It’s an exciting time to be a curling fan in Brandon with the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier, presented by AGI, just over six weeks away, and that excitement level will be ramped up even further this week! Wednesday will be Countdown to the Tim Hortons Brier Day in Brandon, a day in advance of all single-draw tickets, including tickets for the closing weekend playoff draws, going on sale. Brandon-born Mike McEwen, who will be attempting to represent Manitoba at the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier, March 2-10 at Westoba Place, will be in town on Wednesday to interact with fans and media alike at the Keystone Centre. From 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, McEwen will be at the Keystone Centre Box Office, where fans can take photos with him or get autographs, and they can also participate in a pre-sale for single-draw tickets, including playoffs, or pick up previously purchased ticket packages. The Brier Tankard will be on display for photos, and fans can enjoy some Tim Hortons coffee and treats, and get some Tim Hortons Brier swag. Later on Wednesday, from 1-2 p.m., the action will shift to the Skating Oval, located adjacent to the City of Brandon’s Community Services Complex (2020 McGregor Ave.), where media members are invited to participate in an outdoor curling event. Media folks can go head to head with McEwen, as well as Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest, Wheat Kings mascot Willie, local Tim Hortons store owners and members of the Tim Hortons Brier Host Committee. Thursday at 10 a.m. CT, fans will have their chance to purchase all remaining single-draw tickets for the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier, including playoff tickets. Tickets for games on the closing Friday games are priced at $35 apiece. Saturday Page Playoff games and Sunday’s semifinal are $39.50 each, while tickets for the Championship Final on Sunday are $49.50 each. The new ticket offers are in addition to other single-draw tickets that went on sale back in November: Weekday Mornings (Monday to Wednesday): $22.50 Weekday Afternoons (Monday to Wednesday) $27.50 Sunday and Weekday Evenings (Monday to Wednesday): $32.25 Championship Pool Afternoon (Thursday): $32.25 Premium Opening Day (Saturday) and Championship Pool Evening (Thursday): $35 Other options include day packages starting at $59, the opening weekend package for $119, and the championship weekend package at $229. Full event packages are also still available. All prices are per ticket, are subject to standard facility and ticket service fees, and are available at the Westoba Place Box Office, online at curling.ca/tickets or by calling 204-726-3555. Brad Gushue’s powerhouse team from St. John’s will be in Brandon in pursuit of its third straight Tim Hortons Brier championship; only Randy Ferbey has ever pulled off a Brier three-peat. Manitoba’s reps won’t be decided until the conclusion of the provincial men’s championship, Feb. 10 in Virden. But we already know Team Manitoba’s early round-robin schedule, as the home-province team will play in the opening draw on Saturday, March 2, and also will be featured in Draws 3 and 5 (both on Sunday), 7 (on Monday), 9 and 11 (both on Tuesday) and 13 (on Wednesday). Once the preliminary round is complete and the top four teams from each pool move into the Championship Pool, the remainder of the schedule will be set. After all of the provincial/territorial champions are set early next month, the seedings will be determined for the two eight-team pools — one of which will feature two-time defending champion Brad Gushue and his Team Canada foursome from St. John’s. The pool allocations, and remainder of the early round-robin draw, will be announced the week of Feb. 12. The Tim Hortons Brier Wild Card game will be played on Friday, March 1, at 7 p.m. Not only will you be a part of the world’s most famous curling competition inside Westoba Place, you’ll also get to enjoy the world’s most famous curling party, the Patch — just a short covered walk away from the arena at the adjacent Manitoba Room at the Keystone Centre, where you can check out live music, have a meal and mingle with players and fellow fans from all over Canada. Keep checking  www.curling.ca/2019brier for all event updates, ticket information, team announcements and the event schedule when it is set. TSN/RDS2 will provide complete coverage of every draw at the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier.

