Sports

Massey looks for quick start at provincials

Perry Bergson 7 minute read Yesterday at 10:08 PM CDT

Dwayne Stone knows his Vincent Massey Vikings team in a way a lot of high school coaches likely don’t.

Stone, who coaches with Jason Schrader, has worked with the group that includes his son Nash for much of their journey through the Brandon Minor Baseball Association AAA ranks.

“We’ve had a really good group this year,” Dwayne Stone said. “We have lots of returning players, not necessarily that they’ve played with Vincent Massey before but we have a lot of returning AAA players. We’re up to nine out of a crew of 14, so that’s a pretty good average. They’re baseball players, they know the game and they understand the game.

“There’s not much coaching on our part. It’s just repetition and going through the motions.”

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Bobcats go local with Massey’s Tiana Low

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Bobcats go local with Massey’s Tiana Low

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Yesterday at 10:06 PM CDT

If at first you don’t succeed, work 10 times harder.

When Tiana Low heard her spike touch wasn’t high enough for the Brandon University Bobcats last fall, she shrugged it off and got in the gym.

Not two months later, it went from nine-foot-five to over nine-foot-seven, apparently high enough to earn a spot in their rookie class for the 2023-24 Canada West women’s volleyball season.

“It’s very special because I’ve always kind of wanted to play for BU ever since I’ve been watching games,” Low said.

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Yesterday at 10:06 PM CDT

Vincent Massey Vikings attacker Tiana Low committed to the Brandon University women's volleyball team for the 2023-24 Canada West season. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Saurette: MJHL on upward trajectory

By Lucas Punkari 5 minute read Preview

Saurette: MJHL on upward trajectory

By Lucas Punkari 5 minute read Yesterday at 10:04 PM CDT

There’s a lot to like about the Manitoba Junior Hockey League at the moment.

However, commissioner Kevin Saurette doesn’t want the 13-team circuit to rest on its laurels.

“We want to be one of, if not the best league in the CJHL (Canadian Junior Hockey League) both on and off the ice,” Saurette said.

“If there’s anything we can do to help raise the professionalism of the MJHL, our teams and the league itself is going to do that.”

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Yesterday at 10:04 PM CDT

Steinbach Pistons forward Dawson Milliken receives the Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoff MVP award from commissioner Kevin Saurette following the fifth and deciding game of the Turnbull Cup final on April 29. (Photo courtesy of the MJHL)

TEEING OFF: Jameson sneaks back into match play bracket

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

TEEING OFF: Jameson sneaks back into match play bracket

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:05 PM CDT

Keaton Jameson can’t get enough competition.

He finishes a gruelling first professional hockey season and hits the golf course not just recreationally — though he enjoys it, of course — but to sharpen his game through tournaments.

The Brandonite entered the Golf Manitoba match play qualifier with hopes of building on a round-of-16 finish in 2022. Suddenly, he was in danger of missing the cut entirely at Glendale Golf and Country Club on Saturday.

“I just wanted to go put a good round together. I thought if I played well then I’d make it. If I had a bad game I’d have to kind of battle,” said Jameson, who did just that.

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Updated: Yesterday at 10:05 PM CDT

Brandon's Keaton Jameson, who plays golf out of Shilo Country Club, survived a playoff to qualify for the Golf Manitoba men's match play championship starting today at Glendale Golf and Country Club. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Skinner named Fargo Force head coach

1 minute read Preview

Skinner named Fargo Force head coach

1 minute read Yesterday at 10:03 PM CDT

Brandon’s Brett Skinner is heading back to the United States Hockey League.

The 39-year-old was named head coach of the Fargo Force on Wednesday after one season behind the bench of the North American Hockey League’s Minnesota Wilderness.

Skinner was previously an assistant coach for the Sioux Falls Stampede from 2017 to 2022 and also played in the USHL with the Des Moines Buccaneers in 2001-02.

During his one season with the Wilderness, who are based out of Cloquet, Minn., Skinner put together a 35-18-3-4 record and helped the team reach the NAHL’s Robertson Cup semifinals for the first time since 2015.

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Yesterday at 10:03 PM CDT

Brandon’s Brett Skinner is heading back to the United States Hockey League.

The 39-year-old was named head coach of the Fargo Force on Wednesday after one season behind the bench of the North American Hockey League’s Minnesota Wilderness.

Skinner was previously an assistant coach for the Sioux Falls Stampede from 2017 to 2022 and also played in the USHL with the Des Moines Buccaneers in 2001-02.

During his one season with the Wilderness, who are based out of Cloquet, Minn., Skinner put together a 35-18-3-4 record and helped the team reach the NAHL’s Robertson Cup semifinals for the first time since 2015.

