Providence set for MCAC Soccer Championships

The Providence Pilots are hoping to add a Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference soccer championship to their trophy case this weekend.

The school has been shut out of adding a provincial banner to their walls in soccer since 2014, but could be on pace to break that drought this season.

The women’s Providence team finished with just one loss in a 12-game regular season, earning semi-final/final hosting rights ahead of second place Brandon.

Games will take place in Otterburne, just across from the campus. Providence will take on fourth-seeded Canadian Mennonite University at noon on Oct. 31. Brandon is playing St Boniface in the other semi-final, with the finals taking place 1:30 p.m. Nov. 1.

High School Football playoffs ready for kick-off

As fall turns colder, fields across the province are ready to host some of the most consequential football games of the season.

The Winnipeg High School Football League playoffs began Oct. 27, with varsity teams from Springfield and Steinbach Regional set to play Oct. 30.

Both varsity teams are heading into the playoffs on sour notes, dropping their final regular season games of the season.

Steinbach fell 43-0 to the Dakota Lancers Oct. 23. Program coordinator Jamie Peters said in his game recap while the Sabres were able to move the ball, they couldn’t finish a drive in the red zone.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: Oct. 22nd edition

Featuring SRSS Sabres and U18 AAA Selects games in Steinbach Oct. 14, a Providence Pilots soccer match Oct. 17 and a Steinbach Pistons game at the Rink Training Centre in Winnipeg Oct. 18.

Mateychuk, Tabin set to represent Canada

A pair of Eastman players are set to represent their country at the highest level.

Dominion City’s Crosby Mateychuk was named to Hockey Canada’s roster for the upcoming U17 World Championships Oct. 14, while Kati Tabin was once again named to the Women’s World Championship roster Oct. 19.

It’s not the first time a Mateychuk has suited up for Team Canada. Crosby’s brother Denton, who is currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets, has represented the country at the U16, u18 U20 and World Championships.

The 2026 U17 World Challenge will feature two Canadian teams with Crosby, who is playing for Vancouver in the Western League this season, on the Canada White roster.

Hirst tapped to lead MJHL at All-Star Challenge

The head coach of the Niverville Nighthawks will get a chance to represent the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

Dwight Hirst, who led the Nighthawks to a league and national championship last season, was selected to lead the league’s top prospects team at the upcoming Western All-Star Challenge as Manitoba takes on Saskatchewan.

Northern Manitoba’s Josh Gratton and Waywayseecappo’s Landyn Cochrane will also be on the bench alongside Hirst.

The event will feature two games between 2008/2009/2010 born players in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.

SPORTS FLASHBACK 1988: 1,200 students at cross-country run

About 1,200 students participated in the annual Hanover School Division cross-country run at Kleefeld. Students from 10 elementary schools in the division from grades four, five and six took part.

Schools represented included Bothwell, Green Valley, Kleefeld, Landmark, Mitchell, Niverville, Blumenort, Elmdale, Southwood and Woodlawn.

According to event organizer, Kleefeld teacher Randy Fender, participation is the reason for holding the annual event and all students were encouraged to run or walk the course.

The course was a three kilometre run that involved running through a field, through some woods, through a gravel pit, and finally ending up at Kleefeld School.

The A&W Pacers exhibit at the Steinbach Sports Heritage Gallery

If you ever played sports you likely dreamt of accomplishing something special, of winning that big game or championship.

And if you are a gifted, elite athlete, there’s a good chance that you got to experience some recognition.

But when you are an average athlete, no matter how much you love sport, there’s a good chance you never got to experience any recognition.

When I played junior fastball with the A&W Pacers, we never thought about winning a medal at the junior national fastball championships and we certainly never ever thought about being formally recognized for that achievement.

SRSS start hockey season with OT win

The Steinbach Regional Sabres hockey team started the Winnipeg High School Hockey League schedule with a bang, defeating Lord Selkirk 4-3 in overtime in their home opener.

With just seconds to go in the extra frame, defenseman Ty Brewster jumped up into the rush, knocking home a rebound and celebrating with several members of the Steinbach Pistons, who were watching following their own practice.

While celebrations took place on the ice, head coach John Laninga was a bit more muted.

“It was a stressful game,” Laninga said, noting the team was rusty after going 10 days without playing.

U18 AAA Selects settling into second season at SEC

The male U18 AAA Eastman Selects have started their season strong. With just six games played so far, the team boasts a 5-1 record, splitting a pair of entertaining contests with the Winnipeg Bruins last weekend.

