Brandon resident Patrick Leask was recently announced as a winner of the 2021 National Indigenous Coaching Award. This summer Patrick started Oji-Cree Softball – a Softball Development Program for Aboriginal/Metis Youth. He offered free softball clinics and coached numerous teams with a goal of promoting healthy, active lifestyles in the community. From today's release "I'd like to thank my wife and kids for supporting me and my program it would not be possible without them, as they have been by my side every step of the way supporting me and all my new adventures. I have the best support system in place to push me to not only be a better man but a better coach. Anything is possible with the right people in your corner and a great mindset."

Over the weekend in Calgary, Brandon's Kurtis Cullen secured a double gold medal (Men's Open Singles and Men's Open Doubles) performance at the Western Canadian Racquetball Championships. For Cullen Sunday's Men's Open Singles victory was a redemption of sorts, as he upended a competitor he lost to earlier in the month at a national event for a spot of the national traveling team. Driving home from Calgary, he told bdnmb.ca that he typically plays in 3-4 larger tournaments a year and that he captured his first provincial title when he was only 16 years old. Cullen started playing the sport when he was just 4, 25-short years ago. He tries to hit the court 4-5 times a week to work on his individual skills including footwork, serves, and shooting set-ups. All the hard work and dedication paid off over the weekend, as in addition to the Men's Open title he and partner Mitch Brayley toppled 4 other highly skilled teams to take home the Men's Open Doubles title. Cullen also runs the junior program at the Sportslex, a program he is looking to grow. He recently became a Community Programming Co-Ordinator with Racquetball Canada and spends 3-4 days a week coaching and instructing local youth. Those interested in learning more about the sport can visit the Brandon Racquetball Association's Facebook Page here. 

Brent McLean, and his trainers, wanted to offer to Law Enforcement and First Responders a form of training that would be both physically and mentally effective when Covid hit in 2019.  Introducing Justice Boxing. The success of the workouts proved to be extremely popular so they slowly started to add family members to the core of people attending their groups. Now Justice Boxing has expanded to welcome anyone from the public regardless of their level of fitness. "This is a fitness and boxing oriented program for just about anyone" said McLean. Justice Boxing runs classes 7 days a week and also features female only groups and private sessions. McLean states "we want to teach the fundamentals of boxing such as how to use the heavy bag and skip rope...this will be a different form of exercise that will be fun and engaging". Costs are very reasonable: 2 classes per week will cost you $44.99 per month Unlimited package is $64.99 and you can take as many classes as you like per month Youth memberships which consist of 5 classes per month are $34.99 per month McLean wanted to stress that you go at your own level and pace and can work up from any starting point. More info/contact: Brent McLean 204 841 4516 https://justiceboxing.ca/

Goaltender Dawson Green, of the Winnipeg Blues, had a night he won't soon forget. In addition to recording a shutout, Green scored from behind his own goal line into an empty net during a Manitoba Junior Hockey League game Saturday night. His goal at the 19:44 mark of the third helped the Blues secure a 3-0 victory over the Selkirk Steelers. Having previously spent two seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA team, Green is now is his third season in the MJHL. WE’VE GOT A GOALIE GOAL. Dawson Green scores on the empty net to notch his first MJHL goal @BluesWpg AND he gets the 23 save shutout ???? pic.twitter.com/6VqNBP88Vr — #theMJ (@mjhlhockey) October 17, 2021

The THHL is expected to start their 2021/2022 in late October. This year the league has expanded to 15-teams, as the Carberry Plainsmen return to the fold after taking the last several years off. Carberry last played in the THHL in the 2016/17 season. The team will be coached by Nathan Malfait and will feature more younger, local players then in past seasons. The league will be broken down into two divisions (East, West) with the winners of each respective division meeting in the league final.  The league website can be found here.