Local Sports

Assiniboine College's Josh Gamache heads into his third year with the program as a co-captain. The Cougars begin the MCAC volleyball season at home tonight. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Cougars look to shake status quo in MCAC

By Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Yesterday at 10:52 PM CDT

Some captains would look at the number of fresh faces around the Assiniboine College Cougars and see growing pains ahead.

Josh Gamache sees the opportunity ahead of him as a locked-in starter for his third year in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference.

“I’m really ready to lead this group. I’ve been put in a position where I’m part of the leadership corps and it’s a big responsibility I have to fill, and I’m really excited to be part of that,” Gamache said.

“We’re a young squad and there’s excitement in all of them. You see it in practice, pre-season, everybody’s excited including me and it’s going to get better as we go on.”

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Football

Crocus Plains quarterback Jake Cory (right) picks up a low snap off the ground at Neelin High School on Thursday. Cory and the offence struggled throughout the contest against Oak Park. (Rowan McCarthy/The Brandon Sun)

Oak Park overwhelms Crocus Plains

By Rowan McCarthy 6 minute read Preview

Oak Park overwhelms Crocus Plains

By Rowan McCarthy 6 minute read Yesterday at 10:43 PM CDT

A tough season for the Crocus Plains varsity football team in the Winnipeg High School Football League continued with a brutal 70-0 loss to the undefeated Oak Park Raiders at Neelin on Thursday.

“We knew what we were up against. That’s a really good team, the class of the province and huge kudos to them; they’re good every year,” said Crocus Plains head coach Mason Kaluzniak. “They’re what we strive to be, and we’re not quite there yet and we know that.”

The Raiders (6-0) are considered to be one of the best teams in the province for very good reason. Through six games, they average just shy of 50 points per game on offence while allowing just nine points per game. The win against Crocus is the second time they’ve blanked their opponent this season.

While the mood was low on the Crocus Plains side of the field at the end of the game, there were a few positives during the contest.

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Yesterday at 10:43 PM CDT

High School

Speedy Forbes races to bronze again

By Perry Bergson 5 minute read Preview

Speedy Forbes races to bronze again

By Perry Bergson 5 minute read Yesterday at 10:32 PM CDT

Zoe Forbes ran her way to a bronze medal again at the high school provincial cross-country championships in St. Malo on Wednesday.

For the second year in a row, the Grade 10 Neelin student was the only Westman athlete to find her way to the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association podium after also earning bronze in the junior varsity division a year ago.

“I’m so happy,” the 14-year-old Forbes said. “I’m so proud of how everything turned out.”

St. Malo, which is located in the Steinbach area 275 kilometres southeast of Brandon, drew around 2,000 athletes for the male and female varsity and JV races.

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Yesterday at 10:32 PM CDT

Local Sports

Sports Looking Back: Oct. 16, 2026

1 minute read Yesterday at 10:26 PM CDT

IN LOCAL HISTORY

• 60 YEARS AGO — Ruth Sterling’s late goal gave Brandon College Capettes a 3-2 victory over the University of Manitoba in a field hockey game.

• 40 YEARS AGO — Souris Sabres beat the Killarney Raiders 29-12 in the Rural Manitoba Football League. Scott Webber passed for four touchdowns as the Sabres clinched second in the Single A division.

• 20 YEARS AGO — 16-year-old centre Sanfred King scored three goals and added five helpers to power the Brandon Wheat Kings to a 10-5 victory over the Parkland Rangers in Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League action.

Local Sports

Payton McNish was the MCAC rookie of the year last season. She leads the Assiniboine College Cougars into their title defence beginning on Friday at home against CMU. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Cougars set to begin MCAC title defence

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Cougars set to begin MCAC title defence

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026

The Assiniboine College Cougars know how hard it is to climb to the top.

They inched their way up year by year until finally winning the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference women’s volleyball title last season.

Now, they’re about to find out how hard it is to stay there.

The 2026-27 season begins on Friday at home against Canadian Mennonite University. The first serve is at 7:45 p.m., following the men’s match at 6 o’clock.