The Selects fell behind 4-1 at the Southeast Event Centre Oct. 14, before storming back with five unanswered to win 6-4. After picking up a convincing 7-2 win over current league leaders Pembina Valley Oct. 16, it was Eastman’s turn to allow a comeback win, with the Bruins erasing a 5-2 second period lead to win 6-5.

Head coach Mark Woloshyn was happy to see the comeback, but a little surprised to see his team give up four goals in 20 minutes of game action.

“If we want to be a top-end team, we can’t be taking 10 minutes off,” head coach Mark Woloshyn said after the win in Steinbach.

Providence doubles up on cross-country banners

The Providence Pilots didn’t take long to build a deep cross-country roster.

The Pilots claimed both the men’s and women’s team banners at the inaugural Manitoba Colleges Athletic Association cross-country championships despite missing out on the top of the podium for individual performances.

Canadian Mennonite University even won first and third (Luke Townsend and Marcus Huebner), only for the other Providence runners, led by second-placing Owen Eisbrenner, to make up ground throughout the rest of the standings. They won by six points.

On the women’s side, CMU’s Laurel Smith claimed individual gold, but the Pilots stormed to a team victory, edging the Blazers by just a single point, 18-19. Amariah Zult and Haily Sawatzky finished on the podium.

Carillon Sports Second Shots: Oct. 15th edition

Featuring SRSS hockey at the Morris tournament, SRSS volleyball matches Oct. 7, the Zone 13 soccer championships Oct. 8, an SRSS football game Oct. 9.

Junior Sultans Lagasse, Meilleur, pick up Baseball Manitoba awards

The accolades continue to pour into the Carillon Sultans junior program.

The team’s star player and coach were recognized by Baseball Manitoba for their outstanding seasons, with Cedric Lagasse and Don Meilleur picking up junior player of the year and volunteer of the year awards. The team was also named the high performance team of the year.

The Sultans won their third consecutive Manitoba Junior Baseball League championship this season and placed second at the 22U national championships in Windsor.

Lagasse moved his record in MJBL finals to a perfect 6-0 in games as a starting pitcher, and was named by the league as the top pitcher and regular season most valuable player and playoff most valuble player.

MJHL/SJHL young player showcase returns this season

The best young players in the Manitoba and Saskatchewan junior hockey leagues will once again face off against each other, as the two leagues announced the 2026 Western All-Star Challenge.

Each league is sending a 20-player team to the event, which will feature the best players born between 2008 and 2010.

“Our partnership with the SJHL in this and other ventures stems from the ongoing, fruitful spirit of cooperation between our two leagues, a mutual desire to showcase our players to the best of our abilities, and a desire to provide creative entertainment to fans new and old,” a league news release reads.

The release added last year was a strong year for advancing players to the post-secondary level.

SPORTS FLASHBACK OCT 2002: Shevchenko Sabres win soccer title

There are celebrations this week at Vita’s Shevchenko School. The Shevchenko Sabres claimed the Provincial Rural High School Boys’ Soccer Championship last weekend at St Laurent.

Shevchenko lost the provincial final to Zone 4 rival Garden Valley of Winkler last fall in Winkler and went through a so-so season this fall, compiling a 3-2-3 record in league play, finishing in sixth place overall.

But it was in the zone play-offs the Sabres found their mark. In the quarter-finals, Shevchenko got by Altona 1-0, as Kris Driedger scored the winner in overtime. This set the stage for the semi-final match-up against the defending champions and heavily favored squad from Winkler. With only 125 students from grades 9-12 at Shevchenko, Garden Valley had a decided advantage with 950 students from 9-12 to select a soccer team from.

Undaunted, Shevchenko battled the powerful Zodiacs from Winkler to a 1-1 draw after regulation, with Tim Thiessen scoring for the Sabres. Fifteen minutes of overtime didn’t settle it and the game was decided on penalty kicks, as Shevchenko outscored Garden Valley 3-2. Penalty kick goal scorers for Vita were Brad Waldner, Jeff Penner and Italian exchange student Alessandro Bondivalli.

AS I SEE IT COLUMN: The ongoing humiliation of Connor Hellebuyck

At press time Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was (a) still a no-show, (b) still choosing to go back on his word with the contractual promise he made to Jets fans and the organization by signing a long-term contract and (c) still turning his back on his teammates.

You know what else is still happening?

NHL general managers are still not making any decent offers to the Jets to acquire Hellebuyck.

What does that absence of a good trade offer mean?