Pride Toronto director weighs in on Bass apology

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Pride Toronto director weighs in on Bass apology

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 4:12 PM CDT

TORONTO - Pride Toronto executive director Sherwin Modeste says Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass's apology for supporting anti-2SLGBTQ+ boycotts on social media was a "first step," but adds it's important "it goes beyond an apology."

"I think we need to start seeing a little bit more accountability in relation to (some) training (and see if) he's really demonstrating that he wants to unlearn that bias," Modeste said.

Speaking at his locker after Toronto's 3-1 win over Milwaukee on Thursday, Bass said he's planning to make the next move.

"We're in the process currently," he said. "But it wouldn't be productive to expand upon it right now. I'm in the process of making that next step."

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Updated: 4:12 PM CDT

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Anthony Bass gives a statement to media ahead of interleague baseball action against the Milwaukee Brewers in Toronto on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Pride Toronto director Sherwin Modeste said that Bass's apology for supporting anti-LGBTQ+ boycotts on social media was a "first step," but that it's important "it goes beyond an apology." THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Chidley-Hill

Canada, Mexico meet again in CONCACAF semifinal

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada, Mexico meet again in CONCACAF semifinal

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read 3:14 PM CDT

The tournament format has changed this year but there is a strong element of deja vu for Canada at the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship.

The young Canadians face Mexico on Friday in the semifinal at Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, just as they did in the same venue at the same stage of last year's tournament.

The Canadians lost 1-0 in last year's semifinal before blanking Puerto Rico 2-0 to finish third. Mexico was beaten 2-0 by the United States in the final.

The two finalists and third-place side at the eight-team CONCACAF U-20 tournament qualify for next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup.

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3:14 PM CDT

Canada's Florianne Jourde plays the ball against Cuba during CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Qualifiers in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic on Thursday, April 20, 2023. The tournament format has changed this year but there is a strong element of deja vu for Canada at the CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Canada Soccer *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Bichette, Chapman lift Blue Jays over Brewers 3-1

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Bichette, Chapman lift Blue Jays over Brewers 3-1

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 4:09 PM CDT

TORONTO - Kevin Gausman is putting together another elite season for the Toronto Blue Jays but the run support hasn't been there for him for most of his starts.

But Bo Bichette had a solo shot and Matt Chapman a two-run homer in the first inning to give Gausman all the scoring he needed as Toronto held off the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 on Thursday afternoon. Chapman said it was nice to jump out to an early lead for the team's ace after the Blue Jays mustered only 10 runs for Gausman over his previous four starts.

"I feel like a lot of times we're not giving Gasman that much support," said Chapman. "You never know when you're going to get a run so it was good to get those runs and then Gaus, he shut it down."

Gausman (4-3) was superb, allowing five hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings of scoreless ball to drop his earned-run average from 3.03 to 2.76.

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Updated: 4:09 PM CDT

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman (26) celebrates his two-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers with teammate Daulton Varsho in first inning interleague baseball action in Toronto on Thursday, June 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj

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Coach confirms Lionel Messi’s last match for PSG this weekend

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Coach confirms Lionel Messi’s last match for PSG this weekend

The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 8:58 AM CDT

PARIS (AP) — Lionel Messi arrived two years ago wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with ”Ici C’est Paris” (This Is Paris) — a favorite cry among Paris Saint-Germain fans — and to chants of “Messi! Messi! Messi!"

The soccer superstar will leave the team on Saturday not quite so revered.

The cheers have been replaced by jeers and boos in recent weeks at the Parc des Princes, where the the World Cup winner will play his final game for the French league champion.

Christophe Galtier confirmed on Thursday that the looming end of the season is also the end of Messi's time at PSG.

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Updated: 8:58 AM CDT

PSG's Lionel Messi, second left, in action during the French League One soccer match between Strasbourg and Paris Saint Germain at Stade de la Meinau stadium in Strasbourg, eastern France, Saturday, May 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Whitecaps cruise to 6-2 win over Houston Dynamo

Nick Wells, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Whitecaps cruise to 6-2 win over Houston Dynamo

Nick Wells, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 12:56 AM CDT

VANCOUVER - It took only 10 seconds for Vancouver Whitecaps striker Brian White to set a club record.

White raced on to a rebound from a shot by Ryan Gauld to calmly slot the ball past Houston Dynamo's stranded goalkeeper in the second half.

White's sixth goal of the regular season was the winner for the Whitecaps who beat the Houston Dynamo 6-2 on Wednesday night.

The goal was the fastest goal from the start of a half in Vancouver's MLS history and capped a match that head coach Vanni Sartini called "literally painful."