Brandon minor hockey products Asher Gingras and Luke Krieser have been named to the Team MB Brick roster for the upcoming 2019 Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament.  Now in it's 30th season the Brick Invitational Tournament is among the most prestigious super novice hockey tournaments in North America.   The tournament showcases the top 10-year old (2009 born) hockey players in North America including teams from Chicago, Boston, Quebec and Toronto. The best friends are obviously excited to represent the province at the tournament which takes place in the West Edmonton Mall July from 1-7, 2019.  Krieser, a forward, tells bdnmb.ca that he is "looking forward to represent Manitoba and the chance to play with and against the best kids his age".  He starting skating at the age of 2 and playing hockey at 4.  He currently laces them up with the Atom A1 Sky Blue Storm and lists Conner McDavid as his favorite hockey player and the Washington Capitals as his favorite team. Like Luke, Asher started playing hockey at the age of 4 and this winter he is a center with the same Atom A1 Sky Blue Storm.  His favorite player is William Karlsson and his favorite team is the Las Vegas Golden Knights.  He too is looking forward to the challenge of playing against the top players in his age bracket.  "Representing Manitoba in this elite tournament, making new friends, playing hockey in West Edmonton Mall" is what Asher said he most looking forward to in July.  Many players who have played in the tournament have gone on to NHL careers including the likes of Johnny Guadreau, Mark Stone, PK Subban, Jonathan Toews, and Dustin Byfuglien.

Courtesy CWE Wrestling It was just announced hours ago that CWE will host a historic 38 events across Canada to celebrate 10 years of operations and the select dates will be celebrated with Cheeseburger! That's right! Ring Of Honor fan favorite Cheeseburger is an enigma that despite perhaps being the smallest wrestler in all of professional wrestling has become one of the most popular with what can only be described as a cult like following and one of the most successful and he will debut for Canadian Wrestling's Elite! Closing in on what will be his 6th year with Ring Of Honor the junior heavyweight star has been in the ring with literally everyone who is anyone in Ring Of Honor including having challenged for every title in the company including the World Championship. The cult following success of Cheeseburger in Ring Of Honor overflowed overseas in what resulted in him living every wrestler's dream and competing at the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom 3 years in a row from 2016-2018. Now for the first time Cheeseburger looks to bring his crazy popularity and incredible talents across Canada for the first time ever! Although CWE has become known as the land of the heavyweights Cheeseburger debuts for CWE, a company that still represents wrestlers of a smaller stature with a junior heavyweight division which has to be at the eye of his attention coming to CWE for the first time. See Cheeseburger in action on the following events, Apr 17- Assiniboia, SK Apr 18- Regina, SK Apr 19- Weyburn, SK Apr 20- Estevan, SK Apr 21- Moosomin, SK Apr 22- Virden, MB Apr 23- Souris, MB Apr 24- Brandon, MB Apr 25- Morden, MB Apr 26- Winnipeg, MB Apr 27- Thunder Bay, ON Apr 28- Sault Ste. Marie, ON Apr 29- Blind River, ON Apr 30- Sudbury, ON May 1- Kirkland Lake, ON May 2- TBA For full tour information as it becomes available visit www.cwecanda.ca

Brandon, MB – The Brandon Wheat Kings have dealt American born 19-year old Defenceman Chase Hartje to the Kootenay Ice for a third round draft choice (via Red Deer) in this year’s WHL Bantam Draft. A Bemidji, Minnesota native, Hartje has four goals and 12 points in 35 games for the Wheat Kings this season. In 93 career games Hartje has 37 points for the Wheat Kings and Moose Jaw Warriors combined. Hartje was originally acquired by the Wheat Kings at last year’s deadline in the deal that saw Kale Clague go to Moose Jaw. Yesterday Brandon acquired overage Defenceman Braydyn Chizen and a 5th round pick from the Kelowna Rockets. Chizen is expended to be in the Wheat Kings lineup against the Red Deer Rebels at Westoba Place tomorrow night.

The AAA Midget Wheat Kings have made various personnel changes over the past 24 hours.  Former coach Ken Schneider will return to the team today as they travel to Dauphin to play Parkland this evening.  Also returning in an assistant coaching role will be alumni member Curtis Broland. The Wheat Kings are currently in 3rd place in the Manitoba AAA Midget League behind the Thrashers and Wild. No official comment has come from the AAA Midget board at this time. (Ken Schneider / photo courtesy of Dustin Schneider)