The 2025 IG Wealth Management Bobcat BIRT Cup raised $92,000 and pushed the charity golf tournaments grand total to well over half a million dollars over eight years. A whopping 296 golfers took part in a double shotgun start on Friday, July 4 at Wheat City Golf Course with event proceeds supporting Bobcat student-athletes, Boissevain Golf Club, Carberry Splash Park, the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame's relocation project, Pilot Mound Golf Club, Treherne Arena upgrades, Westman Ski Club and Wheat City Tennis Club. The foursome of Curtis Brolund, Scott Hellyer, Brad McConnell and Cory Rae won the BIRT Cup championship after finishing 16-under par. Mulligans with sales matched by Sutton Harrison Realty and Windsor Plywood up to $1,000 Mulligan purchase entered golfers into a draw for a 65" inch TV courtesy Extreme Electronics: WINNER: Kelly De Roo Raffle Ticket Prizes (1 ticket for $20 or 3 tickets for $50) Meighen Haddad matching the first $2,000+ in tickets sold. License #: LGCA 6747-RF-47848 Tabletop Blackstone grill sponsored by Co-ops of Westman. WINNER: Jamie Medland 1-night stay at The Stowaway Inn+ Sporty's $50 gift card. WINNER: Jaclyn Pollock Ryan Nugent-Hopkins signed Edmonton Oilers' jersey+ Minnedosa Golf & Country Club 4 rounds w/ shared cart + Dari Isle Drive-In 4 x $25 gift cards. WINNER: Jamie Mykula Wendel Clark signed Toronto Maple Leafs' jersey+ Delahunt Golf & Country Club 4 rounds w/ shared cart + L & J's Drive Inn 4 x $25 gift cards. WINNER: Jason Martens Traditional Silent Auction with Scotiabank matching sales up to $3,000: Winnipeg Sea Bears 2 regular season game tickets + Radisson 1-night stay + NBA Canada signed basketball by Jerome 'Junkyard Dog' Williams + Montreal Alliance Sultan Haider Bhatti jersey. WINNER: Jen Anning Winnipeg Goldeyes Sky Suite - 21 tickets + Toronto Blue Jays signed George Springer baseball + Victoria Inn 4 hotel vouchers for 1-night stay + Assiniboia Downs 4 x $50 gift cards. WINNER: Carberry Sandhills Electric & Mechanical Canadian Football League Brady Oliveira signed Winnipeg Blue Bombers' jersey + Blue Bomber 2 Game Tickets + Best Western Pembina 1-night stay. WINNER: Carberry Sandhills Electric & Mechanical Westman Lumber smoker. WINNER: Rob Van Kommer BBQ courtesy Royal Stewart + Washington Capitals signed jersey with autographed team hat. WINNER: Danny Wright Wheat City Golf Course 11-round punch card w/ cart + Bobcat men's volleyball national championship framed photo autographed by tournament MVP Philipp Lauter. WINNER: Fowler Hyundai/Nissan  IG Wealth/Wheat Kings VIP Game Suite. WINNER: Cory Rae Wheat City Golf Course 2026 membership + Bobcat men's volleyball national championship framed photo autographed by tournament MVP Philipp Lauter. WINNER: Jason Curtis LA Kings Drew Doughty signed jersey. WINNER: Scott Streu Winnipeg Jets 4 regular season game tickets + Victoria Inn 2 hotel vouchers for 1-night stay. WINNER: Fowler Hyundai/Nissan  McPhail Travel $250 travel voucher + Seattle Kraken signed Jordan Eberle jersey. WINNER: Scott Streu A&L Mountain bike + Elkhorn Resort 1-night stay with 2 spa passes. WINNER: Cory Rae LA Kings signed Joel Edmundson jersey + Killarney Lakeside Golf Club 4 x 18-hole rounds plus cart. WINNER: Dallas Mantei Enns Brothers smoker. WINNER: Matt Nichol Vegas Golden Knights signed Jack Eichel jersey. WINNER: Fowler Hyundai/Nissan  Nashville Predators signed Steven Stamkos jersey + Glen Lea Golf Course 4 x 18-hole rounds plus cart. WINNER: Brad McConnell Toronto Maple Leafs signed William Nylander jersey. WINNER: Carberry Sandhills Electric & Mechanical Online 5050 -- presented by Sunrise Credit Union. WINNER: Billy Old Manitoba Blue Cross Putting Green Contest  BBQ courtesy Westman Lumber - WINNER: Pam Hamilton Various FREE contests on the course:  Hole 1 Longest Putt - Canadian Tire $250 gift card. WINNER: Wayne LaFournie Hole 2 Foam Fire Blaster Contest  - Bobcat men's volleyball national championship framed photo(s) autographed by tournament MVP Philipp Lauter. WINNER(S): Steve Dubois and Wayne Wilhelm Hole 3 Closest to the Pin - Case of gourmet burgers courtesy Pratts. WINNER: Jill Watt Hole 6 Closest to the Pin - Pizza, pop and bowling package courtesy T-Birds. WINNER: Stacy Senkbeil Scotiabank Baseball Throw at Hole 8 - Wheat Kings' merch + Obsolete Brewing 1 case of Bobcat Championship Lager. WINNER: Guy Lobreau Hole 8 - Men's Longest Drive - PING golf bag courtesy Crane Steel + 2 complimentary Clear Lake Golf Course green fees + TSN merch + FYidoctors sun glasses. WINNER: Travis Young Hole 11 Senior Men's 55+ Closest to the Pin - Under Armour golf prize package. WINNER: Wayne Wilhelm Hole 12 Arcade Basketball Contest - patio hanging egg chair courtesy Leon's Furniture. WINNER: Kyle Vince Hole 13 Ladies Closest to the Pin - 2 bottles of wine courtesy Century 21 + $20 Shoppers Mall gift card + $25 Kuipers Bakery gift card + 2 Bobcat branded golf pouches. WINNER: Laurie Campbell Hole 15 Longest Putt – Komfort Kitchen prize package + Mizuno golf bag. WINNER: Rylan Metcalf Hole 16 Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Football Throw – Green Bay Packers' football + 4 Blue Bomber game tickets for Sept. 27. WINNER: Jeff Porter Hole 16 Ladies Longest Drive - 2 bottles of wine courtesy Century 21 + $20 Shoppers Mall gift card +  $25 Kuipers Bakery gift card + 2 complimentary Clear Lake Golf Course green fees + 2 Bobcat branded golf pouches + 4 McDonald's extra value meal coupons. WINNER: Lana Dubois Hole 17 Bucket Golf Chipping Game - Obsolete Brewing 1 case of The Mashie Golf Lager. WINNER: Dave Patsack Hole 18 Closest to the vintage Bobcat jersey - Extreme Electronics blue tooth speaker. WINNER: Scott Streu (Source: BU Athletics)

