Crosby Mateychuk earns invite to Hockey Canada top-80 camp

Crosby Mateychuk will be battling to wear the Maple Leaf for Team Canada.

Mateychuk was one of 80 players to be invited to Hockey Canada’s U17 development camp, which is set to take place July 17-21 in Oakville, Ont.

“We are excited to unveil the top Canadian under-17 players who have earned invitations to our development camp this week, and to introduce these young players to Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence,” PoE general manager Alan Millar said in a Hockey Canada news release.

“This is a very talented and exciting group that will be surrounded by world-class coaching and support staffs, and we look forward to introducing them to our program, setting the expectations for the season and preparing for the U17 World Challenge later this year.”

Old Tom Backyard Ultra draws nation-wide attention

The eyes of the endurance running world were on Blumenort last week, as the Old Tom Backyard Ultramarathon exceeded all expectations.

The event, in just its third year of existence, saw a pair of runners battle for 55 hours to set a new season-best for Canadian events. Backyard ultramarathons feature runners completing a 4.1 mile lap every hour, with participants starting a new lap at the top of every hour. The winner is the runner who completes a lap on their own.

Race director Stephan Reimer said he didn’t expect the event to develop into such a competitive one so soon. The first year’s winner completed just 26 laps, with last year’s champion finishing 35 to win.

“When you organize this, the goal right away is to become the top backyard in Canada,” Reimer said.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: July 9th edition

Featuring a Carillon Sultans MJBL game in Steinbach July 3, Winnipeg Jets Development Camp July 3 and Hanover Kickers games July 2 and 6 at the Steinbach Soccer Park.

Quarry Oaks steps up to host provincial Mid-Amateur after flooding

Torrential rainfall meant the scheduled Manitoba Women’s Amateur and the Men’s Mid-Amateur provincial championships had to be scrapped last week. The tournaments were scheduled for Gilbert Plains Country Club, just West of Dauphin, July 1-3.

The re-scheduled men’s mid-amateur is coming to Quarry Oaks in late-July. The women’s amateur was quickly re-scheduled to be at St Charles as nationals are right around the corner. Flooding at Gilbert Plains nearly reached the roof of their storage sheds that weekend.

“I’ve never seen something like this in 20 years,” Gilbert Plains golf professional and general manager Scott McCallum told the Brandon Sun. McCallum was unable to drive into the property on the day of the tournament.

“I’m looking for a boat to try and get there… It’s certainly disheartening, especially in a year when you’re trying to empower your grounds crew to be detail-oriented all the way up to this event, and we were two days away or one rain away, essentially, from hosting the event.

Local players make the cut for Hockey Manitoba

It’s likely the Team Manitoba hockey roster at the upcoming 2027 Canada Winter Games will have some Eastman flair.

Four players from the region were named to the U16 Boys Program of Excellence summer roster. The named 28 players were born in 2011 and 2012.

Goaltender Haize Brightnose (Ste Anne), defenseman Brady Piec and forwards Reed Sherry (St Malo) and Nixon Gaudet (Ile des Chenes) were named to the roster. Brightnose and Piec suit up for the Rink Hockey Academy in Winnipeg while Sherry and Gaudet play for the Eastman Selects AAA program.

The U16 Program of Excellence team will play a series of exhibition games against AAA and prep school programs Oct. 2-4 in Winnipge.

Loeppky signs 2-year extension with Lube

Steinbach Regional Seconary School graduate Eric Loeppky will remain with Volley Lube for the next two years.

The outside hitter has played in three consecutive Italian SuperLega finals, including the last two with Lube. The franchise has made a home at the highest levels of volleyball in Italy, appearing in four of six finals since the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

“I’m truly honored and excited to stay with Lube,” Loeppky said in a translated team news release.

“I’m coming off two positive years with the club, and I hope this is just a taste of what this team can achieve in the future. Living in the Marche region is wonderful for my family, and Civitanova is starting to become a second home for us. We’re happy in every way.”

Former Piston Cole Smith signs NHL deal with Chicago

Cole Smith, who played two seasons with the Steinbach Pistons, is continuing his journey at the highest level of professional hockey.

Smith signed a three-year, 9$ million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on the first day of NHL free agency.

After leaving the Pistons, Smith joined the University of North Dakota, signing as an undrafted free agent with Nashville in the 2020 season.

After a couple years mostly playing in the American Hockey League, Smith nabbed a full-time spot on the Predators’ roster in the 2022/2023 season.

SPORTS FLASHBACK 2006: MIT Roadies ride for fun

MIT stands for Mennonites in Tights, although Mennonite affiliation is not necessary to belong to this recreational cycling club. In fact, there is a Lutheran or two along for the ride. Others, such as Steinbach lawyer Marcel Jodoin, have nary a discernible shred of Mennonite in them, but are still welcomed into the fold, as well.

