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

Each year the MASRC honours athletes, coaches, and volunteers who demonstrate great determination, leadership, and giving back to their community. This year their annual awards celebrated a decade of achievement and the award recipients were chosen by following a set of guidelines and were selected through the Award/Scholarship Selection Committee. Manitoba Indigenous Male Athlete of the Decade - Zach Whitecloud (First Nations - Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, MB) In 2013, an article stated that regardless of your birth year, you're basically looking at 1-in-2,500 chance of playing one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) when it comes to the general public. Those chances are much lower when we are talking about Indigenous athletes. There have been less than 100 NHL players ever, who had Indigenous ancestry. Zach Whitecloud is one of them and he has now played 40 games and counting with the Vegas Golden Knights. Zach's career over the last decade demonstrates how persistence and taking advantage of opportunities can lead you to great things. In 2014, Zach competed with Team Manitoba in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships along with teammate Brady Keeper, who was drafted into the NHL and also played a couple games with the Florida Panthers. In the past decade, Zach has played for seven different teams from the Manitoba Midget 'AAA' Hockey League (MMHL), Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), to finally being signed by the Golden Knights to a three year entry-level contract. His first career NHL game was on April 5, 2018 against the Edmonton Oilers. Other notable highlights from the past ten years: 2016-2017 - WCHA All-Rookie Team2016-2017 - Rookie year at Bemidji State - Lead defenceman in scoring2017 - played for Team Canada and placed fourth at the Karjala Cup in Finland. Zach was the youngest skater selected to play for Team Canada.He was later named to Team Canada's pre-Olympic roster before the 2018 Winter Olympics but did not make the final roster.During the 2018 offseason, Whitecloud volunteered as a guest instructor at Micheal Ferland's Hockey School in Brandon, Manitoba, alongside other NAHC stars including Brigette Lacquette, Harley Garrioch, and Shaq Merasty. (MasrcManitoba Media Release)