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Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026

Hockey

Waywayseecappo Wolverines Max Collyer is on pace to set career highs in points, goals and assists this year. (Rowan McCarthy/The Brandon Sun)

Veterans powering Wolverines success

Rowan McCarthy 5 minute read Preview

Veterans powering Wolverines success

Rowan McCarthy 5 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026

NEEPAWA — The Waywayseecappo Wolverines defeated the Neepawa Titans 6-1 on Tuesday night to take the top spot in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League away from their divisional rival the Virden Oil Capitals.

“We’ve been playing very well, and just simplifying our game helped us early,” said head coach Landyn Cochrane about the game. “We scored a lot of goals working off the forecheck, getting into the slot.”

With the win over Neepawa (2-6-1-1), the Wolverines (7-2-0-1) are winners of their last two games in no small part because several local veterans are taking big steps forward this season.

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM

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Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026

Hockey

Virden Oil Capitals forward Tyson Draper battles with Talon Hogg in front of the Winnipeg Blues’ net. He scored the second goal of the game in a 6-1 win for Virden on Saturday at Tundra Oil & Gas Place. (Rowan McCarthy/The Brandon Sun)

Draper’s hot start pushes Oil Caps up rankings

Rowan McCarthy 5 minute read Preview

Draper’s hot start pushes Oil Caps up rankings

Rowan McCarthy 5 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026

The Virden Oil Capitals sit atop the Manitoba Junior Hockey League standings and are rapidly climbing the Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings thanks to a seven-game winning streak to start the 2026-27 season.

“We want to finish first in the division and try to be first in the league,” said 2007-born forward Tyson Draper.

The weekly CJHL rankings are incredibly subjective since there is no cross-league play until the Centennial Cup at the end of the year. However, they are an interesting look at Junior A hockey across Canada and a nice accolade for the teams that make the top 20.

After losing their opening game of the season to Waywayseecappo, Virden is on a seven-game winning streak and has subsequently gone from outside the top 20 to sixth in the rankings over the last three weeks.

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Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026

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Local Sports

Sports Looking Back: Oct. 15, 2026

2 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026

IN LOCAL HISTORY

• 60 YEARS AGO — Souris Canucks, the Southwest High School Football League pennant winners, wound up the regular season with a 28-12 victory over Virden Golden Bears. Randy Lindbloom paved the way with a touchdown and four converts. Rob Van Buiten added a pair of majors.

• 50 YEARS AGO — The Brandon University Bobcats were defeated 12-4 by the Calgary Dinosaurs men’s hockey team. Scoring for the Bobcats were Jeff Sheardown, Bob Young, Kit Harrison and Merv Tweed.

• 40 YEARS AGO — Scott Webber passed for four touchdowns as the Souris Sabres beat the Killarney Raiders 29-12 in the Rural Manitoba Football League.

Hockey

Brandon Wheat Kings assistant coach Ryan White, shown encouraging a player in practice earlier this season, is one of three former Western Hockey League stars who played in the National Hockey League, along with Marty Murray and Aaron Rome. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
Oct. 14, 2026

WHL NOTEBOOK: White settles in with Wheat Kings

Perry Bergson 13 minute read Preview

WHL NOTEBOOK: White settles in with Wheat Kings

Perry Bergson 13 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

When the Brandon Wheat Kings hired local product Ryan White as an assistant coach, they knew he would bring the energy.

As it turns out, he brings the gratitude too.

“I’m excited to be back on the bench,” White said. “You take it for granted when I was coaching and all of a sudden it was not there anymore. The thing I’ve definitely realized since I’ve been back on the bench is how much I missed it and how much fun it is to be back at the rink and part of something.”

The 38-year-old White, a married father of three who retired from his playing career after the 2020-21 season, skated in 332 regular season and playoff National Hockey League games with the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild.

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Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

Basketball

Cange, Bobcats unable to defend home court

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Cange, Bobcats unable to defend home court

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

The reality of this new season hit Youri Cange quickly.

He took the floor for Brandon University’s first home exhibition game of the season with four new starters, three of whom are new to Canada West basketball.

Cange did what he could, posting a 10-point, 15-rebound double-double but the Bobcats fell 88-85 to the Regina Cougars at the Healthy Living Centre on Tuesday.

For Cange’s entire time at BU until now, Sultan Bhatti was the double-double machine and engine that powered the Bobcats offence.

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Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

High School

Vincent Massey’s Grady Sumner has shifted from libero to middle blocker for his Grade 11 season. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Sumner grows into new role for Vikings

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Sumner grows into new role for Vikings

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

Grady Sumner’s versatility has been on full display this year.

