– A four-goal third period lifted Edmonton to a 5-2 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings Tuesday night, giving the Oil Kings a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal. Mitch Moroz snapped a 1-1 tie 5:40 into the final frame for Edmonton and also had a pair of assists while Curtis Lazar’s 5-on-3 power-play goal just under three minutes later gave the Oil Kings a two-goal advantage. John Quenneville and Richard Nejezchleb scored the goals for Brandon. Game four of the series goes Wednesday night (7 p.m., Westman Communications Group Place). CKLQ’s Bruce Luebke has more on the Wheat Kings at http://luberslounge.blogspot.ca/
– The NHL Central Scouting Service thinks highly of some of the member of the Brandon Wheat Kings. The CSS released its final rankings for the 2014 Draft Tuesday with three members of the Wheat Kings in the top 50. John Quenneville is 23rd, Jayce Hawryluk is 37th and Richard Nejezchleb is 50th. Two other Brandon players were mentioned, with Jordan Papirny ranked 24th among goaltenders and Rihards Bukarts 208th among skaters.
– The future of the MJHL’s Neepawa Natives remains in doubt, even after Tuesday night’s ‘Survive or Thrive’ community awareness meeting. About 100 people attended the session at the Yellowhead Centre, with the team detailing its financial troubles and discussing marketing and fundraising efforts moving forward. The Natives are more than $90,000 in debt including a $51,000 loss this season. The club is currently operating on a line of credit and needs to increase sponsorship, season ticket sales and the volunteer base in order to stay afloat.
– Jake Stilwell’s goal with 5:01 left in the third period lifted the Winnipeg Blues to a 4-3 victory over the Dauphin Kings Tuesday night. Byron Spriggs stopped 26 shots for the Blues as they take a 2-0 lead in the MJHL’s Turnbull Cup Final. Mitch VanTeeling, Dylan Butler and Jared Morris scored the goals for Dauphin. Game three is Thursday night at the MTS IcePlex in Winnipeg.
– The hardware for Brandon University Athletics 2013-2014 season was handed out Tuesday night. Dan Boutwell and Donata Huebert of the volleyball lteams were named the Male and Female Athletes of the Year. The duo were also named MVP’s for their respective teams while Kenonte Ramsey and Cassie Cooke were MVP’s of the men’s and women’s basketball teams. In addition, James Elias of the men’s hoops squad won the Jim Casey Memorial Award for Sportsmanship for the second time in his BU career. CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston has details on the awards night here.
– Kevin Koe is leaving the team that he guided to a Brier title. Koe confirmed Tuesday he will form a new lineup with Marc Kennedy at third, Ben Hebert at lead and Brent Laing at second. The announcement comes just a couple days after Koe’s rink of third Pat Simmons, second Carter Rycroft and Brandon product Nolan Thiessen finished fourth at the world championship in Beijing. Simmons, Rycroft and Thiessen will hold on to its Team Canada title and play in the 2014 Canada Cup of Curling and next year’s Tim Hortons Brier. The trio will name their new skip at a later date. Thiessen talked to CKLQ’s Bruce Luebke about the announcement.
– The WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors are being asked to reconsider using an old logo for their 30th anniversary celebrations. The logo shows an image of a First Nations person on a skate waving an axe, but the Moose Jaw Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee says the 1984 design is insensitive and should not be used. While it has no problem with the current logo, the committee is recommending the club retire the old one and approach aboriginal people and organizations in the city for direction and advice. Moose Jaw city council is also is sending a letter of concern to the team.
– It looks like suspensions are finally coming from an ugly minor hockey incident in a Winnipeg rink nearly two months ago. Officials with the Southeast Tribal Council say a Sagkeeng First Nation coach and player will be suspended for their actions in a peewee game against a Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation team in February. The incident saw an on-ice scuffle between a coach and a referee and a 12-year-old player, who suffered a broken wrist. Another player slammed his stick on the referee’s head, the crowd erupted in a rage and an adult jumped off the bench to tussle with the referee.
– Mike Gillis has paid the price for the Vancouver Canucks failure to make the post-season. He was fired as team president and general manager Tuesdaym the day after the team was eliminated from playoff contention. Gillis took over the GM position in 2008.
– On the ice in the NHL Tuesday night, Tampa Bay blanked Toronto 3-0 to officially eliminate the Maple Leafs from playoff contention. That means the Montreal Canadiens will be the only Canadian team in his year’s Stanley Cup playoffs.
– Snowmelt has damaged the interior at Investors Group Field, the home of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers say water has damaged suites and the visitor’s dressing room. BBB Stadium chairman Andrew Konowalchuk describes the water damage as an ongoing issue with the facility since it opened in June 2013. He says it won’t impact any events scheduled at Investors Group Field, specifically the Canada versus U-S-A women’s soccer match on May 8th.
– It may not seem like it, but it’s been 25 years since we first met Jake Taylor, Willie Mays Hayes and Pedro Cerrano. 25 years since Rick Vaughn turned ‘Wild Thing’ into a baseball anthem. Twenty-five years since Harry Doyle gave us ‘Juuuuuuust a bit outside.’ Major League, which starred Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Corbin Bernsen and Wesley Snipes, debuted in theaters 25 years ago Monday. It became a No. 1 hit at the box office and one of the most beloved baseball films of all time.
– Iconic wrestling legend Ultimate Warrior – real name James Hellwig – has died at the age of 54. His death comes just days after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, and one night after appearing on RAW, WWE.com confirmed his death.
