SPORTS FLASHBACK 2001: Kickers promoted to 2nd division

The Hanover Kickers began play in the fourth division of the Manitoba Central Soccer League two years ago and breezed through that division in their inaugural season. After a much more competitive 2001 season in the third division, the Kickers have been promoted again and will play in the second division next season.

Hanover had the best defence in the third division with only 20 goals scored against them in 18 games. This is the second year in a row they held this distinction. The Kickers also had six shutouts last year.

Aaron Reilly was also the leading scorer in the third division with 18 goals in 17 games, and chairman Norm Anderson says Reilly was a welcome addition to the Kickers this past year.

In the past two years, the Kickers have suffered only one loss on their home field at A.D. Penner Park in Steinbach. This loss, by a 1-0 margin to the eventual league champion Kildonan Cavaliers, came July 6.

AS I SEE IT COLUMN: Will greed cost Canada another gold medal at the World Juniors?

One of the great Christmas traditions in Canadian sport is the World Junior Hockey championships that kick off on every year on Boxing Day.

Unfortunately, the last couple of tournaments have not gone well for Team Canada and their fans from coast to coast to coast. Twice in a row, Team Canada lost in the quarter-finals and finished out of the medals.

It’s super frustrating because if greedy NHL teams weren’t so selfish, Canada would be able to ice juggernaut teams.

In this year’s version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas the title role will once again be played by all the NHL teams that will not release their junior-aged players to play in the World Junior Hockey Championships.

New goalie helps Pistons to perfect week in MJHL

It was a magical Steinbach Pistons debut for Hunter Bauer.

The 2006-born goaltender from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, posted a shutout in his first Manitoba Junior Hockey League start, stopping all 25 shots he faced as the Pistons blew out the Winnipeg Monarchs 7-0.

“It was a lot of calm and rebound control,” Bauer said on his game.

“When I get tested, (I try to) get out and challenge the shooter knowing my D is pressuring behind them so they don’t have much options.”

Holiday hockey rare but present across the region

While fans will notice a decrease in games between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, there are still some places to get your local hockey fix this year.

The Steinbach Pistons will be hosting a New Year’s Eve game this season, as they take on the Winnipeg Blues. The 6 p.m. start time is perfect for anyone planning on attending the Southeast Event Centre’s 80s-themed social later in the evening.

The Pistons also play an unusual Wednesday afternoon game against the Blues Jan 7. Puck drop is at 12:30 p.m. in Winnipeg at the Rink Training Centre.

The Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League has a full slate of games scheduled for Dec. 23, but the Morris-based Pembina Valley Twisters will be on the road against St Vital.

Arena reno delays push St Malo Warriors to St Jean

If the two-time defending champion St Malo Warriors home to add another Capital Region Junior Hockey League banner to their rink, they’ll need to do it in someone else’s home.

The Warriors announced on social media Dec. 13 they would need to play the rest of their season outside of the St Malo Arena, as ongoing construction will continue for the rest of this hockey season.

“While this is not the situation anyone hoped for, the St Malo Warriors remain committed to defending our back-to-back championships by adding a third straight league championship,” the post reads.

“The Warriors will play the majority of their home games in St Jean Baptiste, with additional home stops in Grunthal, Rosenort and St Agathe.”

U18 AAA Eastman Selects keeping pace despite offensive woes

The Eastman Selects U18 AAA team found a spectacular way to break out of an offensive slump.

The team blew out Norman 11-1 Dec. 14 at the Southeast Event Centre, ending a spell of four games with just a single even-strength goal.

That lack of offense didn’t stop the team from racking up points, with a pair of extra time losses and a spectacular come from behind win over some of the better teams in the league.

Their most spectacular result came against the Winnipeg Thrashers Dec. 13. Eastman scored three late third period goals to tie a game against the second-place Thrashers, before star defenseman Crosby Mateychuk finished the job in overtime on the powerplay.

