– It’s not often the Brandon Wheat Kings have trouble creating offense, but that was the case Wednesday night in a 3-2 loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Wheat Kings generated just 23 shots on goal, their second lowest shot total this season. Jayce Hawryluk and Richard Nejezchleb scored the goals for Brandon while Jordan Papirny stopped 26 shots in the Wheat Kings’ net. The loss leaves Brandon still tied with Swift Current for first-place in the East Division and drops the Wheat Kings five points behind the Tigers for fourth-place in the Eastern Conference. For a complete game story, visit Bruce Luebke’s blog at http://luberslounge.blogspot.ca/
– Clinching top spot will have to wait for the Brandon AAA Midget Wheat Kings. The Winnipeg Thrashers edged Brandon 5-4 in a shootout Wednesday night to prevent the Wheat Kings from claiming first-place. James Shearer had a goal and two assists for Brandon, who are four points ahead of the Winnipeg Wild with each team having two games left in the regular season. Meanwhile, the Southwest Cougars clinched a playoff spot with a 4-3 win over Pembina Valley Wednesday night. Keaton Jameson, Sam Houston and Tanner Lewis had a goal and an assist each for the Cougars.
– Tyson Verhelst recorded a 30 save shutout as the Neepawa Natives blanked the Waywayseecappo Wolverines 2-0 Wednesday night. Reigan Buchansen and Drake Lindsay scored the Natives to break a 12-game losing streak, and move Neepawa to within three points of the Wolverines for fifth-place and the final playoff spot in the Sher-Wood Division. Meanwhile, Dauphin extended their winning streak to 11 games with a 2-1 victory over OCN. The win moves the Kings six points ahead of second-place Virden in the Sher-Wood Division.
– Virden Oil Capitals’ captain Cody Nelson has been named the MJHL’s Manitoba Pork Peak Performer of the Month for January. Nelson has volunteered as an instructor at the Southwest Pee Wee Development Camp and spoke in front of the entire student body at Virden Collegiate. On the ice, the Brandon product had three goals and six points in eight games last month and has nine goal and 19 points in 46 games this season.
– Hockey Canada has yet to say who will replace Steven Stamkos on the Olympic team. The Tampa Bay forward won’t be going to Sochi, after tests revealed that his broken right leg is not completely healed. Possible replacements are Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux, Lightning teammate Marty St. Louis and Pittsburgh’s James Neal. NHL players are set to leave Sunday.
– A key matchup in the Tiger Hills Hockey League Wednesday night saw Patrick Leask have two goals and an assist to help the Souris Elks to a 6-4 win over the Deloraine Royals. The victory moves Souris two points ahead of Deloraine for first-place in the Western Division, with the Royals still having two games in hand. Meanwhile, Carberry moved three points ahead of idle Cartwright for first-place in the Eastern Division with a 5-3 win over Gladstone Wednesday.
– The defending champion Miniota-Elkhorn C-Hawks improved their North Central Hockey League-leading record to 17-1-1 with a 7-2 win over Hamiota Wednesday night. Jordan Mitchell scored twice and Kyle McLeod had a goal and three assists for the C-Hawks. Miniota-Elkhorn has a seven point lead over Russell in the race for first-place. The Rams blanked Virden 9-0 in Wednesday’s other contest.
– Manitoba’s Chelsea Carey ran her winning streak to seven games Wednesday night at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, downing New Brunswick’s Andrea Crawford 8-4. Carey is 7-and-1 and tied with Saskatchewan’s Stefanie Lawton for second-place behind 8-and-0 defending champion Rachel Homan. Carey can clinch a playoff spot with a victory in her next game. That’s Thursday afternoon against Ontario.
– Brandon’s Joyce McDougall captured the Provincial Golden Gals Curling Championship in Swan River Wednesday. McDougall defeated Rita Van De Vyvere 9-8 in the championship final. McDougall had defeated Dauphin’s Norma Johnson 10-2 in one semifinal while Van De Vyvere downed Hamiota’s Linda Wilson 8-5 in the other.
– The Brandon University Athletes of the Month for January are Dan Boutwell of the men’s volleyball team and Kaela Cranston of the women’s basketball team. Boutwell averaged 6.6 kills and 3.3 blocks per match during seven Canada West matches last month while Cranston averaged 12.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in seven games in January.
– The Forbidden Flavours Java Jam is brewing up some tough tests in Brandon. The Crocus Plainsmen are hosting the 16-team high school girls’ basketball tournament beginning Thursday afternoon, with Kildonan East and Westwood among the ranked teams taking part. The Java Jam is a three-day tournament with the Junior Varsity and Varsity Girls’ finals both slated for Saturday.
– The Winnipeg Blue Bombers released Canadian linebacker Henoc Muamba Wednesday, allowing him to pursue NFL opportunities. Muamba has been working out recently with teams south of the border, including the New England Patriots. The first overall pick in the 2011 CFL draft was set to become a free agent Tuesday, but can now sign with the team of his choice immediately. The Bombers also announced Wednesday they’ve signed import wide receiver Quentin Sims.
– The man who led the Saskatchewan Roughriders to just their fourth Grey Cup title is the CFL’s coach of the year. Corey Chamblin captured the Annis Stukus Trophy at the award luncheon in Ottawa Wednesday. Saskatchewan capped its season downing Hamilton 45-23 in the Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium in November.
