The Wendy's Winter Hockey League concluded their 2018/19 season with three exciting and highly competitive championship games. Over in Division 1, the Double Decker Icemen (pictured above) received a late 3rd period goal from Brett Boshman to defeat B.O.B. Blazers by the score of 4-3.  The Icemen found themselves down by 3 goals half way through the game before storming back and scoring 4 of their own. Matt Rey, Paul Bonar and Brett Hesselwood also scored for the Icemen. Brett Kitt, Brad McDonald and Kyle Wells replied for the Blazers in a losing cause. Sioux Valley/Dominos claimed the Division 3 title with a 5-2 win over Montana's. Ronnie Vermette lead the way offensively for Dominos potting 2 goals. Jay Moosetail and Nathan Flett each picked up 3 points on the strength of 1 goal and 2 assists. Jason Taylor picked up the win in net for Sioux Valley. Ty Workman and Jenna Patterson scored for Montana's.   William Howell, Austin Gamache, Jeremy Delong, and Travis Lund all scored for The Dock in their 4-3 win over Precision Toyota in the Division 4 final.  Jordan Hagemeister and Scott Rouire each added 2 assists for The Dock while Tanner Klemick made 23 saves in securing the win. Kelsey Fehr (2) and Richard Smith had the Precision Toyota goals.  

A Spanish giant, a Belgian Bull, a Mexican daredevil, an Austrian leg breaker and more are in store for local fans of professional wrestling when the body slammers from Canadian Wrestling’s Elite (CWE) return to Brandon on April 24 at the Great Western Roadhouse.   While Brandon isn’t historically recognized as a “wrestling town” it has hosted the AWA, WWE and Stampede Wrestling in past years. The April 24th event, as part of the Canadian Wrestling’s Elite 10th anniversary tour, rings in an era of professional wrestling that harkens back to the barnstorming days of Stu Hart and his Stampede Wrestling circuit.   “Wrestling has historically been regional”, says Canadian wrestling historian Vance Nevada of Souris, himself appearing in the ring on this tour. “But what we’ve seen in recent years is that the regional circuits have been reduced to monthly standing engagements in a single city and there aren’t many opportunities for a wrestler to make a living or really hone their craft under the present model. The CWE tour, taking the show on the road is like the golden era of Canadian wrestling where talent is hitting the road to test their mettle.”   Wrestling fans will delight to see the return of CWE Champion Danny Duggan and the return of the lady wrestlers. They are joined by an international line-up of talent, many of which are making their first visit to Canada as part of this record-breaking tour. This, the tenth anniversary tour for the Winnipeg-based league, starts in Manitoba on March 26th and winds its way west to Vancouver on April 10th before barnstorming back east, concluding with the circuit’s debut in Toronto on May 2.   Those at ringside will get their first look at a roster from multiple European nations. Germany’s Norman Harras, Austria’s Martin Pain, Belgium’s Robin Lekime, and seven-foot giant Alex Ace of Spain are billed to appear.   The tour is headlined by 30-year veteran of the mat wars, “Psicosis” who fans may recognize from television with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Born Dionicio Torres in Tijuana, Mexico, Psicosis began his career at age 18 and soon his talents saw him travelling the globe. In fact, it was in 1995 that he was recruited alongside fellow Mexican high flyer named Rey Misterio to introduce the style to American audiences, inspiring a lucha libre revolution in the U.S., bringing a dynamic, high risk style to television and influencing the current generation of wrestlers.   Fans can keep tabs on the latest details and match announcements at the league’s Facebook page by following @CWECanada.  

The Boissevain Border Kings swept the Gladstone Lakers in their best of 5 series to capture the Tiger Hills Hockey League title. Saturday night's clinching game in Boissevain saw the Border Kings topple the Lakers 8-1 on the strength on 2 goals each from Tyler Dittmer and Chris Low.  Kelly Glowa and Jagger Thomas added singles while Travis Mealy and Zeinan Ziemer each recorded 3 assists. Boissevain won the first two games of the series by scores of 8-3 and 5-4.

The South East Prairie Thunder are off to their 7th consecutive Allan Cup championship  after sweeping the Ste-Anne Aces in their best of 3 series. The Thunder required double overtime to defeat the Aces 4-3 in the first game. In game 2, Devon Leblanc scored twice while Derek Leblanc and Tyler Dittmer chipped in with singles to lead the Thunder to a 4-0 series clinching victory. They will now represent Manitoba at the Allan Cup tournament next month in Lacombe, Alberta to determine the national senior amateur men's ice hockey champion. Like the Thunder have done in previous years, they have once again dipped into Brandon and the Westman region to help fill their roster. Paul Ciarelli and Reid Gow join Derek Leblanc and Tyler Dittmer as former Brandon Wheat Kings on the squad. Other names of interest to hockey fans in the area include Brock Nixon, Ian Lowe, Brad Cole, Troy Hunter, and Kris Westblom.

Earl Cheasley, a local softball umpire, will be entering the Softball Indicator Club at the 2019 Blue Convention for umpires in Montreal next month. The award first handed out in 1997 is a high quality medallion and "the objective of this Club is to acknowledge contributions made by individual umpires to the officiating program across Canada." Earl will be entering his 16th season as an umpire and has amassed an impressive resume of work in the process.  In addition to being the UIC or DUIC for eight Provincial, Western Canadian or Softball Canada Championships, the level IV umpire has also officiated at 12 Canadian or Western Canadian Championships. He currently serves on Softball Manitoba’s Umpire Development Committee as the Education Officer.