Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today it has been granted approval by public health officials from the Government of Saskatchewan to play in a Hub Center located in Regina, which will allow the WHL’s Saskatchewan and Manitoba based teams in the East Division to open their season on Friday, March 12. “The WHL appreciates the cooperation we have received from both the Governments of Saskatchewan and Manitoba as we work towards a safe return to play in the East Division,” commented WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “With our extensive protocols and the necessary approvals now in place, we are looking forward to play getting underway in Regina and allowing our players to continue their development at the highest level in the Canadian system.” Seven WHL Clubs, which operate in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, will form the East Division, including the Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades, Swift Current Broncos, Brandon Wheat Kings, and Winnipeg ICE. The WHL has agreed that all East Division games during the 2020-21 Regular Season will be played exclusively at the Brandt Centre in Regina, under an approved WHL Hub Center model. The WHL East Division schedule will commence on Friday, March 12. The WHL’s East Division will play a 24-game Regular Schedule, which will be announced at a later date. Based on the approved WHL protocols, the schedule will be played exclusively at the Brandt Centre in Regina with practices conducted in the adjacent Co-operators Centre. The WHL has developed an extensive set of protocols and believe the protective Hub environment will provide a high standard of safety, for not only players and staff, but the Regina community at large. WHL players and staff from Saskatchewan and Manitoba based Clubs will begin self-quarantining on February 20 and then will report to the WHL Hub Center in Regina on February 27, where they will be required to undergo COVID-19 testing upon arrival followed by an additional quarantine period. Players and staff will then undergo a second COVID-19 test before being permitted to engage in any team activity. WHL Clubs are also committed to providing private PCR testing through DynaLIFE Medical Labs, to ensure no additional strain is placed on public health. Players will be tested upon arrival to their WHL Club and once again before engaging in any team activity. DynaLIFE’s PCR testing is considered a gold standard for COVID-19 testing, and was utilized in Edmonton during the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs and the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. The WHL will implement an ongoing weekly private PCR testing strategy. If a WHL Club has one or more players or staff test positive for COVID-19 at any point in the season, the Club will be required to suspend its Club activities for a minimum of 14 days. Enhanced screening for all WHL players, team staff and officials will also take place on a daily basis, including regular temperature screenings as well as symptom monitoring through the WHL Athlete RMS Mobile Application. Masks must be worn by all WHL players at all times with the exception of when participating on ice for games and practices. WHL coaches will be required to wear masks at all times, including while conducting practice and while behind the bench during games. As the WHL returns to play in the East Division, no spectators will be permitted to enter WHL facilities. WHL fans can look forward to the launch of a brand-new live streaming service that will deliver the excitement of WHL hockey straight to their homes. Details on the new WHL Live will be announced soon. With the East Division start date now confirmed for March 12, the WHL will have three Divisions ready to open the Regular Season, starting with the Central Division on Friday, February 26 and the U.S. Division on Friday, March 19. The WHL continues to work with government health authorities in British Columbia to establish a start date for the WHL’s B.C. Division. Approval from the health authority in B.C. is required for the WHL’s B.C. Division to return to play.(WHL Media Release)

Brandon resident Patrick Leask recently unveiled his new initiate called Oji-Cree Softball - a Softball Development Program for Aboriginal/Metis Youth. In conversation with bdnmb.ca earlier today Patrick said would like to see boys softball make a comeback in Manitoba. When he attends ball tournaments with his current team (Layne's Stars) he sees a lot of talented men and women teams and lots of kids watching or playing on open diamonds but he also saw a gap where there could be opportunity. His daughter plays competitive softball and she has lots of options with training or playing but he didn't see a lot of opportunity for boys aged U8-U19 to play softball in Manitoba. In looking to fill that gap, his main goal is to travel to First Nation and Metis communities to offer clinics and promote healthy, active lifestyles. Future plans include creating a boys softball team to play house league and possibly travel depending on the interest. The logo was created to represent Patrick’s family life, the 285 & 314 are their band numbers and their children are Oji-Cree’s both treaty to Waywayseecappo. The Thunderbird represents their son’s Indian name which is Strong Thunderbird Man : Zhoongi Pinesi Inini. The bats represent their love for the game. Patrick himself is a talented athlete have spent several years playing junior hockey in Swan River and a season in Saint John, N.B. playing in the QMJHL. Raised in Sapotaweyak, he grew up around addiction and saw the negative effects it had on friends and family, mostly on children. Sports was his way out, that was his ticket but he had many moments in his life where he just wanted to give up and move back to the reserve. During his clinics he intends to share his story and offer positive messages of hope to the youth who attend. He had help from many people along the way including his father-in-law (Wallace Clearsky), the McGraw's, Bettesworth's, and Hohn's who all assisted him in becoming the person he is today. More recently he said that he has received incredible guidance from Bev Neufeld and positive vibes and encouragement from Ed Dyck. Since the announcement of this initiative it has been an extremely busy few days for Patrick. People from all over the province have reached out with notes of encouragement, while others have inquired about the direction of the clinics. He has lived in Brandon for the past 14-years with his wife (Ojibway and treaty to Waywayseecappo (285)) and two children. Patrick has been employed by Manitoba Hydro for the past 13 years and still plays senior hockey (Boissevain Border Kings) and fastball with the Layne’s Stars (Mallard). For more information on Oji-Cree Softball , or to find out more about Patrick, please visit their Facebook page here.

