Niverville Nighthawks sweep Winkler for franchise’s 1st playoff series victory

The Niverville Nighthawks made some franchise history, as they swept past the Winkler Flyers for their first playoff series win as a team.

The Nighthawks were the best team in the MJHL this regular season, and showed it in the playoffs, making short work of a Winkler team which was considered by many one of the better teams in the league.

With divisional-based playoffs in the first round, the fourth-seeded Winkler, the second hottest team in the league, was taken out in convincing fashion by the Nighthawks.

“It bodes well for us to get that tough first round match-up,” head coach Dwight Hirst said, noting he was enjoying a rare relaxing weekend after the Nighthawks took care of business on Friday night.

CARILLON SPORTS SECOND SHOTS: March 26th edition

Featuring game two of the SEMHL finals in Ile des Chenes March 18, a U17 AAA championship game in Beausejour March 19, Games one and three of the MJHL series between Steinbach and Portage March 20/24, CRJHL semi-final a U15 AAA championship game in Landmark March 21, a U18 Manitoba Female Hockey League game in Niverville March 22.

Hockey Manitoba announces initial Program of Excellence roster

The initial roster for Hockey Manitoba’s U16 Program of Excellence spring selection camp was announced March 20, with 12 players from the Eastman region named to the camp.

The spring selection camp will take place in Winnipeg at the Hockey for All Centre April 10-12. The Program of Excellence will once again be in Steinbach this May, as the province’s top-40 camp will be hosted at the Southeast Event Centre.

Brad Purdie, who is the director of operations and the U15 prep head coach at the Rink Hockey Academy will be heading up the U16 team this year. Two players from the region who suit up for Rink HA made the selection camp roster. They will be joined by 10 players from the Eastman Selects U15 team, which lost in the league finals 3-1 to Brandon this season.

This year’s final roster will be Team Manitoba at the 2027 Canada Winter Games, which will take place next year in Quebec City.

Carrière commits to University of Moncton

Another Eastman Selects player has committed to play USports hockey.

Isabella Carrière will continue her hockey career in New Brunswick, with the Université de Moncton. Carrière tallied 22 points this season with the Selects U18 AAA team, as they posted a 25-2-2 record this season.

Carrière played for the Selects last season as well, chipping in four goals during the team’s championship-winning playoff run.

The Moncton Aigles Bleus play in the Atlantic University Sport conference.

Niverville Force MMSL team folds

After five years of rising through the ranks of amateur soccer in Manitoba, the Niverville Force are no more.

The team, founded in 2021, started in Division 4 of the Manitoba Major Soccer League and got all the way to Division 1, just one step below the Premier Division, the top level of soccer in Manitoba.

“After five enjoyable seasons, our men’s soccer team has decided to conclude our journey,” a statement from team management reads.

“Together, we created a community of friendship, teamwork and passion for the game. It’s been a wonderful experience, and now it’s time for everyone to pursue new opportunities. We appreciate all the support from our players, families, and fans throughout the years.”

Steinbach Pistons forward Paronuzzi commits to Windsor

Connor Paronuzzi has announced his commitment to play hockey at the collegiate level.

The Steinbach Pistons forward will suit up for the University of Windsor Lancers at the USports level.

Paronuzzi had a historic season in Steinbach last year, setting new all-time single season records and becoming the first Piston to be recognized as the league’s most valuable player. He scored 93 points in 58 games last season, setting the single-season assists record for Steinbach.

Paronuzzi started the season with the Brooks Bandits in the B.C. Hockey League, returning to Steinbach just before the January roster freeze.

SPORTS FLASHBACK 2011: Wrestling club makes its mark

Competing in just its third year, the Niverville Wrestling Club has made quite a name for itself, not only provincially, but nationally as well.

Under the guidance of founder and head instructor Adrian Bruce, the wrestling club has grown from six students in its first year to 22 the next year and then mushroomed to 53 students this year.

The younger wrestlers, as young as five, train twice a week, while the older club members train three times a week.

In addition to attracting some elite young athletes from Niverville and beyond,who have come to train with Bruce, the club is producing some of its own elite wrestlers. One of these is 15-year-old Rachel Alder of Oakbank, who won a silver medal at the recent Cadet/Juvenile National Wrestling Championships at Windsor, Ontario.

