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.

You can kick off your Christmas shopping season with a perfect stocking-stuffer when a selection of single-draw tickets for the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier, presented by AGI, in Brandon goes on sale Thursday. The 2019 Canadian Men’s Curling Championship is scheduled for March 2-10 at Westoba Place in Brandon, bringing together the country’s top men’s curling teams under one roof in pursuit of the most famous trophy in the sport. Demand is high for tickets, so you’d better act quickly when sales open for this new offer Thursday at 10 a.m. CT. Here’s a look and what will be offered: 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. A special offer for youth ages 17 and under is also being introduced on Thursday.  Youth tickets for Draws 1 through 17 are priced at $15 (fees and taxes included). All prices are per ticket and, other than the youth tickets, 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. Remaining single-draw tickets, for the championship pool round-robin games on Friday as well as for the closing weekend playoff games, will go on sale Jan. 17. Team Manitoba fans can plan around the round-robin schedule for the first few days of the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier. 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. 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 provincial/territorial champions are set, 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. In addition to being a part of the world’s most famous curling competition inside Westoba Place, you’ll also be a part of 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, including volunteer signup, new ticket offers, team announcements and the event schedule when it is set. Those wishing to volunteer can register at www.curling.ca/volunteer to stay up to date on volunteer opportunities. TSN/RDS2 will provide complete coverage of every draw at the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier.