City of Brandon Parks & Recreation Services is advising that the Sportsplex Arena ice plant will not be operational for the Summer 2023 and Fall 2023/Winter 2024 hockey and skating seasons. Background: The Sportsplex Arena was closed on March 2nd due to safety concerns with the ammonia ice plant. Since that time, Administration has worked with Safety and Health, and Contractors to perform an assessment of the plant. They identified deficiencies and proposed repairs that would be required to safely operate the plant. A planned recreation needs assessment and conceptual design for the Sportsplex Arena will be taking place throughout the summer and fall months. The assessment will determine whether community need is for a renewed ice plant and arena, or an alternate redevelopment, such as indoor turf and sport court. Update: A bid opportunity for repairs and replacements of the ice plant has recently closed, and Administration now has a better understanding of the cost and timeline for these repairs. Initially, it was anticipated that the repairs would be completed by the end of August. However, a further deficiency in the ice plant has been identified and, as such, the date for the completion of repairs has been delayed. At best, repairs would be completed in January 2024, and would carry a significant cost. In addition, the RFP for the recreation needs assessment and conceptual design for the Sportsplex Arena has recently closed and has been awarded. Phase 1 of the assessment includes research, community and stakeholder engagement as well as costing which will determine the direction of future development. Phase 1 is set to be completed in September 2023. In Phase 2, consultants will complete conceptual design and further costing analysis. Due to the lengthy timeline for completing ice plant repairs, and the conflicting needs assessment timeline, it was concluded that we will postpone repairs to the ice plant until at least September 2023 when phase 1 of the needs assessment has been completed. At that time, we will re-evaluate the business case for repairing the current ice plant taking into consideration the outcome of the needs assessment (fully new ice plant, or alternate recreation amenity). *Stay tuned to brandon.ca or follow the City of Brandon’s Parks & Recreation Services Facebook and Instagram accounts for updates (City of Brandon PSA)

Westoba was honoured to host a grand opening of the Westoba Cricket Practice Pitch in partnership with the Westman Cricket Association on June 7th. Westman Cricket Association receive $9000.00 from the Westoba Inspire Program in the fall of 2022 to install the practice pitch at the J&G Homes Cricket Field. Westman Cricket Association President, Kushang Patel said the Westoba Practice Pitch is a first for Brandon and will have a significant impact on attracting more cricket enthusiasts, high-level competitions as well as building the skills of existing and new players. “Cricket is a growing sport in Brandon, for adults and kids,” said Patel,” The Westoba Practice Pitch is the piece we needed to create a proper facility and limit expensive travel to Winnipeg for skill training.” Westoba’s VP of Risk Management, Zarrar Lodhi expressed his happiness for the project and Westoba’s involvement. “Working for an organization that supports community and promotes healthy activities such as cricket brings me joy,” said Lodhi. “I grew up playing cricket and have many fond memories of my time on the field, it gives me great pleasure to see the sport of cricket flourishing in the city of Brandon and the Westman region. Construction of the Pitch was completed early last week with a few last-minute touches to be added in the coming days as weather allows. Patel said there have been several inquiries already to use the Pitch and expects it to be a busy spot this summer and long into the future.

Brandon's Ethan Stewart didn't have to wait long to hear his name called at today's MJHL draft for players born in 2007. The forward was selected in the 1st round, 7th overall by the Dauphin Kings. Stewart spent last season with the Brandon U18 AAA Wheat Kings where he registered 18 points in 22 regular season games. Another Brandon product Loughlan McMullan was also selected in the first round today. Like Stewart, McMullan is also a forward who amassed 68 points in only 36-games with the Brandon U17 AAA Wheat Kings in 2022-23. He was selected by the OCN Blizzard. Defensemen Dustin Bell was selected in the 1st round, 10th overall by the Winkler Flyers.  Last season he suited up in 44 games for the Brandon U18 AAA Wheat Kings and chipped in with 10 points. McCreary's Brady Turko, who has spent the last two seasons playing hockey in Brandon, went 12th overall to the Steinbach Pistons. Turko was teammates last season with Stewart and Bell on the Brandon U18 AAA Wheat Kings and he averaged nearly a point a game (44gp, 43p). In addition to the 4-first rounders a number of players with ties to the Wheat City were also selected. Brandon U17 AAA Wheat Kings defensemen Aiden Laing, 2nd Round 15th overall, Neepawa Titans Brandon U18 AAA Wheat Kings Forward Colten Worthington, 2nd Round 20th overall by the OCN Blizzard. RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U16 defensemen Josh McGregor, 2nd Round 25th overall, Swan Valley Stampeders Brandon U18 AAA Wheat Kings Forward Easton Odut, 2nd Round 35th overall, Dauphin Kings Brandon U18 AAA Wheat Kings Defensemen Kaeson Fisher, 4th round 52nd overall, Winkler Flyers RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg U18 goalie Burke Hood, 5th Round 59th overall, Winkler Flyers Brandon U17 AAA Wheat Kings defensemen Konnor Klemick, 6th Round 79th overall, OCN Blizzard Brandon U17 AAA Wheat Kings goalie Matt Michta, 6th Round 81st overall, Swan Valley Stampeders Brandon U17 AAA Wheat Kings forward Roan Michalchuk, 8th Round 106th overall, OCN Blizzard Rink H.A. Winnipeg U16 Prep goalie Brady Low, 8th Round 110th overall, Portage Terriers The entire list can be found here.

A live wrestling event dubbed as "Hangover @ Houstons" will be coming to the Wheat City on Friday, June 9. Primo's Wrestling, out of Winnipeg, is putting on the show and they intend to have an evening of hard hitting wrestling action full of fun, comedy and excitement. The company has been around since 2012 and hosts roughly 50 type similar events a year in communities like Swan River, Flin Flon , Killarney, Wabowden & many other northern towns. The all-ages event starts at 7pm and kids 5 and under are admitted free. Player One, Mustachio, Ryan Rogan, TJ Cannon, Big Cliff, and Billy Blaze are among the wrestlers scheduled to take part.

Brandon's Brett Skinner has made some major progress in his hockey coaching career by being announced as the new Head Coach of the Fargo Force of the USHL. Cary Eades the Fargo Force GM / President of Hockey Operations for the past 8 season told BDNMB.CA that they had 50 - 60 applicants but also targeted Skinner due to his previous success. Cary Eades ( photo courtesy of The Rink Live Fargo ) Eades also said "He has only coached for 6 years but has had a tremendous amount of success in that time...plus he knows how to win". Skinner is the son of local coaching legend Tom Skinner whom was the head coach of the Brandon Bobcats plus worked in Europe. Brett Skinner was a 3rd round pick of the Vancouver Canucks...selected by Brian Burke. Playing and coaching resume for Brett Skinner https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/8539/brett-skinner The Fargo Force has been a top team in the USHL and produced dozens of NCAA D1 players as well as NHL and Pro players since the 2008 - 2009 season.  The USHL is considered the number one league for players wanting to play NCAA D1 hockey.