Help Wawanessa reno their rink. Built-in 1976 their rink is in need of some updating. In efforts to help raise the necessary funds they are currently holding a lottery with some great prizes up for grabs including a $50,000 credit to the Glenboro Home building Centre or $40,000 cash. For more information, or to order tickets, please visit this link. Final DrawL Saturday, July 24th 2021 at 7:05 PM Even before the opening in 1975, the Rec Facility has been the epitome of volunteerism. The Lions Club donating funds, the Turf Club donating land, and community members coming forth to raise funds and build the facility, all contributed to it being built without debt - becoming a staple facility in the area. To this day, the facility is managed by a volunteer board and much of the work done is accomplished by volunteers. In the last 10 years, over $250,000 has been spent at the facility in renovations. These include: new lighting, new arena boards and glass, insulation, elevator, dressing rooms and there has been quite a bit of paint applied inside as well. The exciting fact in all of this is that there has been volunteer labour involved in ALL of these projects, and ALL of the money was either from donations or grants. There is one integral part of the facility that although has been maintained meticulously over the years, does need to be replaced. The ice making equipment is now very tired and becoming increasingly harder and more expensive to maintain. There are pieces of the system that are original equipment - designed to have a lifespan of 20 years - and we are now over 40 years of operation. That’s where the facility is at now…the volunteer group once again begins a new fundraising endeavor to replace their aging ice plants with a more efficient system to carry them on into the future. Along with the new plants, they are also looking at putting on an addition to the facility that will have expanded washrooms with handicap accessible stalls, a larger waiting room area and two dressing rooms on the main floor

Construction on a new cricket pitch has begun in Brandon. Located at Simplot Millenium Park, the site will serve as the first official cricket pitch in the city. Over the next few weeks concrete will be poured in followed by installation of the mat. Up until now Westman Cricket and its 150-200 adult members have been practicing at Queen Elizabeth Park and traveling to Winnipeg for games. The new pitch (regular sized, international standard) will have many benefits for the sport locally including youth camps and a local league for its members, pending restrictions. The organization is hopeful that once restrictions are lifted they will be able to host teams from Winnipeg and tournaments as well. For more on Westman Cricket, please visit their Facebook page here.

Wheat Kings Nate Danielson was named among the forty-five hockey players from across the country that will head to Calgary (July 25-Aug. 4) for Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team summer development camp. Danielson, recently completed his first season with the Wheat Kings tallying 15-points in 24-games. He is one of 26 forwards who were invited. In total three Manitobans were announced to the development camp roster. Strathclair's Conor Geekie, also a forward, received an invite as well. This past season saw Geekie amass 23 points in 24 games with the WHL's Winnipeg Ice. Denton Mateychuk (Dominon City) and Matthew Kieper (Winnipeg) were other Manitobans announced as attending. Mateychuk (D) plays for the Moose Jaw Warriors while Kieper (G) is a member of the Regina Pats organization. For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca.

The 99th edition of the Manitoba Junior Championships wrapped up today out at the Shilo Golf Club.  Ten year old Hunter Oakden became only the 2nd Brandonite to take home the 12u Provincial Championship.  The last local golfer to win was the late Dan Hallderson in 1964.  Hunter won by four strokes with rounds of 77/93.  Payton Oakden finished 7th overall in the 18 and under Junior Girls division with a three round total of 279.  It was the first time for both playing in the Provincial Jr Championship. Full results can be found on the Golf Manitoba website.

Brandon, MB – For the first time thirteen years, the Brandon Wheat Kings have headed to Belarus for their first round CHL Import Draft selection, taking 17-year-old forward Zakhar Polshakov from the Belarussian U18 program. The 5’10”, 170-pound centreman scored nine times and added 17 assists in 38 games with his club team last season and was the Captain of the Belarus U18 team in Texas in May where he notched one assist in three games. “Zakhar has worn a letter everywhere he has played,” said Wheat Kings General Manager Doug Gasper. “He plays a solid game in all three zones. He can play both on the penalty kill and the powerplay.” Polshakov comes from a long hockey bloodline, as his father Alexander played twelve seasons of pro hockey in Belarus, while his grandfather Valeri served as both Head and Assistant Coach with HK Minsk, Yunost Minsk as well as Lithuania’s U18 program. “Zakhar saw limited action at the U18’s due to a prior bout with Covid-19, but had a good showing when he was in the lineup,” added Gasper. “I feel he will really fit into our current group.” The Wheat Kings have drafted just one other player from Belarus. In 2008, Kirill Gotovets was chosen in the first round. Gotovets never did wear the black and gold but has played in over 130 games in the American Hockey League and is currently a member of Avangard Omsk in the KHL. The Wheat Kings elected to pass with the 98th overall selection as the club retains the rights to Russian defenseman Yaroslav Busygin (2019-1st Rd Pick) and overage forward Marcus Kallionkieli (2018 -1st Rd Pick) who have both signed professional contracts. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/532627/zakhar-polshakov