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They won a league championship last year. It was their second in a row.
Then, they lost 12 players due to graduation. They're back this year and are trying to make it three in a row. This year, the roster is much younger. Only four grade 12 players. Many programs would struggle after losing 12 top-end players in one year.
The Dauphin Clippers have made no excuses. Instead, they hit the field motivated. They won their first game of the year against Crocus Plains, 12-7. Seven days later, they scored 52 points against the Vincent Massey Vikings. Six days after that, the two top teams went head-to-head, and the Souris Sabres got the edge. They beat Dauphin, 12-5.
Aaron Miner is proud of how this year's team has come together, despite the major turnover.
"Development-wise, couldn't ask for anything better. We picked up a lot of grade 11 players and some grade 10s that we didn't even know had interest in playing rugby," said Miner. "Then we added some grade nine players as well from the Pirates program."
With wins in two of their three regular-season games, the Clippers ended the semifinals as heavy favourites against Vincent Massey, a team they beat by 30, 12 days earlier. Nothing is guaranteed in sports. But the Clippers continue finding ways to win.
It's an extremely hard-working group, and that was on full display on Tuesday night. Ronin Mouck had three tries, Alex Thompson added two, while Colton Miner had four conversions. Toss in a try each from Josh Yakielashek and Landyn Garton, and it was another convincing win. 43-17.
The win has advanced Dauphin to the league final.
"It was well executed, great team play. We knew we needed to play a disciplined game," offered Miner. "The last time we played them, they were missing a few key players. We played it perfectly, it was a great effort from our group."
Dauphin now waits to find out who is next. Crocus and Souris play on Wednesday night. The Sabres finished first in the regular season and have home-field advantage. Should they win, they'll host Dauphin in the league final on Saturday. Souris beat Crocus earlier this year, 43-20.
If Crocus Plains pulls off the upset, the championship banner and trophy will be won in Dauphin. The Clippers would host the game on Saturday, should Crocus win.
Dauphin is playing for their third straight league championship.
"It means a lot to our team and staff. We had a few big losses last week, Sully Fox and Gerald Lopez," continued Miner.
If the Clippers needed extra motivation ahead of Saturday's final, they need look no further than playing for Fox and Lopez.
"That has to get the guys going, driven," ended Miner. "I'm looking forward to a heck of a match. We lost to Souris 12-5, and it was a very heated and rough game. Rugby is a rough game to begin with, this was next level."
While the Clippers would enter the league final as slight underdogs if they play Souris, they would enter favourites should they play Crocus, after beating them earlier this season. On Wednesday night, the championship final will be set.
On the women's side, the Clippers steamrolled Crocus Plains, 105-0.
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Winning was something they had become used to.
The Parkland Vipers 15U volleyball team's season ended over the weekend. The Vipers' resume this season included a pair of bronze medal finishes in tournament play.
There were two possible outcomes for the team in those bronze medal matches. Win and finish on the podium. Lose and settle for a fourth-place finish. The Vipers dug deep and made Amber Percival a very proud coach.
"The guys were all so excited about that," said Percival. "Those wins boosted our confidence throughout the year."
The test at the national tournament was like nothing Parkland had experienced in the past. The best teams from coast to coast under one roof. They lost in straight sets against the CVC Kodiaks in their first match. The Vipers forced a third set against the North Shore Stars next, coming up just short.
The Vipers then earned their first win, a three-set thriller over the Brooks Rush Volleyball Club. The Vipers then ran into some incredible competition. They battled hard and executed flawlessly at times, forcing a third set in their next three matches. Ultimately, it wasn't to be. The Vipers lost three straight and entered the playoff round in tier 21.
Again, finding themselves in a three-set match, this time, it was the Vipers that came out on top. They won back-to-back matches in three sets, against the Everton Lions and West Volleyball. Their victory against West Volleyball catapulted the team to the national championship match.
"It was great, it's all we could have asked for. Even if we didn't make the final, we would have been so proud of how far they have come this year," continued Percival. "They really came together. Sean Rea and I couldn't have asked for a better way to end our season."
A national title was on the line. It was the 15U Vipers against the Brooks Rush. Parkland beat Brooks in pool play. This time, it was the other way around. Brooks won the match in two sets, 28-26, 25-22. Brooks were crowned national champions. The Parkland Vipers, meanwhile, did an incredible job of battling adversity and getting better throughout the weekend.
