Local Sports

The 2024 Baseball Manitoba Awards Banquet was held Saturday night in Brandon. Cody Benson of La Salle, who guided Team Manitoba 17U to a bronze medal at the Canada Cup in Fort McMurray, was named the High Performance Coach of the Year. Red River Valley was selected the Region of the Year.

A gutsy effort led the Portage Terriers to a 4-2 victory over the rival Steinbach Pistons on Saturday night.

There was plenty of action in the first period, as Portage notched three goals, three different ways.

With seconds gone in a bench minor penalty for too many men on the ice, Wyatt Dreger stripped one of the Steinbach players and went on a two-on-one with Decker Mujcin. With a couple bounces in front of the net, the puck wound up in the goal, credited to Mujcin.

The Portage Curling Club is close to bringing one of Canada's favourite sports to the community for another winter season.

Office manager Rae Trimble-Olson says they're holding an open house on October 19 and 20, to reacquaint members with the facilities.

The Swift Current Comp. Colts will have a shot at a third straight SHSAA 5A South Rural Football League Tier 2 Championship after a convincing win over the Estevan Elecs on Saturday afternoon.

Colts quarterback Owen Sletten went 8-for-20 throwing for three touchdowns and 189 yards while rushing for an additional touchdown in Swift Current's 39-12 semifinal victory over the Elecs at Colts Field. Receiver Nate Siemens had two touchdown catches combining for 73 yards on the two receptions and running back Jake Woods rushed for 196 yards on 19 carries.

Last night (Oct. 18) marked the third game in four nights for the Okotoks Oilers and they came away with a 6-2 victory over the BCHL top-seeded Coastal Conference Coquitlam Exrpess in their final road game of the week.

Olivier Ciarlo started in net for the Green and Gold, making 29 saves in the contest. He added his third win of the season and has won two of three games since getting his new Oiler-coloured gear.

The Cochrane Cobras football team is fired up to host the RVS championship game after completely dominating the Bert Church Chargers in a 41-0 win under the Friday Night Lights, Oct. 18.

The Cobras took a commanding 34-0 lead into the second half and added a final touchdown with a four-play drive from deep in their end.

The Blackfalds Bulldogs took a 3-2 lead into the third period Friday night but couldn't hold on as the Sherwood Park Crusaders squeaked out a 4-3 win at Eagle Builders Centre.

The loss dropped the Bulldogs record to 1-9 on the season. The Crusaders occupy third spot in the Interior East Division with a 7-3 record.

Robin Benoit opened the scoring for the Crusaders on the power play at 4:15 of the first with his fifth of the season.

The Bulldogs would tie the game a few minutes later when Luke Dahlen found the back of the net.

The Portage Terriers and the Steinbach Pistons will meet for their first matchup of the season at Stride Place on Saturday, October 19.

The Pistons enter the game off to a solid start and Portage will need a big game out of their leading scorers to be able to match the production out of the Pistons leaders.

Portage has gotten outstanding goaltending from Mitchell Kathler in the early going, and will likely need another such performance out of him in this one to compete with an annual contender for the Turnbull Cup.

The Okotoks Oilers made a strong push in the playoffs last season falling just short in a seven-game series against the always-tough Brooks Bandits.

The Green Army is probably wondering where each player from last season is playing since only six players returned this year. 

Players who are back wearing the Green and Gold are Jackson Rowland, Brett Wilson, Ryder de Nys, Kade Duell, Hunter Sawka, Brennan Hocher.

Former Oilers who are now in college/university:

Dean Spak - University of Alaska Fairbanks of the NCAA

The Swift Current Broncos, thanks to a four goal first period and a 38 save shutout from Reid Dyck (Winkler, MB), dispatched the Spokane Chiefs Friday night 5-0.