BU hockey alum Scott Hlady founded the BIRT Cup ten years ago and handed the tournament reins over to his alma mater this past summer. The tournament raised around $65,000 in the last five years, including close to $25,000 in 2017. The Investors Group Bobcat BIRT Cup is July 13 at the Wheat City Golf Course with a portion of the profits going towards Boyd Stadium. The football fields are being built at Simplot Millennium Park. A newly established Bobcat BIRT Cup Athletic Scholarship Endowment and other local sporting groups will benefit from the funds raised. "The Boyd Stadium committee and the Westman Youth Football Association board is incredibly appreciative to be one of the recipients of this year's fundraiser tournament," said Boyd Stadium spokesperson Blaine Moroz. "This is an amazing gesture of support and helps make a home for generations of youth to grow and play sports." The tournament has new committee members, but the title sponsor remains the same with Investors Group continuing its long-standing partnership with the BIRT Cup. "Investors Group is pleased to support the Bobcat BIRT Cup," said Tim Rowan, Regional Director, Investors Group Western Manitoba office in Brandon. "The tournament's legacy will continue thanks to the efforts of BU Athletics and we are proud to be a part of it." The Bobcats are hoping to fill the tournament with familiar faces. BU Athletics has made a strong effort to cultivate alumni relationships by holding basketball, hockey and football reunions. The tournament board members are working to make the BIRT Cup a great way for Bobcat alumni to give back and re-connect. "Our goal is to make this an annual summer celebration with our alumni," said BU Athletic Director Russ Paddock. "We want former Bobcats to embrace being part of our BU family while working with the community in helping support worthwhile local causes." Team registrations are now being accepted at $600 per-foursome or $150 per-golfer. The entry fee includes supper and a post tournament reception that will be held at the Healthy Living Centre. Team registration forms can be found here. Please send registration with payment to Tyler Crayston, Brandon University Athletics, at 270 18th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 6A9 or drop off at the Healthy Living Centre (2010 Louise Avenue). More details about the reception and prizes will be announced at a later date. BIRT is short for basic, intensity, respect and team. Brandon University Sports of Wall of Famer, the late Neil Andrews came up with the acronym when he was Scott Hlady's baseball coach.

Brandon Wheat Kings News Release Brandon, MB. – As they prepare to play the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Washington tonight, the Brandon Wheat Kings have announced that veteran defenceman James Shearer has been named the Western Hockey League club’s new captain. One of three local products on this year’s club, the 20-year old Shearer replaces Tanner Kaspick, who was dealt to the Victoria Royals at last week’s WHL Trade Deadline. A former Manitoba Junior Hockey League Rookie of the Year, he was also a member of the 2016 Western Hockey League Championship club and is currently in his third season with the Wheat Kings organization. Selected the Wheat Kings’ McDonalds Frank King Memorial Trophy winner as the club’s Most Community Minded Player last season.  Entering tonight’s game – the first of three in three nights this weekend – the former AAA Midget Wheat King has eleven goals, 40 points and 68 penalty minutes in 138 games for the WHL club. Brandon’s alternates for the balance of the 2017-18 campaign will be defenceman Schael Higson and forwards Stelio Mattheos, Ty Lewis, Linden McCorrister and Connor Gutenberg.

Borrowing a page out of the playbook of the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins from the 1970’s, the Rez Kings last year used a combination of toughness (Jon Mirasty, Derek Parker) and skill (Darren Reid, Ryan Pilon, Dustin Perillat) to capture the Men’s Senior Division at the Dakota Nation Winterfest’s annual hockey tournament.    This year they are returning in 2018 in hopes of repeating their championship run and capturing the $15,000 first place prize money.   In preparation for this years tournament Leighton Axelson tells bdnmb.ca "this year, we had alot more time to get this team together and everyone is looking forward to coming back."   Their final roster is still pending however they will be coming back with the same core, give or take a few guys. According to Axelson they will be looking at adding a few new guys as well prior to the tournament getting underway.  "With work, families and other commitments its always been a challenge to get all the guys together for this particular tournament" he added.  This same core of players also enters a team annually in the Oskana Cup tournament held each summer in Regina. Axelson believes that "this a great tournament and every team is capable of winning any given game so we expect an even tougher competition this year."  When asked what he felt it would take to repeat as champions in 2018 he replied "I would say we need to come into the first game with the same humble attitude and work ethic we had last year and go from there". The tournament get underway on Friday, January the 26th.  Others team competing include the Norway House Bruins, Fisher River Terriers, Peguis Mohawks, Ochapowce Thunder and a team from Animozeebeeng.

Brandon will soon have the area’s first ever indoor hitting facility as today Triple Crown Sports announced they would be opening a location in Brandon in the spring of 2018. Triple Crown Sports is dedicated to the development of young athletes across the province.  They offer a variety of camps and clinics including a pitching program.  Additional information will follow as it becomes available.

A former member of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Rob Klinkhammer, has been named to the Canadian Olympic men’s hockey roster.  Klinkhammer suited up for 28 games with the Wheat Kings back in the 2006-07 season.  He picked up 31 points in those 28 games.  Since completing of his junior career he has played in 91 NHL games including stops in Chicago, Ottawa, Phoenix and Edmonton.  He has spent the last two seasons skating the in the KHL. Also named to the team were two Manitobans, forward Quinton Howden and defenseman Chay Genoway.