They earned the right to compete for a national title. While their journey came short, they're national silver medallists and thrilled to be home with medals around their necks.
"I know the girls were a little disappointed that we didn't finish off with the gold," ended Percival. "It was a tight game, back and forth. It could have gone either way. I couldn't be prouder of this team for bringing a medal home. The girls' courage and determination shone brightly during the national tournament."
The Vipers may have fallen just short of gold, but they finished the season as champions in every way that matters.
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There will be two Pratte's in the lineup next season for the Dauphin Kings.
Ty Pratte, who will enter his 20-year-old season, will lace up the skates with his brother. Doug Hedley announced two commitments for next season. The first is Kale Pratte, the younger brother of Ty.
Kale had a great year with Prairie Hockey Academy. 17 goals and 41 points in 30 regular-season games. Then, another two goals and five assists in four playoff games.
"Kale's skill, speed and offensive awareness will be a welcome addition to the Kings next season, and we're really looking forward to working with him," said Hedley.
Dauphin also nabbed the playing rights of Kingston Gunn. From Winnipeg, Gunn had 13 goals and 21 assists in 48 games last year with the Winnipeg Bruins of the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League. He had three points in eight playoff games.
"Kingston is a 200-foot player that brings pace to his game," said Head Scout Darry Stevens. "He's a player who's used in all special team situations and has great energy and skill. He will be a welcome addition to the Kings."
The Kings will host their Annual General Meeting on Sunday, June 22. It'll be at the Aspen Lodge at 6:00 p.m.
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Ena Morrisseau, Lauren Lesiuk, and Renee Fee showed their talents in the pool at the Jobse Invitational.
Ena Morrisseau:
13th - 50m fly
11th - 50m freestyle
8th - 200m freestyle
5th - 50m backstroke
5th - 100m breaststroke
10th - 100m freestyle
Lauren Lesiuk:
21st - 50m breaststroke
16th - 50m backstroke
19th - 100m breaststroke
29th - 100m freestyle
Renee Fee:
20th - 50m fly
23rd - 50m freestyle
8th - 100m backstroke
10th - 50m backstroke
5th - 200m backstroke
25th - 100m freestyle
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2025, a dream year for JJ Love.
On March 23, the Dauphin star pushed the Brandon Bobcats over the finish line as they won the school's first national championship in program history. They were also the first team since Laval in 2013 to win a national title on their home court.
In the final, JJ put together a legendary performance. He had five kills, hitting .500. He had seven digs, 40 assists, and one solo block. The Bobcats needed a big performance from their all-star setter, and they got so much more than that. He was named the Mikasa Player of the Game.
JJ is now 2,476 kilometres away from Dauphin in Gatineau, QC, where he will be for the next four months. He's with the Next Gen Team Canada roster. He'll continue to train with them ahead of the Pan American Cup.
"Yeah, it's been a really cool year. So many memories that I will cherish for a long time," said Love. "I'm also getting my first degree from Brandon this year. So that's another one checked off the bucket list."
The Volleyball Nations League (VNL). The top teams in the world are competing for a championship. Canada begins on home court in Quebec City, joined by Italy, France, Argentina, Germany, and Bulgaria. That's June 11 to 15. From June 25 to 29, Canada will be in Chicago. That's where their pool includes Poland, Brazil, Italy, the United States, and China.
One final week of competition ahead of the Finals takes place from July 15 to 20. The team will be in Slovenia. Competition includes Italy, Slovenia, Serbia, the Netherlands, and Ukraine.
Earlier this week, Team Canada announced its national team roster for VNL. 30 of the best in the country are ready to represent the Maple Leaf on the world stage. JJ made the roster. While only 12 make up a game day roster, making the roster of 30 is an incredible achievement.
Led by head coach Dan Lewis, it signifies what is to come. The Dauphin talent is one step closer to representing his country on the senior men's team.
"That's so cool to be named to that list, it's an honour," continued Love. "Just to be named to it is a great feeling."
JJ will continue training in Gatineau with his teammates, and with week one of VNL being only a few weeks away, Team Canada will soon announce the roster that will hit the court in Quebec City. JJ is pleased with where he's at right now, but he knows there is no time to be complacent.
