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Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Max Lavoie (27) sends Swift Current Broncos forward Jaxen Gauthier (39) flying with a crosscheck to the back as goalie Filip Ruzicka (30) deals with the puck during Western Hockey League action at Assiniboine Credit Union Place on March 7. Lavoie made the front of the Brandon net an unpleasant place to be for opposing forwards. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
March 7, 2026

Lavoie treasures season in Brandon

Perry Bergson 13 minute read 9:19 PM CDT

There were multiple times Max Lavoie could have simply walked away from his dreams on the ice.

Instead, despite repeated setbacks, Lavoie persevered and debuted on the Brandon Wheat Kings blue-line as a 19-year-old rookie. He said quitting was never an option as he moved from Junior B to Junior A to the Western Hockey League in the last three years.

“I guess I just love hockey,” Lavoie said. “To me, it’s not comparing myself to people I knew. I was a late bloomer in a way and I knew what my potential was and what it could be. I believed in myself.”

Incredibly, an even bigger step awaits for the six-foot-three, 206-pound defenceman, because he is forgoing his overage season in the WHL to head to an Ivy League school, Princeton University.

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DeRoo steps up for Robinson’s mat leave

By Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

DeRoo steps up for Robinson’s mat leave

By Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Kelly DeRoo is in for an extra busy fall.

The Vincent Massey Vikings girls’ volleyball coach has stepped up to lead the Brandon University women’s program until October, covering for head coach Kailan Robinson’s maternity leave.

DeRoo has assisted Robinson since she was named interim head coach in 2023, so she’s a natural fit to keep the team trending in the right direction.

“I’m pretty familiar with all the athletes on the team and I’m really looking forward to helping with their development from now until October,” DeRoo said.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Kelly DeRoo is serving as interim head coach for the Brandon University women's volleyball team during Kailan Robinson’s maternity leave, which will end in October before the 2026-27 Canada West regular season. (Aidan Froese/BU Athletics)

AC commit Granger learns from the best

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

AC commit Granger learns from the best

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read 9:17 PM CDT

Dylan Granger sees the best in every situation he finds himself in, and his attitude is already taking him a long way.

The Wawanesa product, in his fourth season with the Brandon Volleyball Club, is doing whatever it takes to help his team succeed for the next few months, then moving on to his post-secondary debut at Assiniboine College this fall.

“It’s great knowing I get to keep going,” Granger said at BVC practice on Tuesday. “It’s going to be a great group. I’ve done some practising with them and it’s been really fun so far.

“If I can get my passing down and a consistent serve, I should be pretty lethal coming in here next season.”

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9:17 PM CDT

Dylan Granger passes a ball during BVC 18U boys practice on Tuesday. The Wawanesa product is heading to Assiniboine College for the 2026-27 MCAC men’s volleyball season. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Bhatti, Ingalls, Thomson named BU athletes of year

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Bhatti, Ingalls, Thomson named BU athletes of year

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

Sultan Bhatti left his mark on one of the most decorated men’s basketball programs in the country.

The Montreal native started his Brandon University Bobcats career as a role player, and left as one of just seven multi-time all-Canadians in program history.

Now he’s leaving Brandon University as a multi-time male athlete of the year, along with co-female athletes of the year Carly Thomson and Piper Ingalls.

“I’m truly grateful and honoured to receive athlete of the year,” Bhatti said in a video message, as he was unable to attend the banquet.

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Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

Sultan Bhatti was named Brandon University’s male athlete of the year for the second straight season on Wednesday. (Vamsi Nadella/UBC Thunderbirds)

Neelin’s Asham signs with Providence

2 minute read Monday, Mar. 23, 2026

Danielle Asham has committed to the Providence Pilots women’s basketball team for the 2026-27 Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference season.

The six-foot forward from Neelin helped her team come within one win of the AAA provincial tournament, losing 84-49 to the eventual champion Churchill in a qualifier.

The Spartans finished second at Neepawa’s varsity girls tournament in January, then fourth at the Sanford Sabres Invitational and fifth at the Crocus Plains Java Jam.

They beat the Vincent Massey Vikings twice during the Brandon High School Basketball League regular season, then fell 53-51 to the Vikings in the semifinal.

Cougars edged 1-0 in national final

Perry Bergson 5 minute read Preview

Cougars edged 1-0 in national final

Perry Bergson 5 minute read Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026

Sault College Cougars forward Payton Stos scored the only goal of the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s women’s Division 2 national championship final as they handed the Assiniboine College Cougars a heartbreaking 1-0 loss on Thursday in Maryland Heights, Mo.

Cougars head coach Charles Tweed said the game was as close as the score indicated.

