– Liam Bilton had two goals and an assist to pace the Winnipeg Blues to a 6-1 victory over the Dauphin Kings to open the MJHL’s Turnbull Cup Final on Sunday night. It was Dauphin’s first loss of the playoffs after sweeping through the first two rounds against OCN and Virden. Game #2 of the Best-of-Seven is Tuesday night at Credit Union Centre in Dauphin.
– The Medicine Hat Tigers scored three unanswered third period goals to beat the Kootenay Ice 5-2 in the lone WHL playoff game Sunday. Tigers’ captain Curtis Valk had two goals and an assist for Medicine Hat as they tied their Best-of-Seven Eastern Conference semifinal 1-1. The Brandon Wheat Kings continue their East semifinal Tuesday night when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings. Brandon trails their series 2-0 after back-to-back losses in Edmonton last week.
– Former Wheat Kings’ co-captain Brayden Schenn scored a pair of goals to help the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres in one of six games in the NHL Sunday. Schenn now has a career-high 20 goals on the season. Other games included Florida downing Dallas 3-2. That leaves the Stars just one point ahead of Phoenix for the second wild-card playoff berth in the Western Conference. Both teams have four games remaining in the regular season.
– The Pembina Valley Hawks came up one win short of a return trip to the Esso Cup. The Saskatchewan-champion Weyburn Goldwings blanked the Hawks 3-0 Sunday in the third and deciding game of the Western Regional Female Midget Hockey Championship. That gives Weyburn a spot in the National Female Midget Hockey Championship later this month in Stoney Creek and Hamilton, Ontario.
– Brandon Wheat Kings’ prospect Dakota Boutin had a goal and an assist to help the host Prince Albert Mintos to a 4-3 win over the Notre Dame Argos in the final of the Western Regionals Midget AAA Hockey Championship Sunday. The victory gives the Mintos a spot in the Telus Cup National Midget Hockey Championship in Moose Jaw later this month.
– For the first time, there won’t be any Westman teams at the National Dominion Curling Club Championship. Defending Canadian champion Stacey Fordyce of Brandon dropped a 9-4 decision to Fort Rouge’s Tracy Andries in Sunday’s women’s final while Kerry Fedorchuk of Petersfield won the men’s title with a 5-2 victory over Carberry’s Rod Waterhouse in the final. Andries and Fedorchuk will represent Manitoba at the National Dominion Curling Club Championship in Halifax in November.
– It was a disappointing end for Brandon product Nolan Thiessen and Team Canada at the World Men’s Curling Championship in Beijing. The squad had to settle for fourth after falling 7-5 to Switzerland in Sunday’s bronze-medal match. Norway led from start to finish in defeating Sweden 8-3 to earn gold.
– C.C. Sabathia went six innings in his 400th career American League start as the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 Sunday. Jays’ starter Drew Hutchinson struggled, giving up six earned runs in three-plus innings. Toronto has opened the Major League regular season with a 3-and-4 record. They have a day off Monday before opening a three-game set against Houston.
– The Duck Commander 500 Sprint Cup race was postponed by rain Sunday. It is now scheduled to begin Monday at 11 a.m. (CDT). Tony Stewart has the pole.
– Matt Jones earned his first trip to the Masters with a remarkable 42-yard chip-in on the first playoff hole, outdueling Matt Kuchar on his way to winning the Houston Open. Graham DeLaet was the top Canadian in 19th spot.
– SCORE Golf Radio returns to the CKLQ airwaves Monday (April 7). Hosted by SCOREGolf Magazine’s Bob Weeks, the program offers instruction from the game’s best players and the latest golf news from coast to coast. The program will air weekdays at 3:05 p.m..
