Carson Bjarnason, the standout goaltender for the Brandon Wheat Kings, has earned a prestigious spot on Canada’s National Junior Team roster for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. The tournament takes place  in Ottawa from December 26 to January 5. Bjarnason’s selection comes as no surprise to those who have followed his meteoric rise in the hockey world. The 19-year-old goaltender from Carberry, Manitoba, has consistently impressed scouts and fans alike with his agility, poise, and game-changing saves. This season with the Wheat Kings, Bjarnason has been a cornerstone of his team’s success, boasting a stellar save percentage and several highlight-reel performances. Bjarnason, drafted in the second round, 51st overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2024 NHL Draft, has continued to develop his skills in the Western Hockey League. His leadership and consistent play have made him a fan favorite in Brandon and a respected figure in Canadian junior hockey circles. Team Canada opens their campaign against Finland on Thursday, December 26. Check out the 2⃣5⃣ players who will wear the 🍁 at the #WorldJuniors in Ottawa! 🇨🇦 Voici les 2⃣5⃣ joueurs qui arboreront la 🍁 au #MondialJunior à Ottawa! 🇨🇦 ROSTER: https://t.co/rkEYGrNFYr FORMATION : https://t.co/aaliYCMONH pic.twitter.com/JFDvmr9tYG — Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 13, 2024

Vincent Massey High School is proud to congratulate our Varsity Girls Volleyball team on their outstanding win and becoming the 2024 Provincial Volleyball Champions! In the past two decades, Vincent Massey has competed in the finals four times but have never been successful in bringing home the win. This year, they not only held the #1 spot in the 4A division but also had a 50-2 record for the season and for the first time in school history, they are the Provincial Champions. Grade 12 student, Jersey Hansen-Young was named the MVP. Hannah McGregor, grade 10, and Zoe Price, grade 12, both received all-star awards. Leila Bekkering served up an ace to clinch the second set 28-26. Kypling Black finished the third set with an ace for the Vikings. While Payton Oakden dished out the sets and put pressure on the Collège Jeanne-Sauvé's Olympiens with her tough serves. Georgia Hall was relentless on defense and did not let CJS's left side score in the fourth set. The team would like to thank everyone who travelling to Winnipeg to cheer them on during provincials, the fan support was amazing! A special thank you to Mr. DeGroot and Mrs. Redekop for organizing the fan bus for the semi-finals and finals. Congratulations on a hard-fought season and a well-deserved victory!

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.