The 2024 IG Wealth Management Bobcat BIRT Cup took place earlier today at Wheat City Golf Course. Last year the alumni/charity event raised a record $84,000 for local area charities. BIRT is short for basics, intensity, respect and team. Brandon University Sports Wall of Famer, the late Neil Andrews came up with the acronym when he was Scott Hlady’s baseball coach. Hlady is a former Bobcat hockey player and founded the BIRT Cup. He ran the tournament independently for a decade before handing it over to his alma mater. Photos by Scramble Studio.

The second day in the NHL's annual entry draft was held earlier today and Brandon Wheat King defensemen Charlie Elick was selected in the second round, 36th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Elick suited up in 65 games with the Wheat Kings this past season  registering 27 points and 71 PIMs. He has been on the radar of NHL scouts for several years, thanks his robust play and smart decision-making. Elick was the lone Wheat King selected this year. Looking good in the Union Blue! Welcome to Columbus Charlie Elick 🤝@Pedialyte | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/P71W6TZFot — Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) June 29, 2024 Clarke Caswell, a standout player from the Swift Current Broncos, was picked by the Seattle Kraken in the 5th round, 141st overall.  His impressive performance with the Broncos showcased his ability to be a game-changer. In the 2023-2024 WHL season, Caswell racked up an impressive 77 points in 68 games, highlighting his scoring prowess and playmaking ability. Caswell grew up playing his minor hockey in Brandon including one season with the Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA team. Entering the draft, he was the highest ranked Manitoban amongst North American skaters at #77. Sounds pretty good to us! Congrats to Clarke Caswell on being selected 141st overall by the @SeattleKraken. #nhldraft pic.twitter.com/cdHtiJ2Ycy — Swift Current Broncos (@SCBroncos) June 29, 2024

The Brandon Wheat Kings Hockey Club is proud to announce that we have officially submitted our intent to bid for the 2026 Memorial Cup, with plans to host this prestigious event in May 2026 at Westoba Place at the Keystone Centre. The Memorial Cup, the coveted trophy awarded annually to the champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), was most recently held in Saginaw. The Wheat Kings aim to bring this historic event to our passionate hockey community and showcase our city’s rich hockey heritage. Quote from Jared Jacobson, Owner and Governor of the Brandon Wheat Kings: “We are thrilled to announce our intent to bid for the 2026 Memorial Cup. Hosting this event would be a tremendous honor for our organization, our city and our province. Brandon, and Manitoba, have a storied history in hockey, and we are excited about the opportunity to showcase our community and province to the entire hockey world.” Last hosted in Brandon in 2010, Brandon and the Keystone Centre proved to be the perfect venue for such a popular event with multiple indoor and outdoor areas that were used. Since then, the Keystone Centre has hosted numerous other world class events and has made several meaningful improvements to both the main arena and surrounding land. On the ice, The Wheat Kings have a strong core with a deep prospect field and are poised to be a competitive team. All this leads the organization to believe this is the perfect time for Brandon to once again welcome the CHL and the Memorial Cup to the city that sits on the hundredth meridian. Bring the country to its core where Brandon is ready to host and compete for the greatest trophy in Junior Hockey. Quote from Connie Lawrence, CEO of the Keystone Centre: “The Keystone Centre is elated to support the Brandon Wheat Kings’ bid to host the 2026 Memorial Cup. We’re making substantial improvements to Westoba Place, which will include the new seating and air conditioning to make the fan experience even better. We know our facility’s ability to host world class events such as this and we know that, together with the organizing committee, we will provide an unforgettable experience for all participants and fans.”

The 33rd season of the Wendy's Summer Hockey League starts July 2nd at J & G Homes Arena with a new change. This season the Divisions will be named after previous WSHL players, Ryan White & Matt Calvert) that went on to have great Junior and Pro careers. Ryan White, from Brandon, played in the WSHL as a 12 year old and had his first experience playing with a much older team from North Dakota. Since that time "Whitey" played in over 300 WHL games and 340 NHL games. Matt Calvert, also from Brandon, was always a player that loved playing WSHL games every summer as he prepared for the upcoming season. Matt has over 600 NHL games played and 200 WHL games. Gord Paziuk, the new WSHL League Commissioner who takes over from Darryl Wolski after 32 years, commented "We feel these changes are required to honor those players that were key in the early stages of the WSHL". Listing of 2024 WSHL teams: https://wshl.ca/teams All games are free to attend this Summer and the schedule can be found at www.wshl.ca.

The City of Brandon is pleased to provide an update on the progress for Brandon’s Community Sportsplex. Last year, we asked for your feedback on the future of this crucial community resource. We want to thank you for your input and support as we work to revitalize this vital community asset. Our Community Sportsplex is more than just a facility; it’s the foundation of our community where children, seniors, and families come together to have fun, stay healthy, create lasting memories, and build community spirit. The Sportsplex ice arena has been shut down since March 2023 due to safety issues with an obsolete ammonia ice plant. The decision to install a new ice plant rather than repairing the old one was based on the priority of ensuring the well-being of our residents. The new facility will exceed current safety standards, offering a secure environment for everyone. The total cost of the project is estimated at $6.5 million, up from the initial projected cost of $4 million. The new upgrades include the new ice plant, as well as improvements to the ventilation, dehumidification, and cooling systems, along with the replacement of the cooling lines under the concrete pad. All this will extend the life of the facility and reduce operating costs. The upgrades to the ice arena should be finished by late 2025. We have secured $3.9 million in Strategic Infrastructure Funding from the province, and we are seeking additional funding from other sources. Although several grant opportunities have been explored and applications submitted, the City has not yet been successful in receiving funding. To ensure work can continue, we are proposing to borrow up to $3.5 million to cover expected costs of the Sportsplex Ice Arena and additional future upgrades. A public hearing will take place at the regular Council Meeting on Monday, July 8. By-law No. 7393 will also be presented to City Council for first reading on that date, which will provide three options with a recommendation from City Administration. These proposed updates align with our vision of offering a secure and updated ice arena for our community. We encourage our community to stay involved and informed as we go through the developments that will shape the future of our Sportsplex, a key element of recreation and community life in Brandon. Together, we will ensure that our Sportsplex remains a safe and valued space for generations to come.