The annual WHL bantam draft was held today in Calgary and a number of Brandon and Westman products were lucky enough to hear their names called.  Goaltender, Trent Miner, was the first Brandon player selected as he went 20th overall to the Vancouver Giants.  Miner is described as a technically sound goalie with size. The 6-0, 171-pound goaltender spent this past season with the Brandon Bantam AAA Bantam Wheat Kings compiling a win/loss record of 23 and 3 while sporting an impressive GAA average of 1.52.  He also has the distinction of being the first Manitoban selected in this year’s draft. Another local product, Tristen Robins (photo:Bantam AAA Wheat Kings) was selected in the 4th round, 76th overall by the Regina Pats.  Tristen is the son of one-time Wheat King goaltender Trevor Robins and spent this past season as a teammate of Trent Miners on the Brandon Bantam AAA Wheat Kings.  The speedy forward fished the regular season with 91 points in 35 games. Forward Dylan Halliday was chosen by his home town Brandon Wheat Kings with the 263rd pick in the 12th round.  Dylan scored 89 points in 34 regular season games in the Winnipeg AAA Hockey League. Other Manitobans of note who were drafted on this day include Vista’s Cole Muir who went 33rd to Regina, Eric Fawkes who went 40th overall to Seattle, and Jordan Chudley of Souris who the Kootenay Ice selected 78th overall. The Brandon Wheat Kings started their day by moving up in the draft and acquiring the 11th overall pick from the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for the Wheat Kings 1st, 3rd, and 6th round picks.  With the pick they selected Braden Schneider a 5’11”, 170 defensemen from Prince Albert.    Originally the Wheat Kings were not scheduled to select until the 20th pick but moved up 11 spots by making the deal.  With their pick in the 4th round, the Wheat Kings took Winnipeg’s Kyle Bettens who is the brother of Wheat King prospect Rylan Bettens.  Forward Ben McCartney of MacDonald, MB was chosen with the Wheat Kings 43rd overall pick in the 2016 draft. Players not selected in today's bantam draft need to remember that many players have gone on to very successful careers after not being drafted themselves.  Jarome Iginla, Adam Deadmarsh and Steve Konowalchuk are all examples of players who were never selected in the bantam draft and ended up playing in the NHL.  Michael Ferland and Matt Calvert are two local Brandon products who have proved the scouts wrong and are currently plying their trade in the NHL.   Current WHL player of the year, Dryden Hunt, was not selected in his bantam draft year and he too just concluded a very successful campaign with the Moose Jaw Warriors which lead to him signing an NHL level contract with the NHL's Florida Panthers.

WINNIPEG -- Folks at the Winnipeg Goldeyes office were thrilled with the Weekend Weather forecast on Friday morning. After some chilly days for the Goldeyes Open House in the past – and the first day of the team’s training camp – Environment Canada has  predicted that the weekend weather will be solid in the ‘Peg as the Goldeyes invite their fans to Shaw Park for what they hope will be the best season ever. Saturday’s Open House, the official start of summer for baseball fans, begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 in the afternoon. Among other things, this is the first day that fans can purchase individual game tickets so if you want great seats for this year’s fireworks nights or you really want that Dancing Gabe bobblehead on July 13, this Saturday, May 7, is the day to buy your tickets. And don’t forget, while the Open House begins at 11, the box office opens at 10 a.m.   And make no mistake, for even the casual baseball fan, Saturday will be a sensational day: The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a free hot dog, chips and Pepsi products. The Goldeyes will work out on the field from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Season ticket and mini pack holders can pick up their 2016 tickets. Fans can get a tour of the ballpark, including a look inside the Goldeyes clubhouse and a special private tour of the umpire’s room with umpires Henry Lemoine and Bob Bland. Steve Schuster, the voice of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, will be interviewing Goldeyes players and coaches right on the field to get their insight on the upcoming 2016 American Association season. The radar pitching booth will be atop Section A for fans to clock their pitch speed. Younger Goldeyes fans can sign up to become a member of Goldie’s Home Run Gang. Fans can test their arm speed in the TCBY Radar Pitching Booth on the Concourse. “We’ll have free Winkler meats hot dogs, Old Dutch chips and Pepsi products for the first 1,500 people through the door plus ballpark tours and your chance to buy the best seats for the biggest games,” said Goldeyes general manager Andrew Collier.  “As it is every year, it’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s a chance to get out in the sunshine and watch the 2016 Goldeyes go through their first official workout of the season.” “And remember, it’s free.” The Goldeyes will play their first pre-season games on Tuesday, May 10 and Wednesday May 11, both at 6 p.m., against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and then they’ll head out to open the 2016 campaign in Joplin on Thursday, May 19. The home schedule begins on Monday, May 30 against the Sioux Falls Canaries and yes, there are some tickets remaining for Opening Night. So make sure you get out to the Goldeyes Open House on May 7 at 10 a.m. to secure your Opening Night seats.  

