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Brandon Wheat Kings forward Joby Baumuller (17), a first-round pick by the team in 2022, has blossomed into stardom this season with 24 goals in the first half of the season: His previous season high was 18. He is shown skating in on Swift Current Broncos goalie Joey Rocha (35) as Parker Rondeau (17) tries to stop him during a game at Assiniboine Credit Union Place on Nov. 5. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Wheat Kings climb out of rough start

Perry Bergson 12 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:39 PM CST

On Oct. 5, the Brandon Wheat Kings were 0-4-1-0 and a season of promise looked like it might be a mirage.

Fast forward 27 games, and the same team is 19-12-1-0 and has moved up from 11th in the Eastern Conference to fourth. It’s been a remarkable turnaround for the Western Hockey League club, which returns to action on Saturday.

But that didn’t make the early stretch easy for Brandon head coach and general manager Marty Murray and his club.

“It was miserable,” Murray said. “We were all excited coming into the season. We knew there were a lot of really good teams but we thought we could be in the conversation to be one of those upper-tier team and then we started out 1-4-1.

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Slow start sets Wolverines back

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 9 minute read Preview

Slow start sets Wolverines back

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 9 minute read Yesterday at 9:35 PM CST

There’s no questioning what the Waywayseecappo Wolverines have on their wish list for this Christmas season.

The Wolverines have been wishing to be healthy ever since the injury bug hit them at the season’s start, but the plague throughout their lineup has managed to get even more significant as the year’s gone on, now finding themselves limping into the two-week break — which couldn’t have come at a better time.

“We’re very resilient,” said Wayway second-year head coach Landyn Cochrane. “Any time a team’s missing this many forwards up front, you’ve got to grind it and capitalize when you can, which we have, and when we haven’t got the result, I think the effort’s been there and the will to win has been there.”

“I think the record is a little bit deceiving, but with that being said, we’d like to have a few more wins under our belt, but it’s a long season, and we’re just ready to really hammer down after the Christmas break.”

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Yesterday at 9:35 PM CST

Jase Wareham (74) of the Waywayseecappo Wolverines eyes down a puck during Manitoba Junior Hockey League action against the Neepawa Titans at Yellowhead Community Recreation Centre on Sept. 24 (Massimo De Luca-Taronno/The Brandon Sun)
Jase Wareham (74) of the Waywayseecappo Wolverines eyes down a puck during Manitoba Junior Hockey League action against the Neepawa Titans at Yellowhead Community Recreation Centre on Sept. 24 (Massimo De Luca-Taronno/The Brandon Sun)

Sports Looking Back: Dec. 24, 2025

1 minute read Yesterday at 9:29 PM CST

IN LOCAL HISTORY

• 40 YEARS AGO — Brad Bulbuck, Neil Falloon, Kirk Lyttle and Kevin Mayner scored three goals each as the Foxwarren Falcons crushed the Kenton Cougars 18-3 in a North Central Hockey League game.

• 30 YEARS AGO — Trevor Armitage scored with 4:43 left in the third period to propel the host Miniota Night Hawks to a 5-4 win over the Kenton Cougars in a North Central Hockey League game. Daren Bryant, Daryl Brown, Kent Doole and Jerry Davis also scored for Miniota.

• 20 YEARS AGO — Trent Tibbatts scored twice to lead the Foxwarren Falcons to a 5-2 victory over Miniota/Elkhorn in the NorthCentral Hockey League. Pat Falloon, Ted Fleury and Cory Hodgson also scored for Foxwarren.

Jumbo Ozaki dies of cancer at age 78. He had the most wins of any Japanese golfer

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Jumbo Ozaki dies of cancer at age 78. He had the most wins of any Japanese golfer

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 11:07 PM CST

Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki, whose 113 worldwide victories were the most of any player from Japan, died Wednesday in his home country after a battle with colon cancer, the Japan Golf Tour said. He was 78.

Ozaki was revered in Japan, a big hitter with a sense of style who won 94 times over 29 years on the Japan Golf Tour, the last one coming at the 2002 ANA Open when he was 55.

