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They completed their title defence.
The Parkland Vipers 14-U volleyball team won the Club West tournament over the weekend, for the second straight year. They won it as a 13-U team last year.
In pool play, the Vipers were dominant, downing the Westman Wolves and Club West #2, both in straight sets. The Vipers split with the Westman Wave. In the crossover, the Vipers downed Offspeed #2, 2-0. That was followed by a dominant straight-set win over Swan Valley Smash before a two-set win against the Predators, a win that advanced them to the finals.
In a thrilling championship match against Team Phoenix, the Vipers came up clutch and won in three sets.
The team's roster includes Brynn Fortin, Ava Thompson, Edie Fleck, Tori Yaciuk, Brynlee Brasch, Scotia Smith, Adi Ledoux, Jetta Larocque, Kennedy Beer, Chayse Paradis, Grace Houle, and Logan Wolfenden. Chris Wolfenden and Matt Thompson are the team's coaches.
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It was a weekend to remember for the Parkland Vipers 13-U girls' volleyball team.
Playing in the Club West tournament in Elkhorn, the Vipers opened the event by sweeping Westman 13-U and Bandits 13-U before winning the split against Phoenix 13-U. On day two, the Vipers continued to roll. They won the split against Club West 13-U and Ace 13-U and beat the Vipers in two straight to finish first in their pool.
They carried the momentum into the playoffs as they downed Club West in the championship final, 25-22, and 25-18. It was an undefeated weekend for the group led by head coach Taylor Schmidt.
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Two teams remain in the Westman High School Hockey League.
The puck on the championship series drops on Tuesday evening at the J&G Homes Arena in Brandon. That's where the Dauphin Clippers will be after a dramatic three-game series victory over the Parkland rival Swan Valley Tigers.
The Clippers wrapped up the series on Sunday with a dominant 4-1 win at the Centennial Arena.
"It feels great; it was a great series with three close games," said Jason Alf. "We really wanted this one yesterday. The guys came out hard, played to our systems, and got the job done. It was a great victory for our group."
Dauphin was on the brink of elimination after losing the series opener. Hosting game two at Credit Union Place, hundreds of fans packed the rink to help push Dauphin over the hump as they evened the series. It was one of the best crowds you'll witness in high school hockey, and then, in game three, dozens of fans from Dauphin went to Swan River to cheer on the boys.
Alf wants to thank the fans for your support.
"We had a ton show up in Swan River and in Dauphin, it was an incredible atmosphere, and the boys enjoyed it," offered Alf. "Kudos to the fans of Swan River as well, they showed up in Dauphin and made a ton of noise. When it comes to our fans, a big shoutout. Who knows how the series would have ended without you, so thank you Dauphin Clipper fans."
The only team in the way of Dauphin winning a league championship is a team that is on the verge of history. The Vincent Massey Vikings have not lost a game in league play. They went 32-0 in the regular season and are 6-0 in the playoffs.
The Vikings scored 26 goals in a best-of-three against Birtle before finding the back of the net 23 more times in the quarterfinals. They posted 10 more goals in a sweep against Hamiota and now, they're two wins away from a title.
Jason knows taming the Vikings will be daunting, but the team is looking forward to the opportunity.
"We're feeling pretty good. They're playing well and have lots of bodies that contribute with solid goaltending," said Alf. "We're riding quite a high here off a couple of our series wins."
Dauphin scored 15 goals in a sweep against Roblin to open the playoffs before scoring 10 more in a sweep against Neepawa. That was followed by the team's three-game series victory over Swan Valley and come puck drop on Tuesday, Alf has full belief in the Green & White.
"We've had quite a run here, it hasn't been easy. We've battled through a ton of injuries and adversity," ended Alf. "This is a special group of guys that go to war for each other."
Game two will return to Credit Union Place on Wednesday at 7:30 and if need be, game three is tentatively set for Friday evening in Brandon.
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The Dauphin Kings are returning home with a chance to put the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on the brink of elimination on Tuesday night.
Gavin Nemis scored the game-winner for the Kings on Sunday night, as Dauphin downed the Wolverines, 3-1, to take a two games to nothing lead in the best-of-seven series.
Tied at one after 40 minutes, Nemis scored the game-winner for the second game in a row as he also scored the winner on Friday night in game one. Shortly after Nemis gave Dauphin a 2-1 lead, CG 71 made his return. The 20-year-old star from Brandon scored his first goal since returning to the lineup as Cayden Glover is officially back.
Cole Sheffield was outstanding in the game as he made 27 saves. The Kings also went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and are 7-for-7 in the series.
Dauphin heads home to host the Wolverines on Tuesday night in game three. 7:15 Parkland Source for Sports pregame show with Darnell Duff and Jeff Henson.
