– The MJHL’s Neepawa Natives made a pair of major announcements Thursday night. The team will proceed for next season after getting positive support following a ‘community awareness’ meeting that outlined the financial plight facing the team. The team also announced that Dwayne Kirkup would return for a second season as the Natives’ head coach. Kirkup led the team to 14-41-5 record in his first season in 2014-2015. CKLQ’s Bruce Luebke has more on this story here.
– Travis Konecny’s goal with 30 seconds left lifted Canada to a 3-2 win over Switzerland Thursday in quarter-final action at the World Under-18 Hockey Championship. Elkhorn product Travis Sanheim set up Konecny’s game-winning goal, his second assist of the game, while Wheat Kings’ forward John Quenneville scored Canada’s second goal for his first goal and point of the tournament. Canada will play the Czech Republic in Saturday’s semifinals.
– The Minnesota Wild defence humiliated what is usually a potent Colorado offence. The Wild held the Avalanche to just 12 shots en route to a 2-1 win Thursday, tying their playoff series at two games apiece. That’s the lowest amount of shots the Wild have ever allowed in a game. The Los Angeles Kings are still alive. Marian Gaborik and Justin Williams each scored twice to give L-A a 6-3 win against San Jose. The Sharks still lead the series 3-1. Meanwhile in Detroit, Jarome Iginla scored in overtime to give the Boston Bruins a 3-2 win and a 3-1 series lead.
– Toronto Maple Leafs’ forward Mason Raymond is in the Wheat City this week. Raymond was at Murray Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC signing autographs Thursday, and will be back in the showroom from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. Raymond had 19 goals and 45 points in 82 games with the Leafs this season. CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston caught up with Raymond for a few minutes Thursday. That interview is available here.
– The Brandon University men’s basketball team has signed their first recruit of the off-season. 6-foot-7 post Ryan Cowley committed to the Bobcats after having a standout senior season with B-C’s Delta Secondary School Pacers, averaging 18.1 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. The Bobcats are in need of a stellar recruiting class with the graduation of Jordan Reaves, Emerick Ravier, James Elias and Isaiah James from this year’s team. More on this story here.
– It wasn’t a gold medal, but Brandon’s Alexandra Murray still earned a pretty good prize at the Canadian Junior Racquetball Championship Thursday. Murray dropped a 15-2, 4-15, 11-9 decision to Quebec’s Jewel Sauve to finish in second-place in the Girls’ 16-and-under singles division. That runner-up finish was good enough to earn Murray a spot on the Canadian team for the World Junior Racquetball Championship in Colombia in October.
– The curling shuffle is sweeping the nation, but it’s not a new dance craze. The latest ‘new team’ to be announed came out of Winnipeg last night, with William Lyburn adding former Rob Fowler second Richard Daneault at third and a front end of Andrew Irving at second and Daniel Gagne at lead. Daneault is a two-time Brier participant, having gone to the big dance with Kerry Burtnyk in 2008 and with Rob Fowler in 2012.
– New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda was suspended for 10 games after being caught using pine tar. Pineda was ejected in the second inning of Wednesday night’s 5-1 loss to Boston after umpires found the substance on his neck. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays bullpen is in the doghouse. Toronto relievers blew a 3-2 lead and allowed nine runs en route to an 11-4 loss against the Baltimore Orioles Thursday night.
