The South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League’s 73rd season got underway Friday night in Carman. Marcus Sekundiak scored four times as the Beavers downed the Morden Bombers 6-3. Mikol Sartor and Brett Piper also scored for Carman. Derek Wiebe, Carter Hynes and Tyler Peers replied for the Bombers.
The Carman Cougars and Northlands Parkway Nighthawks were winners in the Zone 4 High School Hockey League. Josh Hiebert and Ryder Delaquis scored two goals each and Carson O’Connor made 24 saves as Carman blanked the Mountain Mustangs 6-0. Brayden Poirier and Brody Benner also found the back of the net for the Cougars. The Nighthawks scored four second period goals en route to a 5-1 victory over Morris. Stanley Funk and Simon Hiebert had two goals each for Northlands Parkway beat Morris 5-1. Blake Reimer also scored for the Nighthawks. Mason Dearborn had the lone goal for the Mavericks.
The Winkler Flyers began their three-game weekend road trip with a 9-2 win over the Swan Valley Stampeders in Swan River. Jayce Legaarden and Brady Craik scored two goals each for the defending Turnbull Cup champions while singles went to Isaiah Peters, Will Lyons, Brody Beauchemin, Liam Carlone and Nicholas Mckee.
The Pembina Valley Twisters were shutout 3-0 by the Fort Garry/Fort Rouge Twins. The Twisters have lost seven games in a row and are in the Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League cellar with a 1-8-1 record.
Pembina Valley outshot Brandon 49-21 but lost 4-2 to the Wheat Kings. Jessica Anderson and Emma Durand did the goal scoring for the Hawks who face the defending Manitoba Female U18 AAA Hockey League champion Winnipeg Ice today at 5 p.m. in Morden.
The Brandon Wheat Kings fell 4-3 in overtime to the Saskatoon Blades at Westoba Place. Ben Riche potted the winner 1:37 into the extra period. Jaxon Jacobson scored twice in regulation for the Wheat Kings. Dylan Ronald had the other Brandon goal.
The Winnipeg Jets wrap up their three-game road trip tonight when they meet the Flames in Calgary. The Jets are on a franchise record seven-game win streak to start the NHL’s 2024-25 season.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers play their regular season finale today at 2 p.m. against the Alouettes in Montreal. The Bombers (10-7) will clinch first place and a bye to the West Division final with a win or tie. The defending Grey Cup champions have already clinched top spot in the East.