– It looks like Brandon University will be bidding to host a CIS Volleyball Championship in 2016 or 2017. BU Athletic Director Russ Paddock said on CKLQ’s Monday Sports Talk this week that they’ll be throwing their hat into the ring when the bid process begins this spring. BU also bid for the 2014 and 2015 championship but were unsuccessful. However, Paddock says they learned a lot about the process and will be better prepared this time around.
– Neelin Spartans’ middle Alison Quiringhas committed to the Trinity Western Spartans women’s volleyball team for next season. Quiring becomes the fifth member of Neelin’s Varsity Girls’ volleyball team to secure at Canada West scholarship. Amy Gordon is joining the Mount Royal Cougars, Jamie Campbell has committed to the Brandon Bobcats, Kristine Ward has signed with the Regina Cougars and Paige Thomson is taking the basketball route with the Victoria Vikes. CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston has more here.
– The Manitoba Junior Hockey League Player of the Week is Portage Terriers’ rookie netminder Zac Robidoux. Robidoux went 2-and-0 last week with one shutout, finishing with a 0.50 goals against average and .979 save percentage.
– The Western Hockey League Player of the Week is Morgan Klimchuk of the Regina Pats. Klimchuk had six goals and three assists for nine points in four games last week.
– Canada’s gold-medal winning women’s curling team got a huge welcome home Monday night at Winnipeg’s Richardson International Airport. The members of the Jennifer Jones rink were presented with bouquets of red-and-white flowers and signed autographs for many fans who waited at the bottom of the escalator for them to arrive. Team second, Jill Officer, says she and her teammates had an idea from social media that people would be waiting. But she says it was overwhelming how many there were.
– The NHL is back — sort of. The league returns from its Olympic break Tuesday with just one game. The Buffalo Sabres are home to the Carolina Hurricanes to make up a game postponed in January by weather. For fans of the other 28 teams, action picks up again tomorrow with four games including Detroit at Montreal and Vancouver hosting St. Louis. The Winnipeg Jets return to action Thursday against Phoenix.
– The end of the Olympics means the spotlight now turns to what NHL teams will do ahead of next week’s trade deadline. The Buffalo Sabres are reportedly working hard to move star goaltender Ryan Miller. Sabres captain Steve Ott, veteran winger Matt Moulson and defenceman Henrik Tallinder could also be moved. The trade deadline is March 5th.
– Gene Dahlquist is the new quarterbacks coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Dahlquist is a CFL rookie but he has held offensive co-ordinator positions at the universities of Oregon, Boise State, Iowa State, Illinois, and the University of Texas. Most recently, he was quarterbacks coach for the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL, where he worked with current Bombers offensive co-ordinator Marcel Bellefeuille.
