Local Sports

Being selected to play in one national championship this summer would be thrilling for most ball players.

So, you could imagine the joy experienced by talented Cochrane ball player Maeve Maguire when she travelled to Quebec City to compete in one national championship, then less than 24 hours later headed to Saskatoon to begin practicing with Team Alberta for another.

Add to that picture another major Western Canada championship in early August.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes (1-1) mounted a furious sixth inning rally and staved off elimination Friday evening with a 7-3 victory over the Sioux Falls Canaries at Blue Cross Park. The best-of-three American Association West Division Series is now even at a game apiece.
 
Box Score
 

A gutsy effort came up just short for the Moose Jaw Warriors in their preseason opener on Friday night.

The Warriors lost 7-4 to the Regina Pats at Affinity Place to kick-off a neutral site home-and-home set between the two rivals.

“There was all kinds of really good things,” Warriors head coach Mark O’Leary said.

“It’s all about taking steps as we move along here, whether it’s day-to-day or period-by-period… I thought we were better in the second than we were in the first and our best period was the third period.”

The Brandon Wheat Kings won their WHL pre-season opener Friday night at Westoba Place. Jaxon Jacobson scored twice as Brandon doubled up on the Saskatoon Blades 4-2. Caleb Hadland and Ben Binder Nord also scored for the Wheat Kings who will face the Blades in Saskatoon on Sunday.

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Virden Oil Capitals play their second of five exhibition games tonight when they meet the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Yorkton Terriers at Tundra Oil & Gas Place. The Oil Capitals defeated the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins 5-2 on Wednesday.

The Steinbach Pistons lost their pre-season opener Friday night in Winkler. Cam Thomas scored with nine seconds left in overtime to lift the Flyers past Steinbach 3-2. Luke Bogart and Carson White did the goals scoring for the Pistons who face the Nighthawks in Niverville on Sunday. Mattew Bertolin scored his second goal of the game in overtime to lift the Nighthawks past the Selkirk Steelers 6-5.

The Winkler Flyers won their pre-season opener Friday night. Kam Thomas scored with nine seconds left in overtime to lift the defending Turnbull Cup champions past the Steinbach Pistons 3-2. Brendan Vincent had both Winkler goals in regulation. The Flyers will play their final pre-season game next Friday at home against Steinbach.

Jaxon Jacobson scored twice as the Brandon Wheat Kings won their exhibition opener 4-2 over the Saskatoon Blades at Westoba Place. Caleb Hadland and Ben Binder Nord also scored for the Wheat Kings who will face the Blades in Saskatoon on Sunday.

The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings opened the 2024 preseason Friday night, entertaining the Melville Millionaires. Hometown skater Aiden Mohan would finish with two points, including the game-winner in overtime, while Nick Forsyth made 33 saves in the goal as Weyburn beat the Millionaires 4-3. 

"It's so good to see those two kids come in," Red Wings head coach Cody Mapes said after the game. "Nick knew at the end of the day, he was coming in and this was his last day with the team, and he did such a good job. You could argue that he was possibly the difference."

The Elecs hosted their first-ever "Welcome to the Elecs Family BBQ" on Friday night, with a strong focus on family. Moms lined up for tackles, and dads threw passes, making it a memorable kickoff to the season.

The "Get in My Belly" food truck fed players and families, while parents toured the newly upgraded facilities. Head coach Chris Bayerle gathered everyone for a pep talk before the activities began.

Preseason action continues in Estevan, as Affinity Place play host to a 40 year rivalry. 

The Moose Jaw Warriors and the Regina Pats are making their way into the Energy City to face off in a Western Hockey League preseason scrimmage. Even looking back in the previous season, there was a healthy rivalry that brewed between the teams. The Warriors were able to dominate their Regina counterparts by claiming 7 out of the 8 meetings they had. 

The Paralympic journey for Midale’s Keely Shaw is over, for this year.