Sports

Steinbach Pistons in for a battle in MJHL semis

Cassidy Dankochik 5 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2024

In the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) semi-finals, the OCN Blizzard have shown they aren’t here to be pushovers for the top-ranked Steinbach Pistons, earning a split in the first two games of the series.

Despite a gruelling first-round against the Dauphin Kings, which saw a combined eight overtime periods in game six and seven, the Blizzard claimed game one against Steinbach, winning 2-1 in dramatic fashion April 5.

“They’re battle-tested so to speak coming after that last round,” Pistons head coach and general manager Paul Dyck said after game two.

“We knew that would be the challenge, and we didn’t have that. We had a four game sweep where there were moments where it felt that way, but with Dauphin and OCN they played four or five overtime games, and every game was tight and grinding.”

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Weather

Apr. 26, 12 AM: 15°c Cloudy with wind Apr. 26, 6 AM: 11°c Cloudy with wind

Steinbach MB

20°C, Partly cloudy with wind

Full Forecast

Winkler has Steinbach on the ropes in MJHL finals

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Preview

Winkler has Steinbach on the ropes in MJHL finals

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2024

The Steinbach Pistons certainly aren't getting the hometown bounces inside the Niverville Rec Centre, as a bouncing overtime goal in game three of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Finals has Steinbach down 3-0.

Winkler's own Lucas Ens was the lucky man, knocking a puck that appeared to rest at the side of the net off goalie Cole Plowman's skate and into the back of the net to give his Winkler Flyers a dominant series lead.

It was a back and forth affair in game three, with no shortage of controversy. After Steinbach captain Leo Chambers gave his team a 1-0 lead in the first period, Ile des Chenes own Brody Beauchemin was able to respond for the visitors.

Trey Sauder appeared to have restored the Steinbach lead, only for a referee to wave off the goal, ruling the net had come off the pegs before the puck entered the net.

Read
Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2024

Jayce Legaarden celebrates his seventh goal of the series during the second period of Steinbach's game three loss to Winkler in the MJHL finals. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

Steinbach Sports Ticket: APRIL 25 – MAY 1

2 minute read Preview

Steinbach Sports Ticket: APRIL 25 – MAY 1

2 minute read 1:32 PM CDT

MJHL FinalsSteinbach Pistons vs Winkler Flyers

Game 4: April 26 — Steinbach @ Winkler (Winkler Centennial Arena) 7 p.m.

*Game 5: April 28 — Winkler @ Steinbach (Niverville Rec Centre) 7 p.m.

*Game 6: April 30 — Steinbach @ Winkler (Winkler Centennial Arena) 7 p.m.

Read
1:32 PM CDT

A referee waves off a potential goal during game three of the MJHL finals. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

Ste Anne’s Larocque strikes gold with Canada again

Cassidy Dankochik 2 minute read Preview

Ste Anne’s Larocque strikes gold with Canada again

Cassidy Dankochik 2 minute read Yesterday at 2:02 PM CDT

The weight of medals hanging around Jocelyne Laroque’s neck just keeps getting heavier and heavier.

The Ste Anne defender picked up yet another gold medal, winning the Women’s World Hockey Championship April 14 in Utica, New York.

Larocque was on the ice as Canada won the tournament in dramatic fashion. Danielle Serdachny potted the game-winning goal five minutes into overtime to beat the host United States 6-5.

The U.S. beat Canada in pool play earlier in the tournament 1-0, also in overtime.

Read
Yesterday at 2:02 PM CDT

SUPPLIED

Team Canada Women's hockey
Jocelyne Larocque of Ste. Anne, Manitoba

Dodgeball players earn trip to nationals in Niverville

1 minute read Preview

Dodgeball players earn trip to nationals in Niverville

1 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2024

The most elusive and hardest-throwing dodgeball players in the province were gathered in Niverville April 13 and 14, as the Riel Cup returned to town.

The provincial dodgeball qualifiers were hosted inside the Niverville Resource and Rec Centre’s AMF field-house, with three courts active throughout the day.

Five men’s teams and four women’s teams qualified for the national championships at the tournament.

The men’s side was taken by New Era, who defeated Zeal in the finals. On the women’s side, Rainbow Thunder took down Rogue.

Read
Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2024

Raiden Kasprick of the Heathans flew through the air to avoid a ball during the Riel Cup provincial dodgeball championships in Niverville April 13. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

‘It’s getting real now,’ — Event Centre manager excited for next steps

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Preview

‘It’s getting real now,’ — Event Centre manager excited for next steps

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Monday, Apr. 22, 2024

When talking to Jeffery Bannon, you can’t help but share his excitement and enthusiasm for the future of the Southeast Event Centre.

The centre’s manager is buried in planning for the anticipated opening of Steinbach’s new arena, but he will finally have some help, as the centre’s second and third employees (food/beverage and event/operation directors) are set to begin work next month.

“Starting May 1 I can actually go for lunch with someone,” Bannon quipped during an April 12 interview.

Bannon said a “fortunate” winter construction season has kept the centre on track for a late-2024/early-2025 opening date.