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The Dauphin Clippers varsity boys basketball team wrapped up their season over the weekend at the AAA provincial championships.
In the team's first game, Nick Hudyma had 28 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals, but it wasn't enough, as Dauphin was downed against Lorette, 82-63.
Ronin Mouck had 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and three blocks.
Dauphin was back on the court in the consolation semifinals and they weren't denied. Hudyma had 41 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals as the Clippers hammered RD Parker, 76-63. Mouck had another six points while Gabe Beaudin had four points, eight rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.
In the consolation finals, Dauphin came up short, 86-77, against Elmwood. Beaudin had 10 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and five blocks. Hudyma 26 points, 16 rebounds, eight steals, and three assists. Mouck added 21 points.
While they didn't complete their ultimate goal of winning a provincial title, this is a group that should be very proud of themselves. They were ranked inside the top five all season and were a force to be reckoned with.
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The Dauphin Clippers hockey team will play for a championship in the Westman High School Hockey League.
In front of an incredible crowd at the Centennial Arena on Sunday afternoon, Dauphin downed the Swan Valley Tigers, 4-1, to win the best-of-three series in three games. Dauphin won back-to-back games to win the series.
Ethan Carnegie scored twice for Dauphin while Cody Zurba and Ronin Mouck also lit the twine for the Clippers.
A daunting test now awaits the Clippers with a title on the line as they'll play the Vincent Massey Vikings. They scored 10 goals and gave up just two in a two-game sweep against the Huskies. Dating back to the regular season, Vincent Massey has won 38 straight games and have not lost one in league play.
Game one is Tuesday in Brandon before the Clippers host game two on Wednesday. Stay tuned to hear from Jason Alf on Monday morning.
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Their journey has come to an end.
Butch Mouck and his team did an incredible job of qualifying for the playoffs at the senior men's provincial curling championships, however, they lost to a powerhouse team on Sunday afternoon and have been eliminated from contention.
After winning four of their seven round-robin games, Mouck, third Glenn Parrott, second Brad Edwards, lead Fred Scott, and alternate Warren Erickson, advanced to the page playoff.
Tied heading into the eighth against Team Dunstone, Mouck's team needed to generate a steal, but it wasn't to be. Dunstone scored twice in the eighth end to secure a 5-3 win.
It was a great weekend for Mouck and his team.
They needed a steal in the eighth end, however, it wasn't to be.
Butch Mouck and his team dropped their second game at the senior men's provincial championships. This time, it was by a 5-4 scoreline against Team Randy Neufeld.
At 2-2, Mouck, Parrott, Edwards, and Scott are in a five-way tie for third place at 2-2.
They'll play two more games on Saturday.
Good teams bounce back after tough losses and that's exactly what Butch Mouck of Gilbert Plains and his team did.
Butch, Glenn Parrott, Brad Edwards, and Fred Scott won their second game of the tournament to move to 2-1. They beat Team MacKay, 6-3 on Friday morning.
Starting with a two in the first end and another two in the fourth, Butch and his team converted their third multiple-point end of the night with two in the seventh. They then ran Team MacKay out of rocks.
Mouck and his team are in a four-way tie for second place in the Asham Group. Their next game is on Friday afternoon at 4.
After a dramatic comeback in their first game of the day, Butch Mouck and his team couldn't pull off a perfect opening day.
They lost to Team Scinocca, 6-3. They ran away with the game with two steals of two in the fifth and six ends, and while Team Mouck scored two in the seventh, they ran out of rocks in the eighth.
Two more games for the team will be played Friday.
Butch Mouck and his foursome are competing in the Strathcona Trust Senior Men's Provincial Championships this weekend at the East. St Paul Curling Club.
In the Asham Group, it was a perfect start for Mouck as they downed Team Warren, 5-4, on Thursday morning. Butch is skipping, joined by third Glenn Parrott, second Brad Edwards, lead Fred Scott, and alternate Warren Erickson.
It was a come-from-behind victory in their first game. Trailing 4-1 after four ends, Butch and his team stole singles in four straight ends for the nail-biting win.
Stay tuned over the next few days to find out how the team does.
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The Dauphin Kings used an outstanding third period to earn a lead in their best-of-seven series with the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
The Wolverines had no answers for the Kings in the third period as Dauphin scored three times in the final 20 minutes as they ran away with a 4-1 win. Sebastian Stone opened up the scoring in the game as the Wolverines held a 1-0 lead after 22 minutes.
Ty Pratte scored early in the second to tie it and Dauphin opened up the game in the third. Gavin Nemis (1) scored the game-winner early in the third while Sheldon Shyiak (1) and Ethan Stewart (1) also scored for Dauphin.
Cole Sheffield made 20 saves in the victory. Dauphin takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven. Game two will be played on Sunday night from the Arena Complex in Waywayseecappo.
