– The Edmonton Oil Kings climbed back into the Western Hockey League final Tuesday night with a 3-2 victory over the Portland Winterhawks. Edgars Kulda’s goal with 6:47 left in the third period snapped a 2-2 tie while Tristan Jarry made 35 saves in the Edmonton net including 15 in the third period. Portland still leads the battle for the Ed Chynoweth Cup two games to one, with Game Four Wednesday night in Edmonton.
– Guelph and Val d’Or took big steps toward the 2014 Memorial Cup Tuesday night. Zane Mitchell and Brock McGinn scored in the final 30 seconds of the third period as the Storm defeated North Bay 4-3 to take a 2-1 lead in the Ontario Hockey League final while Anthony Mantha had two goals and an assist as Val d’Or beat Baie-Comeau 5-2 to take a 2-1 lead in the QMJHL Final.
– P.K. Subban keeps on producing. The defenceman had a goal and an assist as Montreal beat Boston 4-2 Tuesdsay to go up 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinal. Subban currently sits third in playoff scoring with three goals and 11 points in seven outings. Brandon product Ryan White watched from the press box for the seventh straight playoff game for the Habs. Meanwhile, Ilya Bryzgalov only had to stop 19 shots as Minnesota climbed back into the Western Conference semifinal with a 4-0 victory over Chicago Tuesday. Mikael Backlund scored twice for the Wild, who trail the series 2-1.
– Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist and James Reimer and Ben Scrivens shared a 23-save shutout as Canada blanked Switzerland 4-0 Tuesday in its only pre-tournament game ahead of the World Hockey Championship. Matt Read, Ryan Ellis and Kyle Turris also scored for Canada. The Canadian team includes former Wheat Kings Brayden Schenn and Jason Chimera. The World Championship begins on Friday.
– Another step in the ladder for Brandon’s Amanda Thornborough as she tries to secure a spot on Canada’s team for this summer’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in France. Thornborough has been named to the Canadian team for a three-game New Zealand tour next month. The 23-year old helped Canada win the Can-Am Cup last month when they swept the United States in a pair of exhibition matches in Langley, B.C.
– The Tri-Star Rural high School Athlete of the Week is Kaylee Butterfield of the Souris Sabres rugby team. Butterfield has ten tries so far this season to lead the Westman High School Rugby League in scoring, helping Souris to a 3-and-0 start to the season.
– Canada West Universities Athletic Association granted Mount Royal and the University of Northern British Columbia athletic programs full membership status at their AGM Tuesday. Mount Royal and UNBC become the 15th and 16th full-time Canada West members. The next step for both schools is to get full CIS status, which should come at the CIS AGM next month.
– There’s no guarantee Geroy Simon will return to help the Saskatchewan Roughriders defend their Grey Cup title. Riders’ GM Brendan Taman discussed Simon’s status during a CFL conference call yesterday, and said that they’re working on re-structuring the contract of receiver Geroy Simon. Taman also says they need to sit down with Simon to determine where he fits into the team, both financially and with what he can bring on the field.
– Ottawa’s new CFL franchise has unveiled its uniforms, which put a fresh twist on a familiar colour scheme. The expansion Redblacks’ home jersey is predominantly black with red trim, while the away jersey is white black strips down the sides. Those colours have a long association with professional sports teams in the nation’s capital going back to the original Rough Riders football franchise