Courtesy: BU Bobcats BRANDON - Continuing the trend of Brandon players to make the transition from high school to the next level, yet another stand-out has signed a letter of intent to play for her hometown Bobcats. Shayla Heinrichs of Brandon's Vincent Massey High School has committed to play for the Bobcats women's volleyball team beginning next season. Heinrichs, a 5-foot-8 outside hitter, has made a name for herself in the Manitoba high school and club volleyball scene for her athleticism and ability. The opportunity to stay and play for her hometown team is something she is excited for. "Growing up here in Brandon and seeing first-hand the strong volleyball program BU has definitely helped make my decision," says Heinrichs. "It's always been a dream of mine to play CIS volleyball and I feel very fortunate to play in my hometown." On top of being a stand-out with the Vincent Massey Vikings, Heinrichs is also a product of the Cats Volleyball Club, which is based out of BU. Heinrichs is used to playing on a big stage. Entering the season, she was ranked #8 in the Winnipeg Sun pre-season coaches poll. She closed the season in the playoffs, leading the Vikings to an AAAA semi-final appearance this past season thanks to a massive 20 kill, 20 dig performance in the quarterfinals. For her efforts she was named to the all-Manitoba team and a Volleyball Manitoba graduating all-star this past season. "Having a local athlete with such great ability and skill gives us excitement knowing that she wants to play for her hometown team," says Bobcats coach Lee Carter. "She is an incredibly dynamic athlete. She moves extremely well, reads the game, and we've enjoyed watching her develop as a volleyball player over the years. The fact that she wants to stay here in Brandon to train, play volleyball and study is great news and we look forward to having her join our team." Heinrichs was also named Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association (MHSAA) Athlete of the Week this past October for her efforts in both volleyball and basketball. She plans to enroll in Brandon University's Bachelor of Physical Education Studies program.

There's really nothing like playoff hockey. It's an adrenaline rush just to be in the crowd. If you've got some time and energy, may I suggest a trip to Tampa on the east coast to see the Lightning and the Islanders play in this next round.  If you fly to Tampa (TPA) you'll enjoy a whole entertainment district in the Amalie arena area. Make sure to allow a couple hours to enjoy the pregame festivities. Tampa definitely knows how to host a hockey party.  I was last there in 2011 when the Lightning played the Bruins in the eastern final. We enjoyed pre-game concerts and games, plus were just dazzled in general by the major sports network tv sets ups.  Hockey is not just a Canadian game. They not only embrace it, but celebrate it in Tampa (and Anaheim too).  Tickets to the game can be easily picked up on Stubhub.com. Tickets are delivered to you electronically and are guaranteed by Stubhub to be valid. In the two dozen or times I've used them I've never had a problem with their services.  Make sure you get to the arena a few hours early. Especially for game 5 on Saturday, it will be an all-day event you'll never forget.  Currently airline prices are about $600 (tax included). The best flights I found are with United and connecting through Chicago. Leaving May 2nd and returning on May 5th. That just takes in game 5. If you'd like to stay a few days see the beach or Busch Gardens, and hang around incase it goes to game 7, you'll need to stay until Mother's Day, May 8th.  Delta also flies pretty conveniently on this route. To find the best flight times and prices, I suggest using an APP like 'On The Fly." 

Brandon product and former Wheat King left-winger Brett Kitt, and his Melfort Mustangs teammates won the SJHL championship tonight defeating the Flin Flon Bombers 2-1 in game 6 of the championship final.    The Mustangs take home their second consecutive Canalta Cup Championship with the victory. They now move onto the Western Canada Cup being held this year in Estevan. Other teams in the tournament include: SJHL: Melfort Mustangs Host: Estevan Bruins MJHL: Portage Terriers AJHL: Brooks Bandits BCHL: West-Kelowna Warriors Two teams from the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup will advance to the RBC Cup in Lloydminster. Kitt for his part chipped in with 6 points in 11 games during the playoffs while registering 19 penalty minutes.  He spent parts of two seasons with the Wheat Kings playing in 41 games.   Dakota Boutin, a onetime draft selection of the Brandon Wheat King and Boissevan product Sam Houston are also part of the Mustangs roster.