"It was definitely an awesome year. Coming out here and training with these levels of guys, it's an eye opener, a whole new level," added Love. "Things that I was doing in Brandon may not necessarily work as well here, because everyone can do it. It's very humbling, and it makes you hungry again. You want to keep working and getting better. There's a guy to take your spot if you aren't executing."
JJ takes immense pride in his work ethic. He's often the first one to arrive at the gym and the last one to leave. It's been like that since day one. He's had to work for every opportunity and has made the most of many.
As he continues to grind it out and make a name for himself on the international stage against the best of the best, JJ has his family right by his side.
"Thank goodness for technology," ended Love. "I get to call the family and talk with them whenever I can. It makes this transition much easier."
From a small-town hero to a national champion and now a rising star on the world stage—JJ Love’s journey is just getting started.
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You can make it 20 straight wins.
956 points and only 52 against. The Dauphin Clippers girls' rugby 15s have dismantled their opponents since 2023. On Wednesday, they hammered Souris, 55-0, to complete a perfect regular season. Felicity Sahulka and Isabella Williams each had two tries.
Ryan Richard-Soltis, Ruth Dandeneau, Kiersten Vandekerckhove, Desiree Lariviere, and Sigrid Katerud each had a try. Ruth Evans had five tries.
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Bo Eisner and Will Munro of Swan River, along with the rest of the Melfort Mustangs, have returned to the playoffs at the Centennial Cup.
At the Max Bell Centre in Calgary, the Mustangs finished second in Group B with eight points. Two regulation wins, one in overtime, and one defeat. The team's lone defeat came in their first game. The host Calgary Canucks scored one goal in each period in a 3-1 victory. The Canucks finished atop Group B and have advanced to Saturday's semifinals.
Bo, Will, and the Mustangs took care of business in their next three games, against Edmundston, Rockland, and Braves de Valleyfield. Bo had one goal and two assists in the round-robin while Munro had one goal and one assist.
Melfort will enter the quarterfinal as heavy favourites. After advancing to the national final last year, they'll play the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champion Greater Sudbury Cubs on Friday.
The Northern Manitoba Blizzard, meanwhile, picked the worst time to give up the most goals they have since March 7. That's when they gave up six against the Steinbach Pistons. On Wednesday, they had a chance to clinch first place in Group A. They needed a win in regulation.
They did not get it. The Grande Prairie Storm, previously eliminated from playoff contention after Greater Sudbury beat Kam River earlier in the day, played an inspired game and went out with a bang. They lit up the Blizzard for six goals in a 6-3 win. They chased co-playoff MVP Taye Timmerman after just 35 minutes. He made 13 saves and gave up five goals.
With two regulation wins, one overtime loss, and one regulation loss, the Blizzard finish second in Group A. They have a much tougher route to the national final. They'll play the powerhouse Rockland Nationals on Friday in a quarterfinal. While the Nationals finished third in Group B, that was the group of death. They finished behind two other powerhouses in Melfort and the host Canucks.
FULL PLAYOFF MATCHUPS:
QF - Northern Manitoba Blizzard vs Rockland Nationals
QF - Greater Sudbury Cubs vs Melfort Mustangs
SF - Trenton Golden Hawks vs TBD
SF - Calgary Canucks vs TBD
CF - TBD vs TBD
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Urijah Moosetail fell in love with the game immediately.
The Pine Creek First Nation member was with his dad when he was six, and his dad showed him hockey. The rest is history. Moosetail has spent his entire life in Brandon and grew up playing within their minor hockey association.
When it was time to take his game to the next level, Moosetail excelled. He joined the Brandon U15 Wheat Kings in the 2022-23 season, and what a year it was. Moosetail dazzled with a 15-3 record. His 1.80 goals-against average was paired with an excellent .929 save percentage. Carrying his momentum into the playoffs, Urijah won seven more games, with a 1.55 goals-against average and .940 save percentage. Urijah led the 30-win Wheat Kings to a championship. They beat the 29-win Winnipeg Wild in the final.
"That was great, we had an unreal team," offered Moosetail. "We also won the Graham Tuer tournament that year, so it was really fun."
