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Former Brandon University women's volleyball assistant coach and interim head coach Kevin Neufeld is being inducted onto the BU Sports Wall of Fame this fall. (Brandon Sun files)

Coach Neufeld to join BU Wall of Fame

By Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Friday, May. 22, 2026

A Mount Rushmore of western Manitoba volleyball coaches would have to include Kevin Neufeld.

As he enters his 50th year coaching sports, he’s being recognized not only for his work at Brandon University, but also for the role he has played in developing sports in the area.

Neufeld will be inducted onto BU’s Dick and Verda McDonald Sports Wall of Fame on Nov. 15 at the Victoria Inn as part of the class of 2026, which includes his son, Scott.

“A huge honour, very surprising,” Neufeld said. “You don’t go in and do things to get recognition, but very much appreciated. I’ve done a lot of work around BU and in that space for a long time and really enjoyed every minute of it.”

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Local Sports

Scott Neufeld recorded 759 digs during his five years at Brandon University, a program record when he graduated. (Tim Smith/Brandon Sun)

Three-time medallist Neufeld to join BU Wall

Thomas Friesen 7 minute read Preview

Three-time medallist Neufeld to join BU Wall

Thomas Friesen 7 minute read Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Scott Neufeld joined the Brandon University Bobcats without a clear path to court time.

But it wasn’t long before the Brandonite was irreplaceable.

When the program was most known for its superstars from Australia and New Zealand, Neufeld quietly became the only Bobcat volleyball player to win three national medals.

On Thursday, Neufeld was named as part of the Dick and Verda McDonald BU Sports Wall of Fame class of 2026. He will be inducted this fall, along with his 2010-11 national silver medalist and 2012-13 bronze team, as well as the man who got him started in the game — his father, Kevin.

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Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Basketball

Israeli guard Zehavi joins Bobcats

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Israeli guard Zehavi joins Bobcats

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Orie Zehavi is ready to chase a dream and escape a nightmare.

The Israeli guard has committed to the Brandon University Bobcats men’s basketball team for the 2026-27 Canada West season after serving in the military for more than two years.

“I’m very, very excited. It was my dream ever since I was a kid to go and play abroad, especially in the U.S. or Canada, and I’m very excited to join the team and experience the whole thing of going to college and studying, being abroad and meeting new people,” Zehavi said.

“The situation here made it more obvious for me that I wanted to try to step out of it and see how it feels out there in a place where it’s more calm, there’s not a lot of stress.”

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Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Local Sports

Vincent Massey Vikings goalkeeper Parker Cels has committed to the Brandon University men's soccer team for the 2026 MCAC season. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Massey keeper Cels commits to Bobcats

By Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Massey keeper Cels commits to Bobcats

By Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Friday, May. 15, 2026

Parker Cels has been hoping this day would come for years.

The Vincent Massey Vikings goalkeeper has committed to the Brandon University men’s soccer team and will suit up for the Bobcats in the 2026 Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference season.

“I’m really excited. It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, ever since I started taking soccer seriously,” Cels said.

The five-foot-eight goalkeeper first strapped a pair of gloves on five years ago, for a fairly common reason. No one else on his youth team wanted to do it.

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Friday, May. 15, 2026

Basketball

Brandon adds standout Vanier guard Sowadan

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Brandon adds standout Vanier guard Sowadan

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Thursday, May. 14, 2026

Didou Sowadan is joining the Brandon University Bobcats at a great time.

As one of the highest motor players the Brandon University Bobcats have ever rostered in Travis Hamberger moves on, the six-foot-two Vanier College transfer is certainly a welcome addition.

“Good athlete, the best skill he has right now is he can really get out in transition. He’s a dog on the ball,” said Bobcats head coach Gil Cheung.

“He’s competitive; he’ll pick up 94 feet and get after you, and he can influence the game on the defensive end.

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Thursday, May. 14, 2026

Baseball

Danika Nell pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings as Boston University clawed back to avoid an upset against the Lafayette Leopards in the first game of the Patriot League softball championship last Thursday. (Jim Pierce/Boston University Athletics)

Nell helps Boston back to regionals

Thomas Friesen 6 minute read Preview

Nell helps Boston back to regionals

Thomas Friesen 6 minute read Wednesday, May. 13, 2026

There’s a chance Danika Nell goes pitch for pitch with softball’s first million-dollar player this weekend.

