DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Prairies Premier League must be in more rural communities

The long-awaited announcement that the Prairies Premier League would establish a semi-professional soccer league in Saskatchewan and Manitoba was finally made last week.

For years I had read rumours a League 1-style competition would be coming to the Prairies, and as a soccer fan, I’m happy to see it finally happen, but for the league to thrive it must quickly expand outside of Winnipeg.

There are two reasons for this opinion.

The PPL is basically a junior A hockey-style league and for the past decade the strength of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League has been in the smaller communities. Teams like Portage, Dauphin, Winkler, Steinbach and Virden have become the top franchises in the junior A ranks, graduating way more players to the next level and drawing significantly more fans than their Winnipeg counter-parts.

Steinbach Pistons setting new game-day standards

The Steinbach Pistons have turned their home games into full-blown events.

From in-house replays, themed nights, live music and competitions, the Southeast Event Centre is a party for Junior A home games.

Kevin Geisheimer was brought on at the beginning of last season as the team’s director of business operations. After a season in La Broquerie and a last-second move back to Steinbach, the Pistons have established themselves in their new rink.

“We’ve got lots of fancy toys to play with, which is fun but you can have a really cool building and cameras and things, but you’ve still got be creative and make it fun for the fans,” Geisheimer said.

Alumnus answers call to coach Providence curling teams

There was little surprise who Providence College gave the nod to lead their new curling program.

Jordan Peters, who won the 2020 world junior curling championship while attending the Otterburne college, was quoted in the press release announcing the team and last week was confirmed as the program’s first head coach. He graduated Providence in 2021 with a degree in business administration.

“My goal is to build a program that pursues excellence not only in on-ice performance, but in the character of our athletes,” Peters said in a Pilots news release.

“At Providence, this means competing at a high level while staying rooted in faith, teamwork, and integrity—representing the university well in everything we do. Curling is a sport that develops far more than technical skill. It teaches accountability, communication, and humility—values that extend well beyond the ice and align closely with what Providence stands for.”

Carillon Sports Second Shots: Jan. 29th edition

Featuring photos from male and female Eastman Selects games Jan. 20 and 24, a HTJHL game in Mitchell Jan. 22, Providence Pilots men's basketball games Jan. 23/24, the Steinbach Panthers ringette tournament and a Steinbach Pistons game Jan. 26.

Panthers tournament a highlight for Ringette community

The Southeast Event Centre in Steinbach was filled throughout last weekend, as the Steinbach Panthers Ringette program got their first chance to host a tournament inside the new building.

More than two dozen teams made the trip out to the centre, with games stretching from early Friday morning to Sunday evening in both the big rink and next door at the T.G. Smith Arena.

Steinbach Ringette ice scheduler Lisa Funk said any new building hiccups are well in the program’s rearview mirror.

“Everyone loves the facility,” Funk said as the medal round games took place.

U18 AAA Eastman Selects ready for fight to the finish

The Eastman Selects Manitoba Female Hockey League U18 AAA team may be the defending league champions, but they’re feeling like the hunters and not the hunted as their league schedule comes to a close.

The team has been locked in a battle with the Winnipeg Ice for top spot in the standings throughout the entire season, but 21 regulation wins in 24 games isn’t enough to lead in points percentage. The Ice have just two losses so far this season.

“There’s a little bit of pride, trying to finish as high as you can,” head coach Trevor Hildebrand said after a win against sixth-place Central Plains Jan. 24.

“It keeps us a little motivated.”

SPORTS FLASHBACK 1993: Olympic champion captivates Steinbach Chamber audience

Olympic swimming gold medalist Mark Tewksbury of Calgary told a Steinbach audience that one of the most important factors of his winning the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona was that he only finished fifth in Seoul in 1988.

Tewksbury, who became an instant Canadian hero with his dramatic win in the 100-metre backstroke in Barcelona in July, was the guest speaker at the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce annual banquet Saturday night at Friedensfeld Community Centre.

The 24-year-old Calgary swimmer says finishing fifth in 1988 was ‘okay’, but he had given up on himself. He had gone into the race scared and wasn’t mentally prepared.