The Pine Creek First Nation member was back with the Wheat Kings for the 2023-24 season, and again, he dazzled. This time, he won another 15 games in the regular season and suffered no losses in regulation. He had a 2.45 goals-against average with a .911 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Brandon reigned supreme atop the standings for the second straight season, racking up an impressive 29 wins. Their dominance was clear, finishing eight points ahead of the Winnipeg Bruins and nine in front of the Eastman Selects. Only two teams remained as the regular-season battles faded and playoff intensity took hold. The Moosetail-led Wheat Kings and the relentless Eastman Selects, led by standout Ty Mistelbacher.
The Wheat Kings capped off a near-flawless campaign by defending their provincial crown.
Back-to-back. During the two-year run, Moosetail went 30-3-1 in the regular season and 16-4 in the playoffs. He also had eight shutouts.
"We weren't a selfish team; we all wanted to see each other succeed," continued Moosetail. "We wanted to do it as a team, and that's what we did. It was great to get it done with the guys."
After the season, Moosetail heard his name called by the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was drafted in the fourth round, 81st overall, in the WHL draft.
"That was so special," commented Moosetail. "I can't wait to see what the future holds."
After two incredible years with the U15 club, Moosetail moved to the U17 ranks this year. To the surprise of no one, Urijah was among the brightest goaltenders in the province. Playing in the provincial U17 league, Moosetail had a 1.52 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in the regular season. He went 16-2-1. He ranked fifth in GAA, fourth in shutouts with four, and his 16 wins were the second-most.
Finishing first in the West Division with 51 points and 25 wins, Moosetail and the Wheat Kings breezed past the Lightning in the first round of the playoffs and the Pembina Valley Hawks in the second round.
In the finals, they played the previously undefeated Winnipeg Bruins. The Bruins had gone 32-0 in the regular season and won their first six playoff games. The Bruins completed a perfect season as they downed the Wheat Kings in four games, to finish the year 42-0.
Urijah's season with the Wheat Kings ended. His year on the ice, however, did not end. Moosetail got the call to tend the crease for Team Manitoba at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC). He had competed for Team Manitoba twice, but this was his first attempt at earning a gold medal at the NAHC.
"I was super excited when I made the team," continued Moosetail. "I kept telling myself it was just another set of games. I kept it calm and played my game."
In the round-robin, Manitoba downed Saskatchewan, 5-3, before doubling British Columbia, 4-2. They tied Ontario, 1-1, before losing their first game of the tournament against Alberta, 3-0. The team's third win came in the round-robin finale as they hammered Eastern Door and the North, 8-1. With a bye to the semifinals, Moosetail and his teammates beat Saskatchewan, 5-4, in a thrilling overtime contest.
The stage was set. A gold medal was on the line, Manitoba vs Alberta. Alberta beat Manitoba in the round-robin. This time, it was Manitoba's time to shine. 60 minutes were in the books, and Manitoba beat Alberta, 4-2.
They were crowned champions of the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.
A dream come true, another accolade for Moosetail. Everyone in Pine Creek and Brandon is cheering his name. What a story, what a journey.
"It was pretty surreal," ended Moosetail. "All the boys on our team worked so hard for it. It's such an incredible result."
Moosetail plans to join the U18 Wheat Kings next season.
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The Parkland Vipers 14U volleyball team is back home.
They ended their season over the weekend at the national championships, hosted at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg. In round-robin play, the Vipers won one of three matches. Against the Canuck Stuff Volleyball Club, the Vipers fell short, 21-25, 21-25. The Lightning Bolts out of Saskatchewan got the best of the Vipers in straight sets.
The Vipers rounded out pool play with an impressive victory against the Westman Wave, 25-18, 26-24.
Moving into a power pool for day two of the competition, the Vipers caught fire. They opened with a straight set win over the Fernie Volleyball Club, 25-19, 25-21. They then downed the Aces Calgary Black in straight sets, 25-22, 25-16.
They ended power pool play with an outstanding effort against the Bandits Volleyball Club. It was another straight-set performance, 25-16, 25-23.
Chris Wolfenden is the team's head coach.
"That was the best we have ever played as a team, like ever," offered Wolfenden. "We jumped two tiers within the tournament. That was fantastic."
After a flawless second day, the Vipers surged into the Tier 3 playoffs. They went toe-to-toe with the WinMan Waves, trading sets to force a thrilling decider. Up 10-8 in the third, the Vipers looked poised for the semifinals.
