Brandon draws first blood against Southwest
U18 AAA WEEKLY ROUNDUP
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BOYS
QUARTERFINALS
The best-of-five quarterfinal series have begun around the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League, with all four series set to end by Sunday at the very latest.
Brandon Wheat Kings Reid Nicol (7) leads teammates Jaxson Brick (8), Cole Dupuis (27), Easten Turko (17) and Grady Taylor (6) toward the bench for the fly-by after Nicol put his team up 3-0 early in the third period against the Southwest Cougars during Game 1 of their Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League quarterfinal series at J&G Homes Arena on Saturday. Brandon won 6-1. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
Feb. 28, 2026
SOUTHWEST (6) vs. BRANDON (3)
The Brandon Wheat Kings opened with a victory over the visiting Southwest Cougars.
In Game 1 on Saturday at J&G Homes Arena, Brandon led 1-0 after 20 minutes on a Hunter Ethelston goal and 2-0 after 40 minutes after Cole Dupuis sniped, but they exploded for four in the third for a 6-1 victory.
Reid Nicol scored twice and Hudson Champagne and Kevin Knee added singles, with Kole Beard replying for Southwest.
Urijah Moosetail made 31 saves for Brandon, with Brady Shields blocking 41 shots for Southwest.
Game 2 is set for Souris/Glenwood Memorial Complex on Monday evening at 7:30 p.m., with Game 3 back at J&G Homes Arena on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. If necessary, Game 4 will be in Souris on Friday at 8 p.m., and Game 5 is scheduled for Brandon on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
PARKLAND (8) vs WPG BRUINS (2)
The Bruins hold a commanding 2-0 lead over the Rangers.
In Game 1 on Friday at Southdale Community Centre, Crewe Schimnowski scored twice and added an assist as the Bruins built a 6-0 lead in an 8-1 victory. Noah Smigelsky replied for the Rangers.
Carter Sigurdson made 35 saves for Parkland, with Logan German stopping 12 shots for Winnipeg.
In Game 2 on Saturday at Dauphin’s Credit Union Place, Antonio Correia’s hat trick led the way in a 7-4 Bruins victory.
Brayden Budolowski, Bodhi Bloomer, Alex Campbell and Noah Hanneson replied for the Rangers
Carter Sigurdson and Eddy Person combined to make 34 saves for Parkland, with Zak Matheson stopping 14 shots for Winnipeg.
Game 3 will be played at Southdale Community Centre on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
If necessary, Game 4 is Dauphin’s Credit Union Place on Thursday at 7:15 p.m., and Game 5 would be at Southdale Community Centre on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
PEMBINA VALLEY (7) vs WPG WILD (3)
The Wild opened with a victory over the Hawks.
In Game 1 on Saturday afternoon at Winnipeg’s Hockey For All Centre, Ocean Fehr opened the scoring for the Hawks and they led 1-0 after 20 minutes. But the Wild scored four goals in 11 minutes in the second period and added five more in the third for a 9-2 win.
Chase Kettles made 13 saves for Winnipeg, with Koen Bleznuk stopping 33 shots for Pembina Valley.
Game 2 will be tonight at Morden’s Access Event Centre at 7:30 p.m., with Game 3 at Hockey For All Centre on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
If necessary, Game 4 is at Access Event Centre on Friday at 8 p.m., and Game 5 at Hockey For All Centre at 1:45 p.m.
EASTMAN (5) vs WPG THRASHERS (4)
After two games, the series is knotted 1-1.
In Game 1 on Saturday at Winnipeg’s Seven Oaks Community Centre, Seth Hooper and Jevon Peters scored goals 79 seconds apart late in the third period as the Selects won 3-2.
Southwest Cougars forward Jack Polasek (21) stumbles, with some assistance from Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Max Dawson (4), as Taylor Lockhart (16) of the Cougars and Easten Turko (17) of the Wheat Kings. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
Tate Barnaby made 27 saves for Winnipeg, with Carter Warren stopping 31 shots for Eastman.
In Game 2 on Sunday afternoon at Steinbach’s Southeast Event Centre, Russell (Junior) Aitkenhead and Zennon Chernecki both scored twice as the Thrashers rebounded with a 6-3 victory.
Seth Hooper had all three goals for Eastman.
Barnaby made 35 saves for Winnipeg, with Zaiden McDonald Horvath and Warren stopping 31 shots for Eastman.
Game 3 will be played Wednesday at Seven Oaks Community Centre at 7 p.m.
If necessary, Game 4 is at Southeast Event Centre on Thursday at 8 p.m., and Game 5 at Seven Oaks Community Centre on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS
QUARTERFINALS
The Wildcats swept their quarterfinal series against the Pembina Valley Hawks in the Manitoba Female Hockey League U18 AAA.
On Tuesday in Game 3 at Hartney Arena, after the Hawks opened the scoring early in the first period, the Wildcats led the game 5-1 just 15 minutes later on goals by Hadley Robertson, Ivy Perkin, Kasia Baranyk, Ivy Fry and Rachel Lyver. Lucy Waldner, Ava Snyder and Perkin, with her second, also scored in an 8-3 rout.
Indigo Stone stopped 27 shots, while Hannah Bannister and Madison Froese turned aside 25.
SEMIFINALS
WESTMAN (3) vs EASTMAN (2)
Westman now has the dubious honour of a best-of-five semifinal matchup against the second-place Eastman Selects (24-2-1-1), who outscored the Central Plains Capitals 11-3 in a quarterfinal sweep.
Game 1 is set for Niverville Community Resource and Recreation Centre on Monday at 6:45 p.m., with Game 2 at Hartney Arena on Thursday at 8 p.m., and Game 3 in Niverville on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
If necessary, Game 4 is in Hartney on Wednesday, March 11 at 8 p.m., and Game 5 in Niverville on Friday at 8 p.m.
WPG AVROS (4) vs WPG ICE (1)
In the other semifinal, the first-place Winnipeg Ice (25-2-0-1) meet the fourth-place Winnipeg Avros (16-9-2-1). In the quarterfinals, the Ice swept the Interlake Lightning, outscoring them 20-3, while the Avros edged the Yellowhead Chiefs.
Game 1 will be at Hockey For All Centre on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m., with Game 2 at Seven Oaks Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m., and Game 3 at HFAC on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
If necessary, Game 4 is at Seven Oaks Arena on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m., and Game 5 at HFAC on Saturday at 6:50 p.m.
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