Details are few and far but a 48 unit Hotel / Motel will be built soon in Riding Mountain National Park. Owners and as well when construction will being will be announced soon. Roughly one block from the White House Bakery will be the location.

The Brandon Wheat Kings had plenty to celebrate at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, as forwards Carter Klippenstein and Brady Turko were both selected on Day 2 of the annual event. Carter Klippenstein, an 18-year-old forward from Lethbridge, Alberta, was chosen in the fourth round, 123rd overall, by the Minnesota Wild. The 6-foot-3 power forward played 58 games for the Wheat Kings last season, tallying 14 goals and 14 assists. Known for his gritty, hard-nosed style, Klippenstein impressed scouts at the NHL Combine, finishing in the top ten of seven different testing categories—including first place in right-side agility. Later in the afternoon, Brandon’s Brady Turko heard his name called by the Anaheim Ducks, who selected him in the seventh round, 200th overall. Turko completed his rookie WHL season with 8 goals and 26 points across 68 games. One of the youngest players selected in the draft, Turko has drawn praise for his poise and potential. This marks the fourth time in six years that the Wheat Kings have had multiple players selected in the NHL Draft, further cementing the team’s reputation as a development hub for top-tier talent. Both Klippenstein and Turko are expected to attend their respective NHL development camps in the coming weeks. Islanders Select Burke Hood in 6th Round The New York Islanders kicked off their Day 2 selections at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft with a pick aimed at bolstering their goaltending pipeline. With the 170th overall pick, the team chose 18‑year‑old Burke Hood from the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. Hood, hailing from Brandon, Manitoba, emerged as a standout rookie between the pipes. Over 42 games with the Giants, he posted a 19‑13‑6 record, a .910 save percentage, and a 3.13 goals‑against average—ranking tied for fifth in the WHL among goaltenders with at least 25 appearances

Brandon Wheat Kings forward Roger McQueen is headed to California. The towering 6-foot-5 centre was selected 10th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, held this weekend in Las Vegas. McQueen becomes the first Wheat King to be taken in the first round since Braden Schneider in 2020 and the latest in a long line of Brandon players to hear their name called on draft day. Despite missing a large portion of the 2024–25 season due to a back injury, McQueen impressed scouts with his strong skating, puck protection, and ability to drive play from the middle of the ice. In just 17 games last season, he recorded 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points, finishing with a team-leading 1.18 points per game. The 18-year-old, has totaled 86 points in 127 career WHL games with Brandon. He also represented Canada internationally, helping win gold at both the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. McQueen was one of nine WHL players selected in the first round and the top-ranked forward from the league. His selection at No. 10 underscores Anaheim’s confidence in his long-term potential. McQueen is expected to return to the Wheat Kings this fall before eventually making the jump to professional hockey in the coming years.

Longtime Brandon Wheat Kings  employee Scott Hlady will be leaving the organization as he has recently accepted a position with the Manitoba Moose as an Assistant Equipment Manager. Scott spent nearly 13 years as the Wheat Kings equipment manger. During his time in Brandon, he also played two seasons with the team, bringing on-ice experience into his role developing and maintaining player gear. Hlady built a reputation not only for his technical skill but also for his community spirit. He founded the BIRT Cup, served as Campaign Chair for the Brandon United Way, and was named a community leader in local media. This strategic hire underscores the Moose’s commitment to excellence behind the scenes. Scott Hlady’s blend of technical ability, leadership, and character will help ensure the team is fully geared up for success in the coming season.