AS I SEE IT COLUMN: PWHL delivers pure joy, along with societal change

I hope you were one of the 15,000 plus fans that got to experience the PWHL game last Sunday in person.

Not only was it a rare opportunity to welcome home local legend Jocelyn Larocque, sporting fans in attendance got to experience, first-hand, a completely different kind of hockey game.

When you watch a PWHL game on TV and see young girls, many of them wearing jerseys from the hockey teams they play for, you get a sense that what you are watching is completely unique, but when you are in the building, you can actually feel it.

Call it vibes or atmosphere, a PWHL hockey game is unlike any men’s hockey game.

Tabin, Larocque relish in Manitoba PWHL game

The eyes of the Professional Women’s Hockey League were on Manitoba last weekend, and the Keystone province didn’t disappoint.

The Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg was completely sold out for a PWHL Takeover Tour game between the Ottawa Charge and Montreal Victoire. While Ottawa may have come out with a 2-1 win thanks to a Rebecca Leslie tally just 12 seconds into overtime, after the game both teams were impressed by Winnipeg.

The PWHL is in the middle of their third year, expanding to eight teams this season. The league started their “Takeover Tour,” series of games last season, bringing top women’s hockey action to markets that don’t yet have a PWHL team.

“There were line-ups of people on a Saturday afternoon just to watch us practice,” Leslie said after the game.

Pistons lead Terriers 2-1 after convincing game 3 win

The Steinbach Pistons are in control of their first-round series against the Portage Terriers, dominating game three in Steinbach March 24 by a 6-2 score to take a 2-1 lead.

“You’re always learning what it takes to be successful in the playoffs,” head coach and general manager Paul Dyck said after the win.

“We have some players that don’t have a tremendous amount of playoff experience at our level, so I think it’s very important for them to see this is what it looks like. It’s different than the regular season. There’s not a lot of ice out there and the importance of simplicity can’t be overstated.”

Jackson Kostiuk, who left the Pistons mid-way through last season to play in the WHL and didn’t play during the team’s loss to Portage, is dominating. He’s scored scored five goals, adding an assist through three games.

Habs beat Warriors in all-Eastman CRJHL semi-final, lead final 1-0

Championship hockey is back in La Broquerie.

The Habs will be playing for the Capital Region Junior Hockey League trophy after beating regional rivals St Malo three games to two in the league’s semi-finals.

A Colton Pakoo goal with just 42 seconds remaining in the first overtime of game six March 20 inside La Broquerie’s HyLife Centre sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Pakoo was able to corral a rebound and guide it into the back of the net after a backhand shot from Luke Tetreault bounced off the glove of Jozsé Gauthier-Urmos and landed in the crease.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: March 19th edition

Featuring game three of the Price Division finals in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League between Lorette and West Kildonan March 12, Springfield vs Mitchell in the HTJHL semi-finals, action from the Canadian College Athletic Association women's championship in Niverville March 11 and 14 and a CRJHL quarterfinal game between St Malo and La Broquerie March 13.La Broquerie and St Malo are battling in the CRJHL semi-finals. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

SRSS Sabres Bueckert, Froese, named to Free Press top 10

A pair of Steinbach Regional players were recognized by a Winnipeg Free Press coaches poll as two of the province’s top high school hockey players.

Forward Jager Bueckert and defenseman Peyton Froese were placed seventh and ninth on the top 10 list, published March 13th just after the start of the AAAA hockey provincial championships.

“(Bueckert) emerged as a top talent with great speed, puck control and a deadly shot,” his profile reads.

“A tough, high-skilled, two-way forward, he is smart, consistent and well-rounded on both ends of the ice.”

Gault signs pro deal with ECHL team in South Carolina

Oakbank’s Caiden Gault kicked off his professional career this week, signing with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL.

Gault played three seasons at Ferris State University before transferring to Northern Michigan for his final year of NCAA hockey, where he served as assistant captain and compiled a career high in goals.

The Swamp Rabbits serve as the affiliate for the American Hockey League’s Ontario Reign and NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.

Gault played his U15 AAA hockey in the Eastman Selects system before moving to Rink Hockey Academy. He played a single full season with the Selkirk Steelers before moving to the Alberta Junior Hockey League, scoring 73 points in 58 games in the 2021/2022 season.