Unfortunately, it wasn't to be for the Vipers. The Waves scored seven straight points to down the Vipers in the deciding set, 15-10. It wasn't the end the team was hoping for, but the team can use that experience to grow.
"Absolutely. For our entire team, this is the first time they've dipped their feet into the fire. That's the only way to learn from those emotions, to be in those situations," commented Wolfenden. "It was difficult to watch happen. At the same time, we will use it as a building block and move forward."
The 14U team finished their first national tournament with four wins. It was a special group that, throughout the season, always had the spotlight on them. Even when they weren't winning, which didn't happen often, other teams were taking notice of the Vipers.
"A lot of the other teams look at us and tell us we're having fun all the time. That's a big part of the process at this age," continued Wolfenden. "We're also very competitive, which is great. To have fun and want to make yourself better all the time, we're lucky to have a group of girls that want both."
A season to remember. The Vipers finished with a record of 37-17-4. They finished the provincial tournament seventh out of 37 Manitoba teams and inside the top 25 of 106 teams competing at the national tournament.
"We won a lot this year. We always had a chance to win going into our matches, which is great. We had the skill and drive," ended Wolfenden. "Finishing in the top seven out of Manitoba teams is a big accomplishment. We weren't happy with our showing at the provincial championships, so it was nice to end out so strong."
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The Parkland 2014 Junior Rangers wrapped up the spring season with a bang over the weekend.
They won three games to advance to the final and earned silver medals. In their first game, Layton Lulashnyk, Cooper Jewitt, Luke Shaw, and Tarren Flatfood scored in a 4-1 win over the Manitoba Blizzard. The team lost their next game, 7-1.
Bouncing back in grand style, the Rangers got on a roll, cruising to three straight wins. In a 5-1 win against the Blues, Luke Shaw led the way with two goals while Talon Porter, Joel Fleck, and Tarren Flatfoot scored singles. They then downed the Predators Silver, 4-2. Shaw had two more goals while Liam Voth and Liam Perih also found the back of the net. The team's hot streak continued into the semifinals, where they downed the Blizzard, 4-3. Griffin Galbraith, Luke Shaw, Cooper Jewitt, and Talen Porter scored in the win.
The Rangers lost the final against the NWO Rangers, 6-1.
The 2015 AAA Rangers hit their stride in the bronze medal game as they downed the Manitoba Junior Freeze, 8-6, in a back-and-forth third-place match.
Easton Mateika had a hot-stick in the game with three goals while Greyson Uyaivato had two. Gabriel Pawlachuk, Brody Nepinak, and Zander Ledoux scored singles. Brett Hrappstead earned the victory in the net, nabbing the team bronze medals.
On Friday, the team caught fire with back-to-back wins, against the Predators Blue, 6-4, and Predators Black, 7-3. Against the Predators Blue, Brody Nepinak scored twice. Connor Chartrand, Zander Ledoux, Tucker Rezansoff, and Easton Mateika had a goal apiece. Against the Predators Black, Mateiko, and Maddux Morden had two goals each. Easton Billett, Brody Nepinak, and Greyson Uyaivato rounded out the scoring.
The 2012 Junior Rangers won twice, tying once, and losing only once.
They opened with a solid 3-1 win over the Junior Lakers, with Declan Cole scoring twice. Owen Devonald also scored while Layne Swanton earned the victory in the net.
After a tie against the Timberwolves, the Rangers downed the Blizzard, 2-1. Jaxon Casavant and Brier Odut did the scoring for the Rangers.
The 2011 Junior Rangers finished with two wins and a tie in their five games.
Starting with a convincing 5-1 win against the Predators Black. Rhett Legaarden, Chayce Stoski, Sawyer Lepp, Cooper Soltys, and Anson Salamandyk scored for the Rangers. Legaarden and Stoski both had three points, and Benji Gardner earned the win in the net.
Darby Wilson was fantastic in the team's next game, earning a shutout, as the Rangers beat the Junior Lakers, 1-0. Drew Luhowy scored the team's lone goal.
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Gary McDonald has been golfing for 35 years.
He will never forget what happened to start his 35th year. The member at the McCreary Golf and Country Club recorded his first ace. He fired the perfect shot on the third hole on April 30th.
It was the second hole-in-one of the year in McCreary. Kayden Caumartin aced the third hole four days prior.
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