– The comfort level is increasing on a daily basis for Brandon Wheat Kings’ blueliner Ryan Pilon. Pilon was acquired by the Wheat Kings from Lethbridge as part of a blockbuster deal in mid-November and is starting to show why he chosen third overall in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft. Pilon has two goals, six points and is plus-one in 11 games so far in the second half and the 17-year old feels confidence is a big reason why. Brandon visits Swift Current on Wednesday night and enter the game tied with the Broncos for first-place in the East Division, one point ahead of the Regina Pats. For more on the Wheat Kings, visit Bruce Luebke’s blog at http://luberslounge.blogspot.ca/.
– The Winnipeg Jets beat the NHL’s best team with a 3-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night. Evander Kane had a shorthanded goal and an assist as the Jets gave the Ducks their first regulation home loss of the season. Ondrej Pavelec made 40 saves for Winnipeg, who improved to 4-0 under new head coach Paul Maurice. Bryan Little added two assists for the Jets who are eight points back of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
– Westman Wildcats’ forward Jaycee Magwood is the Manitoba Female Midget Hockey League player of the week. Magwood had two goals and two assists as the Wildcats won a pair of games over the weekend. The Killarney product is fourth in league scoring with 17 goals and 30 points in 20 games.
– The Major Pratt Trojans host the Crocus Plainsmen in a Westman High School Hockey League fundraiser game for cancer research on Wednesday night. The Trojans are accepting donations and will also be donning pink jerseys, which are being sold for 100 dollars each. Game time is 7:45 p.m. at the Russell Arena.
– Carberry’s Braden Calvert is hoping to continue his perfect week at the Canadian Junior Curling Championship in Nova Scotia on Wednesday. Calvert will carry his 6-0 preliminary round record into the championship round, where he’ll now face the top four teams from Pool ‘B’ over the next two days. The Deer Lodge team will take on New Brunswick and Alberta on Wednesday and B.C. and Nova Scotia on Thursday. The top three teams advance to Sunday’s playoffs. Meanwhile, Manitoba’s Meaghan Brezden also qualified for the championship round after finishing 3-3 in the preliminary round. Brezden will play Quebec and Saskatchewan in her two games on Wednesday.
– No changes for the Brandon University volleyball teams in this week’s CIS rankings. The BU women’s team remains #2 in the country behind the UBC Thunderbirds while the BU men’s team maintained its #7 rankings despite seeing its losing streak increased for four with back-to-back losses to UBC this past weekend. Both BU teams are in Winnipeg on Wednesday night to battle the Wesmen, with the men’s team currently tied with Winnipeg and Saskatchewan for seventh-place and the final playoff spot in the Canada West conference. CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston has a preview here.
– The Vincent Massey Vikings and Crocus Plainsmen split their games Tuesday night in the Westman High School Basketball League. Desirae Peiffer poured in 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Plainsmen beat the Vikings 52-39 in varsity girls’ action. On the varsity boys’ side, Vincent Massey had three players in double figures with Johnson Duku delivering 18 points in an 82-55 victory over Crocus.
– The Tri-Star Rural High School Athlete of the Week is Sarah Palson of the Souris Sabres basketball team. Palson is averaging 20.4 points and 14.2 rebounds per game and has been named the MVP at two tournaments this season.
– The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed import defensive back Josh Francis and non-import wide receiver Julian Feoli-Gudino. Francis played two seasons at West Virginia, and totaled 4.5 sacks, 54 tackles, and 39 solo tackles while Feoli-Gudino was a five-year starter at Laval and has played sparingly on special teams with the Toronto Argos the past two seasons.
– Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo has called it a career. Pro football’s all-time passing leader announced his retirement after 20 CFL seasons. The 41-year-old Calvillo was a three-time Grey Cup champion and named the league’s outstanding player on three occasions.
– Looking for a way to send your best wishes to Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers for the upcoming Olympics? There are now good luck books set up in the lobby at Tundra Oil & Gas Place in Virden from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. An Olympic Send-Off for Lawrence and Swiegers will also be held next Tuesday, from 7 – 9 p.m