Darnell Duff and Jeff Henson have the Parkland Source for Sports pregame show, starting at 7:15.
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When the Dauphin Kings dealt away a few of their veteran blueliners last year, younger players had an opportunity to get more ice time and step up.
One of those players was Aiden Murray. Murray was thrust into action consistently after the trade deadline and quickly made a name for himself after playing his AAA hockey with the Notre Dame Hounds. Murray finished last season with three goals and nine assists in 36 regular season contests, before notching a pair of assists in seven playoff games.
He was relied on in any situation and always came to the rink with his work boots on, ready to help the Kings in any way possible. When his season ended in early April after Dauphin lost in game seven against the Blizzard, Murray immediately turned his focus to this year.
He had a great summer in the gym and skated when he could. Back with the Kings this year, Murray has become a fan favourite.
"It's been a great time in Dauphin, I love being here and playing for the Kings," offered Murray. "I went through some injuries early in the season which was tough, but it's playoff time, and everyone is excited."
Aiden's last game of 2024 was on November 10. He had one assist as Dauphin downed the Selkirk Steelers, 4-1. Murray did not play again until January 4 after suffering an injury that forced him to miss 12 games.
Frustrated with the situation, Murray stayed positive.
"Injuries suck for anyone, it's never fun, but there's nothing you can really do about it, it's part of the game," continued Murray. "I stayed in the gym and in shape while I was out so I could come back ready to go when I could."
When in the lineup, Murray is one of the top defenders in the league. He'll go in the corner, come out with the puck, and quickly move it up the ice. He's also very disciplined with just 30 penalty minutes in 40 games while posting one goal and 11 points.
"The biggest part of my game is moving the puck up the ice quickly and making smart plays," continued Murray. "I know my role and play it to the best of my ability. I'm happy with how the year has gone for the team and personally."
The Kings won 37 games this year and were one of only four teams to lose fewer than 20 games (Portage, Steinbach, and Winkler). Dauphin clinched first place in the West Division last Tuesday when they beat Waywayseecappo. It was Dauphin's first West Division regular season pennant since 2021-22.
"We had a lot of ups and downs last year, we've been more consistent this year in my opinion," said Murray. "We have battled through injuries and stuck with it. Securing first place in our division was awesome, a great achievement."
Dauphin has remained consistent despite missing some key personnel during the second half of the season. Cayden Glover hasn't played since January 31, Madden Murray last played on February 8, Gavin Nemis missed the final four games of the regular season and Havryil Simchuk missed the last nine games of the campaign.
Madden remains day-to-day, however, Nemis, Glover, and Simchuk are projected to return on Friday for game one of the Turnbull Cup playoffs.
"Having them back in terms of their play will be huge," continued Murray. "I think it will also inspire the boys to get fired up, having them back is going to be huge for us."
Dauphin opens the playoffs on Friday when the Waywayseecappo Wolverines come to town. The two teams played twice during the last week of the regular season and will now play in a best-of-seven. It's the first time the two teams have played in a playoff series since 2015, when the Wolverines swept the Kings in the Survivor Series.
Dauphin split their six regular-season meetings with the Wolverines and finished 24 points ahead of them in the standings. There's no doubt that the Kings enter the series as favourites, however, Murray knows they can't them the Wolverines lightly.
"I think it's going to be a good test for us," offered Murray. "We've had a good week of practice. Guys are coming back from injuries and sickness, so we're ready to go."
All year long, the word 'special' has been used to describe Dauphin. From top to bottom, Aiden says this team has been tight since day one and believes that'll be beneficial come Friday.
"It's the best team that I've ever been a part of, we're super tight," said Murray. "We have a ton of offensive firepower and excellent on the back end, with great goaltending. We have a complete team and we'll be ready to go every night."
Eight teams qualified for the Turnbull Cup playoffs. The Dauphin Kings are ranked fourth overall, behind Winkler, Steinbach, and Portage. Murray has helped Dauphin qualify for the big dance in both of his years in the City of Sunshine and as the 19-year-old star says, there's nothing like playoff hockey.
"The regular season is a great time," ended Murray. "With that said, everyone is waiting for the playoffs, this is what you play for. I've been waiting for this moment and I know everyone else on the team is."
You can hear Aiden's full chat with Darnell Duff during the Dauphin Kings Power Play Show on Friday afternoon on 730CKDM at 4 p.m. Then head to Credit Union Place for game one at 7:30 and you can also hear the game with Darnell Duff, starting with the Parkland Source for Sports pregame show at 7:00 p.m.
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He is by far the youngest head coach and general manager in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL).
While he may lack some experience, his passion and commitment to the game are why he got a chance. He's made the most of that chance and is ready to lead his club into the Turnbull Cup playoffs on Friday night. Landyn Cochrane spent last season as an assistant coach on Taylor Harnett's coaching staff for the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.
