Local Sports

For the first time since Game 6 of last year’s Eastern Conference Championship, the Moose Jaw Warriors and Saskatoon Blades will lock horns at the Hangar in downtown Moose Jaw on Thursday night.

The Warriors are expecting a stiff test when they square off with their East Division rivals.

“We’ve just got to play to our structure, play to our game and if everyone’s on board, we’ll be successful,” Warriors defenceman Connor Schmidt said.

Can the current model continue for the Swift Current 57s?

Longtime 57s volunteer and now past president Brad Woods is expressing concern the growth of the WCBL in terms of schedule and required offerings has pushed them beyond their budgetary limits.

"They're now operating on a 56-game schedule," Wood said. "When you're on an organization that relies 100% on volunteers to deliver that 56-game schedule it's tough because it's a full time commitment through the months of say April through to the end of September.

The Okotoks Oilers started their first full season in the BCHL on September 20 at Viking Rentals Centre against a familiar foe, the Brooks Bandits.

With only six players returning to the roster, turnover was expected. Not only have the Oilers brought in a bunch of new faces, but they have also faced off with eight teams they had never played before.

"I look at this group as a real positive group, you know. Like, it could be easy to get down and think, 'Oh boy, there we go! This is just not our year.' but that hasn't been my indication at all, just being around this group every day."

Resiliency is key to any hockey team, especially when they're experiencing a slump like what the Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins are facing right now. Play-by-play host and marketing director, Marty Martinson, spends the majority of his day with the team, and he sees the effort they are contributing. 

The number 2 ranked Cochrane High Cobras varsity girls volleyball team faces third-ranked St. Albert Catholic at 1 p.m. today in the ASAA 3A provincials being hosted by Ponoka.

It's the first of three games in their preliminary round that continues at 5:30 p.m. against the fourth-seeded RF Staples. Late Saturday morning they faced the top-ranked St. Joseph Catholic of Grande Prairie.

It's been another banner season for the Cobras, who are regular contenders in provincials and placed third last year. 

The Winnipeg Sea Bears are mourning the loss of one of their players.

Chad Posthumus, the first player to sign with the Winnipeg Sea Bears passed away on Wednesday.

"Stricken by a brain aneurysm on Nov. 9 and then by complications arising from corrective surgery, Chad fought hard but was unable to recover," said the team in a post on Instagram. "Chad was and will always remain the face of our team."

The Blackfalds Bulldogs were on the losing end of a penalty-filled affair Wednesday night in Spruce Grove falling to the Saints 6-4.

Luke Dahlen had a pair of goals for the Bulldogs in the first period to notch the score up at two heading into the second.

The Saints would go up 4-2 midway through the second on goals by Austin Peters and Alexy Lachaine.

Antoine Gauthier made the score 4-3 late in the frame, while Matthew Ronn would tie the game early in the third.

The Okotoks Dawgs Academy has announced two players have college commitments in the U.S.A.

Preston Tocheniuk, brother of Quinn who plays for the Dawgs WCBL team has committed to Panola College of St. Carthage Texas.

Tocheniuk stands at 6'4 and spent time with the WCBL Dawgs this past summer in three games.

Along with Tocheniuk, right-handed pitcher Patrik Ludviks will also be heading south of the border for post-secondary.

He has committed to playing with Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kansas. Ludviks is also a towering figure at 6'6".

Wednesday, November 20th

Zone 4 High School Hockey League
Morris at Carman (ppd)

Manitoba Female U18 AAA Hockey League
Eastman 4 Pembina Valley 1

Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League
Wpg Bruins 3 Interlake 1
Central Plains vs Eastman @ Portage (ppd)

It's "Retro Night" tonight at the Moose Jaw Events Centre as the Moose Jaw Warriors host the first place Saskatoon Blades. Puck drop is at 7, and you can catch all the action on Country 100, starting with the pregame show at 6:40. The Warriors have some fun lined up for fans tonight, including a chance to buy packages of three throwback player buttons. 

In Regina last night, the Tri City Americans needed a shootout to top the Pats 4-3. The Americans visit Moose Jaw Saturday night.