Brandon, MB. – Two nationally known hockey broadcasters headline plans for the 2018 Brandon Wheat Kings’ Q Country Sportsman’s Dinner, presented by TELUS, scheduled for Thursday, Feburary 8th in the Keystone Centre’s UCT Pavillion. Sportsnet’s John Shannon joins TSN’s Dennis Beyak as headliners for the event, which is held annually to raise money for the hockey club’s Scholarship Fund. Joining them at this year’s dinner will be comedian Graham Chittenden of Brantford, Ontario. Regarded as one of the industry’s brightest minds, Shannon has over thirty years of experience in overseeing the television production of regional and national National Hockey League games, including 23 Stanley Cup Finals. Before joining the NHL and NHL Network in 2008, he served as Vice President of Programming and Executive Producer of MLSE, overseeing the launch, implementation and operation of Leafs TV and Rapters NBA TV. Shannon, who joined the ranks of Rogers Sportsnet in 2009, spent six years as the executive producer of Hockey Night in Canada on CBC. As well, he’s been involved in the production of five Olympics, receiving an Emmy for his work on NBC’s coverage of hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Born and raised in Winnipegosis, Manitoba, Beyak began his play by play career with the Western Canada Hockey League’s Flin Flon Bombers. In addition to providing play by play commentary for the Saskatoon Blades, Victoria Cougars and Seattle Thunderbirds, he served as the television play by play voice for both the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, before returning to Manitoba when the Jets relocated from Atlanta. A former general manager of both the Tri-City Americans and TBirds, Beyak was named the WHL’s Executive of the Year in 1989, after serving as chairman of Seattle’s successful bid to host the Memorial Cup. This will be Beyak’s third appearance at the annual event and second since becoming the voice of the Jets in 2011. Batting “clean-up” at February’s event will be one of Canada’s most exciting comedic performers. A familiar face at the Just for Laughs festival, on television and on radio in programs such as Match Game and The Debaters, Chittenden has shared tours and stages with such stars as Howie Mandel, Andrea Martin and Louie Anderson to name a few. Graham has appeared in numerous comedy specials, including his own on The Comedy Network and has also spent time as a host on MTV Canada. A talented writer, he currently works on a number of programs, ranging from Mr. D and Still Standing on CBC. February’s dinner will be the 53rd in franchise history. The first was held in 1959 and featured former Blackhawk Bill Mosienko, all star pitcher “Lefty” Gomez and Father Athol Murray. Tickets to this year’s event are $125 each and can be ordered by calling the Wheat Kings at (204) 726-3535. For more information on the event, its history as well as the WHL Scholarship Foundation, be sure to check out the club’s official website located at www.wheatkings.com

Brandon, MB. – Brandon Wheat Kings’ general manager Grant Armstrong is pleased to announce that highly touted prospect Ridly Greig has signed a Standard Western Hockey League Player Agreement with the club. The 5’9 150lb Lethbridge product was Brandon’s first pick and eighth overall selection in last May’s WHL Bantam Draft in Calgary. Currently a member of the Lethbridge AAA Midget Hurricanes, Greig is off to a terrific start this season, averaging more than a point per game. In thirteen games with the AAA ‘Canes, he has six goals and 17 points. As well, he scored two goals and three points while skating with Team Alberta at last month’s WHL Challenge Cup in Calgary. During the 2016-17 season, Greig scored 71 points, including a league leading 49 assists in 35 games for the Bantam AAA Golden Hawks. He also added ten goals and 18 points in thirteen Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League playoff games. “We are very happy that Ridly and his family have chosen Brandon and the Wheat Kings,” says Armstrong. “He’s a quality player and he’s a quality young man. He comes from a really good family and we’re excited to have him part of the organization.” “Ridly plays the game the right way,” Armstrong went on to say. “He’s a very intelligent player that makes players around him better. We know he’s going to work hard to prepare himself to be a valuable member of the Wheat Kings.” During his two years of bantam hockey with the Hawks, Ridly scored 35 goals and 113 points in 71 regular season games. The 15-year old center is expected to join the Wheat Kings during the club’s extended road trip next week in Alberta. He’s scheduled to make his WHL debut on Tuesday night when the Wheat Kings face off against the Rebels in Red Deer. The Wheat Kings, who don’t play at home until Wednesday, December 6th, will kick off a 6-game road trip this weekend with games against the Blades and Broncos in Saskatoon and Swift Current respectively.

Dauphin Kings Release DAUPHIN, MB – The Dauphin Kings announced Monday that they have parted ways with Head Coach & General Manager Marc Berry. The Kings make the move following a 4-18-2 start to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League season. Berry had been with the Kings since 2010 and was the club’s Head Coach & GM since the summer of 2016. “Marc’s a character guy whose efforts to rebuild from within are much appreciated but our record indicates things were not going as planned. It’s unfortunate but change was needed. We wish Marc the best moving forward” says Kings President & Governor Randy Daley. “Assistant Coach Mitch Giguere will be handling the team in the interim until we have an opportunity to bring our staff back up to strength” added Daley. The Kings return to the ice Wednesday when they visit the Waywayseecappo Wolverine

With a brand new location at Assiniboine Community College, NextPlay offers new & exciting versions of ball hockey for Div 1 playing a 3 on 3 style game & Div 2 playing 4 on 4, plus goalies. Division 1 has 5 teams already anxious to start playing, with space for new players in Brandon to get their hockey mates together & see if they are up for the shot at becoming the next Farmery Keg Champions in NextPlay's second season. Pre-season starts December 3rd, with regular season play having 10 games starting the following week.  The top 4 teams in each division earn a spot into the Farmery Keg Playoffs for another 2-additional  games held March 3rd & 4th. Team fee's are $750. See the NextPlay Ball Hockey Facebook page for the entire season of game days.  Played Saturdays between 10am - 4pm, with a handful of Sunday game times at 9am-1pm & 4pm-6pm. Each game having 1 hour time slots to get a good run in. The sooner we get the 6th team, the better!  Peak Performance had a solid 14 guys last season and with more wanting to join this Organization, fitness club Owner and GM Rodman Batson says this year he might just build 2 teams, the question remains, will the 2nd team be in Div 1 or Div 2? Who's the best team in Brandon?  The Pitbulls are the defending Champions, and are in talks with Pet Valu on naming rights this year.  With a new general manager Dustin Ferland, getting the team together, they opted to sign up a new netminder Terry Spence. "Might as well just give us the Keg now" he says. lol. The North Stars were happy to hear Pitbulls starting goalie last year became available, signing up Derrick Genaille as their starter for this season.  "Watching him play last year and helping the Pitbulls win the Keg with an injured arm in net was impressive"  He's got the talent and with new speed on the team picking up free agent Shaun Theiessen this year, we have a good chance of getting our names on the Keg this season". If your a free agent, or gm looking to put a team in, contact Brian by texting 306-421-2000, registration can be done online at www.nextplay.ca and team deposits can be made in person.  $250.00 with the remaining $500 to be made into 2 more monthly payments. 

The Imperial Ballroom, inside the Victoria Inn, will be trading in the dancing shoes for a pair of boxing gloves as the venue will play host to an Olympic Style Boxing event. The “amateur” boxing event will feature local athletes as well as fighters from Winnipeg, Minot, The Pas, and possibly a few other clubs. Rodman Batson tells bdnmb.ca that to date they have 10 confirmed matches. The event goes down on Saturday, November the 18th with the doors opening at 5:00 pm. Bell time for the first fight is 5:30 pm. and pizza will be served at 7:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at Peak Performance or by calling 573-2114. For additional event information please follow this link.