Sixteen riders marshalled near Steinbach’s water tower at 6 a.m. last Saturday morning for their weekly excursion.

The one common thread amongst this group of avid cyclists, apart from the spandex of course, is their love of cycling, a form of recreation that provides exercise and camaraderie among the riders.

Saturday morning’s ride was 68 kilometres from Steinbach to Richer and back. According to unofficial MIT Roadies coordinator Jac Siemens, it took 2 hours and 38 minutes to complete, which included a stop for porridge in Richer.

AS I SEE IT COLUMN: Connor Hellebuyck is a coward

Being a man of your word, honouring your commitments and standing with your teammates in tough times are character traits that Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck appears to be sorely lacking.

At press time, Hellebuyck has still not said whether he wants to stay in Winnipeg or be traded.

It’s unclear why Hellebuyck has adopted this approach. Does he not realize his reputation is taking a beating? Does he think this “leave everyone hanging” approach is good for his teammates, the organization, his fans or the media?

If he does, he’s delusional.

Nighthawks captain Vigfusson thrives at NHL development camp

Adam Vigfusson couldn’t have authored a better ending to his first professional hockey experience.

Vigfusson scored the final goal during the Winnipeg Jets Development Camp, deking blocker side in a shootout attempt to give team Blue the victory in Friday’s scrimmage over team White in the last on-ice action of the camp.

Jets prospects, including 2023 first-rounder Brayden Yager rushed the ice to celebrate with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League player.

“That’s my go-to move and it worked out,” Vigfusson said with a big smile following the conclusion of the camp.

Owen Martin relies on experience at second Winnipeg Jets development camp

Oakbank’s Owen Martin was on steadier skates at this year’s Winnipeg Jets Development Camp.

The Jets selected the local product in the third round of last year’s draft, setting off a whirlwind of anticipation and excitement that ran right into development camp the week after the draft.

Now a year older, Martin was right at home on the ice, noting it was ‘nerve-wracking’ to be on the ice last summer as a hometown draft pick.

“It’s a lot different being one of those second year guys,” he said following the conclusion of camp July 3.

Niverville’s Carrier, former Piston Bauer announce commitments

Parker Carrier has joined the parade of graduating Niverville Nighthawks players to announce USports college commitments.

Carrier, who hails from Penticton, will play for the Lakehead University Thunderwolves, a school based out of Thunder Bay, Ont.

The defenseman scored 23 points in the regular season, seeing action in all 13 playoff games en route to a Turnbull Cup and all six of Niverville’s games at the Centennial Cup.

The Thunderwolves already boast several former Manitoba Junior Hockey League players on their roster, including former Steinbach Pistons Jack Cook and Jamie Fuchs. Ile des Chenes-born Brody Beauchemin, who won a Turnbull Cup with the Winkler Flyers in 2024, is also on the roster.

Hanover Kickers finding their footing in MMSL Division 1

The Hanover Kickers are establishing themselves as a mid-table team in the Manitoba Major Soccer League’s Division 1.

The Kickers nabbed a win and a draw this week, defeating basement-dwellers Scorpions FC 3-0 July 2 and battling Grant Park Sporting Club to a 3-3 stalemate July 6.

Those results have the Hanover Soccer Club’s top team in the MMSL pyramid sitting with eight points across five games this season in the eight-team Division 1. The MMSL’s top division is one step higher, the premier division.

The Kickers made short work of Scorpions FC, as the visitors arrived in Steinbach without a full 11 players to start the match. Hanover was able to nab an early goal before any late arrivals could take to the pitch and rode out a comfortable win from there, keeping a clean sheet.

Canada Day stumble doesn’t cost Sultans in pennant race

The Carillon Sultans added some unnecessary drama to the end of the Manitoba Junior Baseball season, but managed to claim first place as the regular season closed July 6.

The Sultans dropped both games of a back-to-back against Pembina Valley July 1, giving a glimmer of hope to the teams chasing them for first place.

A 11-1 mercy rule victory at A.D. Penner Park over the Interlake Blue Jays July 3 officially locked up a first place finish and quarterfinal bye for the Sultans, which were considered the pre-season favourites after winning back-to-back MJBL championships and returning most of their line-up.

Anders Meilleur pitched a complete game in the win, as Cody Gunderson knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the fifth.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: July 2nd edition

Featuring photos from the Barb Cheop Track and Field meet from mid-June, a Winnipeg Senior Baseball League game June 25, A U15 Carillon Sultans game and softball tournament in Ile des Chenes June 26 and the St Malo Triathlon June 27.