High School – Brandon Sun

Volleyball Manitoba names grad all-stars

2 minute read Friday, Nov. 21, 2025

Vincent Massey Vikings Nikos Tellidis and Logan Van Santen were named Volleyball Manitoba graduating all-stars on Thursday.

The Vikings varsity boys stars, who led the team to a 3-0 sweep in the first round of AAAA provincials on Thursday, are joined by Kaitlyn Couckuyt, Reece Cowan, Ashley Sullivan and Zoe Redekop of Massey’s varsity girls team.

At the A-AAA levels, Neelin’s Sam Rempel made the boys’ team, along with Glenboro’s Tucker Forbes and Evan Griffin, Hamiota’s Jordan Edwards, Ebb and Flow’s Gunner Spence and Carberry’s Danny Hoffmann.

Neelin’s Layla Desjardin and Katey Ward made the A-AAA girls’ team, along with Annika Schmidt of Rivers, Dillan Kendrick of Goose Lake, Livia Welch of Elton, Mya Bonchuk of Birtle, Paige Kaspick and Rhea Koshel of Neepawa and Tyra Wilkinson of Virden.

Advertise With Us

Weather

Nov. 24, 12 PM: 2°c Cloudy Nov. 24, 6 PM: 0°c Cloudy

Brandon MB

0°C, Cloudy

Full Forecast

Crocus hosts charity match for Christmas Cheer

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 5 minute read Preview

Crocus hosts charity match for Christmas Cheer

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 5 minute read Friday, Nov. 21, 2025

It’s never too early to take part in the season of giving, and what better way to do that than through sport.

Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School hosted its second annual volleyball buyout event on Friday, which saw teachers and students face off in some friendly competition to help raise money for their charity of choice — this year being Christmas Cheer, an organization celebrating 70 years of delivering holiday hampers to needy families in Westman.

“The whole goal was to just help and support the community,” said Nivedita Joseph, Crocus’ senior student council member and event organizer. “Christmas time is coming very soon, and there’s a lot of families who don’t have access to meals or water and stuff like that, so Christmas Cheer will help with that.”

The school raised more than $700 after selling upwards of 350 tickets, thanks to Joseph and the other volunteers who’d been working tirelessly since the beginning of the month to help make the event a success. The work was clearly all worth it, though, as there wasn’t a single bleacher in the Crocus gym that had an empty seat, and that’s something Joseph will never forget.

Read

Friday, Nov. 21, 2025

Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School staff and students celebrate after the second annual volleyball buyout event on Friday. (Massimo De Luca-Taronno/The Brandon Sun)

Neelin boys bow out of JV provincials

2 minute read Friday, Nov. 21, 2025

The Neelin Spartans junior varsity boys’ volleyball team lost 2-0 to the Linden Christian Wings in the first round of AAA provincials in Neepawa on Friday.

The Spartan girls finished fourth in Pool A, and will play Altona’s W.C. Miller Aces in the quarterfinals in Swan River today at 10:15 a.m.

At AAAA JV provincials in Winnipeg, the Vincent Massey boys lost 3-0 to Jeanne-Sauve in the first round of the playoffs.

The Viking girls lost in four sets to the St. Mary’s Flames in the first round.

Massey boys join girls in quarters

By Thomas Friesen 7 minute read Preview

Massey boys join girls in quarters

By Thomas Friesen 7 minute read Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025

The stage is set for a super Saturday of Viking volleyball.

After the No. 2-ranked Vincent Massey girls earned a bye to the quarterfinals, the boys joined them with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 28-26) sweep of the defending AAAA champion River East Kodiaks at Massey on Thursday afternoon.

Viking boys’ head coach Rylan Metcalf said his team was incredibly prepared and it showed.

“Lots of preparation, lots of guys really taking initiative, doing some scouting as players, which is so special to see,” Metcalf said.

Read

Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025

Logan Van Santen of the Vincent Massey Vikings attacks against the River East Kodiaks in the first round of AAAA varsity boys volleyball provincials at Massey on Thursday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Vikings look to bounce defending champs

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Vikings look to bounce defending champs

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025

Nikos Tellidis wouldn’t want his last high school volleyball tournament to start any other way.

His No. 10-seed Vincent Massey Vikings get to face the defending AAAA varsity boys volleyball provincial champion River East Kodiaks on home court today at 1 p.m., in the first round of provincials.

“It’s awesome to have that energy, it really helps,” Tellidis said.

“Every year we’ve beat Neelin at Viking Classic; we’ve had trouble with them up until that point. It definitely gives us the motivation we need, and we all feel we jump a little higher when there’s a full gym.”

Read

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025

Nikos Tellidis (6) and the Vincent Massey Vikings host the River East Kodiaks in the first round of AAAA varsity boys’ volleyball provincials today at 1 p.m. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Wildcard Spartans chase provincial gold

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Wildcard Spartans chase provincial gold

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025

The Neelin Spartans’ entire season of success came down to one do-or-die match this week.

