Team South tops medal standings at Manitoba Games

It was a busy week in Thompson, as the northern community hosted the Manitoba Winter Games.

Athletes from across the region participated, bringing home plenty of hardware.

Steinbach’s Brooklyn Wiebe carried the opening ceremonies flag for Team South, with Oakbank’s Connor Kent representing Winnipeg Gold. Bennett Mead was selected to represent Team East. All three athletes participated in curling events at the games.

Kent would go on to skip his team to a gold medal finish.

Trio of Niverville Nighthawks pick up MJHL awards

The Niverville Nighthawks of 2025/2026 will be remembered as a dominant team in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, and they were rewarded for it in the league’s year-end awards.

Head coach Dwight Hirst was named league coach of the year, with Austin Dubinsky claiming top goaltender and Merik Boles receiving the league’s sportsmanship award.

Hirst, who joined the Nighthawks after a late-season coaching change in 2024, has led a veteran team to an outstanding record. With only two games left on their schedule, Niverville boasts an incredible 50-6-1 record and have eclipsed the 100 point mark.

“The guys really buy into what we’re selling as a coaching staff, and what we want to do and what we want to become,” Hirst said when asked what the Nighthawks’ biggest strengths are this season.

DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Dunstone’s victory shows power of mental discipline in sport

For 10 ends, for 80 rocks, Matt Dunstone’s rink was locked in at the Brier final. From the early blanks, to calling out “it’s time to dance,” before a memorable three-ender, to a precise angle-double to clinch two points in the ninth, Dunstone appeared completely in control of the outcome all night for the final.

All that changed after the final rock, which would clinch his victory left his hands. Needing only to remove a corner frozen Kevin Koe stone on the centre-line, the call was easy. Throw an up-weight shot right down the middle of the ice.

After coming up short in final after final, watching Dunstone navigate the 2026 Brier championship in such a calm way was incredible. That calmness was all gone when the camera cut back to the Team Manitoba skip following his winning shot.

With Koe’s stone still spinning into the side boards, Dunstone fell to his knees and put his hands to his head. It looked like he hadn’t had even considered the possibility of winning a final until he saw with his own two eyes Koe’s stones leave the house.

SPORTS FLASHBACK 2006: Group raises $150,000 for new soccer complex

The Steinbach soccer complex fund-raising committee has reached its goal of raising $150,000 towards construction of the first phase of a seven-pitch, state-of-the-art soccer complex in the city’s west end.

Committee chairman Royden Loewen said his four-member group is delighted to have reached its target and is in talks with the City of Steinbach in hopes of seeing work begin sometime this year.

Loewen said it is hoped the first phase of the complex, which would feature seven outdoor pitches, could be ready for use by 2007. Cost estimates for initial construction are pegged at a minimum of $650,000.

Major gifts have been received from six local businesses, with the largest coming from Steinbach Credit Union. The other principal corporate donors are Fehr Sheet Metal, Ledingham Pontiac Buick, Loewen Windows, Penner Farm Service and Penner International. Other major donations have come from Steinbach Hatchery and Nature’s Farm.

AS I SEE IT COLUMN: Brad Gushue is the quintessential Canadian hero

Watching Brad Gushue’s illustrious Brier career come to end was tough for his legions of fans across the country.

With an astonishing record of competing in the Brier 23 times (the most in Canada’s history) and having won six Brier titles (the most ever by a skip), Gushue has been a mainstay on the Canadian and world curling scenes for nearly three decades.

All good things must come to an end, and Gushue’s curling career was an exceedingly good thing, for him and for our country.

Part of Gushue’s enduring legacy is, of course, his play on the ice. The many Brier championships, the Olympic gold and bronze medals, the World Championship title; those are all impressive.

Chipman talks Jets past, present and future at Pistons gala

Attendees at the Steinbach Pistons annual Fire and Ice Banquet got an inside look at the return of NHL hockey to Manitoba, as Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman was the guest speaker at the event.

It was the first time the Pistons had hosted their banquet inside their home rink, with the Southeast Event Centre fully transformed with guests eating and drinking just above the actual ice surface.

“It’s unbelievable,” Chipman said when asked what he thought of the SEC.

He added the Jets are planning to use the same construction company the Pistons used to built their dressing room to refurbish their home team facilities.

Steinbach Pistons celebrate successes on and off the ice at banquet

A date decades in the making finally came to pass March 4, as the Steinbach Pistons were able to host their annual Fire and Ice Banquet at the Southeast Event Centre.