When Taylor left the organization to pursue other opportunities, the door was open. Landyn stepped in and has done great things in his first year as a bench boss. Cochrane is only a few years removed from winning a national championship with the Minot State Beavers in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
"It's been a whirlwind. I came in as a first-year head coach and was tasked with learning what style we wanted to play and how to go about things," said Cochrane. "We found our groove in December and the guys settled into our defence first, simple hard-nosed game. We've been a very bought-in team."
Waywayseecappo dramatically punched their playoff ticket, sealing the final spot on the last day of the season. Ryley Cyca’s clutch goal with 0.1 seconds left lifted the Wolverines to a 2-1 win over Dauphin, capping off a late-season surge.
Goaltender Mariko Bercier was a wall, stopping 32 shots in a crucial 1-0 shutout against Virden on February 25. The Wolverines also edged Portage on March 1, winning three of their last four to stay ahead of Virden by two points. Coach Cochrane praised the team’s grit and resilience in the playoff push.
"We've been playing some carefree, aggressive hockey down the stretch," continued Cochrane. "The pressure is off us now, we're in. We're going to play some aggressive, underdog hockey."
The Stage Is Set:
Waywayseecappo opens the playoffs on Friday at Credit Union Place as they play the Kings in a best-of-seven series. These two teams haven't met in a playoff series for a decade and Cochrane was also a part of that one.
The Wolverines swept the Kings in two games in the 2015 Survivor Series and Cochrane was a player on the team. He was on the ice as the Wolverines won game one in overtime, 3-2, at the Arena Complex.
"I remember being just as excited back then as I was when we clinched on Saturday," offered Cochrane. "The crowd was amazing and we had posters all over the place. It was surreal and I'm looking to share that same experience with the guys on this year's team."
The season series between Dauphin and the Wolverines was a tight one. After Dauphin pounded Wayway, 8-0, in their first meeting of the year, the Wolverines won three of the next five games against Dauphin. They split six games and now, it's the first team to four wins.
X-Factors:
If the Wolverines are to have success, Jaxon Grosdidier will have to carry over his regular-season success. The 20-year-old from Sioux Falls, SD., led the team with 25 goals and 51 points in 57 games. After failing to record a point in the team's first game against Dauphin, Grosdidier went on to torch the Kings.
He had five goals and eight points in the next five meetings, including a goal in the season finale. Grosdidier has an elite shot, he's crafty and can take over a shift.
"He's a skilled grinder. He has a lethal shot and can make plays off the rush," continued Cochrane. "He's also a guy that will dig deep in the corners and go low to high. He's the first one on the ice and the last one off. Whether it's on or off the ice, he's leading by example."
To start the series, it will be the Mariko Bercier show. He played two games with the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League to start the season. Since arriving in Waywayseecappo, Bercier has stolen the number-one job from Jase Wareham.
Bercier has won 14 games with the White & Yellow, his finest was a 32-save performance in last month's key win over Virden. Bercier also made several brilliant saves against Dauphin last Saturday and finished the night with 28 saves. Mariko has earned the right to start game one and he'll need to be rock solid to give the Wolverines their best chance.
"He's cool as a cucumber, he doesn't get too worked up, and you love to see that trait from your goaltender," commented Cochrane. "I know he's ready for playoffs, just like everyone on our team is."
When the Wolverines hit the ice for game one on Friday, they'll have plenty of fan support. Hundreds of fans were in Dauphin last Saturday to cheer on the Wolverines and much of the same is expected on Friday and for the entire series.
Come Sunday, the Arena Complex will be rocking as the Wolverines host game two. Fans have embraced the Wolverines run and they're ready for playoff hockey.
"You see people driving by and they roll down their windows to say good luck, it's pretty great to be a part of," ended Cochrane. "We're very grateful for the support and appreciate it, the community is excited for this. Our rink crew is putting some playoff logos on the ice, everyone is ready to get down to business."
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The rivalry is as heated as it ever has been and the stage is set for one more round as the Clippers Ship is heading to Swan River with a chance to play in the championship series.
Ethan Carnegie scored in the second, and Ronin Mouck scored a beautiful goal in the third as the Clippers downed the Swan Valley Tigers, 3-0, on Tuesday night inside Credit Union Place. Jorden Braun scored Dauphin's third goal in the game and got the crowd going with a sweet celebration as he skated to the bench.
Chase Glover was outstanding, making several incredible saves, including the save of the year when he dove across the blue paint to keep the puck out in the third.
The best-of-three series is now tied at a game apiece. The Tigers will host the deciding game on Sunday afternoon at 4 at the Centennial Arena. The winner of that game has a ticket to the championship series.
A massive shoutout to the fans.
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