He rose to No. 5 in the world ranking in 1996 at age 49. Ozaki often got overlooked for never winning outside Japan except for the New Zealand PGA Championship. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

“He is an indispensable, one-of-a-kind figure in discussing men’s golf, both now and in the future,” the tour said in a social media post.

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Yesterday at 11:07 PM CST

FILE - Japan's Jumbo Ozaki watches his tee shot on the third hole during his opening round of the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 10, 1997. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh, File)
FILE - Japan's Jumbo Ozaki watches his tee shot on the third hole during his opening round of the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 10, 1997. (AP Photo/Bill Waugh, File)

Draisaitl nets hat trick, Edmonton Oilers douse Calgary Flames with 5-1 loss

Shane Jones, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Draisaitl nets hat trick, Edmonton Oilers douse Calgary Flames with 5-1 loss

Shane Jones, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 10:59 PM CST

EDMONTON - Connor McDavid had five assists and Leon Draisaitl three goals as the Edmonton Oilers kept rolling into the holiday hiatus with a 5-1 victory over their rival Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

Zach Hyman had a goal and two assists, Evan Bouchard a pair of helpers and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored for the Oilers (19-13-6), who have won four of their last five and have gone 8-2-1 in their last 11 games.

Mackenzie Weegar replied for the Flames (15-18-4) who had a modest two-game winning streak halted.

Connor Ingram, making his second consecutive NHL start for the first time since early February when he played for Utah, made 19 stops to improve to 2-0-0 with the Oilers. 

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Yesterday at 10:59 PM CST

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) celebrates Zach Hyman's (18) goal on the Calgary Flames during second period NHL action in Edmonton on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken
Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) celebrates Zach Hyman's (18) goal on the Calgary Flames during second period NHL action in Edmonton on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken

Ottawa Charge erase three-goal deficit, beat Toronto Sceptres in OT

Griffin Porter, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Ottawa Charge erase three-goal deficit, beat Toronto Sceptres in OT

Griffin Porter, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 10:43 PM CST

TORONTO - A three goal deficit didn't deter the Ottawa Charge on Tuesday night. 

Instead of backing down after falling behind 3-0 to the Toronto Sceptres, the Charge battled and a familiar face played hero as Ottawa rallied for a 4-3 overtime victory. 

Former Toronto forward Rebecca Leslie scored her second of the night on a power play 1:24 into the extra frame as Ottawa (1-5-2-0) won their second straight overtime game. 

Leslie, who suited up for Toronto if the PWHL's first season, downplayed the revenge narrative.

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Yesterday at 10:43 PM CST

Ottawa Charge's Brooke Hobson (11), right, celebrates with teammates Samantha Isbell (55), left, and Katerina Mrazova (16), after scoring against the Toronto Sceptres during third period PWHL hockey action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan
Ottawa Charge's Brooke Hobson (11), right, celebrates with teammates Samantha Isbell (55), left, and Katerina Mrazova (16), after scoring against the Toronto Sceptres during third period PWHL hockey action in Toronto, on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan

Ottawa Senators feeling confident heading into Christmas break

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Ottawa Senators feeling confident heading into Christmas break

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 4:00 AM CST

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators feel pretty good about themselves heading into the NHL's Christmas break.

And with nine points in their last five games, the team has good reason. 

Ottawa (18-13-5) saw its four-game winning streak come to an end with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. Despite falling short, there was nothing but optimism from the Senators.

"We’ve been playing some pretty good hockey for a while now," said veteran Claude Giroux. “Even some games that we’ve lost, we play good games. And, you know, sometimes it’s good to kind of reset.”

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Updated: 4:00 AM CST

Ottawa Senators' Drake Batherson (19) takes a shot on Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (34) during third period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Ottawa Senators' Drake Batherson (19) takes a shot on Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (34) during third period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Montreal Canadiens thump Boston Bruins 6-2 in fight-filled affair

Jimmy Golen, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Montreal Canadiens thump Boston Bruins 6-2 in fight-filled affair

Jimmy Golen, The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 9:13 PM CST

BOSTON (AP) — Zachary Bolduc scored to give the Canadiens the lead as Montreal scored four goals in a five-minute span to snap a third-period tie and run away from the Boston Bruins 6-2 on Tuesday night.

