Local Sports

You don't need your hockey equipment to come play with the Cochrane Generals next Friday night.

The Gens are off next weekend after a long-haul this week and are making good use of that time by celebrating with the community.

Come pump up our Cochrane Generals at their huge Pub Night at the Cochrane Lions Event Centre on Fri. Nov. 15. The annual event has become so popular, they've had to move it to a larger venue.

The High River Flyers started their HJHL weekend games early with a Thursday night (Nov. 7) tilt in their first of back-to-back home games against the Cannex Cochrane Generals.

Kashton Payne got the start in net for the Flyers on Thursday, making 52 stops in the contest. The 6'4 goaltender kept his team in the game by making an abundance of saves along with key saves, but the Generals found a way to take the win in overtime with a 3-2 score. 

The Boissevain Border Kings, Killarney Shamrocks and Rivers Jets were winners in the Tiger Hills Hockey League Friday night. Skylar Canada and Carter Cowlthorp each had a goal and two assists as the Border Kings beat the MacGregor Wild 8-1. Ty Enns and Bryce Enns each had two goals and two assists as the Shamrocks downed the Souris Elks 12-2. Riley Lamb made 23 saves, and the Jets blanked the Neepawa Farmers 5-0.

The Steinbach Regional varsity boys & girls and junior varsity girls volleyball teams won their South Central Athletic Conference AAAA quarterfinals Friday night at the SRSS. All three Sabres teams swept the Windsor Park Royals. The varsity boys defeated Windsor Park 25-15, 25-18, 25-6; the varsity girls beat the Royals 25-9, 25-11, 25-12 while the junior varsity girls knocked off Windsor Park 25-11, 25-17, 25-10. The Steinbach Regional junior varsity boys finished first and earned a bye to the semifinals.

The Carman Cougars and Garden Valley Zodiacs were winners in the Zone 4 High School Hockey League Friday night. Grant Friesen had a goal and three assists and Carson O’Connor made 17 saves as the Cougars blanked the Miller Aces 6-0. Joel Friesen scored 56 seconds into overtime to lift the Zodiacs past the Mountain Mustangs 3-2.

Liam Ernst made 21 saves in the Winkler Flyers 6-0 victory over the Winnipeg Blues. Brady Craik scored twice for the defending Turnbull Cup champions while the rest went to Blake Matheson, Will Lyons, Nicholas Mckee and Isaiah Peters.

Injured winger Paige Preston confident in Western Prairie Junior Klippers' season despite setback

The Western Prairie Junior Klippers are off to a strong start this season, bolstered by a talented roster and a positive team spirit. One of their key players left and right winger Paige Preston, shared her insights on the team’s progress and her own recovery from a recent injury in an exclusive interview.

With plenty of rest this week, the Humboldt Broncos will embark on a busy weekend with a pair of games on the road.  

Saturday night will see the Broncos venture to Melville to tangle with the Millionaires. This will be a rematch from last Saturday’s contest where Humboldt beat Melville 6-3. Defenceman Tre Fouquette had four points (1G-3A) and forward Marik Mamic chipped in with three points (2G-1A).  

Players who have played in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and, in turn, the Western Hockey League (WHL) will be eligible to play NCAA Division I hockey in the United States beginning in 2025.

The NCAA Division 1, which regulates U.S. college athletics, approved the rule change on Thursday. Previously, players were CHL experience were ineligible to compete at the NCAA level as they were deemed professional because players receive a stipend of up to $600 per month for living expenses.

A couple of changes to the Saskatchewan Roughriders roster as they head to Winnipeg on Saturday in the Western Final with a berth to the Grey Cup on the line.  

Left tackle Trevor Reid will miss this week’s game due to a knee injury. Reid started in each of the Roughriders 18 regular season games and last week’s Western semifinal against BC. Reid was the team’s nominee for Most Outstanding Rookie this season.  

Busy is the easiest way to describe the weekend for senior hockey teams in southeast Saskatchewan, with 15 games on the schedule across the three leagues.

Friday Night Lights

The QVHHL kicks off the weekend with three exciting matchups. The Milestone Flyers travel to Lumsden to take on the Monarchs at 8 p.m., while the Bethune Bulldogs face off against the Raymore Rockets at the same time. In Balgonie, the Bisons host the Southey Marlins with puck drop at 8:15 p.m.