Struggling Pembina Valley Twisters hope coaching change provides spark

The Pembina Valley Twisters went from contender to bottom feeder in Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League the blink of an eye. Just two seasons ago they finished second and battled St James in the league finals.

Many of the players on that team did not return, leaving the Twisters to struggle at historic levels. The team won just three games in 2024/2025, with a minus-218 goal difference. Pembina Valley didn’t win a game at their home rink in Morris.

This year showed little improvement. Through 22 games this season, they have just two wins and a minus-88 goal difference, although those two wins have come on home ice.

With those results, it’s no surprise the team has made a coaching change. Braeden Beernaerts and Riley Wise are out, replaced by Chris Unger. Unger is from Winkler, and previously coached high level minor hockey. He played junior A hockey in Selkirk in the 90s.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: Dec. 11th edition

Featuring photos from an SRSS Hockey Game Dec. 3 and a Niverville/Steinbach MJHL game Dec. 5.

Ralph Krueger to be inducted into IIHF hall of fame

Switzerland’s national hockey team made a smart choice choosing Steinbach’s Ralph Krueger to coach their team in 1998.

In the 35 years before Krueger took the helm, the Swiss had only played in the top division six times. Under Krueger, they didn’t miss a year playing in the A-Pool.

Krueger coached Switzerland at 12 world championships and three Olympics and was announced as part of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s hall of fame class of 2026 as a builder.

“The team was always competitive, but most important it believed it belonged at the top and played with a confidence infused in them by Krueger,” his bio reads.

Calvert, Ueno win Morris Superspiel

While the eyes of Canadian Curling were in Halifax, the Dekalb Superspiel rolled on.

With the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials scheduled for the same week as the superspiel, there was less star power on the ice in Morris this year.

Team Calvert, out of Winnipeg has made a habit of performing well at the event, losing in the final in their first season together and winning back-to-back championships, including this year.

Calvert defeated Team Sinnett in the final. taking advantage when a last rock draw came up short in the second end, leaving an open draw for five to take complete control of the game. After conceding a pair of steals, Sinnett shook hands after just four ends of play.

Oakbank’s Caiden Gault honoured after strong weekend

Caiden Gault had the best weekend of any forward in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, helping his Northern Michigan Wildcats to their first win of the season.

He had three goals over two games to lead the conference, and his eight on the season are the most by any Wildcats player this year.

Gault, who was born in Oakbank, transferred to Northern Michigan this year after three years suiting up for Ferris State University.

Gault opened the scoring in the Wildcats 3-2 win and their 4-3 overtime loss, both to Bowling Green. His third of the weekend was spectacular, as he set up at the point on the powerplay and ripped a one-timer slap shot perfectly into the top corner to give his team a 2-1 lead in the second period.

Volleyball Manitoba honours top graduating high school players

The province’s best graduating volleyball players were in Winnipeg last weekend for one more high school volleyball event.

The grad all-star matches took place at the University of Manitoba, with plenty of local talent hitting the floor.

Steinbach Regional, the biggest school in both the region and across the province had some of the best representation, with four girls players and three boys players attending for the AAAA level.

Abigail Voth, Jubilee Steppan, Madelyn Friesen and Madelyn Hiebert were joined by Erik Neufeld, Grayson Heese and Joseph Leclair on the AAAA all-star rosters.

SPORTS FLASHBACK 2001: Natural ice a thing of the past at Vita Arena

The $250,000 Vita Arena project that included renovations to the 20-year-old facility and the installation of a geothermal ice making system are now complete, after a tireless three-year effort by countless volunteers, who made the project possible.

The first artificial ice was used by the public on November 19 and the Vita Arena has been a beehive of activity since that time.

Jim Wiebe, president of the Vita Arena Board of Directors, pointed out last week that without the new ice plant, with the recent mild weather, there would not yet be ice.

A special banquet was held December 1 in the community, attended by about 250 people, to mark the completion of the project.