Michelle Sawatzky-Koop who was the starting setter for the University of Manitoba from 1988-93 and led the Bisons to three CIAU national titles and was the CIAU Player of the Year in both 1991 and 1992. On the international stage she helped Canada qualify for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where they finished ninth and she was the only setter in Canadian women’s volleyball history to win three sets and a match (over Peru) at an Olympic Games. Halldor Bjarnason was a trailblazer for people with disabilities to participate and excel in sport. In 1985, he helped start the Manitoba Cerebral Palsy Association and, the next year, won gold and silver at the World CP Games held in Belgium in his specialty events of 3000m and 1500m tricycling. He won gold in the 1500m and set a world record and won silver in the 3000m at the1988 Paralympics in Seoul, Korea. Andrea Ferguson helped Manitoba's ringette team to silver at the 1999 Canada Games and gold at the 2002 Nationals. From 2005-13, she competed in Nationals in eight consecutive years as a player, coach, or both, and was selected for the All-Star team twice. In 2010, she played for Canada at the Worlds in Tampere, Finland, winning silver, and followed that up with another silver in North Bay, Ontario, where she was the leading scorer at the Worlds in 2013. Patrick Jebbison played for the University of Brandon Bobcats from 1984-89. He helped the Bobcats win their first ever national title in 1987 and was named GPAC MVP, CIAU All-Star, First Team All-Canadian, and won the prestigious Mike Moser Award as the top men’s university basketball player in the country during his final two years in Brandon. The late Don Baizley was one of the most respected player agents in professional hockey who opened the doors for Europeans to come and play pro hockey in North America began with the WHA’s Winnipeg Jets in the mid 70s, when Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson joined Bobby Hull to form one of the best lines in pro hockey and changed the way the game was played. He also played a critical role in mediating the 2004-05 lockout between the NHL and NHLPA, and frequently appeared in The Hockey News as one of their 100 People of Power and Influence between 2003-07.
Theoren Koop had two goals and an assist as Steinbach Regional defeated the Sturgeon Heights Huskies 5-2. Lucas Jolicoeur, Cody Neufeld and Dominic Rooney also scored for the Sabres who snapped a three-game losing skid. The SRSS has a 3-2-1 record in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League's Platinum Promotions Division.
Kyle Connor scored 1:45 into overtime to lift the Winnipeg Jets past the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 at Canada Life Centre. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler also scored for the Jets who extended their points streak to five games. Winnipeg netminder Connor Hellebuyck made 20 saves. The Jets (6-3-1) continue their three-game homestand Saturday afternoon against the Chicago Blackhawks.
There were nine Winnipeg Blue Bombers named to the Canadian Football League's West Division all-star team. They include quarterback Zach Collaros, receivers Dalton Schoen and Nic Demski, offensive linemen Stanley Bryant and Pat Neufeld, defensive end Willie Jefferson, linebacker Adam Bighill, defensive back Deatrick Nichols and kick returner Janarion Grant.
The Minnedosa Curling Club is hosting CurlManitoba's Viterra and Scotties berth bonspiels this weekend. There are 12 teams entered in the Viterra berth bonspiel and seven teams competing in the Scotties berth bonspiel.
Kerri Einarson suffered her first loss at the Pan Continental Curling Championships in Calgary. Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard and Briane Harris dropped an 8-6 decision to Tabitha Peterson of the United States. The three-time reigning Canadian champions are 5-1 with two round robin games left and are guaranteed a spot in the semifinals. Brad Gushue is 5-1 and has also qualified for the playoffs.