Read
Monday, Apr. 22, 2024

The bowl of the grandstands inside the Southeast Event Centre is taking shape. (Supplied)

Loeppky’s Vero Volley Monza battling in Italian finals

4 minute read Preview

Loeppky’s Vero Volley Monza battling in Italian finals

4 minute read 5:51 PM CDT

It’s been an outstanding season on the volleyball court for Steinbach’s Eric Loeppky.

The former Steinbach Regional Secondary School standout not only helped lead Canada to an Olympic berth, but his club team, Mint Vero Volley Monza, are tied 1-1 in the Italian Superlega finals.

The 12-team Superlega is the highest tier of volleyball in Italy and is consistently ranked as the best league in the world.

It’s been a magical run to the finals for Vero Volley. The team needed five matches against Lube in the quarterfinals and five matches against defending champions Trentino in the semi-finals to advance. They’re facing Perugia, which has made the league championship in three of the last four seasons, with the teams exchanging victories through two games of the best-of-five series.

Read
5:51 PM CDT

It took a five game marathon for Eric Loeppky's Monza team just to make the finals, including a five-set victory in the deciding game. (Roberto Del Bo Mint Vero Volley Monza)

Steinbach Pistons go down 2-0 in MJHL finals

Cassidy Dankochik 4 minute read Preview

Steinbach Pistons go down 2-0 in MJHL finals

Cassidy Dankochik 4 minute read Monday, Apr. 22, 2024

The Winkler Flyers have put together an impressive start to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) finals, holding the best offense in the league during the regular season to only one goal in two victories.

The Steinbach Pistons, the MJHL's regular season champions, have looked a touch slow in the finals falling 2-1 in game one in Niverville April 19 and 3-1 in game two in Winkler April 21.

Blake Matheson was the difference for Winkler, even though his name didn't show up on the scoresheet, save for a third-period interference penalty.

Matheson was on the ice as Steinbach pushed for the tying goal. As the clock ticked down, the Pistons threw the puck into the slot, but no player was able to get a stick on it. With starting goalie Malachi Klassen down and out, and the puck falling on the pinching defender's stick, Matheson desperately dove in front of the shot, blocking it and saving the game for Winkler.

Read
Monday, Apr. 22, 2024

Trent Penner's second period-marker with just a second to go stood up as game one's game-winning goal in the MJHL finals. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

AS I SEE IT COLUMN: O.J. and Trump – Two peas in a (disgusting) pod

James Loewen 5 minute read Sunday, Apr. 21, 2024

O.J Simpson is dead. The NFL star running back, NCAA Heisman trophy winner, advertising pitch man, and movie star is no longer with us.

Oh, and he also happened to be the central figure in the 1994 murder trial of the century, when he was accused of brutally killing his ex-wife and her friend. If you believe in an afterlife, given the overwhelming evidence of his guilt it’s pretty safe to say it’s really hot where O.J. is right now.

Trump always makes everything about himself, and so he of course used the news of O.J.’s death to talk about himself. Here is his verbatim quote from his failing social media site.

“The great O.J. Simpson used to play football with me. Not many people know that because I don’t like to boast. He could never outrun me, though – have you ever seen blisters on my feet? No blisters. He used to say: ‘Sir, you are a great runner, probably the best there ever has been. Also, thank you, sir, for playing ball with a black man.’ He had tears in his eyes that day.”

SPORTS FLASHBACK 1988: Huskies recall trip to Allan Cup finals

Wes Keating 4 minute read Preview

SPORTS FLASHBACK 1988: Huskies recall trip to Allan Cup finals

Wes Keating 4 minute read Saturday, Apr. 20, 2024

For six weeks in 1979, everyone in Steinbach was a hockey fan, and those who couldn’t get into an arena filled to capacity, listened to the Huskies games on radio. During the senior hockey playoffs that year, the Steinbach Huskies played their way into a national final and hockey news shared the front page with stories on the Red River Valley flood.

The Steinbach Huskies got together Saturday to relive a little of that magic, as they took on the current team in an exhibition game at the Steinbach Arena.

Later, there was time to renew old friendships and reminisce about the 1978-79 hockey season at a banquet across the street at the Steinbach Curling Club.

Fifteen members of the 1978-79 squad were on hand for the reunion and more than one hockey fan was prompted to suggest that with a couple of practises, they could still ice a pretty good hockey club.

Read
Saturday, Apr. 20, 2024

Tom D’Amico and Grant Skinner join Bruce Johnson at the Rorie Street Marble Club to chat about old times, before heading to Steinbach to get together with the rest of the 1978-79 Allan Cup team for a 1988 Huskies reunion and a friendly game against the current team.

St James Jr Canucks cement MMJHL dynasty

Cassidy Dankochik 2 minute read Preview

St James Jr Canucks cement MMJHL dynasty

Cassidy Dankochik 2 minute read Friday, Apr. 19, 2024

The Pembina Valley Twisters put up a strong challenge, but the St James Jr Canucks would not be denied their third consecutive Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League championship.

The Canucks clinched the 2024 banner on home ice, winning game five of the series 5-1. St James has put together a sparkling run over the past three seasons.

