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Baseball

Boissevain Centennials centre fielder Connor Martin celebrates after scoring his team’s opening run in an 8-1 victory over the Brandon Cardinals at Andrews Field on Tuesday in South West Baseball League action. Martin takes a break from the mound when he comes home from college for the summer. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
June 16, 2026

Martin perseveres, dominates in college ball

Perry Bergson 8 minute read Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026

There was a point when Connor Martin was wondering if he would ever earn a victory in a college baseball game.

As it turns out, he’s won a lot more than that.

The 19-year-old farm kid from Nesbitt returned to Valley City State University for his second season, and after a tough start, was named all conference and the Frontier Conference’s pitcher of the year.

“I’m going to be honest, I didn’t really expect it,” Martin said. “I didn’t realize what my stats looked like at that time. It was pretty cool to hear my name called.”

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Basketball

El Ouali transfers to BU women’s hoops

By Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

El Ouali transfers to BU women’s hoops

By Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 16, 2026

Aya El Ouali is joining the Brandon University Bobcats at a good time.

The Dawson College guard is making the jump to U Sports from CEGEP as one of the best shooters in Bobcats women’s basketball history, Piper Ingalls, moves on.

El Ouali joins Sanford Collegiate star Halle Penner in the rookie class.

“She can shoot it with range, handle the ball really well and play out of the pick and roll. Obviously we lost some shooting with some of the departures we had in Cali Yates and Piper Ingalls, so she fills that gap for us,” said Bobcats head coach Ilarion Bonhomme.

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Tuesday, Jun. 16, 2026

Hockey

Chastko commits to Manitoba Bisons

1 minute read Monday, Jun. 15, 2026

Brandonite Nolan Chastko will be skating at the University of Manitoba next season.

The 20-year-old forward, who won a Western Hockey League championship with the Everett Silvertips in May, has committed to the Bisons: The news was announced Monday.

Last season, he had 10 goals and 25 assists in 68 regular season games with the Silvertips, with nine points in 18 playoff games. He also spent time on the Everett blue-line when they struggled with injuries.

» The Brandon Sun

Baseball

Rempel, Desjardin Neelin’s athletes of year

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Rempel, Desjardin Neelin’s athletes of year

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 9, 2026

Sam Rempel didn’t know what to expect when he transferred to Neelin from a tiny Edmonton school, one that made the smallest high school in Brandon look massive.

It turned out to be the exact push he needed to thrive in his senior year.

Rempel was named Neelin’s varsity boys athlete of the year on Tuesday, while Layla Desjardin earned the varsity girls’ honour.

“It’s incredible,” Rempel said. “Showing up at the volleyball team, I really didn’t know anything. To the point I’m at now, playing on a team like the (Brandon Volleyball Club) team, high in even the Canada rankings, being able to contribute, is awesome.”

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Tuesday, Jun. 9, 2026

Baseball

Ky Solomon of Shoal Lake, Naomi McKay of Waywayseecappo and Kendall Charles of Virden pose for a picture after North Dakota State College of Science won the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division 3 national championship on a chilly and wet May 25 in Syracuse, N.Y. (Submitted)

Westman trio win college softball title

Perry Bergson 10 minute read Preview

Westman trio win college softball title

Perry Bergson 10 minute read Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Ky Solomon is retiring from softball a winner.

The 18-year-old infielder from Shoal Lake spent last season at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) in Wahpeton, N.D., where the team won the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division 3 national championship on May 25 in Syracuse, N.Y.

To make it even better, she did it with her friends Kendall Charles of Virden and Naomi McKay of Waywayseecappo.

But she’s decided to step away from her playing career to get on with her life.

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Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

High School

Emytt Pearce of the Neelin Spartans has committed to the Brandon University men’s soccer team for the 2026 MCAC season. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Neelin captain Pearce joins BU soccer

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Neelin captain Pearce joins BU soccer

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Emytt Pearce is seeing his future in sports more clearly than ever.

