into creating outstanding bids. We look forward to working alongside the Kelowna Rockets and the City of Kelowna to make the 106th edition of the Memorial Cup a once-in-a-lifetime experience for both fans and players alike.” The selection of Kelowna was rendered following formal bid presentations made by the five bidding WHL clubs – the Brandon Wheat Kings, Kelowna Rockets, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, and Spokane Chiefs – to the CHL’s selection committee. The committee was comprised of sports leaders from across the industry including Graeme Roustan (Chairman and Owner of the Hockey News), Colin Campbell (NHL Sr. Executive Vice-President of Hockey Operation), Aaron Fox (Chair of Defence Team for McDougall Gauley), Kalli Quinn (Event Specialist at KAQ Event Consulting), and Paul Graham (Executive Producer & VP at TSN). Each bid was evaluated based on four categories: business operations, local atmosphere/community engagement, event logistics, and hockey operations. “Congratulations to the Kelowna Rockets and the City of Kelowna, led by Bruce Hamilton, Mayor Tom Dyas, David Rush, and Steve Thomson, on successfully bringing the 2026 Memorial Cup to Kelowna,” commented WHL Commissioner Dan Near. “As the selection committee reviewed all the submissions, it became abundantly clear that Kelowna has built an event that could go down as the greatest Memorial Cup in history. The Western Hockey League is thrilled to welcome hockey fans from all corners of the CHL to Kelowna – a gem in the heart of B.C.’s Okanagan – for what will undoubtedly be an exceptional event, complete with world-class hockey, entertaining festivities, and so much more.” The 2026 Memorial Cup will represent just the second time that Kelowna has ever played host to this prestigious tournament. The Rockets previously hosted the Memorial Cup back in 2004, which marked the first and only time Kelowna has won the CHL’s championship event. Led by 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee Shea Weber and 13-year NHL veteran Josh Gorges, the Kelowna Rockets edged the Gatineau Olympiques in the 2004 Memorial Cup final to capture the Memorial Cup trophy on home ice in front of a sold-out crowd at Prospera Place. This past spring, the City of Kelowna committed to making several upgrades to Prospera Place, including the installation of a brand-new scoreboard, improved lighting and sound systems, a dedicated press box, and more to help bolster the experience of fans and visitors traveling to the home arena of the Kelowna Rockets. “On behalf of the entire Kelowna Rockets organization, I’m more than thrilled for the co-chairs Dave Rush and Steve Thompson, as well as Gavin Hamilton, Jillian Haller, and of course, the City of Kelowna,” added Bruce Hamilton, Governor, President, and General Manager of the Kelowna Rockets. “This wouldn’t have been possible without Mayor Tom Dyas and the City Council stepping up to make sure the building is brought up to CHL standard for the bid. We wouldn’t be in this position if not for the City’s commitment and support. The bid committee has done a phenomenal job and we’re so happy for our community. The 2026 Memorial Cup is for the City of Kelowna and the surrounding area. We get the chance to bring this event back to the Okanagan and while it has been a long grind to get it, we’re excited for the city as well as our season ticket holders. It’s an opportunity for something special.” Over the years, the Kelowna Rockets have proven themselves to be a force in the WHL. The Rockets have won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions of the WHL four times (2003, 2005, 2009, 2015), and they have played in the Memorial Cup tournament on five separate occasions (2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2015). The Rockets’ five appearances at the Memorial Cup since 2003 are the second-most of any CHL franchise over that stretch, trailing only the six trips made by the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) during that period. Throughout the Kelowna Rockets’s 33-year history, there have been a total of 76 players from the club drafted to the National Hockey League (NHL), including current NHLers Tyler Myers, Luke Schenn, and Tyson Barrie, in addition to 2024 Utah Hockey Club first-round pick Tij Iginla, who currently co-leads the Rockets with 13 goals during the 2024-25 campaign. In 2026, the Memorial Cup will be awarded for the 106th time in its history. The Kelowna Rockets will be one of four clubs to play in the 2026 Memorial Cup alongside the playoff champion from each of the OHL, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and Western Hockey League (WHL). Next year’s 2025 Memorial Cup will take place in Rimouski, Québec from May 22 to June 1, 2025. The 105th edition of the Memorial Cup will mark the return of the CHL’s championship event to the province of Québec for what will be the first time in 10 years. The most recent Memorial Cup took place last spring in Saginaw, as the host Spirit defeated the London Knights 4-3 in the final to secure Saginaw’s first-ever CHL championship title in franchise history. By accomplishing the latter, the Spirit became the first CHL club from Michigan to ever win the Memorial Cup and just the third U.S. franchise to accomplish the feat. Since being awarded for the first time 105 years ago, the Memorial Cup has developed a rich tradition that has shaped the way junior hockey is played in North America — becoming one of the most coveted trophies in the sport. Originally known as the OHA Memorial Cup and donated by the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) in March 1919, this trophy was created in remembrance of the many soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice for Canada in the First World War. It was later rededicated in 2010 to the memory of all fallen Canadian Military Personnel. Source: WHL News