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Updated: 12:56 AM CDT

Vancouver Whitecaps FC's Pedro Vite, right, battles with Houston Dynamo FC's Micael battle for the ball during first half MLS soccer action in Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, May 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rich Lam

Thunderbirds reach Memorial Cup semifinal

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Thunderbirds reach Memorial Cup semifinal

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 12:28 AM CDT

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - The Seattle Thunderbirds' best performance at the Memorial Cup pleased head coach Matt O'Dette, although it didn't show in his stoic look.

Kyle Crnkovic and Jared Davidson each had a goal and two assists for the Thunderbirds in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Kamloops Blazers to reach the tournament semifinal.

Seattle will next play Friday against the winner between Kamloops and the Ontario Hockey League champion Peterborough Petes in Thursday's tiebreaker.

"It's up there," O'Dette said when asked where the complete performance ranks in recent memory. "That's more to the identity and the team that we can be.

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Updated: 12:28 AM CDT

Seattle Thunderbirds goalie Thomas Milic, left, blocks a shot from Kamloops Blazers forward Daylan Kuefler during first period Memorial Cup hockey action in Kamloops, Wednesday, May 31, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canada blanked 3-0 by U.S. in world para hockey

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Canada blanked 3-0 by U.S. in world para hockey

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 1:11 AM CDT

MOOSE JAW, Sask. - The United States shut out Canada 3-0 in the world para hockey championship Wednesday to hand the host country its first loss of the tournament.

The U.S. capped the preliminary round 3-0, while Canada dropped to 2-1. Both countries have byes to Saturday's semifinals. The host Canadians will face either Italy or Czechia.

"As you go deeper in a tournament, you need to be better the next day," Canadian coach Russ Herrington said. "Although we’re a young team, we have enough experience in that room to understand that it will go up another level in semifinals.

"We’ve never experienced that at home and that will bring a certain level of pressure for sure, but I believe that our investment this year, especially on the mental performance side, will allow us to be able to handle that well and bring out a good performance against whoever we play on Saturday night.”

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Updated: 1:11 AM CDT

MOOSE JAW, Sask. - The United States shut out Canada 3-0 in the world para hockey championship Wednesday to hand the host country its first loss of the tournament.

The U.S. capped the preliminary round 3-0, while Canada dropped to 2-1. Both countries have byes to Saturday's semifinals. The host Canadians will face either Italy or Czechia.

"As you go deeper in a tournament, you need to be better the next day," Canadian coach Russ Herrington said. "Although we’re a young team, we have enough experience in that room to understand that it will go up another level in semifinals.

"We’ve never experienced that at home and that will bring a certain level of pressure for sure, but I believe that our investment this year, especially on the mental performance side, will allow us to be able to handle that well and bring out a good performance against whoever we play on Saturday night.”

Sports Looking Back: June 1, 2023

1 minute read Preview

Sports Looking Back: June 1, 2023

1 minute read Yesterday at 10:02 PM CDT

IN WESTMAN

• BASEBALL — The MHSAA provincial championship opens in Baldur and Glenboro, 9 a.m.

IN LOCAL HISTORY

• 50 YEARS AGO — Brandon Cloverleafs pitcher Brian Hodgson limited the Riverside Canucks to four hits in a 7-1 Manitoba Senior Baseball League win at Kinsmen Stadium.

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Yesterday at 10:02 PM CDT

IN WESTMAN

• BASEBALL — The MHSAA provincial championship opens in Baldur and Glenboro, 9 a.m.

IN LOCAL HISTORY

• 50 YEARS AGO — Brandon Cloverleafs pitcher Brian Hodgson limited the Riverside Canucks to four hits in a 7-1 Manitoba Senior Baseball League win at Kinsmen Stadium.

CF Montreal scores late for 2-2 draw with DC United

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

CF Montreal scores late for 2-2 draw with DC United

The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:32 PM CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sunusi Ibrahim and Ariel Lassiter scored two minutes apart late in the second half to help CF Montreal tie D.C. United 2-2 on Wednesday night.

Ibrahim kicked off the comeback with his first MLS goal this season in the 80th minute from an Lassiter cross. The two players then switched roles as Ibrahim turned provider on a Lassiter equalizer two minutes later.

"We just needed one goal to get back in the game," Lassiter said. "The players’ mentality was excellent. We continued to fight. 2-0 is a very dangerous lead and we showed that tonight."

Ibrahim, who came on in the 61st minute, became just the second player in club history to record a goal and an assist off the bench in the same game.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:32 PM CDT

D.C. United midfielder Victor Pálsson (44) and Donovan Pines (23) celebrate a goal by Theodore Ku-DiPietro against CF Montréal during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Washington, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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