It was at that point he decided to keep on swimming for another four years to try and realize his dream. He also saw other Canadians win gold at Seoul, and it made him realize he wasn’t satisfied with fifth.

DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Jets fans should hold their nerve

This certainly isn’t the season most Jets fans were expecting.

After a President’s Trophy winning season, the fall has been hard and fast, but it might be exactly what they needs.

With an aging core, a re-set was on the horizon, and I think general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is the perfect person to be at the head of the team.

The advantage of having a long-tenured, safe general manager is shown exactly in seasons like this. Cheveldayoff isn’t going to be feeling the hot seat, needing to make a move to save his job.

AS I SEE IT COLUMN: Jonathan Toews’ remarkable story is the balm we need in these turbulent times

The heart-warming, inspiring odyssey of Jonathan Toews’ return to hockey – in his hometown of Winnipeg no less – is exactly the kind of comfort food we need in a world burning with aggression, violence, cruelty and chaos.

It’s also a reminder of what is so unique about the relationship between fans and players and why sports fans have a such deep and profound love of certain players. The three minute standing ovation that Toews received when the Hawks showed his tribute video was the quintessential example of fans adoring a player and wanting to thank him for all the wonderful memories he made in Chicago. The passion was palpable, even through the TV screen. You didn’t have to be in the rink to feel what the fans in the Windy City were feeling.

And for three glorious minutes, we didn’t have to think about American citizens getting executed by rogue masked goons or about a depraved U.S. president threatening to impose devastating 100% tariffs on Canada.

Instead, we got to see – and feel – the love and gratitude that hockey fans in Chicago were feeling toward Jonathan Toews.

Eric Loeppky making his mark with Lube in Italian league

There can be no doubt Eric Loeppky is one of the best volleyball players on the planet.

The Steinbach-born Loeppky was named the most valuable player for the month of December in Italy’s top volleyball league. Loeppky plays for Cucine Lube Civitanova. Across five matches in December, he racked up 79 points and three player of the match awards.

The outside hitter was recognized by the team before the start of their match Jan. 18, a tough loss to current club world champions Sir Susa Scai Perugia.

“I consider it a great recognition because I play in the most beautiful and challenging league in the world, but if I’m rewarded, the credit should be shared with my fantastic teammates,” a translated statement from Loeppky on Lube’s website reads.

Providence Pilots seasons in full swing

Providence Pilots athletes are busy across three different sports as the collegiate season heats up across the province.

VOLLEYBALLThe MCAC women’s volleyball standings will be a fight to the absolute finish, with three of the conference’s four teams sitting with seven wins heading into play this weekend.

Providence’s place at the national championship is locked up due to the school hosting the upcoming tournament, but they will need some help on the out of town scoreboard to host a playoff game this year.

The men’s team has the most wins of any MCAC team, but trail Assiniboine in the standings due to games the Brandon-based school has in hand.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: Jan. 22nd edition

Featuring an SRSS Hockey game Jan. 14, a Niverville Nighthawks game Jan. 15, an Eastman Selects U18 AAA game Jan. 15, a Steinbach Pistons Game Jan. 16 and a HTJHL game in Steinbach Jan. 17

Ste Anne’s Zach Lansard shoots up NHL draft list

Zach Lansard’s reputation as an NHL prospect is certainly growing.

The 2008-born forward from Ste Anne rose the NHL Central Scouting rankings, moving up from potential late-round pick to 72nd among all North American skaters in the most recent rankings.

If that ranking reflects NHL teams’ internal ratings, he could be selected in the third round, the same as fellow Eastman draft pick Owen Martin last year.

Through 39 games this season, Lansard had 15 goals and 21 assists for the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League.

Norman Blizzard head coach leaves program

The Norman Blizzard’s championship defense season could not have gone worse.

After losing most of the core that led them to that championship, as well as head coach Eric Labrosse before the season even began, they turned to Ty Valin to try and recover the season.

That hiring hasn’t worked out as they had hoped with the team announcing Valin “will no longer be filling the position as Head Coach/General Manager,” on social media Jan. 13.

“Ty has given his time, energy, and passion to our organization, and we are appreciative of his commitment to our players and staff,” the team posted.