Photo & Story Brandon University Bobcats Monday night saw the official conclusion to the 2016-17 season for BU Athletics, and stand-outs Roy Ching and Keisha Cox took home top honours as the BU male and female athletes of the year. The two were honoured at the annual Bobcats year-end awards banquets at Brandons Victoria Inn, wrapping up an evening that celebrated the accomplishments of BU athletes and teams this past season. Prior to Ching and Cox being honoured, John Paul won the illustrious Jim Casey award while Jaycee Castle was presented with the H.S. Perdue award. Team awards were also presented including MVP honours to Tyvon Cooper (men's basketball), Jade Barrault (women's soccer), Pierre Erickson-Smith (men's soccer), Mary Thomson (women's volleyball), as well as Ching and Cox for men's volleyball and women's basketball respectively. Ching becomes the second member of the BU men's volleyball team to win the R.J. McCarthy male athlete of the year award in back-to-back seasons. Ching also becomes one of just seven BU athletes to earn the distinction multiple times in the awards nearly 50-year history. Ching was outstanding in all areas as as student-athlete, earning his second straight Canada West all-star award and his second consecutive all-Canadian selection. On top of his on the court performance, Ching is also an academic all-Canadian and gives back to his community as a volunteer coach. Keisha Cox picks up her first athlete of the year award in just her second season with the Bobcats. In doing so she becomes the first member of the BU women's basketball team to be named female athlete of the year in 12 seasons. Cox was outstanding in 2016-17, leading the team in every major statistical category, and more importantly, leading the Bobcats back to the playoffs for the first time in more than two decades. Cox was also chosen as the BU athlete of the month twice this season, the first time that's happened since the Bobcats started the current athlete of the month program. John Paul is known around the Canada West conference for his size, ability, and remarkable attitude and approach to the game. The product of St. Lucia joined the Bobcats last season and became one of the elite defenders in the conference, but the gentle giant is known for being a constant source of positivity and energy, as well as displaying sportsmanship to opponents and officials alike. Paul's tireless work ethic is a source of inspiration to any and all who look up to the towering centre.     Jaycee Castle enjoyed a stellar season thanks to her leadership, commitment, and team-first attitude, which catapulted the Bobcats women's soccer team to the best season in program history. Castle was instrumental in the Bobcats' undefeated outdoor season, the program's first MCAC championship, and helping get back to the playoffs in the indoor season. The Brandon product led the team in scoring en route to the MCAC title, for which she was named Final Four MVP. Castle's season also marks another big first for the BU soccer program, as this is the first major award to be given to a Bobcats soccer student-athlete.   Here's the complete list of award winners from Monday night: Men's Soccer Rookie of the Year Nolan Melanson Inspirational Award Dillon Grant Most Valuable Player Pierre Erickson-Smith Women's Soccer Rookie of the Year Chelsea Plett Inspirational Award Cailee Plante Most Valuable Player Jade Barrault Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year Kobyn Jopp James O. Dollings Inspirational Award Earl Thompson Jr Jerry Hemmings Most Valuable Player Tyvon Cooper Women's Basketball Rookie of the Year Adrianna Proulx Tracy McLeod Inspirational Award Kinsley Ransom Most Valuable Player Keisha Cox Men's Volleyball Rookie of the Year Elliott Viles Bill Gadd Inspirational Award Chayse Warkentin Most Valuable Players Roy Ching & Jeremy Davies Women's Volleyball Rookie of the Year Rayvn Wiebe Daryle McCannell Inspirational Award Courtney Roberts Most Valuable Player Mary Thomson MAJOR AWARDS Student Union Service Award Jade Barrault Taylor Blue Denham Buchanan Jaycee Castle Osian Edwards Dillon Grant Kylee Howard Holly Kalyniuk Jessica Kalyniuk Nikala Majewski Brady Nault Daven Pascal Bailee Ploshynsky Courtney Roberts Earl Thompson Jr. James Weir Doug Crandle Award Men's Basketball Student-Athlete Achievement Award Denham Buchanan H. S. Perdue Memorial Award Jaycee Castle Jim Casey Memorial Award John Paul Nancy Stanley Award Outstanding Female Athlete Keisha Cox R.J. McCarthy Award Outstanding Male Athlete Roy Ching The Bobcats year-end awards banquet concludes the 2016-17 season of competition and events for Brandon University Athletics. Bobcat athletes, coaches, and staff wish to thank all fans, supporters and sponsors for another tremendous season, and look forward to another great season in 2017-18. Thank you Bobcat Nation!  

Photo Credit: Killarney Shamrocks Twitter The Killarney Shamrocks defeated the Norway House North Stars 9-3 on Sunday to capture their 2nd consecutive male Provincial Sr A Title. The 6-team tournament played out over the past two weekends featuring the champions of the five different Sr Leagues ( THHL, NCHL, CSHL, NWSHL, SEMHL) in Manitoba as well as one wildcard team, Carberry. In their 4 games played Killarney outscored their opponents by a wide margin, 33-6. Former Wheat King defensemen Reid Gow scored a goal, and added 4 assists, to lead Killarney over Norway House.

Submitted: CWE Wrestling Canadian Wrestling's Elite returns to Brandon for the first time since September on Wednesday, May 3rd a part of the 8th Anniversary Tour! This event is headlined by WWE Hall Of Famer, WWE Legend, & WrestleMania 1 Headliner "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, 3x CWE Champion "Hotshot" Danny Duggan, CWE 123Approved.ca TV Champion "Jacked Jesus" Tommy Lee Curtis, & Brandon's own "First All Star" Brian Rich. This will likely be the last event in Brandon until at least the fall so make it count and get on down to the event, invite your friends in the area, and share to your network encouraging them to do the same! Facebook event.