The Boissevain native and her Boston University Terriers are off to NCAA Division I regionals in Lubbock, Texas, home of NiJaree Canady and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Regionals are the softball equivalent of the first weekend of basketball’s March Madness, with the top 16 ranked teams hosting a four-team double-elimination tournament for a spot at Super Regionals the following weekend.

The Terriers open the weekend against No. 6-seed Ole Miss on Friday at 1 p.m. CDT.

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Wednesday, May. 13, 2026

Basketball

Bobcats add Lebanese guard Jawad

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Friday, May. 8, 2026

Yussef Jawad is ready to make his second big move for basketball.

Surprisingly, Montreal to Brandon is the much smaller one.

The Lebanese guard moved to Quebec less than four years ago for a brighter hoops future. With the help of former Brandon University Bobcat Mikee Dosado and his coaching staff at Vanier College, he’s ready to make the leap.

Jawad is joining Alberta’s Roman Jensen in the Bobcats recruit class for the 2026-27 Canada West season.

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Basketball

Bobcats add size on perimeter in Jensen

By Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Bobcats add size on perimeter in Jensen

By Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Thursday, May. 7, 2026

The last Canada Topflight Academy West player to join the Brandon University Bobcats turned out to be special.

Roman Jensen hopes to start a trend.

The six-foot-five guard has committed to the Bobcats men’s basketball team for the 2026-27 season, following Canada West rookie of the year Munroop Gill to the Wheat City.

“I’m so thrilled. I’m super excited to become a Bobcat. I’ve heard only great things about the program and I know some guys on the team, so that’s going to be a blast,” Jensen said, adding that CTA coaches Adam Huffman and Lee Reckmann guided him to BU.

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Thursday, May. 7, 2026

Hockey

Dauphin Kings defenceman Ty Pratte has committed to the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference for the 2026-27 season. (Submitted)

Pratte heads to Red Deer Polytechnic

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 5 minute read Preview

Pratte heads to Red Deer Polytechnic

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 5 minute read Thursday, May. 7, 2026

Ty Pratte continues to go further than his doubters ever thought he could.

The 20-year-old Dauphin Kings defenceman from Moose Jaw, Sask., thrived in junior and is now moving up another level after committing to the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference for the 2026-2027 season.

“It’s going to be new and exciting and I’m ready for the opportunity.” Pratte said earlier this week. “From the youngest ages growing up in hockey and as I got older people doubted me and said I couldn’t be there and that kinda lit a fire inside of me where I just wanna prove people wrong.”

And Pratte’s play spoke for itself, especially during his last two seasons with Dauphin, as the six-foot, 175-pound blue-liner developed into a reliable top-pairing defender who can play in all situations while producing at a high level.

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Thursday, May. 7, 2026

Local Sports

Winman Volleyball Club setter Summer Cadotte has committed to the Assiniboine College Cougars for the 2026-27 MCAC women's volleyball season. (Submitted)

Cougars add Wayway product Cadotte

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Cougars add Wayway product Cadotte

Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Thursday, May. 7, 2026

Summer Cadotte is going from one provincial champion to the next.

The Waywayseecappo product, who moved to Winnipeg four years ago, just captured an 18U girls provincial club volleyball championship with Winman in Brandon on Sunday.

She’s heading back to the Wheat City in the fall to join the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference defending champion Assiniboine College Cougars.

“It was a really good win. The whole weekend was really consistent. We’re reaching our peak right now, which is really good,” Cadotte said.

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Thursday, May. 7, 2026

Hockey

Bell perseveres with Midland University

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 9 minute read Friday, May. 1, 2026

Taylor Bell will tell you if you stay in it long enough, the hard times will eventually give something back.

The 21-year-old Brandonite who’s now known as the hero who delivered a national championship to Fremont, Neb., for the Midland University Warriors for the first time in program history a few months ago, didn’t have it quite so easy back in her early days with the team.

“My freshman year, obviously it wasn’t a great year for me,” Bell recalled. “Things were tough. It was just a big change and a big adjustment.”

Bell committed to the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s women’s Division 1 Midland squad for the 2022-23 season, majoring in exercise science after spending three years with the Central Plains Capitals out of the Manitoba U18 AAA Female Hockey League. She had reached out to a few different schools, but head coach Jason White was the first one to get back to her and express mutual interest.

