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Kurtis Luke started off his first full MJHL season with the Neepawa Natives. He played the first 23 games of the season with them and had 11 points. Not long before Christmas, Kurtis packed up his bags and was Winkler bound as he was traded to the Flyers.
"It just kind of happened out of nowhere so I had to adjust to it pretty quickly," said Luke. "It's really nice here in Winkler and we've been playing some solid hockey lately. It's always nice to be in a winning environment so it's great."
Since joining the Flyers early last month, Luke has suited up in eight games with the team and he has two points. Lately, it's been smooth sailing for the Ste. Rose native and the rest of the Flyers. After a 6-1 loss back on December 19, the club has rallied off four straight wins and that has them sitting in eighth place in the standings.
"It was a pretty tough first week, I mean Neepawa was so close to home and Winkler is a lot farther," said Luke. "I made a lot of new friends in Neepawa so it was tough to leave them, but that's a part of hockey."
Although it was tough to leave Neepawa, playing in Winkler has turned out to be a happy change for Kurtis. Neepawa is in 11th place in the MJHL and they're well back of a playoff spot. Although they're in 8th in Winkler, the Flyers are only five points behind sixth place and a handful more behind even a top-four spot.
"It's pretty exciting to see all of the teams we can chase down in the second half and we know we can," said Luke. "If we continue playing the way we are right now, we can make great things happen. I've never been far in the playoffs, so hopefully, we can make that happen here this year."
"I'm really starting to fit in more with this team, it feels like a home now," said Luke.
After back to back wins to open 2019, the Flyers are in tough for the rest of the month. They play Selkirk tonight and play the Swan Valley Stampeders four times. Luke also plays his former Neepawa Natives on January 19 and the team plays twice against the Winnipeg Blues.
What's Kurtis' favourite moment during his time with Winkler? "Definitely scoring against the Kings this past weekend, that was pretty cool," he added.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Ethan Carnegie put together a sensational season with the Dauphin Clippers high school hockey team during the 2022/23 campaign.
In 32 regular season games, Carnegie, who was born in The Pas, but has been in Dauphin since he was 10, had 21 goals and 41 points. While Ethan loved his season with the Clippers, he was hungry for a new challenge and that saw him join the Parkland U-18 Rangers last season.
Playing in the Manitoba U-18 AAA Hockey League, Ethan admits the jump to AAA was a tough one and came with growing pains. The Dauphin star stuck with the process and posted 13 points in 44 games. Ethan also did not miss a game, playing in all 44 of the team's contests.
"It was different than what I was used to, it took some time," said Carnegie. "The travel was also very extensive which was new to me. I enjoyed my time with the team, played with some amazing teammates and we had great coaches. It was also fun playing against some of the top guys in the province on a game-to-game basis."
When the Rangers season ended, Ethan turned his focus to enjoying the summer which included plenty of time with his family and friends. Then it was decision time. Carnegie had an opportunity to play with the Rangers again this season but he decided a return to his former team was what he wanted.
Ethan is back with the Clippers as their Westman High School Hockey League season rolls on. The team is on fire to start the campaign with points in seven straight games, six of which have been wins.
"It feels great to be back with this team, we have a great group of guys," offered Carnegie. "We're skilled and stick together, very happy to be back with this team."
Carnegie, who is in grade 12, expressed great interest in spending the last year of high school playing alongside some of his closest friends. As Dauphin is seven games into their season ahead of a game on Thursday evening in Minnedosa when they go up against the Chancellors, Carnegie has been a big reason why Dauphin has been firing on all cylinders.
The senior from Dauphin is fourth in the league-scoring race with 12 goals and 26 points. Not only is Ethan well on his way to smashing his 41-point season with Dauphin from two years ago, but he is well on his way to being right in the thick of things when it comes to leading the scoring race. That isn't something he is overly focused on, he wants to help his team win and that's certainly what he has done.
