Living her dreams at 95

It’s never too late to try something new, and Jean Tarnick is living proof.

At 95 years old, the Altona resident fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams last week by attending her very first football game.

A passionate Winnipeg Blue Bombers fan for years, Jean has always admired linebacker Adam Bighill and defensive end Willie Jefferson. While her late husband Michael didn’t share her passion for the game, he supported her enthusiasm for the team.

“They’re a big part of being a Manitoban. You’ve got to cheer for your team,” Jean says.

Ste Anne, Grunthal, Mitchell return to HTJHL

For the third consecutive season, the Hanover-Tache Junior Hockey League (HTJHL) will be expanding.

Returning to the league are the Grunthal Red Wings, Ste Anne Aces and Mitchell. The Mitchell franchise will now be known as the Mustangs, changing from the previous team name of Mohawks. Those changes were locked in at the league’s annual fall meeting, held Sept. 9.

The name change follows the Mitchell minor hockey program, which made the switch in 2020.

“Part of that is creating a buzz inside the minor hockey program,” Mustangs team president Jason Fehr said.

Mistelbacher continuing NHL journey with Winnipeg Jets

Not being drafted to the Western Hockey League hasn’t stopped Luke Mistelbacher from thriving in the junior ranks, and it appears not getting drafted to the NHL isn’t stopping the Steinbach native either.

Mistelbacher is one of 26 players who will be suiting up for the Winnipeg Jets at the Young Stars Classic, as one of four undrafted free agent forwards. It’s clear the Swift Current Bronco made a good impression at Winnipeg’s development camp earlier this summer.

The roster includes seasoned American Hockey League players, as well as recent draft picks.

Brayden Yager will also be making his competitive debut in a Jets jersey at the Young Stars Classic. Winnipeg sent 2022 first-rounder Rutger McGoarty to Pittsburgh for the Moose Jaw Warriors player.

MJHL pre-season rolls on for Niverville, Steinbach

The games may not count in the standings, the jerseys may have been practice ones, but there was no love lost between the Steinbach Pistons and Niverville Nighthawks as the two Manitoba Junior Hockey League East Division teams renewed hostilities for the season Sept. 8.

While Niverville came out on top with a 5-4 feisty win, many of the players on the ice had limited, if any junior A experience.

One of those players who made an impact was Steinbach’s Gavin Holod. The Stonewall Collegiate high school standout suited up for a couple games with the Nighthawks last season, but was traded to the Pistons this off-season.

He potted two goals in the team’s losing effort.

Springfield Braves fall in WSBL B-Pool finals

The Springfield Senior Braves were three outs away from returning to the top of the Winnipeg Senior Baseball League’s B-Pool but instead were forced to watch as the St Boniface Brewers celebrated.

The two teams went game-for-game in the finals, with Springfield looking comfortable to clinch another B-Pool championship in game five Sept. 2 at Koskie Field in Winnipeg.

The Braves leapt out to a 5-0 lead after a four run bottom of the third inning. Springfield was leading 5-3 heading into the seventh, before a three run explosion gave St Boniface just the margin they needed to pick up the victory.

It’s been a tough three years for the Braves since defeating the North Winnipeg Pirates in 2021 to win the WSBL’s B-Pool. They’ve made the finals all three years, but have lost in a winner-takes-all fifth game each season.

Carillon Sports second shots from September 5th edition

Featuring photos from a Steinbach Pistons pre-season skate Aug. 28, a cancelled Hanover Kickers/Niverville Force match and Steinbach Sabres soccer practice Aug. 29, game five of the Winnipeg Senior Baseball League finals at Koskie Field Sept. 2 between the Springfield Braves and St Boniface Brewers and the Niverville Nighthawks' Blue vs White game.

Kirk, Larocque named to Team Canada camp

Two of Canada’s best 48 women’s hockey players are from Ste Anne, as goaltender Raygan Kirk and defender Jocelyne Larocque were selected to take part in Team Canada’s September camp.

The duo are no stranger to Team Canada, with both making camps in previous years.