Basketball

Carberry’s Unrau commits to Manitoba

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

Carberry’s Unrau commits to Manitoba

Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Friday, May. 1, 2026

Owen Unrau picked the best day to have his best day.

The Carberry native attended Basketball Canada’s under-18 ID camp in Winnipeg on Sept. 20 and caught the eyes of not only Basketball Canada’s Mike Meeks, but also the University of Manitoba staff.

“I had, probably, one of the best days I’ve ever played basketball in front of one of the U of M staff members,” Unrau said.

Bisons head coach Kirby Schepp showed up the following day to scout the six-foot-six guard, then continued watching throughout his standout high school season.

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Friday, May. 1, 2026

Local Sports

Victoria Bateman of Regina has committed to the Brandon University women’s soccer team for the 2026 MCAC season. (Submitted)

Regina’s Bateman joins BU soccer team

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Preview

Regina’s Bateman joins BU soccer team

Thomas Friesen 3 minute read Friday, Apr. 24, 2026

One of the best players in Brandon University women’s soccer history is leaving the program with a parting gift.

Brogan Henry capped her Bobcats career as the final four MVP, leading the team to its third straight Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference title. Now, she has helped steer her cousin, Victoria Bateman, to the program.

“Being so close with her, I’ve gone to a lot of her youth games and some of her university games, and she’s a really good player, so it’s nice having her as an idol to look up to,” said Bateman, who got to watch the Bobcats when they played pre-season games against her hometown University of Regina Cougars.

The program has certainly benefited from Saskatchewan talent this decade, as a steady stream of players, including Henry, Kenadie Janzen, Tarin Ballan and Kylie van de Woestyne, have all been MCAC all-conference players.

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Friday, Apr. 24, 2026

Local Sports

Neelin Spartan Nicole Dyck has committed to the Brandon University women's soccer team for the 2026 MCAC season. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Dyck, Collier join BU women’s soccer team

By Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Preview

Dyck, Collier join BU women’s soccer team

By Thomas Friesen 4 minute read Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026

Nicole Dyck and Becca Collier both feel they’re the soccer players they are today because of the steps they took to keep their goals within reach.

Or, they’ve succeeded despite limited opportunities.

Both Westman products are more excited than ever for the opportunity ahead of them, as the latest recruits to the three-time defending champion Brandon University Bobcats.

They’ll suit up for the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference powerhouse this fall.

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Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026

Hockey

Waywayseecappo Wolverines defenceman Ryley Cyca (48) will join his brother Logan at Minot State University after committing to the Beavers for the 2026-27 hockey season. (Submitted)

Cyca makes it a family affair at Minot State

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Preview

Cyca makes it a family affair at Minot State

By Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026

Ryley Cyca grew up in the rink watching from the stands as his older brother took the ice.

Now, the two will finally get the chance to suit up together.

The 21-year-old Waywayseecappo Wolverines defenceman from Sherwood Park, Alta., will join brother Logan after announcing his commitment to the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s men’s Division 1 Minot State Beavers of Minot, N.D., for the 2026-27 season, earlier this month.

“I always kind of figured I was going to be a beaver, so it was Minot or nothing,” said Cyca of his decision to play for the Beavers. “I’m super excited. They’re obviously a really good organization, they’ve been ranked number one heading into nationals the past three years and my brother’s been down there, so I’m super excited to get the chance to play with him. It’ll be great.”

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Thursday, Apr. 23, 2026

Hockey

Schmidt brings experience to Chatham Univeristy

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Preview

Schmidt brings experience to Chatham Univeristy

Massimo De Luca-Taronno 6 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026

Joshua Schmidt was hoping he’d get some college offers but didn’t think he’d luck out this much.

The 21-year-old Dauphin King is headed south of the border to play NCAA Division III with the Chatham University Cougars out of Pittsburgh, Pa., for the 2026-27 hockey season.

“Pittsburgh’s a great spot for a division three program so I was just to the moon excited when they reached out,” Schmidt said. “I knew eventually I would have some interest from coaches, but I just didn’t know it would be in such a nice city.

“It’s a new opportunity in a new country, new city, so it’s a little bit different, but I’m really pumped up and excited to make some new friends too.”

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Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026

May 24, 2026

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