Team banquets in the past were held in Friedensfeld Hall or the Niverville Heritage Centre, but with a top class facility to play out of, the team transformed their ice surface into a banquet hall for over 500 guests.

Team president Grant Lazaruk welcomed guests to the 16th annual Fire and Ice Banquet.

“A major reason we hold the title of the best junior hockey organization in Canada is the incredible support we receive from our sponsors, from our volunteers, our fans, our community,” Lazaruk said.

PLAYOFF RECAP: North Stars advance to SEMHL league championships

For the first time since 2004, the Ile des Chenes North Stars will be playing for a league championship.

The North Stars defeated Springfield 3-1 in the South East Manitoba Hockey League best-of-five semi-finals, advancing to face the Winkler Royals.

Winkler, which finished atop the regular season standings, made quick work of the Red River Wild, winning three games over five days to advance.

Ile des Chenes’ series may have flipped in game one. The North Stars led the Winterhawks 2-1 heading into the final frame, only for the home team to storm back and take a late lead. Burke Heide’s equalizer and Matthew Osadick’s overtime winner proved the difference in the game and the series.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: March 5th edition

Featuring photos from MJHL games in Steinbach and Niverville Feb. 25/27, Steinbach Regional Secondary School hockey and basketball games, Game one of the SEMHL semi-final series between Ile des Chenes and Springfield Feb. 28, The MCAC men's volleyball championship match 2/3 March 1 and Eastman Selects playoff action March 2.

Region’s SEMHL teams well-represented in year-end awards

Gaeten Beauchemin has been recognized by the South East Manitoba Hockey League for his efforts, as he was named the Dale Rempel Award winner for 2026.

Beauchemin was instrumental in the Ile des Chenes North Stars’ return to competitive senior hockey when the team joined the SEMHL in 2022. He serves many roles with the team, including general manager.

“Gates works around the clock for this team, our players, and our community — often behind the scenes, tirelessly, and always putting others first,” a social media post from the team reads.

“His belief in his players, his passion for hometown hockey, and his unwavering commitment to doing what’s best for this organization never fade. We truly could not do any of this without him. Thank you, Gates, for everything you do and everything you are to this organization. This recognition is could not be more deserved.”

La Broquerie players nab CRJHL honours

A pair of La Broquerie Habs were honoured for their outstanding seasons by the Capital Region Junior Hockey League.

Goaltender Jaxon Loewen was named the league’s top goaltender, while Mario Gagnon was recognized as the most sportsmanlike.

Loewen had an outstanding season for La Broquerie. Starting in 16 games, he posted a 0.916 save percentage, as he filled in with the Steinbach Pistons throughout December when the Junior A team ran into injury trouble in the crease.

Gagnon had an incredible season, racking up 45 points, while playing in all 30 regular season games for the Habs. Despite those numbers and ice time, he only took a single minor penalty across the entire regular season.

SPORTS FLASHBACK 2003: Hockey legend Serge Savard thrills fans at Rat River Classic

Real Cure, who doubles as the mayor of St Pierre Jolys and is the owner of Rat River Golf at St Pierre, has pulled it off again as he hosted the Fifth Annual Rat River Celebrity Golf Classic last week, with Montreal Canadiens legend Serge Savard as the guest of honour.

The tournament, with a full field of more than 150 players, is a fund-raiser for the CNIB. Savard was welcomed at the first tee by tournament coordinator Heather Cure and four-year-old George Lafleche, a client of the CNIB.

The golf course owner, a diehard Canadiens’ fan, started the tournament five years ago to raise money for the charity supporting the vision-impaired. The guests at the Rat River Celebrity Golf Classic over the years have been some of the most storied figures of Montreal Canadiens hockey, including Yvan Cournoyer, Henri Richard, Jean Beliveau, Gump Worsley and in 2003, Serge Savard,

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986, Savard spent 17 seasons in the NHL, 15 with the Canadiens, winning eight Stanley Cups along the way. The Canadiens won two more Stanley Cups during the 12 years Savard was their manager, including their most recent one, a decade ago in, 1993.

Lorette’s Boles will continue hockey career in Regina

Merik Boles has certainly made an impact with the Niverville Nighthawks.

The Lorette product has played more than 200 games with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League franchise just down the road and is one goal or assist away from passing the 150-point mark.

“It’s nice to stay home, play junior here, and still stay close and go to school here,” Boles said after a win against Swan Valley Feb. 27.

The former Eastman Selects standout will continue his career at the collegiate level, as he announced his commitment to the University of Regina last week.