Sammy Blais, Ivan Demidov, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky also scored for Montreal. Jacob Fowler stopped 26 shots for the Canadiens in a game that started with fisticuffs but ended with the Bruins going down meekly.

Marat Khusnutdinov and Alex Steeves scored in the first period to give Boston a 2-1 lead, but Demidov tied it two minutes into the second when he swept in to steal a bad pass from Nikita Zadorov to David Pastrnak and skated in on Jeremy Swayman for the goal. 

The Bruins had a goal waved off in the final seconds of the second period and it was still 2-2 when Zadorov broke his stick while trying to clear the zone and left the puck for Bolduc.

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Yesterday at 9:13 PM CST

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj (72) fights Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj (72) fights Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson says farewell to Toronto, signs with D.C. United

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson says farewell to Toronto, signs with D.C. United

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 6:36 PM CST

TORONTO - Unwanted by Toronto FC, veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson signed with D.C. United as a free agent Tuesday.

D.C. United said the 36-year-old 'keeper has signed a one-and-a-half-year contract through June 2027. 

“Sean is an experienced and proven goalkeeper who has consistently performed at a high level throughout his career," Erkut Sogut, D.C. United's managing director of soccer operations, said in a statement. "He brings valuable international experience having represented the U.S. men’s national team, and his leadership and competitive mentality will elevate our entire team.

"Sean is a proven winner having won the 2021 MLS Cup with New York (City FC), and we look forward to welcoming him to the Black-and-Red family.” 

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Updated: Yesterday at 6:36 PM CST

FC Cincinnati forward Kevin Denkey (9) shoots to score a goal against Toronto FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson (second left) during first half MLS soccer action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
FC Cincinnati forward Kevin Denkey (9) shoots to score a goal against Toronto FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson (second left) during first half MLS soccer action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

CF Montreal trades midfielder Dante Sealy to Rapids for up to US$2.5M in GAM

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

CF Montreal trades midfielder Dante Sealy to Rapids for up to US$2.5M in GAM

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 1:49 PM CST

MONTREAL - CF Montreal traded midfielder Dante Sealy to the Colorado Rapids for up to US$2.5 million in general allocation money Tuesday.

Montreal will receive $1.15 million guaranteed in 2026 and $750,000 in 2027, with the potential for an additional $600,000 if certain performance-based conditions are met. The team did not say what those conditions were.

The Major League Soccer club also said it could retain a sell-on percentage if Sealy is transferred out of Colorado "above a specified amount," but did not disclose the percentage or the required threshold.

Sealy scored nine goals and provided two assists in 30 games last season for Montreal, which finished 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 6-18-10 record. 

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Yesterday at 1:49 PM CST

CF Montreal forward Dante Sealy moves the ball during an MLS soccer match against Charlotte FC in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
CF Montreal forward Dante Sealy moves the ball during an MLS soccer match against Charlotte FC in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

Leafs GM Treliving ‘fully’ supports head coach Berube as team sinks to bottom of East

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Leafs GM Treliving ‘fully’ supports head coach Berube as team sinks to bottom of East

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:49 PM CST

TORONTO - Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving says he "fully" supports head coach Craig Berube as the team finds itself in last place in the NHL's Atlantic Division.

Treliving addressed the media hours before the Maple Leafs hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins, and a day after the team fired assistant coach Marc Savard.

"I want to make it clear: I support Craig fully," Treliving said. "When you go through tough stretches, whether it be the coach, the manager, that's part of the business."

The GM says there is no "disconnect" between Berube and his players.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:49 PM CST

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving watches his players during the opening week of the team's NHL training camp in Toronto, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving watches his players during the opening week of the team's NHL training camp in Toronto, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sammy Kogan

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