A short but pivotal senior year on the soccer pitch has helped him realize where he wants to be, and the Brandon University Bobcats are certainly happy about it.

Pearce has joined a stacked rookie class at BU for the 2026 Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference men’s soccer season.

“I’m really excited. I’m just glad I get to continue my athletic career past high school,” Pearce said.

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Friday, Jun. 5, 2026

Local Sports

Brandon University men's volleyball coach Grant Wilson is being inducted into the Manitoba Volleyball Hall of Fame on Sunday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Wilson heading to Manitoba Volleyball Hall

By Thomas Friesen 8 minute read Preview

Wilson heading to Manitoba Volleyball Hall

By Thomas Friesen 8 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 2, 2026

Grant Wilson just wanted to give something back to the program he gained so much from.

He had no idea when he returned to Neelin High School in the fall of 1987 that it’d be the start of four decades dedicated to coaching volleyball.

Wilson worked his way through the ranks, never seeing an opportunity as too small, and climbed to the peak of Canadian university volleyball as his Brandon University Bobcats won the U Sports title last year.

On Sunday, Wilson will become just the 80th individual inducted into the Volleyball Manitoba Hall of Fame.

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Tuesday, Jun. 2, 2026

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Local Sports

Matt Siebenga is heading to Volleyball Canada’s under-21 men’s selection camp in Calgary on Tuesday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Baraniuk, Siebenga chase national team dream

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Baraniuk, Siebenga chase national team dream

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Friday, May. 29, 2026

The off-season is a time for most to take a step back.

But Ethan Baraniuk and Matt Siebenga have only ramped up.

The pair of Brandon University men’s volleyball players have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming Volleyball Canada under-21 national team selection camp, which begins on Tuesday in Calgary.

Baraniuk started for the U19 squad at the world championship in Uzbekistan last year, and that experience has him eager to do it at the next level.

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Friday, May. 29, 2026

Basketball

BU forward Averill lands NCAA deal

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

BU forward Averill lands NCAA deal

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Thursday, May. 28, 2026

Ella Averill’s room in Brandon sits ready for her to return.

She headed home for the off-season, expecting to keep building with the Brandon University women’s basketball team.

After all, everything worked out better than most could have expected when the Perth, Australia product joined the Bobcats.

But in short, Averill played her way out of town. She accepted a full-ride scholarship and will play NCAA Division I ball at Fordham University in The Bronx, N.Y., in 2026-27.

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Thursday, May. 28, 2026

Hockey

Osiowy commits to Alvernia University

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 10 minute read Preview

Osiowy commits to Alvernia University

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 10 minute read Thursday, May. 28, 2026

It didn’t take very long for Austin Osiowy to expect the unexpected

The 21-year-old Virden Oil Capitals defenceman from Calgary was convinced he’d play his entire junior career in his hometown, but soon had his expectations turned upside down when he realized nothing ever really goes to plan.

“I’ve been a few places, for sure,” Osiowy said with a chuckle. “I started off in the AJ (Alberta Junior Hockey League) and honestly at the time, I thought that I was gonna play there my whole career and love it and everything was gonna go perfectly, and it definitely threw a wrench in that plan.

“It’s not how I ever pictured my career going when I was 17 years old starting to play my first junior games and where I thought I would end up at all, especially with all my expectations of everything, but I am super glad everything happened for a reason and it made me a better person, reacting to everything in a positive way, so now I couldn’t be more happy with the opportunity I have now.”

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Thursday, May. 28, 2026

Basketball

Averill transfers to New York DI school

1 minute read Wednesday, May. 27, 2026

Ella Averill is moving on after one standout season at Brandon University.

The six-foot-one forward is joining the NCAA Division I ranks, transferring to Fordham University in New York.

The Perth, Australia native averaged 14.9 points per game while helping the BU women’s basketball team earn a playoff spot for the first time in nearly a decade.

She also averaged 7.6 rebounds per game, as the only rookie in Canada West to crack the top 10 in both categories.

