Brandon, MB - Since coming together in 2018 the Brandon United Football Club has worked hard to provide soccer training to youngsters from the ages of 3-18. In 2021 they acquired full sanctioning from the Canadian Soccer Association as a Quality Soccer Provider. The group has also partnered with Villarreal CF in Spain. Being affiliated with with a prestigious European football club through their international academy division has opened the doors for some local players to have an opportunity train in Spain. Ryan Childs, Brandon United FC Facility and Equipment Director is excited about the ID Camp entering its second year. “We are putting on a soccer camp again this month with Villarreal CF,” he says, “This will be the second year we’ve offered the chance for the youth soccer community the experience to be trained in Villarreal's methodology. The camp is an ID camp exclusively for our members and run by a UEFA licensed coach from Villarreal CF coaching staff.” The 2023 Brandon United FC / Villarreal CF ID camp will select players to send to Spain for a week of training in Villarreal's facilities. Players affiliated with the international academy division, like players with Brandon United FC, who meet the skilled level that is required by Villarreal FC may have an opportunity to play on higher level teams or eventally progress to playing on a professional league team. To date there are two players from other international Villarreal academies playing on the Villarreal B team. Half of the 2022 Pro Team, the team that plays in the La Liga against Barcelona FC and Real Madrid, was comprised of Villarreal CF trained athletes. The 2023 camp will run from July 17th – 21st at the outdoor field space adjacent to the Brandon University Healthy Living Centre and is open to BUFC members in the U8 – U17 boys and girls categories. More information and registration details can be found at www.brandonunitedfootball.ca .

Brandon's Brad Schoonbaert recently signed a deal with Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL for the 2023-24 season. The affable Schoonbaert spent 3-seasons in the MJHL with the Steinbach Pistons, prior to lacing them up for 4-seasons at the University of Calgary.  A solid dependable two-way forward, Schoonbaert is also recognized as one of the top ball hockey goalies in the province. Also joining Brad in Kansas City will be Cartright's Ty Enns who also recently completed his college career in the States. We’ll see him in October folks ???? pic.twitter.com/gQwuoxDDQv — Kansas City Mavericks (@kc_mavericks) July 13, 2023

The Canadian High School Rodeo Finals will take place this summer in Brandon, August 2-4, 2023. The weekend will feature approximately 350 contestants (grades 5-12) competing at the Keystone Centre for national titles. Participants will be battling in a variety of events; trap shooting, barrels, goat tying, saddle bronc riding, team roping, bull roping and more. Gate admission is $10, or $20 for a weekend pass. A link to the weekends schedule can be found here.

The Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA hockey club will have a new coach behind the bench for the 2023-24 season, as today it was announced that former head coach Curtis Brolund had accepted an assistant coaching role with the MJHL's Virden Oil Caps. Brolund, who once skated as a member of the Brandon Wheat King U18 AAA club, has been the head coach of the program since the 2019-2020 season. Prior to being promoted to head coach, he spent 7 seasons as an assistant coach with the organization. A search for a new head coach is already underway to replace Brolund.

Former longtime Owner and Governor of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Kelly McCrimmon will be bringing the Stanley Cup to Brandon for a public viewing on Friday, July 21. McCrimmon, the GM of the Stanley Cup Champion Las Vegas Knights, is very much looking forward to bringing the Stanley Cup to Brandon to share with the community, and at the Keystone Center, where it all started for him!  The lineup to have your picture taken with the Cup takes place inside the Manitoba Room (overheard door entrance) and is scheduled to run from 9am-1pm.