The Valley View Tubing Hill opens for the season December 27, 2018 for public sledding.  Located 5 miles south of MacGregor, Manitoba on Road 59W (Rosehill Road) and 1 mile west on Rd 60N, the tubing hill offers visitors a fully groomed hill, tow rope system, outdoor warm-up area with fire pit, and a chalet building with bathrooms, wood stove, tables, and canteen.  In addition to public sledding, the facility is also available for private rentals.   Check out their web site for rental rates, hours of operation, or for more information on the facility.

BRANDON – Five years after Brandon University hosted the school's first national championship the Bobcats will have the chance to win a national title on home court again.    The U SPORTS men's volleyball national championship will take place at the BU Healthy Living Centre in March of 2021, the school's second time hosting a national event and first for the men's side.   "BU Athletics and the entire host committee are very excited to bring an event of this magnitude to Brandon and western Manitoba," says BU Athletic Director Russ Paddock. "The U SPORTS men's volleyball championship will be a great motivator for the youth athletes in the region and a tremendous opportunity for local sport fans to witness an exciting national championship."   The men's volleyball national tournament will look to replicate and expand the immensely successful 2016 women's national tournament. The eight-team tournament saw thousands of spectators take in the action over the three-day event, leaving a lasting impact on the campus, the community, and the sports scene in Brandon and the Westman region.   "A national championship is tremendously exciting for the Bobcats, for Brandon University and for everyone in Brandon and all of Manitoba. As we saw hosting nationals in 2016, the scores of visiting teams, officials and fans bring a huge buzz to the campus and to the city, and also make a notable economic impact," said Steve Robinson, Interim President at BU.    "We know very well the thrill of Bobcats action week in and week out, with the great game-day experience put on by BU Athletics and stands full of fans — now the entire country will once again experience that for themselves. Let's go Bobcats!"   The men's volleyball team wrapped up the first half of the season schedule this past weekend and sits with a conference record of 10-2 and remains No. 2 in the U SPORTS national rankings.   Combined with a tremendously talented group and the opportunity to host for the first time, coach Grant Wilson is excited to welcome the championship to the city where he grew up and fell in love with the sport.   "I think it really gives the chance to showcase our sport, our program, and our facility," says Wilson. "After seeing our women's team host back in 2016, and seeing the experience that their team went through and how the community embraced that whole experience it's obviously very exciting. It was a pretty special time here at BU, so to think that our athletes and our team will have that same experience is something that we are definitely looking forward to."   The BU men's volleyball team has previously taken part in three national championships, earning medals in all three: a bronze medal finish in 2009, a silver medal in 2011, and a bronze medal in 2013.   Being awarded hosting rights in 2021 offers the opportunity to reflect on how far Bobcat volleyball has come since the program's inception in 2005.   "Thinking back to when Russ and I started the program back in 2005 and seeing how the program has evolved and having the experiences that we've gained, there's nothing like competing for a national championship and we've had some great experiences over the course of our program, but this just takes it to a whole new level. To be able to play in front of our home crowd and have a chance to win a national championship I'm sure will be an experience our program will never forget," Wilson adds.    Wilson and the current Bobcat squad enter the December break ranked No. 2 in the nation before heading to Quebec for a series of exhibition games against the Laval Rouge et Or at the end of December. The Bobcats will then resume conference play at home on Jan. 4 against the No. 1 nationally ranked Trinity Western Spartans.

The Expedition League granted Brandon a baseball franchise in early October of 2018, with the team set to take to the field in the summer of 2019.   Now, the league has announced a contest to "Guess the Team Name" on their official website.  The contest asks fans to select their favorite team name from a list of five choices: Wheat City Wonders, Brandon Bullheads, Wheat City Whiskey Jacks, Brandon Bison, and Wheat City Threshermen.  The contest runs from Friday, December 7th through Tuesday, December 18th and the team name that’s chosen will be unveiled along with the team’s logo in the last half of the week of December 17th.  Voting fans will be will be entered into a drawing for two season tickets for the 2019 season.  For more information or to cast a vote, click here. The Expedition League is an elite summer collegiate wood bat baseball league that provides affordable, wholesome family entertainment.  Each of it's member teams play a 64-game schedule.

On Friday, Dec. 7, Asessippi Ski Area and Resort is opening for their 20th season in business after significant renovations. Over the last three years, Asessippi has invested over $1.5 million in resources to turn their park into a four-season resort. They’ve added new activities, renovated the lodge, improved the rental processes to cut down wait-times, made it possible to buy lift passes online and upgraded their snowmaking equipment to a cutting-edge system, guaranteeing the freshest powder on the slopes in Manitoba. “We’re invested in making Asessippi an amazing place to visit for years to come. The last 20 years are something to celebrate, and we look forward to making this our best season yet,” says Daymon Guillas, President of Asessippi Ski Area and Resort. “We’ve made it so everyone can enjoy the resort year-round, even if they don’t ski or snowboard!” Asessippi’s full list of winter activities includes: Skiing Snowboarding Tubing Kiteboarding Snow biking Snowshoeing Snow skating (new!) To celebrate their 20th season, Asessippi is rolling out a retro campaign and offering deals from another decade throughout the season.

Brandon product Calen Addison was one of the thirty-four players that received an invite to the national junior selection hockey camp.  The 5'10", 180lb defensemen has registered 28 points in 27 games to date this season.  Addison was drafted 53rd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2018 draft.  He is one of 12 defenseman that have been invited to the selection camp taking place Dec. 11-14 in Victoria, B.C.  The  2019 IIHF World Junior Championships are being held in Vancouver from Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Two other Manitoban's also received invites; Winnipeg's Cody Glass and Roblin's Josh Brook.  Glass was drafted in in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights while Brook is a draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens.