To say the Vincent Massey High School Vikings Football Team went into the 2022 season with high expectations would be an understatement. After an undefeated season and a West Division Championship in 2021, the Vikings set their sights higher on a Division 2 Championship. After starting 3-0 the team faced a major challenge from the John Taylor Pipers at the Viking Football Hall of Fame game. After falling behind the 28-0 to the Pipers and a 28-6 halftime score, the Vikings had a major hill to climb to keep their historic undefeated run intact. After a final minute go ahead touchdown, they secured the programs greatest come from behind victory. The Vikings continued to roll through the final 3 regular season games, securing a home playoff game, by beating Myles Mac, Springfield, and crosstown rivals Crocus Plains. The Vikings hosted the quarterfinals game against the Portage Trojans, controlling the line of scrimmage and used their running backs (Temi Toogun and Braden Smith) effectively, with over 300 yards of rushing. Their defense was stingy and relentless on every play, holding the Trojans scoreless, and easily moving onto the semi finals at IG Stadium in Winnipeg vs the Springfield Sabre (a rematch from earlier in the season). The well-prepared team learned from their mistakes made in their earlier match up and entered the contest relaxed and confident. The defense had a relentless effort in a near perfect performance and the offense lit up the scoreboard and finished the 1st half up 48-0. Outstanding performances by Josh Atchison and Connor Van Santen on the defensive side of the ball and Brayden Smith, Justin Sharp and Mathew Escoto-Andino on the offensive side, kept the Vikings season perfect, and sealed a birth into the Division 2 Championship game. The Vikings have been in the Division 2 Championship game before, losing to the Oak Park Pirates in 2017. The 2017 team was the 1st ever Brandon team to compete for the D2 championship. So, the 2022 Vikings were on the cusp of history if they could stay perfect and win this Championship. The Division 2 Championships was an absolute nail-biting, double overtime game at IG Field. The Vikings stayed perfect winning 20-14 over the Sturgeon Height Huskies. The Vikings won on the last play of the game when Kevin G. knocked down a potential game tying touchdown to seal their championship. The Vikings capped off a perfect 10-0 season for the second year in a row. Congratulations to Justin Sharp and Carter Moore who won offensive and defensive players of the game. 2022-2023 Western High School Football League Awards: Vincent Massey Vikings Coaching Staff: Coaching Staff of the Year (5‘h time since 2010) Carter Moore: D2 Lineman of the Year Justin Sharp: The Blue Bombers Alumni’s Most Outstanding Award Brayden Smith: Runner Up for Rookie of the Year Brady Dane: Nominated for Assistant Coach of the Year Mike Steeves: Runner Up for Head Coach of the Year (Vincent Massey Media Advisory)

Brandon Wheat King kept himself very busy Tuesday pulling the trigger on three seperate deals. The first deal of the day saw The Wheat Kings acquire forward Dawson Pasternak (’03) and a Conditional 4th Round Pick from the Portland Winterhawks in exchange for US Import forward Colin Frank (’06), a 2025 6th Round Pick, and a 2026 2nd Round Pick in the WHL Prospects Draft. Pasternak hails from Winnipeg. Less than an hour later, The Wheat Kings acquired forward Nolan Flamand (’04) from the Kelowna Rockets in exchange for forward Trae Johnson (’05), a 2023 3rd Round Pick and a 2024 Fifth Round Pick in the WHL Prospects Draft. The clubs final deal featured The Wheat Kings dealing forward Jake Chiasson (’03) to the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for a 2023 1st Round Pick, a 2025 2nd Round Pick, and a Conditional 2026 2nd Round Pick in the WHL Prospects Draft.

