Local Sports

The Winnipeg Jets were humbled in St. Louis last night as the Blues blasted them 7-2. The Jets lead in that series cut to two-games-to-one.

The Toronto Maple Leafs took control of their first round series against Ottawa, beating the Senators 3-2 in overtime. The Leafs lead three-games-to-none.

The Florida Panthers tripped Tampa Bay 2-0, taking a 2-0 series lead and the Minnesota Wild took a 2-1 series lead with a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24TH

NHL
Playoffs - Round 1
Game 3
Winnipeg 2 at St. Louis 7
Winnipeg leads series 2-1

Playoffs - Round 1
Game 3
Toronto 3 at Ottawa 2 (Overtime)
Toronto leads series 3-0

Playoffs - Round 1
Game 2
Florida 2 at Tampa Bay 0
Florida leads series 2-0

Playoffs - Round 1
Game 3
Vegas 2 at Minnesota 5
Minnesota leads series 2-1

In mid-March Brandon resident, Grant Hamilton and his wife travelled to Europe for Grant to get a taste of what cycling the terrain of the Tour de France might look like.

Hamilton is the only Canadian to participate in Tour 21, a fundraising initiative by Cure Leukemia, the official charity partner of the Tour de France.  Tour 21 follows the exact same route as the Tour de France to be held just one week prior to that iconic race.

Winkler's own Kam Thomas wanted to be a Flyer and when he got his chance, full time, he didn't let it slip as he won the hearts of fans and the trust of coaches throughout a very strong rookie season in the MJHL.

"It was awesome," Thomas says with his trademark energy and enthusiasm. "Great group of guys this year, I had a really, really good time with them. It was just cool to have my first full season with the Winkler Flyers."

The U17 Wildcats are primed and ready to head into another season and Pat Tetrault says the group is talented, excited and they all can't wait to get going. 

"We've been at it since tryouts back in September of last year," explains Tetrault. "The girls have been working hard, tirelessly throughout the winter, they've been hitting balls inside, fielding balls in the gym but now it's time we get out there and do what they love to do. We're all very excited to get going."

The Winnipeg Jets suffered a lopsided 7-2 defeat in St. Louis on Thursday night, as the Blues rode early pressure and a playoff hat trick from Pavel Buchnevich to claw back into the series.

The loss trims Winnipeg’s series lead to 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Sunday.

Buchnevich shines, Blues dominate from the start

Heading into the game, the Jets were well aware of the challenge ahead. Mark Scheifele had said earlier in the week that playing in St. Louis’ building would be a difficult test, and he was proven right in emphatic fashion.

The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings are in a must-win situation now as they’ve dropped Game 4 of the Canterra Seeds Cup Finals against the Melfort Mustangs 5-1. The Melfort Mustangs go up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series and look to clinch their second straight SJHL championship on home ice Sunday night. Casey O’Brien, assistant coach for the Red Wings, comments on the loss.  

Para swimmer Alyssa Hébert and her coach Shane Esau have been nominated to Team Alberta for the 2025 Canada Summer Games — a national-stage breakthrough for a six-swimmer Airdrie club making national gains with limited resources.

The nominations, confirmed April 23 by Swim Alberta, list Hébert, 19, as the top scoring performer of individual events in the Paralympic Program. Hébert was ranked first on Swim Alberta's Paralympic Program nomination list.

Cochrane’s Ethan Neutens and Kaden McCann will be hitting the ice for the Medicine Hat Tigers in their first taste of a WHL Eastern Conference championship.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes completed a comeback to eliminate the Calgary Hitmen on Tuesday night, setting up a matchup between two long-time Central Division rivals.

The Tigers had been waiting patiently for their next opponent after completing a sweep of the Prince Albert Raiders on Thursday, April 17. 

The best-of-seven series opens Friday night at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat.

The Strathmore Spartans senior boy's rugby team began their season a week ago.

Their next game takes place on Saturday, April 26, for the Icebreaker Tournament in Calgary.

"It's run by the Calgary Irish Rugby Association, and they started it a few years ago," said head coach Curtis Reid. "It's a way for teams early in the season to play some rugby."

The tournament is with teams of 15, an increase over the standard team of seven.

"It's a good way to mix up some lineups, and you get to preview other teams around the area."