"It's been a pretty good start for me. With that said, I couldn't have had the success I have been without my linemates, they're the big reason why," continued Carnegie.
Carnegie is on a tremendous trio line with Ronin Mouck and Julien Lopez. Mouck has 12 goals and 19 points, while Lopez has four goals and 16 points. The three have combined for 61 points, and Ethan is thrilled with how quickly they came together to dominate.
"It's my first year playing with them, but we were able to gel so quickly," ended Carnegie. "We have great chemistry and it's improving every game."
Ethan loves playing in front of his family and friends and is ecstatic that he gets the chance to do so with the Clippers.
"We have such great support on the road and at home, we love our crowds," ended Carnegie.
You can catch Ethan and the rest of his teammates on Sunday afternoon when Minnedosa is in town at 1:30 at Credit Union Place.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
Mila Heschuk's schedule has always been extremely busy.
Between her studies, spending time with friends and family, to go along with all of her extracurricular activities, Heschuk has never had a problem staying busy. As is the case for so many young athletes, Mila was looking for a new challenge. Yes, this would make Mila's life that much busier, but she was okay with that as long as she found something that was enjoyable.
In came rugby. Heading into her grade 10 year at the DRCSS, Mila decided to join the school's rugby team and what a year it was. The team won a league championship and won their second straight provincial title. It was a dream season on the field for the team, one that included them not conceding a single point.
"I enjoyed playing rugby, I am glad that I joined the team," said Heschuk. "It's always nice to win and that's what we did, we had a great group of girls and won the whole thing."
Mila will now face an even greater test from August 14-17 as she plays with the 16U Team West rugby squad at the Manitoba Summer Games (MSG). Slated to take place from August 11-17 starting with the Opening Ceremonies at Credit Union Place on August 11 at 6:30, Heschuk will show off her talent during Phase 2 of the event.
"I was so excited to know that I made the team," offered Heschuk. "I didn't think I would, so it means everything to me knowing that I am good enough to make the team."
When Mila isn't on the pitch at KIN Field, she will trade cleats for runners and a basketball. The Dauphin star will also play on Team 16U West in the basketball event which will take place at the Dauphin Curling Club, inside of the Parkland Rec Complex.
Mila has been playing basketball since elementary school and as she says, the team is in a good spot heading into the event.
"We're coming together as a unit, there are a few girls on the team that some of us didn't know," said Heschuk. "Now that we have all gotten to know one another, it has been great. We have a great group of girls and I'm happy to be a part of the team."
Only a select group of athletes will compete in two sports and it just so happens that both of Mila's events take place during Phase 2 (August 14-17) so it's safe to say that the three-day stretch will be one of the busiest times Mila has ever experienced, but that's okay for the Dauphin star who is up to the challenge and looking forward to the entire experience.
"I'm looking forward to meeting new people that have the same interests as me when it comes to sports, I think that will be pretty exciting," commented Heschuk. "Most importantly, I can't wait to bond with my teammates and compete with them on the field and the court."
Mila is also thrilled to have an opportunity to compete in front of her family and friends. Heschuk will be able to fully embrace the hometown star vibes.
"That's great news, like a bonus," ended Heschuk. "It's great that my friends and family won't have to travel to watch me play, that's special for me."
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
The Championship final has arrived and the Grandview Comets are in it.
Game one between the Comets and Miniota-Elkhorn C-Hawks goes tonight at the Elkhorn Arena and it’s a series full of offence heading in.
In seven playoff games so far the Comets have scored 46 goals, and haven’t been held to less than five in any of them, while the C-Hawks have scored 39 in six games.
Grandview picked up one win against the C-Hawks in the regular season in two meetings, and are a minus two against them.
Luke Stokotelny led the Comets in their semifinal series win against Swan Valley with two goals in the third and fourth game.
The puck drops tonight at 8:30 at the Elkhorn Arena.
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- Contributed by Darnell Duff