“It was a one-goal game with two really good teams competing against each other,” Tweed said. “At the end of the day, that goal goes their way instead of our way, but our athletes, our girls, played incredible today.

“They didn’t stop until the very end and that says something about their character, about their will to play and the amount they trust themselves and their teammates out there on the ice.”

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Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026

Head coach Charles Tweed, left, goalie Rachel Halldorson and the Assiniboine College Cougars pose after falling 1-0 to the Sault College Cougars on Thursday in the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s women’s Division 2 national championship final. (Submitted)

Asquith sends Cougars to national final

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Asquith sends Cougars to national final

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

The Assiniboine College Cougars have one final test.

It’s by far the biggest one of their season.

AC knocked off the previously undefeated Boston College women’s hockey club 3-2 in overtime at the American Collegiate Hockey Association women’s Division 2 national championship on Wednesday in Maryland Heights, Mo., punching their ticket to the gold-medal game.

“Everybody dreams of a moment like that, it’s just whether or not they do it,” said Veronica Asquith, Assiniboine’s overtime hero, who joined the team halfway through the season.

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Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

Veronica Asquith takes a face-off during semifinal action against Boston College. (Photo courtesy Assiniboine College)

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Assiniboine advances to national semifinals

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Assiniboine advances to national semifinals

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

Jenna Walker and the Assiniboine College Cougars are two wins away from their ultimate goal.

Walker scored twice as the Cougars blanked the Northern Michigan University Wildcats 5-0 in the last game of pool play at the American Collegiate Hockey Association women’s Division 2 national championship on Tuesday in Maryland Heights, Mo.

“The team came out so, so strong after our first period from (Monday),” Walker said. “It was just awesome to see.”

The Cougars face the Boston College Eagles in the semifinals today at 2:30 p.m.

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Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

Assiniboine College Cougars forward Jenna Walker (14) scored two goals in a 5-0 win over Northern Michigan at the ACHA women’s Division 2 hockey national championship on Tuesday. The Cougars are in the semifinals today. (Photo courtesy Assiniboine College)

Cougars improve to 2-0 at nationals

By Perry Bergson 7 minute read Preview

Cougars improve to 2-0 at nationals

By Perry Bergson 7 minute read Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

The Central Michigan University kept it close for 27 minutes but the Assiniboine College Cougars proved to be too much for them, earning a 10-2 victory in Pool C of the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s women’s Division 2 national championship on Monday in Maryland Heights, Mo.

The Cougars (2-0), who opened with an 8-0 pounding of Boston University on Sunday, finish up pool play today against Northern Michigan University (2-0-0-0) at 4 p.m.

Northern Michigan (1-1) beat Central Michigan 5-1 on Sunday but fell 5-1 to Boston University on Monday evening, so Assiniboine will advance to the semifinals of the 16-team event unless it takes an unlikely drubbing.

Cougars head coach Charles Tweed said there is no more room for error left for his club.

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Monday, Mar. 16, 2026

Assiniboine College Cougars forward Brooke Cyr celebrates her game-opening goal with teammate Jenna Walker (14) as Central Michigan University goalie Lainie Fliegel (37), forward Alyssa Borlace (15) and blue-liner Emily Musser (6) look on during a round-robin game in Pool C of the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s women’s Division 2 national championship on Monday in Maryland Heights, Mo. The Cougars won 10-2. (Courtesy Assiniboine College)
March 16, 2026

Cougars dominate opener at nationals

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 5 minute read Preview

Cougars dominate opener at nationals

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 5 minute read Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

If Charles Tweed had a picture-perfect game in mind, this was it.

The head coach of the Assiniboine College Cougars saw just about everything in his club’s domination of the Boston University Terriers as they picked up an 8-0 win in Game 1 of their American Collegiate Hockey Association women’s Division 2 national tournament round-robin play at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights on Sunday afternoon.

Forward Veronica Smarz lit the lamp twice for the Cougars, while Kali Remillard, Brooke Cyr, Hailey Sitter, Victoria Mann, Kadence Cress and Katie Falkevitch added singles, and Rachel Halldorson stopped just seven shots to land the shutout and give them an all important two points in hope of qualifying for the final four.

Tweed said while his team came out of the gate with some nerves, he couldn’t have been happier with their performance once they regained their composure.

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Sunday, Mar. 15, 2026

Members of the Assiniboine College Cougars celebrate after scoring a goal against the Boston University Terriers in Game 1 of their American Collegiate Hockey Association women’s Division 2 national tournament round-robin play at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, St. Louis. (Submitted)

BU men struggled against top teams

Thomas Friesen 7 minute read Preview

BU men struggled against top teams

Thomas Friesen 7 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

The Brandon University Bobcats men’s volleyball team won more matches at home on one weekend last March than it did in the entire 2025-26 regular season.

