Virden Oil Capitals News Release The Oil Capitals are set to have Tyson Ramsey join the team as an Assistant Coach. Ramsey had been a coach for the Brandon AAA Midget Wheat Kings for the past seven seasons, three as an assistant coach and the last four as the head coach. As the head coach with the Wheat King program Tyson amassed a record of 120-55-1-4 and went to the league final twice. He was also the head coach of the AAA Bantam Wildcats female program last season and a scout for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL for the last 3 seasons. Ramsey played four years in the MJHL with the Winkler flyers before he moved to Brandon to attend Brandon University and played four seasons for the Brandon University Bobcats of the CIS.  Following graduation, Tyson remained in Brandon to teach and coached minor hockey at various levels before landing with the AAA Midget program in 2011. “The club is happy to have Tyson Ramsey involved in our organization in an assistant coach role. Tyson was with us for 1 year as a AAA Midget Scout and got to know our organization a little over the last year.” stated Jamie Hodson, director of business and hockey operations. “I look forward to working with Tyson, he has played a huge role in the success of the AAA Wheat Kings program.” added Troy Leslie, Oil Capitals head coach and GM. “When I had stepped away from the Midget program I was able to take some time and look at if I wanted to continue my coaching and/or scouting aspirations.  After some time, I knew I still wanted to be involved in a high level of hockey.” stated Ramsey. “The idea was to look for something at the next level in coaching or to pursue further endeavors in scouting with the Moose Jaw Warriors.” “Anyone who has played for, coached with or even played with Tyson has rave reviews of his coaching, scouting, and communication style. I think with the type of team we will have this year, with a lot of younger guys for the 2018/19 season, having that strong mentorship and coaching experience with our group will be very positive for our organization moving forward.  Having Tyson work with Troy on a day to day basis is great for everyone involved.” added Jamie Hodson, director of business and hockey operations. “I had some conversations with Jamie and Troy when the job came up and having a prior relationship with Jamie certainly was a factor. The Oil Caps are a top organization in the MJHL and its certainly exciting for me to join this group.  Troy is a highly-respected coach and I look forward to working with him.” added Ramsey. “I knew that if I was to pursue a higher level of hockey through coaching or scouting, I was going to have to take a part time position in the Brandon School Division, where I teach at Riverheights School, to be able to do this.  I took a leap of faith knowing nothing was certain, but believed that something would work out somewhere. In wanting to move on to the next level, Virden was somewhere that certainly made sense.  Virden’s a place I can commute to from Brandon.  My family, including my 2 daughters and my wife Tracy, are on board with this commitment.  I can’t wait to get started with the whole group in the Oil Caps organization.”    

Submitted Wednesday night saw the U14 Westman Magic Softball team conclude their regular season play in the Manitoba Women’s Super Softball League with a double header at the Ashley Neufeld Diamonds.  The visiting Winnipeg Thunder team succumb to the strength of your Magic team allowing for a 5-0 and 2-1 Westman victory. The U14 Westman Magic team was selected last fall from western Manitoba. These committed young ladies from Brandon, Boissevain, Neepawa, Killarney and Newdale have successfully won Gold in Saskatoon, Silver in Fargo ND and Third in Regina and now have their sights set on a solid Provincial showing. A top three finish at Provincials is well within reach for these accomplished U14 players possibly earning them the right to represent Manitoba at the national level in Montreal this coming August.

Submitted BRANDON—July 10, 2018—The Westman Regional Soccer Association (WRSA) has officially declared the Brandon Youth Soccer Association (BYSA) a “member not in good standing." As such, BYSA is now a non-sanctioned entity and is no longer eligible to receive any services from WRSA, and all current services being utilized will cease immediately. All BYSA teams, players and coaches are barred from competing in any sanctioned leagues, tournaments or competitions, regardless of when they registered or if the league or competition has already begun. As a non-sanctioned entity, WRSA cannot say that BYSA is insured with MSA/Sport Manitoba. It is with great disappointment WRSA had to take this step once again with this association, but it was not receiving the support required from BYSA to successfully run youth soccer programming in the region. On April 13, 2018, WRSA sent a letter to BYSA’s Board of Directors outlining concerns regarding the working relationship between WRSA and BYSA’s Staff and executive committee and the remainder of the BYSA board. The letter highlighted how the executive committee was making independent decisions that undermined the policies and procedures of the WRSA, and how some of these executive decisions and lack of communication prevented the BYSA board of directors from collaborating and working as a unified body during a pivotal time in the history of the association. These actions have prevented WRSA from establishing a strong working relationship and effective partnership with BYSA and caused unnecessary confusion and frustration for our members (players, parents, coaches). The letter sent in April also warned BYSA that if they could not uphold their responsibilities as a WRSA member there would be further disciplinary action. BYSA exhibited no changes in its actions and continued in failing to fulfil its responsibilities, therefore, WRSA is left with no choice but to declare BYSA a “member not in good standing.” The following disciplinary actions are being assessed to BYSA for non-compliance and failure to fulfill the responsibilities of a WRSA member community: 1. BYSA is being fined $500.00 for the unnecessary use of WRSA’s time and resources and the undue hardship to members (coaches, parents, players) that was caused by BYSA’s non-compliance. In addition to the fine, WRSA also mandates a Performance Bond of $2000.00 which will be returned to BYSA upon maintaining member in good standing status for one year. 2. BYSA’s executive committee must follow all By-Laws of the association, specifically as they relate to the functions and powers of the Executive Committee to “overrule” or change motions that have been passed by the BYSA Board of Directors. 3. BYSA’s Board of Directors must undergo board governance training. 4. BYSA must undergo an audit by a third party and share the full documentation of the audit with its membership and the regional association WRSA. BYSA will remain a member not in good standing until all of the above conditions have been met. WRSA’s top priority is keeping kids on the field and playing. We are stronger together and can improve the quality of youth soccer in Westman, but only when all involved parties understand their roles and responsibilities and fulfill them.

This past weekend your local U14 Westman Magic Softball team traveled to Fargo ND to participate in the “A Division at the Red River Rage Tournament. The team was selected last fall from Western Manitoba that includes players from Brandon, Neepawa, Killarney, Boissevain and Newdale. The tournament comprised of 16 teams brought out the competitive success of these young ladies earning them a second place finish in the Gold Division adding to their Gold medal finish in Saskatoon.

This past weekend the Brandon Heat U16B softball team was in Steinbach competing in the Provincial Championship.  The tournament started on Friday morning and saw the Heat go undefeated in their pool for the round-robin portion which then placed them in the final 8 teams out of a total 23 teams competing (top 2 teams from each pool).  On Sunday morning they advanced to the final 4 after beating Russell 7 to 3, and then to the championship final after defeating Virden by a score of 16 to 3.  In the final game they faced the undefeated Boni-Vital East 1 team and after 7 innings, the Heat were victorious by a score of 8 to 2.  The heat advisory could very well have been for the opponents of these determined girls as they came together and showed the other teams what can happen if they underestimate the Heat