The No. 2-ranked AAA junior varsity girls’ volleyball team drew the unenviable task of trying to win a provincial qualifier including the top three squads on Saturday.

They lost a four-set semifinal to the Dauphin Clippers, forcing them into a wildcard match on Monday. They swept the College Béliveau Barracudas to punch their ticket and will compete for a championship starting today in Swan River.

“We were scared, but we knew we could beat that team, so we went in with full confidence,” said setter Josee Martine.

Read

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025

J.J. Pinard, left, Josee Martine and the Neelin Spartans begin AAA junior varsity girls volleyball provincials in Swan River today. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Egan, Vikings learn from tough weekend

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Preview

Egan, Vikings learn from tough weekend

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025

If there’s one thing Addax Egan and the Vincent Massey Vikings learned this past weekend, it’s the teams in the Winnipeg High School Hockey League are as advertised.

Egan and his Vikings got to experience a whole new level of intensity at the Steinbach Regional Sabres Hockey Invitational tournament, as the Westman High School Hockey League’s sole undefeated team (5-0) managed to squeak out just one win in five contests.

“Those teams were very fast,” Massey’s co-captain said. “They put shots on net from just about everywhere, and they were quick teams in every zone of the ice. We kept up with them for a bit, but the shots that they put on, we just couldn’t stop all the 50 shots that they were putting up, so those were hard ones. We know we can definitely be better all around in every aspect of the game.”

The Vikings got off to a nice start in round-robin play, pulling out a 3-2 win over St. Thomas Aquinas following a comeback in the final frame, but that was the most success they would find for the remainder of the tournament after falling 5-2 to Steinbach, 8-0 against Springfield, tying Fort Frances 1-1 and then losing to it the following match by a 4-2 margin.

Read

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025

Massey forward Addax Egan (19) battles for a loose puck along the boards during Westman High School Hockey League action against the Crocus Plainsmen at Enns Brothers Arena on Sunday, Oct. 19.
(Massimo De Luca-Taronno/The Brandon Sun)

Learn more about Advertising solutions

Defending champ Spartans enter as underdogs

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Defending champ Spartans enter as underdogs

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025

The Neelin Spartans don’t have the target most defending champions would have on their backs this week.

They head to AAA junior varsity boys’ volleyball provincials in Neepawa on Thursday ranked outside the top 10, and are in the bottom of the three four-team power pools.

Head coach Levi Kanski feels the group is ready to punch above its weight.

“Now, more than ever, I believe we’re definitely a top-five team, for the most part. We’re very well put together defensively, our attacking and our blocking has been set super well,” Kanski said.

Read

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025

Connor O’Greysik serves during Neelin Spartans JV boys volleyball practice on Tuesday. The team heads to provincials in Neepawa on Thursday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Vikings set for AAAA volleyball provincials

Thomas Friesen 6 minute read Preview

Vikings set for AAAA volleyball provincials

Thomas Friesen 6 minute read Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025

Sadie Moose was eager for the volleyball season to start.

Then, just two matches in, she was back to the waiting game. The Vincent Massey Vikings middle blocker sprained her ankle back in September in a match against the Virden Golden Bears and had to miss a substantial chunk of the season.

But she’s back and ready to help the Vikings make a run at AAAA junior varsity provincials starting on Thursday in Winnipeg.

“It was really good,” outside hitter Elli Creaser said of Moose’s return. “She brings energy on the court. She’s a really fun person to have with us. She hypes everyone up, and she’s a good swinger too, so that really helps.”

Read

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025

Jagger Hansen-Young passes the ball during Vincent Massey junior varsity boys volleyball practice on Tuesday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Massey girls return to final four

By Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Updated: 8:25 AM CST

Hannah McGregor and the Vincent Massey Vikings are headed back to the final four.

The star outside hitter racked up 19 kills to lead the Vikings past the Kelvin Clippers 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-17) in the AAAA varsity girls volleyball provincial quarterfinals at Massey on Saturday morning.

“The girls really stepped up and played well (Saturday),” said Vikings head coach Kelly DeRoo. “Offensively, we were really strong, we passed the ball well and that was part of our success.

“The crowd fuelled them a little bit. They were excited to play at home and have that opportunity this year. They enjoy playing in our gym, and we rarely get to have tough matches at Massey, so it was nice to have a tight match and play well.”

Calcut carrying culture with Plainsmen

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 7 minute read Preview

Calcut carrying culture with Plainsmen

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 7 minute read Friday, Nov. 14, 2025

Cale Calcut will be the first to admit the Crocus Plainsmen’s performance on the ice to start the year has simply not been good enough.

The Plainsmen, who have yet to win a game this year, enter the weekend in the basement of the Westman High School Hockey League standings with an 0-7 record — and being outgunned in those seven contests by a combined 29 goals.

