Christmas came early this winter for two young and talented Brandon hockey players. Talon Scinocca and Reid Nicol recently found out that they had each been named to Team Manitoba Brick which will compete in the prestigious Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament this summer. The tournament, played at Edmonton's West Edmonton Mall, showcases the top 10-year old hockey players in North America. Current NHL'ers Johnny Guadreau, Tyler Sequin, Dougie Hamilton, Jonathan Toews, and Dustin Byfuglien have all played in the tournament previously. Like in previous years they will play against the older 09’ age group to prep for the strongest 2010 kids in the Country at the Brick The team is playing in 5 spring tournaments this summer that include: AAA North American Classic (Winnipeg) WPG Spring Shootout (Winnipeg) Super Elite North American Classic (Winnipeg) Bauer Pro Hockey Spring Shootout (Toronto) BRICK Invitational Tournament (Edmonton) Talon Scinocca started playing hockey at the age of 4 and has played Elite Spring hockey since the age of 6. He has played on several spring teams including the Manitoba Hawks, The Brandon Ice Kings, 8A Wheat Kings, Team Xtreme and recently Team Manitoba at a Brick Series tournament in Las Vegas this past summer. Talon is currently playing on the Brandon A1 Atom Green Raiders and recently made the 9A Brandon Wheat King team. He is looking forward to competing in the BRICK Invitational tournament at the West Edmonton Mall and having fun with his teammates. Talon is very excited to be part of an elite team and represent Manitoba.  The experience and memories he’ll make will last a last a life time, he can’t wait to get there and compete!! Talon Scinocca Position: Center Shoots: Right Favorite Team:  Montreal Canadiens Favorite Players:  Carey Price & Brendan Gallagher Reid Nicol is also very excited to join Team Manitoba. Reid started skating at the age of 2. His mom being a figure skater, she had him on the ice early. He always did well and loved the sport from an early age. Reid excelled in hockey due to his supporting family and the great coaches he’s had along the way. This winter Reid is skating with the Atom Black Knights who are headed to A provincials in March, and is also playing on the 9a Wheat Kings with Talon. He has also played with many spring teams including the Brandon Ice Kings and Manitoba Hawks. Reid is looking forward to meeting new teammates and friends with Team Manitoba. He is also pumped to play this tournament with the top 2010 kids in the country. His younger brother Kale will be there cheering him on. They spend countless hours on their outdoor rink together. Reid Nicol Position: Center Current Team: Atom Black Knights Favorite NHL Team: Winnipeg Jets Player: Kyle Connor

Growing up in Canada most young boys look up to and idolize NHL players like Connor McDavid, Patrik Laine, and Sidney Crosby.  Payton Teneycke from Brandon however grew up looking up to rugby stars like CJ Stander, Tyler Ardon, Kieran Read and New Zealand All Black legend Richie McCaw. Teneycke, who plays locally for the Brandon Barbarians Rugby Club, was recently selected to play for Team Canada’s U18 team. He was the lone Manitoba player selected to the team. On December 28th – January 3rd Team Canada will play games vs Team USA and Teneycke couldn’t be more excited at this opportunity to wear the Canadian jersey. When asked what will it take to increase rugby’s popularity, Payton felt that the sport needs to get kids at a younger age excited to learn the basics, play the game, and try it out. He feels once you play the game you will understand the values of what the sport is all about. Financially speaking Rugby compared to other sports is very affordable. For around $200.00, plus mouth guard and some boots, you can play the game just about anywhere. https://rugby.ca/en/news/2019/12/canada-s-u18-men-s-squad-set-for-year-end-tour

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon is pleased to announce it has secured the services of professional golf management company Golf Brandon Inc. to manage and maintain the Wheat City Golf Course on a five-year contract beginning in 2020.   While the City of Brandon will retain ownership of the Wheat City Golf Course and associated recreation area, Golf Brandon Inc. has been selected to manage operations and maintenance of the current 18-hole golf course and tennis courts and its associated pro-shop and food and beverage services. Within the contract, Golf Brandon Inc. will oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility, have access to all of the City’s existing on-site building infrastructure and equipment, and have the ability to 50/50 cost-share all on-course capital improvements. Together, the City of Brandon and Golf Brandon Inc. will set annual golf and tennis fees and present them for approval by Brandon City Council.   It is a management move which City of Brandon Director of Community Services Perry Roque says makes good financial sense, while still keeping the Wheat City Golf Course a publicly-owned and accessible facility that provides an exceptional customer service experience.   “Within the the past several years, City of Brandon management and staff have brought the Wheat City Golf Course back to life following river flooding more than once and have worked diligently to redevelop it into a course that is safe from the waters of the Assiniboine River and one that the community can be proud of. However, what we need now is a golf management company to take it to the next level of service for our community,” Roque notes. “What Golf Brandon Inc. will provide in terms of a Class ‘A’ PGA of Canada Golf Pro and a Class ‘A’ Canada Golf Superintendent Association Superintendent will put the quality and diversity of the golf experience at the Wheat City Golf Course in a class on its own.”   Roque notes that the City of Brandon will still manage all off-season aspects of recreation at the Wheat City Golf Course recreation area, including the publicly-accessible cross-country skiing/snow-shoeing trail system. He says Golf Brandon Inc. will assume its new management role next month for a period of five years, with the potential for an extension of services if mutually agreed upon by both parties.   More information about the Wheat City Golf Course can be found at www.wheatcitygolfcourse.ca (City of Brandon News Release)

Former Brandon Wheat King Kale Clague has been called up by the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. Clague has been playing with the Ontario Reign (AHL) where he has 15 points in 27 games to date. He was a second-round (51st overall) selection of the Kings at the 2016 NHL entry draft. Tyler Coulter was recently named the Howie’s Hockey Tape Rookie of the Month in the ECHL for November. Coulter amassed 16 points in 15 games with the Rapid City Rush. It should be noted that Peter Quenneville leads the Rush in scoring with 34 points in 27 games. After a brief stint with the Western Hockey League's Spokane Chiefs, Baron Thompson  returned to the Dauphin Kings lineup. Colby Robak is off to a strong start with his new club. The smooth-skating defensemen has 7 points in his first 8 games with the Schwenningen Wild Wings a professional German ice hockey team. Current Wheat Kings Braden Schneider and Ridly Greig were both selected for the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects game.

On Saturday December 7th the Brandon U17 AAA Wheat Kings hockey team volunteered to help the Samaritan House. The players assisted putting together Christmas hampers, did various small construction projects, and completed some cleaning and organizing of the warehouse. According to Derek Sobkow, one of the teams coaches, “The experience really hit home for the players, after seeing how many people are effected in their back yard."