For the first time in nearly a decade a Midget AA hockey team will hit the ice in Brandon starting in 18/19.  The Brandon Midget 'AA' Wheat Kings will play in the Winnipeg U17 Midget AAA Development Prep League.  They will join 7 other teams in regular season (36 games) and playoff action.  They will also travel to Banff, Alberta for a National Midget ‘AA’ tournament on March 22-24.   The team will be coached by Dan Landry who recently lead the Vincent Massey Vikings to a record breaking 3 consecutive league Championships.  Joining Landry on the bench will be Tyler D'Aoust, Chris Semeschuk, Darris Hardern and Brandon Switzer.   Tryouts for the team begin September 15th - 18th and exhibition games have already been scheduled. Registration is available online by visiting the Hockey Brandon website or by going on the team website www.aawheatkings.ca.

The quiet, unassuming Jeff Crooks, who operates Smitty’s in Brandon along with his wife Ivale, has done what people many thought would be impossible.  Over the past weekend in world famous Brainerd, Minnesota Jeff was able to beat 65 other cars and win 6 races in a row to capture the Super Gas category.  The races were held at the Brainerd International Raceway. This is his first national championship and according his wife Ivale this is like winning an Oscar.  “This is a racers dream” said Ivale. After a long stint of 20 years of racing this appears to be all worthwhile.  The costs are significant as Jeff points out that “it is all self-funded".   According to Crooks he "now perhaps will pick up some sponsor money but nothing to talk about”. From a safety perspective Jeff feels fortunate that he has only had a few bumps and bruises over the years.  “We have seen ambulances take away deceased drivers so we do know the risk" added Ivale Crooks. Next up for Team Crooks is Earlville, Iowa and Great Bend, Kansas. The last Manitoban to win was Lorette's Tom Patterson 11 years ago. https://www.nhra.com/results/2018/nhra-mello-yello-drag-racing-series/17426/detailed-results/super-gas

BRANDON – A major celebration to recognize Brandon University's rich basketball history is on the horizon. BU Athletics is inviting both men's and women's basketball alumni to attend a reunion as part of Homecoming 2018 from October 11-14. Quick Notes: Current Bobcat basketball and volleyball teams in pre-season action Former players versus former players in alumni games Wall of Fame induction ceremony at the Victoria Inn Homecoming street party The College Cap and Bobcat basketball celebration follows two highly successful alumni events. Close to 200 hockey members were back on campus in November 2016 and last October over 100 football alumni returned to celebrate. This year's event has plenty to offer as part of BU Homecoming 2018, including plenty of BU Athletics related activities. Basketball reunion attendees can take a trip down memory with two screenings of the popular documentary, 'Powerhouse on the Prairies' at the Evans Theatre on Thursday evening and Friday afternoon. The film highlights the Bobcats' incredible run of three straight national championship victories in the late 1980's. Friday evening includes registration and the 2018 Sports Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony kickoff event at the Healthy Living Centre. Previous inductees are invited to mingle with the new crop of inductees, who will be officially enshrined the following morning. The Wall of Fame brunch is among the big highlights with the 2017 ceremony drawing close to 400 supporters at the Victoria Inn. This years induction class is loaded with hoops legends with Courtney Bailey, Earnest Bell, Lynda Kidd Chorley, Linda Edwards Forsyth, Brian Pallister, Euan Roberts and Marie Rohleder being honoured as individuals. The 1979-80 men's team and the 1980-81 women's team are also being enshrined. For full event details, click here. Bobcats and College Caps from the past will also get the chance to play in alumni games on Saturday afternoon, while the current basketball and volleyball teams compete in pre-season games over the course of the weekend. A social will be held Saturday night with BU athletic alumni performing an outdoor concert near the Healthy Living Centre. To register for the basketball reunion, contact Events Coordinator Tyler Crayston at craystont@brandonu.ca or call (204) 727-7354.

The inaugural Wheat City Tennis Club Open Championship wrapped up on Sunday with finals taking place in all four divisions. In the final match of the day, Dennis Bartolome of Brandon overcame a first set loss, but rallied to beat Malcolm Oldcorn of Brandon 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 in the 4.0 Singles Division. Bartolome started strong and broke early to take a 4-1 lead, but Oldcorn overcame the early break of serve and stormed back. He broke three consecutive times to take the first set. On serve in the second set, Bartolome broke Oldcorn while leading 5-4 to take the second set 6-4 and even the match at a set a piece. He eventually broke early in the third set super tiebreak to take the title in a tightly contested match. In the 4.0 Doubles Division, Kevin Theile and Boyd White of Dauphin took the division’s championship match over the Brandon team of Eric Platz and Malcolm Oldcorn 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. The Dauphin duo went undefeated in the round robin, going 4-0 and finishing first in the pool. In the tightest final on Sunday, spectators were treated to a back and forth affair that went the distance. In the 3.5 Singles Division final, Bradley Rathwell of Belmont defeated Jai Cha of Brandon 7-6, 6-3. After storming through the round robin with a 3-0 record and a semifinal win, the first set went to a tiebreak and Rathwell pounced. Taking advantage of two early service breaks he was able to win the tiebreaker 7-1. He broke early in the second set and then broke again to take the title. In the 3.5 Doubles Division final, Karen Skinner and Singh Oun of Brandon won the title in a walkover. After a tightly contested round robin, they were able to finish first earning them a bye to the final. Their opponents were forced to withdraw due to injury, resulting in the walkover. Are you interested in learning and playing the fastest growing sport in Canada? Join the Wheat City Tennis Club today! Meet members and hit with players of different skill levels, or get in touch to learn about lessons for individuals or groups. More information can be found at http://wheatcitygolfcourse.ca/tennis

The Brandon Wheat Kings made a series of announcements at a press conference held today.  Below are a few of the highlights. CZECH REPUBLIC GOALKEEPER ON WAY TO BRANDON The Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings have announced that they’ve signed Import goalkeeper Jiri Patera.  A 19-year old native of the Czech Republic, Patera spent the 2017-18 campaign with Cedar Rapids of the USHL after being chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights in the sixth round (161st overall) of last year’s National Hockey League Draft. WHEAT KINGS’ SEASON TICKET TOTALS ECLIPSE 2,000 With the curtain about to go up on what should be an exciting 2018-19 Western Hockey League season, the Brandon Wheat Kings have announced that season ticket sales have eclipsed the 2,000 mark.  Last season 2,600 season tickets were sold and they finished the year with an average of well over 3,800 fans per home game. WHEAT KINGS ADD NEW ATHLETIC TRAINER The Brandon Wheat Kings have a new athletic therapist for the 2018-19 Western Hockey League season as Roman (RJ) Kaszczij is joining the organization.   Kaszczij comes to Brandon from Guelph, Ontario and a two year stint with the Ontario Hockey League Champion Hamilton Bulldogs. WHEAT KINGS INK NEW RADIO DEAL WITH Q COUNTRY The Brandon Wheat Kings are pleased to announce that they have come to terms on a new three-year broadcast agreement with Q Country 91.5FM (locally owned and operated by Westman Communications Group).  The new contract will begin with the 2018-19 Western Hockey League season and conclude with the 2020-21 campaign.