Local Sports

Former Brandon University women's volleyball assistant coach and interim head coach Kevin Neufeld is being inducted onto the BU Sports Wall of Fame this fall. (Brandon Sun files)

Coach Neufeld to join BU Wall of Fame

By Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Coach Neufeld to join BU Wall of Fame

By Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Friday, May. 22, 2026

A Mount Rushmore of western Manitoba volleyball coaches would have to include Kevin Neufeld.

As he enters his 50th year coaching sports, he’s being recognized not only for his work at Brandon University, but also for the role he has played in developing sports in the area.

Neufeld will be inducted onto BU’s Dick and Verda McDonald Sports Wall of Fame on Nov. 15 at the Victoria Inn as part of the class of 2026, which includes his son, Scott.

“A huge honour, very surprising,” Neufeld said. “You don’t go in and do things to get recognition, but very much appreciated. I’ve done a lot of work around BU and in that space for a long time and really enjoyed every minute of it.”

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Friday, May. 22, 2026

Basketball

Israeli guard Zehavi joins Bobcats

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Israeli guard Zehavi joins Bobcats

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Orie Zehavi is ready to chase a dream and escape a nightmare.

The Israeli guard has committed to the Brandon University Bobcats men’s basketball team for the 2026-27 Canada West season after serving in the military for more than two years.

“I’m very, very excited. It was my dream ever since I was a kid to go and play abroad, especially in the U.S. or Canada, and I’m very excited to join the team and experience the whole thing of going to college and studying, being abroad and meeting new people,” Zehavi said.

“The situation here made it more obvious for me that I wanted to try to step out of it and see how it feels out there in a place where it’s more calm, there’s not a lot of stress.”

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Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Local Sports

Scott Neufeld recorded 759 digs during his five years at Brandon University, a program record when he graduated. (Tim Smith/Brandon Sun)

Three-time medallist Neufeld to join BU Wall

Thomas Friesen 8 minute read Preview

Three-time medallist Neufeld to join BU Wall

Thomas Friesen 8 minute read Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Scott Neufeld joined the Brandon University Bobcats without a clear path to court time.

But it wasn’t long before the Brandonite was irreplaceable.

When the program was most known for its superstars from Australia and New Zealand, Neufeld quietly became the only Bobcat volleyball player to win three national medals.

On Thursday, Neufeld was named as part of the Dick and Verda McDonald BU Sports Wall of Fame class of 2026. He will be inducted this fall, along with his 2010-11 national silver medalist and 2012-13 bronze team, as well as the man who got him started in the game — his father, Kevin.

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Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Local Sports

Vincent Massey Vikings goalkeeper Parker Cels has committed to the Brandon University men's soccer team for the 2026 MCAC season. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Massey keeper Cels commits to Bobcats

By Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Massey keeper Cels commits to Bobcats

By Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Friday, May. 15, 2026

Parker Cels has been hoping this day would come for years.

The Vincent Massey Vikings goalkeeper has committed to the Brandon University men’s soccer team and will suit up for the Bobcats in the 2026 Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference season.

“I’m really excited. It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, ever since I started taking soccer seriously,” Cels said.

The five-foot-eight goalkeeper first strapped a pair of gloves on five years ago, for a fairly common reason. No one else on his youth team wanted to do it.

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Friday, May. 15, 2026

Basketball

Brandon adds standout Vanier guard Sowadan

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Brandon adds standout Vanier guard Sowadan

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Thursday, May. 14, 2026

Didou Sowadan is joining the Brandon University Bobcats at a great time.

As one of the highest motor players the Brandon University Bobcats have ever rostered in Travis Hamberger moves on, the six-foot-two Vanier College transfer is certainly a welcome addition.

“Good athlete, the best skill he has right now is he can really get out in transition. He’s a dog on the ball,” said Bobcats head coach Gil Cheung.

“He’s competitive; he’ll pick up 94 feet and get after you, and he can influence the game on the defensive end.

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Thursday, May. 14, 2026

June 20, 2026

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