As a result, they’re watching the U Sports men’s volleyball championship this weekend, rather than defending their title.

The Bobcats went 7-13, winning just two matches at home. They took the 10th and final playoff spot and made a quick trip to Saskatoon, losing both matches to a 9-11 Saskatchewan Huskies team.

“We probably got what we deserved,” said head coach Grant Wilson. “We came in with the belief that we could continue to pursue the top half and give ourselves a chance at the end of the year but at the end of the day, with the turnover of key starters we lost and key leaders we lost, we had a really hard time finding our identity and a level of consistency that was good enough to put us there.

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Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Tom Friesen was named a Canada West second-team all-star this season. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)

Cougars finish seventh at nationals

2 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Anika Gulenchin and Celina Toews combined for 15 kills as the Assiniboine College Cougars won their last match at Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball nationals on Friday.

AC defeated the host Providence Pilots 3-1 (25-20, 25-21, 16-25, 25-13) in the seventh-place match in Niverville.

Kylee Peake led Assiniboine with 12 kills.

The final, featuring the Edouard-Montpetit Lynx and Lakeland Rustlers, is today at 4 p.m.

BU women took small step forward

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

BU women took small step forward

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026

The Trinity Western Spartans’ path to the Canada West final included a loss to the Brandon University Bobcats this year.

For the second straight season, the BU women’s volleyball team earned one of its few victories against an absolute powerhouse, proving when it’s at its very best, it can hang with the best.

However, for the fourth consecutive year, Brandon finished last in the 14-team league at 3-17.

Head coach Kailan Robinson was disappointed with the finish, as she saw the Bobcats’ ceiling and how seldom they reached it.

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Thursday, Mar. 12, 2026

Rookie outside hitter Brynn Wildeboer worked her way into the starting lineup as a stable passer and crafty attacker for the Bobcats women’s volleyball team. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Cougars start hot but fall in quarterfinal

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Cougars start hot but fall in quarterfinal

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2026

NIVERVILLE — Unfortunately for the Assiniboine College Cougars, there’s no such thing as a first-set knockout.

The Cougars threw the first punch against the top-ranked Vancouver Island Mariners, but fell 3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-9, 25-22) in the quarterfinals at Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball nationals at the Community Resource and Recreation Centre on Wednesday afternoon.

“In the first set, if we played like that, we would have been just fine,” said Cougars setter Tyra Lasuik.

“They are a lot bigger than us and more physical. They definitely jump higher. They got more confident … where we started off super strong and slowly got tired.”

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Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2026

Tyra Lasuik saves a tight pass as the Assiniboine College Cougars take on the VIU Mariners during their CCAA women’s volleyball national quarterfinal in Niverville on Wednesday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Cougars eager to pounce at nationals

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 8 minute read Preview

Cougars eager to pounce at nationals

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 8 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026

This is what the Assiniboine College Cougars have worked for all season-long — and make no mistake, they’re ready to make every shot count.

The American Collegiate Hockey Association’s women’s Division 2 squad will depart for the national tournament in Maryland Heights, St. Louis, later this week as the No. 1 ranked team in the West Region. They’ve put there blood, sweat and tears into this season’s success, but they’re not ready to pat themselves on the back just yet.

Alexis Campbell, a 19-year-old forward in her second season with Assiniboine College, believes her team is coming in with the right mindset: that there’re plenty more work to be done.

“Going into every game, it’s a mindset,” said Campbell. “Not having the mindset that we’re better than everyone, but that we have to work just as hard as any other team there is. You don’t just walk away with a win, you gotta work for it.

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Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026

Victoria Mann of the Assiniboine College Cougars rushes toward a puck during 3 on 3 practice at the Sportsplex on Monday night. Her team will head to Maryland Heights, St. Louis, on Friday for the American Collegiate Hockey Association women’s Division 2 national tournament, which goes from Sunday to Thursday. (Massimo De Luca-Taronno/The Brandon Sun)

Turner caps Bisons career with gold

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Turner caps Bisons career with gold

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026

Daxx Turner saved the best jump of his life for his last as a Manitoba Bison.

The Neepawa product had a solid start in the U Sports triple jump final at the U of M’s Max Bell Centre on Saturday, with two good jumps but three faults in a row.

He started a slow clap and took off down the runway before piecing together the closest to a perfect hop, skip and jump he’s ever done. Turner knew it right away.

“I knew it was one of my better jumps, ever,” he said after jumping 16.17 metres, claiming his second U Sports gold medal to cap his fifth and final year of eligibility.

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Tuesday, Mar. 10, 2026

April 8, 2026

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