The City of Brandon is announcing sponsorship opportunities for the Outdoor Sports Field Complex (OSFC) located at First Street and Veterans Way. With investments from the governments of Canada and Manitoba, the City of Brandon is on track to see phase 1 and phase 2 of the project complete by early 2025. Sponsorship proposals will be considered from parties interested in securing the naming rights for the OSFC for a minimum agreement term of ten (10) years. Secondary naming and sponsorship opportunities will also be available for the following: FIFA sized field individual sports fields cricket pitch clubhouse pathway system parking lots The City strives to provide quality events, programs, facilities, and services to its residents while being mindful of how its main revenue source, property tax dollars, are utilized. The sale of naming rights provides the City with alternate funding sources to benefit the quality of life for the residents of Brandon and the surrounding area. Naming rights for the OSFC will encourage investment in civic assets for the benefit of the City’s residents, provide a consistent funding stream for the assets, and ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in the naming process. Sponsorship is an excellent way to partner with the City of Brandon and promote your business or organization. For more information on this sponsorship opportunity, please visit purchasing.brandon.ca.

The Brandon Wheat Kings have dealt defender Mason Ward(’02) to the Swift Current Broncos, in exchange for blue liner Kayden Sadhra-Kang(’03). Ward, 20, was acquired in May 2021 as a part of a deal that involved goaltender Conor Ungar going to the Red Deer Rebels back in May 2021.  The Lloyminster, AB native played 24 games in the black and gold, picking up 10 goals and 14 assists in 66 games played. Sadhra-Kang, 19, was originally drafted by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 9th round of the 2018 WHL Prospects draft and later dealt to the Swift Current Broncos in October 2021. The Richmond, BC native currently has  1 goal and 9 assists this season. Sadhra-Kang brings some size to the Wheat Kings lineup at 6’4, 202 lbs. “We decided to make a hockey trade and I believe it makes sense for both teams,” stated Wheat Kings Head Coach & General Manager Marty Murray. “Both players are defensively minded and are big bodies. We like the fact that Sadhra-Kang is a year younger. That was our rational on our end”. The Brandon Wheat Kings organization wishes Mason all the best with his new club. We also would like to welcome Kayden & his family to the City of Brandon and the Wheat Kings organization.

Reston's Shaggy Campbell (ring name: “Jacked Jesus” Tommy Lee Curtis) will be headlining a Cloud 9 Wrestling event in Brandon on February 25th. The card, dubbed "The Perfect Storm", will take place at the Great Western Roadhouse (1125 18th St) on Saturday February 25. Campbell told bdnmb.ca that ever since he was 6 years old and first saw Shawn Michaels, being a wrestler was the only thing he ever wanted to do. When he was older he received training from Lance Storm in Calgary and graduated from the Storm Wrestling Academy in 2006. He used to wrestle approximately 50 matches a year and now that he's getting a little older he tends to focus more on quality than quantity and has scaled back to around 2 matches a month. In his career, Campbell has wrestled coast to coast in Canada hitting every province except Nova Scotia and PEI. He's wrestled numerous times in the United States, mainly North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. "I participated in a Ring of Honor Camp that took place in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that was a great learning experience" said Campbell. Throughout the years, he has shared the ring with many top stars including the likes of Teddy Hart, Kid Kash, Tatanka, Silas Young, Jimmy Jacobs, Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas, Kazarian, Kenny Omega, Ariya Daivari, Eugene, New Jack, Nick Aldis, Carlito, Psicosis, and Davey Boy Smith Jr. Cloud 9 is based out of Minot, North Dakota and this event will mark their first ever appearance in the Wheat City. In addition to Campbell, the evening will also feature top stars from the American Midwest as well as the top stars from across Canada including 20 year veterans “Zombie Killer” Mentallo and “Canadian Crusher” AJ Sanchez who are the absolute who’s who in Canada who also achieved success in Mexico and Japan. Saturday, February 25th - BRANDON, MB Great Western Roadhouse (1125 18th St) Doors open: 5:00PM Bell time: 6:05 PM Tickets $15 in advance, $18 at the door Kids 12 & Under $5 Advance tickets: C9Wrestling.Eventbrite.ca