Local golf courses are starting to welcome people for the 2019 season. The Wheat City Golf Course opens for the season on Tuesday, April 23. There is an 18 hole green fee Spring Special ($26) available until May 14th. Oak Island Golf Course will open on the 24th of April as well. Glen Lea Golf Course, Deer Ridge Golf Course, and the Shilo Golf and Country Club are already open for the season. Mulligans Driving Range has been open since the 13th for those looking to get in a little practice before their first round of the year.

Week 1 of the AAA Summer Hockey Challenge ended today with champions being decided in two different age divisions (2011 & 2006). Week 2 goes next weekend with the 2010, 2009, and 2007 age groups taking to the ice. 2011 Division Kellan Shtykalo scored twice to lead the Parkland Thunder (pictured above) to a narrow 6-4 victory over the Wheatland Wild. Chayce Stoski, Mattew Ducheck, Carter Smigelsky and Travis Catcheway also scored for the Thunder. Vahn Stephen, Kelson Hawreluik, Owen Light and Rylan Keith scored for the Wild in a losing cause. Zachary Carter made several key saves late to pick up the win for the Thunder. 2006 Division The Southwest Outlaws received goals from six different goal scorers en route to a 6-3 win over the Manitoba Hawks Red. Nathan Robson (1g,3a) and Sebastian Stone (1g,2a) lead the Outlaws offensively. They also received goals from Drew Shiels, Kelby Diehl, Luke Mackenzie and Jesse Brown. Braeden Lucas, Ethan Wilde, and Bronson Ross relied for the Hawks. The Hawks earned a birth into the finals after upsetting the MB Steel in one semi-final while Outlaws disposed of the Manitoba Mountain Kings in the other.

Brandon's Calen Addison has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Addison was selected in the 2nd round, 53 overall by the Penguins in the 2018 NHL Draft. This past season he finished sixth among WHL blueliners with 65 points (11G-54A) in 67 games. He also posted 9 points in the Hurricanes 7 playoff games. The 5-foot-10, 180 pound defenseman is currently skating with the Penguins AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.  On Saturday, he suited up for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Put your hockey knowledge to the test and join the 2018-2019 $ettin’ the Tone NHL Playoff Pick'Em Hockey Pool where you could win a variety of prize packs. There is no cost to enter and prizes available from numerous sponsors including Pizza Express, Tim Hortons, Prairie Twigs, and the MJHL. Build your team, then see how you fare against other fans, your friends, and other local hockey experts! Deadline to enter is April 10th at 6pm. The enter, please visit their web page here.

Vincent Massey High School student Hayley Shanks has signed a letter of intent to golf for the Valley City State University Vikings starting this fall. Hayley is an accomplished golfer having won the Tamarack Match Play Tournament two years in a row and being named MVP of the Vincent Massey golf team the past two seasons. She is currently finishing her last year at Vincent Massey and plans to study psychology while at Valley City.