– Cole Hamblin had a goal and three assists to lead the Virden Oil Capitals to a 6-2 win over the Swan Valley Stampeders Thursday night. Artsoim Kalashnikov added a goal and two assists for the Oil Caps and they broke an eight-game losing streak that goes back to the regular season. It was Virden’s first ever MJHL playoff victory, but they still trail the Best-of-Seven Sher-Wood Division semifinal 2-1, with Game #4 in Swan River Saturday. Game #5 will be back in Virden on Monday. Meanwhile, Michael Stiliadis made 21 saves for his third straight shutout as Dauphin beat OCN 3-0 Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in their Sher-Wood Division semifinal.
– Chad Robinson has played in over 250 regular season games during his four-year Western Hockey League career. This weekend, the Minnedosa product will play in his final two. Robinson is one of three 20-year olds who will graduate from the Wheat Kings once the season is over. Jens Meilleur is expected to return to Brandon’s lineup this weekend after missing five games with a lower body injury while Rene Hunter is the Wheat Kings’ other 20-year old player this season. Robinson indicated he’s leaning toward using his WHL Scholarship and playing CIS hockey next spring; Meilleur is not only exploring the CIS option but also obtained his German passport last spring and could use it to play overseas and fellow 20-year Rene Hunter is expected to try playing professionally next season. CKLQ’s Bruce Luebke has more on his blog at http://luberslounge.blogspot.ca/
– A WHL player remains in critical condition in Saskatoon hospital, but is stable and improving. Tim Bozon of the Kootenay Ice was admitted March 1st and diagnozed wtih neisseria meningitis. A statement by the Saskatoon Health Region says docters are slowing trying to wake Bozon from a medically induced coma, and his family indicates he’s responding to verbal stimuli. Bozon’s parents also says they’ve been overwhelmed by email and social media messages of support. The WHL also announced Thursday that it’s establishing a trust fund to assist the Bozon family with medical and rehabilitation costs.
– The Lethbridge Hurricanes postponed their home game against the Medicine Hat Tigers Friday night because of the water-related state of emergency in the city. The Hurricanes and Tigers will now play the game on Sunday.
– Police have reportedly discovered how a Canadian junior hockey player died this week in Michigan. Autopsy results reportedly show Terry Trafford of the Saginaw Spirit died of asphyxiation, which police believe to have been self-inflicted. The 20-year-old was found in an SUV in a parking lot Tuesday.
– The Gladstone Lakers are headed to the Tiger Hills Hockey League Final. Dan Leslie scored the winning goal with 2:20 left in the third period as the Lakers downed the Carberry Plainsmen 4-3 Thursday night to win the Eastern Division Final 3-1. Gladstone will meet the Western Division champion Deloraine Royals in the league final. Dates for the Championship series have yet to be determined.
– The Assiniboine Community College Cougars look to make home-ice advantage count this weekend. ACC is hosting Hockey Manitoba’s Senior Women’s Championship, with the Cougars playing their opening game Friday night at the Kinsmen Arena (7:00 p.m.). The Senior A Division features three teams while the Cougars are one of six teams in the Senior B Division. Schedule and scores will be posted at http://www.hockeymanitobastats.ca/page/show/1096323-female-senior-b
– Winning a Grey Cup will mean some job security for Corey Chamblin. The Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach has been rewarded with a contract extension through the 2017 season. Chamblin was entering the final year of the deal he signed when he first joined the Riders in 2012.
– A new program in Winnipeg will offer specialized research and treatment for kids who suffer concussions. The Pan Am Concussion Program is to be up and running by this fall. The program is expected to see as many as 30 children and teenagers every week, and will be located at MTS Iceplex. Premier Greg Selinger says kids are active on the hockey rink, the football field and elsewhere, but that brings with it a risk of injury. The program is to be led by Dr. Michael Ellis, a neurosurgeon who recently worked at Toronto Western Hospital. Organizers are promising innovative research into how concussions can be better diagnosed and managed.
– There was an awkward moment during a ceremony Thursday to honour Winnipeg’s Olympic gold medal winning curling rink. The Royal Canadian Mint presented the City of Winnipeg with a symbolic Lucky Loonie to recognize the city’s support for the Jennifer Jones rink at the Sochi Olympics. It came with a framed certificate that listed the team members, including Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, Dawn McEwen and Kirsten Wall, but McEwen’s name was misspelled. A spokesman for the mint says a corrected version will be sent to the city next week. It will also add the name of the team’s coach, Janet Arnott.
– Canada has its third gold medal at the Sochi Paralympic Winter Games. Sit-skier Josh Dueck won the men’s super combined on Friday after putting down a memorable run in the super-G following a fifth-place showing in Tuesday’s slalom portion of the race. Visually impaired cross-country skier Brian McKeever has Canada’s other two gold medals in Sochi. Dueck’s victory on Friday brings Canada’s medal count at these Games to 11 (three gold, two silver, six bronze).