From playing libero for the Brandon Volleyball Club to middle blocker with the Vincent Massey Vikings, the Grade 11 student adjusted much more quickly than most to a growth spurt and position change.

He was five-foot-10 last spring, but jumped to six-foot-one over the summer. He tried out for Massey’s varsity team as an outside hitter, but settled into a middle role and thrived last weekend, pushing his team to a Viking Classic title on Saturday.

“It was a pretty big adjustment. I tried out for this team as a left side because my passing was getting better and I really like to hit, so it worked out that they needed a few middles,” Sumner said.

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Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

Local Sports

Brugger, Vikings sweep Plainsmen

1 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

Hollie Brugger recorded 10 kills and four aces as the Vincent Massey Vikings swept the Crocus Plainsmen 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-16) in Brandon High School Volleyball League varsity girls’ action at Massey on Tuesday.

Ella VanDaele posted nine kills, two aces and two blocks for the Vikings.

Mary Williams had five kills, three blocks and two aces for Crocus, with Danika Murray making 12 digs.

In the boys’ match, Massey won 3-0 (25-14, 26-24, 25-18).

Local Sports

Sports Looking Back: Oct. 14, 2026

2 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

IN LOCAL HISTORY

• 60 YEARS AGO — Bill Revoy rolled the high men’s scores in Recreation Lanes five-pin bowling with a 900 three-game series and a 366 for single game.

• 50 YEARS AGO — Brandon Travellers scored a 7-6 win over Portage Terriers in an MJHL game. Bruno Rogger led the way for the Travellers with two goals. Singles were added by Brad Wold, Paul Murray, Keith White, Brad White and Rick Slawson.

• 40 YEARS AGO — Scott Webber returned two first-quarter punts for touchdowns to lead the Souris Sabres to a 48-6 victory over the Crocus Plainsmen JV’s in Rural Manitoba Football League action.

Hockey

U18 AAA WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Wheat Kings rally to double up on Capitals

4 minute read Monday, Oct. 12, 2026

BOYS

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS

The Wheat Kings (4-0-0) beat the Central Plains Capitals (1-6-0) in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League.

On Saturday at Portage la Prairie’s Stride Place, Kale Nicol scored twice as the Wheat Kings rebounded from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Capitals 6-3. Brayden Watt, Eric Berger, Graycen Van Meijl and Hunter Ethelston had the other goals for the visitors.

Local Sports

Assiniboine College's Adeniyi Adetunmobi and Brandon University's Levi Francis battle for the ball during their MCAC men's soccer game at the Healthy Living Centre field on Saturday. Brandon won 9-0. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Bobcat men, women collect four points each

2 minute read Preview

Bobcat men, women collect four points each

2 minute read Monday, Oct. 12, 2026

T.J. Bodunrin netted a hat trick to power the Brandon University Bobcats to a 9-0 victory over the Assiniboine College Cougars at the Healthy Living Centre field on Saturday.

Zach Lamb and Victor Andrade had two second-half goals each, after Sky Garcia and Gourgy Akuei gave BU the lead in the opening frame.

Adebowale Oshitayo made four saves as AC fell to 0-8-0.

On Sunday, Matheus Souza earned a four-save clean sheet as the Bobcats (2-3-3) drew the St. Boniface Les Rouges 0-0.

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Monday, Oct. 12, 2026

Football

The Spartans offensive line waits for the snap against the Interlake Thunder on Monday afternoon at Neelin High School. The Thunder won the game 40-25. (Rowan McCarthy/The Brandon Sun)

Thunder storm past Spartans

By Rowan McCarthy 5 minute read Preview

Thunder storm past Spartans

By Rowan McCarthy 5 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

The Interlake Thunder stormed the Neelin Spartans’ gates, defeating the hometown team 40-25 on a rainy Monday afternoon.

The Spartans (2-2) entered the game as winners of their last two contests and put up a good fight against their opponent and the weather.

“I was super proud of our boys,” said head coach Jacob Doerksen. “The weather’s obviously not great, but they didn’t quit. They were tough; they showed a lot of grit.”

The Spartans opened the game with a score by star running back Yusuf Eltawil on their opening drive, quickly snatching a 7-0 lead and getting the home crowd buzzing at the same time.

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Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

October 16, 2026

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