Last year the team lost a combined seven games , with an incredible plus-155 goal difference in the regular season. This year, they were a more pedestrian team in the regular season, with eight losses and a plus-110 difference.

That didn’t matter when the playoffs arrived, with two consecutive sweeps to start the playoffs, and a 4-1 victory in the finals.

Read
Friday, Apr. 19, 2024

The St James Jr Canucks celebrate their third consecutive MMJHL championship after defeating Pembina Valley in the finals. (St James Jr Canucks Twitter)

Ste Anne Aces fall in provincial finals

2 minute read Preview

Ste Anne Aces fall in provincial finals

2 minute read Thursday, Apr. 18, 2024

For the second consecutive year, the Ste Anne Aces could do nothing but watch as the Miniota/Elkhorn C-Hawks celebrated winning a provincial championship.

Despite notching a 7-2 game two win in Niverville April 13, the Aces would fall the next day in Virden as the C-Hawks cruised to victory in the third and final game of the series.

Brenden Walker was dominant in game two, scoring five times to extend the series, but Ste Anne’s offense would go quiet in game three.

Miniota/Elkhorn took control early, scoring two minutes into the first period en route to a 2-0 intermission lead and 6-2 victory. It was the same story in the second period, with an early period marker for the C-Hawks and a 4-0 lead as the game hit the third period.

Read
Thursday, Apr. 18, 2024

Shawn Bowles and the rest of the Miniota/Elkhorn C-Hawks were able to contain the Ste Anne Aces in Virden, winning game one and three of the provincial final to hoist the banner in consecutive years. (Cassidy Dankochik The Carillon)

Steinbach punch ticket to MJHL finals with 2-0 game 7 win

Cassidy Dankochik 6 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 17, 2024

It wasn't easy, but the Steinbach Pistons will be playing in their third consecutive Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) Championship.

The Pistons took down the Blizzard in game seven of their semi-final series with a pair of second period goals the difference in a hotly contested series.

Cole Plowman, who started all seven games of the series for Steinbach recorded his first career MJHL shutout in the victory. It was a redemptive performance for the netminder, who let in two last-minute go-ahead goals on home ice earlier in the series.

"I wasn't really happy with my full performance over the series so it's really huge to get a game seven shutout," Plowman said after the game.

Former Eastman Raider Harris will retire as a Bomber

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Preview

Former Eastman Raider Harris will retire as a Bomber

Cassidy Dankochik 3 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 16, 2024

The final act of Andrew Harris’ professional football playing career will be to sign a one-day contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The star running back, who played for the Eastman Raiders in Steinbach as a youth player, joined his home province’s team in 2016 before controversially leaving as a free agent to Toronto in 2022.

Harris said the lack of negotiations and a lower offer from Winnipeg stung at the time, but he now understands why the franchise made the move.

“If was a head coach or general manager, I would have probably made the same decision as they did,” Harris said on the Bombers’ official podcast.

Read
Tuesday, Apr. 16, 2024

Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris pumps up the fans as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders face off in the CFL west final at IG Field in Winnipeg on Saturday. December 5, 2021.

Pistons force winner-take-all game seven in MJHL semi-finals

Cassidy Dankochik 4 minute read Preview

Pistons force winner-take-all game seven in MJHL semi-finals

Cassidy Dankochik 4 minute read Monday, Apr. 15, 2024

The Steinbach Pistons season was on the line in The Pas April 15, and they responded with one of their best games of the 2024 post-season.

Trailing 1-0 after 20 minutes in a win-or-go-home game six game against the OCN Blizzard, Steinbach put together a three-goal third period en route to a 4-1 victory.

With the win, Steinbach forces a decisive game seven in the series, which will take place April 17 in La Broquerie.

Veteran forward Kirk Mullen, who has found his scoring touch in these playoffs, equalized for the Pistons five minutes into the second period. Mullen finished off a great passing play from Connor Paronuzzi. Paronuzzi recognized a Blizzard player had fallen along the boards and charged from the left point towards the net.

Read
Monday, Apr. 15, 2024

Steinbach goalie Cole Plowman battles for position during game four of the MJHL semi-finals with OCN's Reeve Sukut. (Kelly Kocur Jacobson)

‘It was just our time,’ — St Malo Warriors win 1st CRJHL championship

Cassidy Dankochik 4 minute read Preview

‘It was just our time,’ — St Malo Warriors win 1st CRJHL championship

Cassidy Dankochik 4 minute read Monday, Apr. 15, 2024

For the first time since 2009, the St Malo Warriors junior B club has ended the season as league champions.

The team didn’t make it look easy, falling behind 2-0 in the league finals against the Beausejour Comets, but were able to storm back to win four consecutive games to win the trophy, including a 4-1 game six victory in Beausejour April 5 to clinch the Capital Region Junior Hockey League (CRJHL) championship.

St Malo head coach and general manager Ralph Collette said at the beginning of the season he wanted to make the Warriors’ 30th anniversary a memorable one, and in the chaos of post-game celebrations, he reflected on the championship season.

“It’s been a long year, that’s for sure,” Collette said.

Read
Monday, Apr. 15, 2024

LOAD MORE