BRANDON – Another busy summer of sports programming is on horizon at the Healthy Living Centre for youth interested in basketball, soccer and volleyball. The annual Bobcat summer camps provide a great way for kids to keep active over the summer break while developing their skills in their sport of choice. GENERAL SOCCER CAMP The co-ed soccer camp runs from July 17-21 for kids aged 7-15. Campers will participate both outdoors at the HLC Field and indoors at the Healthy Living Centre. The cost to register is $200 with the camp running from 9am to 4pm. Participants will further develop their individual skills, including technical ability, 1-on-1 defending and attacking, as well as basic skills like shooting, passing and dribbling. They will also learn team-oriented skills, such as tactical positioning, both in offence and defence. Each day will offer small-sided games and game situations to put those new techniques to good use. Campers will be divided up into groups based on age and skill level. BOYS BASKETBALL CAMP The boys' basketball camp focuses on skill development and game play in sessions led by coaches and athletes from the Bobcat men's basketball team. How to run an offence, how to run a defence, and advanced individual skills will be covered, while promoting the basics of the game of basketball - dribbling, shooting, and passing. The camp runs July 31-August 4 from 9 am to 4 pm with an hour lunch break at noon. The cost to register is $200. All participants will receive a Bobcat basketball t-shirt. GIRLS BASKETBALL CAMP The girls' basketball camp is for students in grades 5-12 and includes a full day of skills, drills and games. The participants will take part in various activities aimed at improving their abilities and each day features game situations to put those new skills to good use. The lessons and drills will be tailored to each student's level of skill and ability, so that each participant gets dynamic instruction and demonstration on how to properly execute basketball skills. The girls basketball camp is scheduled from August 14-18 and runs 9 am to 4 pm with an hour break for lunch at 12 pm. The cost to register is $200 for the week and includes a Bobcat basketball t-shirt. GENERAL VOLLEYBALL CAMP A full day of skills, drills and games will be offered with participants taking part in various activities aimed at improving their overall abilities. Game situations will be offered each day, allowing participants to put their newly acquired techniques to good use. The camp is for all levels of experience and is aimed at improving participant's ability in volleyball while learning more advanced parts of the game. The camp runs August 21-25 with each day starting at 9 am and wrapping up at 4 pm with an hour lunch break at noon. The registration fee is $200 and all participants receive a camp t-shirt. VOLLEYBALL SKILLS SESSIONS The skills sessions' cover all the bases with students getting instruction and demonstration on how to execute a skill before putting it into practice. Position players can work on improving a specific area of the game in a focused, dynamic setting, or take part in all of the sessions to develop their overall abilities. The skills schedule is Monday - Attacking; Tuesday - Defence; Wednesday - Blocking; Thursday - Serve Reception; Friday - Serving. Individual sessions are $25 each, or participants can sign up for the whole week at $100. The sessions run August 28-September 1 from 9 am to 11:30 am. JUNIOR VARSITY ELITE VOLLEYBALL CAMP This camp is geared towards students in grades 8-10 and offers students the chance to hone their skills as they enter the school season. Participants will get the chance to train with and compete against the best in the region while receiving instruction from Bobcat athletes and coaches. The junior varsity elite camps run August 28-September 1 from 1 pm-3:30 pm and registration cost is $115 SENIOR VARSITY ELITE VOLLEYBALL CAMP This camp offers specialized training for club, senior varsity and provincial team members in grades 11 and 12. Participants will gear up for the upcoming high school season by training with and competing against the best in our region, while getting advise from Bobcat student-athletes and coaches. The camp runs August 28-September 1 from 6:30 pm to 9 pm. REGISTRATION INFORMATION All participants are asked to pre-register at the Customer Service Desk of the Healthy Living Centre or online. If you are registering online and you are a new customer to the Healthy Living Centre, you will need to create a new account. All major forms of payment (cash, cheque, credit, debit) can be processed at the facility. All participants are asked to bring proper attire and footwear for each day of the camp, as well as a re-fillable water bottle. *Refunds are available up to seven days prior to the start of camp, minus a $15 administration fee.  

The Brandon Novice Wheat King girls came out on top of the recent Winnipeg Stars Cup hockey tournament, played over the weekend. Despite only three practices together, the girls came together as a team to compete in the A1 division of the 17th annual tournament. The games took a total team effort from all players, especially in the two games played against the St. Vital Chill. The two teams battled to a 5-5 round robin action, and were deadlocked at 4 late in the 3rd period of the championship game, when Sydney Sass dented the twine with 27 seconds left to propel the Wheat Kings to the win. Winnipeg Stars Hockey Tournament March 24-26, 2017 Novice A1 Category (all games played at the Southdale arena) Games: 1. vs Winnipeg Stars Purple, Win 8-1 2. vs St. Vital Chill, Tie 5-5 3. Vs Winnipeg Stars, Win 8-1 4. Gold Medal finals vs St. Vital Chill, Win 5-4 Team Members: 3. Brooke Ratz, 4. Emily Beckwith, 5. Taylor Thompson, 6. Ashley Henwood, 7. Reese Shutte, 8. Shayla Scinocca, 9. Sydney Sass, 10. Chloe McBeth, 12. Devyn Moncur, 13. Chloe S. Pierre, 14. Nicole Dyck. 15. Layla Desjardin, 16. Claire Slomiany Coaches: Paul McBeth Jeff Sass Landon Desjardin Dave Scinocca