Everything that could go wrong has, but Calcut, a Crocus senior and assistant captain, believes his club’s slow start to the year can be easily solved on the ice barring some changes off the ice.

“Morale kind of just wasn’t in a good place,” said Calcut on Friday morning. “Obviously, we’re kind of off to a little bit of a slow start, and a lot of it is just that our team chemistry was off. We had lots of poor attitudes on the bench, and that’s definitely played a factor in our performance and how we’ve started the season off.

Read

Friday, Nov. 14, 2025

Crocus assistant captain Cale Calcut is tied for the team lead in scoring with five goals and nine points through seven games played with the Plainsmen this year. (Massimo De Luca-Taronno/The Brandon Sun)

Couckuyt thriving as multi-sport athlete

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Preview

Couckuyt thriving as multi-sport athlete

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025

It’s one thing to play multiple sports at a time, but to be dominant in them — well, that’s another story. That’s Kaitlyn Couckuyt’s story.

The 17-year-old Vincent Massey senior has practically checked off every box there is when it comes to sport, as she’s competed in soccer, hockey, gymnastics, softball, basketball, volleyball, and the biggest of them all, racquetball. But, through it all, just being an average player never cut it.

At the age of nine, Couckuyt discovered racquetball while she was “watching” her brother KC play hockey at the Sportsplex. In her case, watching the game meant doing nothing of the sort, but luckily for her, that’s what sparked a lifelong passion.

“I was always kind of dragged to the rink to go watch him play hockey, so when I saw the courts there, I was always looking for something to do, so I kind of tried it out, and I learned to play, and I just kind of fell in love with it and have played ever since.

Read

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025

Brandon’s Kaitlyn Couckuyt has captured three-consecutive Junior National Championship titles in the girl’s singles division, with two coming at the 16U level and one at the 14U level. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Adams, Vikings awaiting tough tests in Steinbach

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 5 minute read Preview

Adams, Vikings awaiting tough tests in Steinbach

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 5 minute read Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025

The Vincent Massey Vikings may be cruising atop the Westman High School Hockey League standings, but there’s still plenty they want to prove.

The Vikings extended their WHSHL record to 5-0 after defeating the Major Pratt Trojans 4-1 on the road on Monday but know they still have some work cut out for them after finishing below .500 in Neepawa’s Slasher Showdown Tournament last weekend.

“That tournament was definitely an eye-opener for what kind of level we’re going to have to be at to have success,” said Vikings second-year player Cole Adams on Tuesday. “It kind of just showed us that we have to step it up when we’re playing those teams if we want to have a chance to win.

“Those Winnipeg teams all have pretty high-level hockey guys, so we have to be ready to play really good against those teams.”

Read

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025

Vincent Massey Vikings winger Cole Adams has four points through his first five games of action in the Westman High School Hockey League. (Massimo De Luca-Taronno/The Brandon Sun)

Van Santen, Vikings sweep city final

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Van Santen, Vikings sweep city final

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025

Logan Van Santen stepped back to serve in a deep hole, but almost single-handedly dug himself and the Vincent Massey Vikings out of it.

After the six-foot-three opposite’s massive six-point run, the Vikings seldom looked back en route to a 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-20) victory to sweep the Brandon High School Volleyball League varsity boys’ final series at Neelin on Wednesday.

“I’ve been working on it a lot in the summer and the spring since last year,” Van Santen said.

“I was just trying to do my best to make them play it, keep the ball in the court.

Read

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025

Griffin Zilkey, left, Charlie Gauthier and the Vincent Massey Vikings celebrate their varsity boys’ volleyball city title at Neelin on Wednesday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

JV Vikings reverse sweep Plainsmen

2 minute read Monday, Nov. 3, 2025

Cohen Folkerts posted nine kills and six aces as Vincent Massey beat Crocus Plains 3-2 (10-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-11) in Match 1 of the Brandon High School Volleyball League junior varsity boys final at Massey on Monday.

Henry McGill added six kills and two aces for the Vikings.

Karter Callahan had a match-high 12 kills for the Plainsmen.

The varsity boys match between the Vikings and Neelin Spartans ended after deadline.

Viking girls finish second at Pembina Trails

2 minute read Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025

Zoe Redekop put up nine kills and 22 digs but the Vincent Massey Vikings lost 2-1 (24-26, 25-23, 15-13) to the Kelvin Clippers in the final of the Pembina Trails varsity girls’ volleyball tournament on Saturday.

Hannah McGregor and Hayden Wharf posted seven kills each while Reece Cowan made nine digs.

The Vikings are back in action at the city final starting on Tuesday.

The Neelin girls fell in the semifinals of their home Spartan Dig on Saturday in straight sets to Altona’s W.C. Miller. The Aces dropped the final 2-1 to the Westgate Wings.

November 24, 2025

Notification Settings