Source: ACC Blog The 2018-19 Assiniboine Community College Cougars kick off the season on Sept. 15 as the college’s soccer teams take the pitch in Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference action. The women’s squad, coached by Mark Murray, will host the Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) Blazers on Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. at Optimist Park. “We’re excited about our team this season,” Murray said. “Our team will attack and put pressure on the other squad but we will also be strong in the possession game.” Three of the team’s first-year players include Kendra Mansoff, Jerra Green and Felecia Dowset. Mansoff, who played with the Brandon Sirens and Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School teams, is a striker who will add balance to the Cougars attack. “I have watched Kendra play in the Brandon women’s league for the past couple of years and have been very impressed,” Murray said. “She plays at a high level and is extremely hard working on pitch. Her skill will only raise the level of our team and I’m really excited to work with her this year.” Green is also a striker who played in the Westman Women’s Senior Soccer League with the Brandon Cyclones.  “Jerra will be a frightening player to play against,” Murray said. “She is a two-footed player who likes to shoot with her left foot which makes her very hard to defend against. I think she will be unstoppable this year for us.” Dowset, a keeper from Minnedosa, will provide experience between the posts. She was part of a Minnedosa Collegiate program which has fed a number of players into the Cougars’ system. She won provincial championships in 2016 and 2017, and was named the provincial all-star keeper in 2015 and 2016. “She brings a winning mentality with her from her success at the high school level and her talent will be a great addition to our squad,” Murray said. After hosting CMU in the season opener, the Cougars will get right back to action the following day (Sept. 16) in a battle of Wheat City squads. The Cougars play the Brandon University (BU) Bobcats at 1 p.m. at the university. Soccer game days will be doubleheaders throughout the season as the women’s games at 1 p.m. are followed by the men’s team competing at 3:15 p.m. Bo Kampmann is the coach of the men’s team which opens the season against CMU on Sept. 15 followed by a game against BU the following day. Kampmann expects the Cougars to field a strong team which will rely on its balanced midfield to control the tempo of the game. Returning player Theo Bosc will be relied on to take another step on the pitch after an impressive rookie campaign last year. “Theo will play fullback or midfield for us and as a returning player we expect that he will bring his experience and calm mannerisms to the team,” said Kampmann, who is in his fifth year as head coach of the Cougars. Both teams have high expectations with the aim of having enough success during a 10-game regular season to compete at Final Four in Winnipeg at the end of October. For a full schedule of games visit assiniboine.net/athletics.

Source: Brandon Wheat Kings Brandon, MB. – The Western Hockey League’s Brandon Wheat Kings reassigned seven players Sunday night following their annual Intrasquad Game at Westoba Place. Among the players were five 16-year olds and two 15-year old prospects, who are ineligible to play in the 2018-19 season. Following is the list of the players reassigned: Goal                 Connor Ungar              16 Defence           Jack Zayat                   16 Defence           Jacob Hoffrogge          15 Forward           Dylan James                15 Forward           Noah Wagner               16 Forward           Caiden Gault                16 Forward           William Highet             16 In Sunday afternoon’s Intrasquad game, veteran Luka Burzan scored twice, including the game tying goal with 23 seconds to play and the overtime game winner as Team Black scored a come from behind 6-5 victory over Team White. Burzan’s late game heroics overshadowed a brilliant performance from 16-year old center Ridly Greig. The Lethbridge product, who was the Wheat Kings first choice in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, scored three goals in a losing cause. Jake Chiasson, Rylan Bettens, Schael Higson and Wagner also scored for the Black team, who outshot the Whites 33-27, including 13-8 in the third period. Highet and Chad Nychuk meanwhile rounded out the scoring for the Whites. As a result of Sunday night’s moves, the Wheat Kings have trimmed their pre-season roster to thirty-four players – three goalkeepers, ten defencemen and 21 forwards, Of those, at least five will be attending National Hockey League training camps this coming week (Jiri Patera – Vegas, Stelio Mattheos – Carolina, Luka Burzan – Ottawa as well as Cole Reinhardt and Ty Lewis – Colorado) and two are 15-year olds – Chiasson and Brett Hyland, who were chosen 15th and 24thoverall in this year’s WHL Bantam Draft. Following is the list of players on the Wheat Kings’ current pre-season roster: Goal (3) Ethan Kruger, Dylan Myskiw, Jiri Patera Defence (10) Schael Higson, Chase Hartje, Neithan Salame, Zach Wytinck, Ty Ettinger, Jonny Lambos, Chad Nychuk, Vinny Iorio, Garrett Sambrook, Braden Schneider Forwards (21) Jonny Hooker, Nolan Ritchie, Caiden Daley, Stelio Mattheos, Rylan Bettens, Ty Thorpe, Jake Chiasson, Ben McCartney, Cole Reinhardt, Luka Burzan, Ty Lewis, Baron Thompson, Linden McCorrister, Connor Gutenberg, Lynden McCallum, Drayson Collyer, Marcus Sekundiak, Brett Hyland, Reilly Funk, Ridly Greig, Bode Hagan Sunday’s Intrasquad game marked the conclusion of camp for the Wheat Kings, who will now begin preparations for their 4-game pre-season schedule, which is set to begin Friday night in Brandon against the visiting Regina Pats. Tickets to the Wheat Kings two pre-season home games as well as the 2018 Brandon Sun Home Opener, presented by TELUS, will go on sale Tuesday morning at the Keystone Centre box office. Fans can also order online at keystonecentre.com or by calling (204) 726-3555. Speaking of tickets, this Friday (September 7th) is Season Ticket Pick up Day in the Keystone Centre’s south parking lot. For those that have not purchased one but would like to order one and get entered into the hockey club’s 20 Prizes in 20 Days Contest Giveaway, are encouraged to call the Wheat Kings’ office at (204) 726-3535 during regular business hours. Brandon brings up the curtain on their 2018-19 WHL schedule on Friday, September 21st against the visiting Moose Jaw Warriors.

Winnipeg's  Kody Fawcett defeated Dustin Dyck in match-play action on Saturday afternoon to claim the Men's Championship at the 85th annual Tamarack Golf Tournament held at the Clear Lake Golf Course each summer.  Fawcett advanced to Saturday's final after defeating Dale Murray on Friday while Dyck upended Jay Thiessen to advance.  A list of other Tamarack winners for 2018 are listed below. Women's: Kaitlin Troop Men's: Kody Fawcett Senior Men's: Gene Hodgson Champion Men's: Keith Fawcett Ladies Scramble: Margo Goodhand & Colleen Sinclair Junior Ladies: Hayley Shanks Junior Men's: Jordon McDonald

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