Larocque has been a mainstay in international play since 2006, when she won a gold medal with Canada’s under-22 team. She bounced back from missing the cut of the 2010 Olympic roster to notch two golds and a silver medal at the last three Olympic Games.

Kirk is looking to break through on Canada’s main roster, after winning a gold medal in the U18 championships in 2018. She graduated university this season in style, backstopping Ohio State to a national championship before getting drafted to the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

News and notes from across the MJHL

The Winkler Flyers needed to move quickly to permanently replace Justin Falk before the start of training camp, and they did so, announcing the hiring of Matthew Melo Aug. 25, just six days after advertising the job.

Melo will have big shoes to fill, as he becomes the head coach and general manager of the defending Manitoba Junior Hockey League champion Flyers.

In a Winkler news release, Melo said he wanted to hold up the “standard of excellence,” Falk had established in his three years as coach.

“It is a privilege to be able to combine two of my greatest passions, the game of hockey and building relationships. I can’t wait to begin investing into the lives and development of the players, those within the organization, and the community of Winkler,” Melo said.

SPORTS FLASHBACK 1989: Electric Blue upsets Blazers for Hanover fastball championship

In their first year in the league, Electric Blue defied local fastball pundits by defeating the Bothwell Blazers in a five-game final series to win the Hanover Fastball Association championship.

Electric Blue’s 7-5 extra inning victory in New Bothwell gave the underdogs the series by three games to two, to cap off a Cinderella season for the first year team.

A tie-breaker in extra innings was necessary to decide Thursday’s final game.

New Bothwell scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh, to tie the game at five, to send the game into extra innings. Larry Stoesz, Garry Funk and Menno Hiebert all had RBI’s in the seventh.

Niverville Nighthawks ready to battle at 2024 training camp

If the Niverville Nighthawks’ blue vs white game is anything to go by, the team is set for a competitive camp.

The team held a scrimmage Sept. 3, with Team White coming out on top 5-4. The game featured plenty of physicality and even a fight after a high hit. Niverville’s head coach, Dwight Hirst, said after the game he liked the way the camp roster competed in the game, which was hosted inside the Niverville Resource and Rec Centre.

“At the end of the day, it’s junior hockey and guys are competing for a job to play here,” Hirst said.

“That’s our job as an organization, to make sure that guys know it’s a team you want to fight to get onto, fight every shift and fight for the puck in every situation.”

Steinbach Pistons hope returning players give team boost

When the days start to get shorter and cooler weather is on the horizon, that can only mean one thing: Hockey season is about to begin.

The Steinbach Pistons, the city’s highest profile team, has been holding skates since Oct. 19, with prospect camp Aug. 23/24. The team’s main camp kicked off Sept. 2.

“It’s been excellent,” Pistons head coach and general manager Paul Dyck said after a skate Aug. 28.

Steinbach is looking to rebound this season after losing the Manitoba Junior Hockey League final to Winkler in April.

Eastman Warriors to face Wasps in home semi-final

The Eastman Warriors should be well-rested as the Mantioba Rugby premier division playoffs kick off Sept. 7.

The top-seeded Warriors are taking on the win-less Wasps with a trip to the finals on the line in A.D. Penner Park at 4 p.m.

In the most recent meeting between the teams, Eastman won in blowout fashion 69-7. The Warriors also hold a 400 point advantage in point difference this year.

Eastman was set to play the Wombats in what looked to be a finals preview Sept. 2 but the game was cancelled as all placements in the four-team standings were set in stone. The result went into the books as a Warriors forfiet.

Carillon Sports second shots from Aug. 29th

Featuring photos from a Hanover Sting match in Steinbach Aug. 20, game two of the Winnipeg Senior Baseball League B-Pool finals between Springfield and St Boniface in Whittier Park Aug. 21, the Steinbach Pistons golf tournament Aug. 22 at Quarry Oaks, the Eastman Raiders annual Raiders Day celebration, the Eastman Warriors 69-7 victory over the Wasps in A.D. Penner Aug. 24 and a Steinbach Regional Secondary School practice.