The Wheat City Whiskey Jacks today are very proud to announce the signing of Zoe Hicks from Boissevain, Manitoba to a contract for the 2021 Whiskey Jacks season. Hicks, a graduating senior at Louisiana Tech University (NCAA I), becomes the first female to sign a player contract in the Expedition League. Zoe follows in the steps of other collegiate female athletes to make inroads into male college sports, including NCAA Football players; Liz Heaston in 1997, and most recently Sarah Fuller in November 2020 with the Vanderbilt University Football program. “We’re excited to welcome Zoe to the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks”, commented Whiskey Jacks General Manager Ray Walker. “Our Head Coach, Robby Laughlin, has done a phenomenal job of signing the top tier players for the 2021 season and we’re confident that Zoe is a great addition to the team.” Hicks, a member of Canada’s National Team, is preparing for the 2021 Women’s Baseball World Cup in Mexico. Zoe has been honored numerous times through her scholastic career, having been named to several All-American baseball and softball teams. She also holds many school offensive records for the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. Most comfortable playing at 3rd base, she has played at all positions on the infield. The 2021 Expedition League Season is set to begin on May 25, as 12 teams (including 3 new teams … Canyon County Spuds in Caldwell, Idaho, Mining City Tommyknockers in Butte, Montana and Sioux Falls Sunfish in Sioux Falls, South Dakota) take to the diamond in pursuit of the Expedition League Championship.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 is a day that Brandon's Jaxon Derlago will likely never forget as the young goalie was featured in a video segment on the NHL Tonight. The video shows the talented goaltender working on his skills on the ice surface inside his family's garage. Former NHL netminder, and current broadcaster, Kevin Weekes breaks down Jaxon working on his "butterfly slides" and "edge work", giving Jaxon props for his technique along the way. Jaxon, who lists the Washington Capitals as his favourite team and Marc-Andre Fluery as his favourite tendy, was obviously thrilled when his father received a private message with the link to the video saying he was in it. "I thought it was the coolest thing ever to be on the NHL Network and have an NHL goalie talk about my video" he told bdnmb.ca. "Honestly, I didn’t think it was real, I thought it was edited and couldn’t believe they picked my video out of all the ones that were probably sent in." "When they sent the link to the video I watched it over and over, I couldn’t stop watching because it’s not something that happens everyday and had to show all my friends.". This is the third winter the family has put ice in the garage and he tries to get out there as much as he can. "It’s been awesome having it this year especially with no hockey going on" said Jaxon as he waits to see if his U13 Predators season will continue. A link to the video is posted below. https://www.nhl.com/video/ice-time-chill-skills/t-277774708/c-7370511

The Wheat City Whiskey Jacks are set to return to Andrews Field on Friday May 28 welcoming the new Sioux Falls Sunfish to kick off their second season in the Expedition League. The season opener is just under 4 months away, on May 25 at Corbett Field in Minot, North Dakota with a 3 game series against the rival Souris Valley Sabre Dogs. “We have a really interesting and exciting schedule for us this summer,” said Whiskey Jacks General Manager Ray Walker. “Friday nights were fantastic for us in 2019, and in 2021 we have more Friday night games than most teams in our league.” he added. The Wheat City Whiskey Jacks will play a total of 7 Friday night games at home this summer, 5 Saturday games, 3 Sunday games, 2 Monday games, and 5 for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Ticket information, game times, and game night promotions will be announced soon. The Expedition League is a 12-team Summer Collegiate wood bat baseball league featuring the finest student athletes, and baseball talents from across Canada and the United States. All players are developing their skills in an effort to get noticed, and be drafted to the next level. 2021 Schedule May 25-27            at Souris Valley Sabre Dogs (Minot, ND)May 28-29            vs Sioux Falls Sunfish Jun 1-3                 @ Sioux Falls Sunfish (Sioux Falls, SD)Jun 4-6                 @ Hastings Sodbusters (Hastings, NE)Jun 7-9                 vs Spearfish SasquatchJun 11-13             vs Badlands Big SticksJun 15-17             @ Badlands Big Sticks (Dickinson, ND)Jun 18-20             vs Sioux Falls SunfishJun 22-24             vs Freemont MooJun 25-27             @ Pierre Trappers (Pierre, SD)Jun 29-Jul 1          @ Western Nebraska Pioneers (Gering, NE)Jul 2-4                  @ Casper Horseheads (Casper, WY)Jul 6-8                  vs Casper HorseheadsJul 9                      vs Souris Valley Sabre DogsJul 10-11              @ Souris Valley Sabre Dogs (Minot, ND)Jul 12-13              @ Badlands Big Sticks (Dickinson, ND)Jul 14-15              @ Pierre Trappers (Pierre, SD)Jul 16-18              vs Pierre TrappersJul 19-21              *** ALL STAR BREAK *** (Casper, WY)Jul 22-23              vs Badlands Big SticksJul 24-25              @ Badlands Big Sticks (Dickinson, ND)Jul 26-29              vs Souris Valley Sabre DogsJul 30-Aug 1         @ Spearfish Sasquatch (Spearfish, SD)Aug 3-5                vs Hastings SodbustersAug 6-7                vs Spearfish Sasquatch