Amateur – Winnipeg Free Press

Manitoba makes tenpin history

Ben Little 8 minute read Friday, Mar. 27, 2026

In the final frame of her semifinal match, bowler Marissa Naylor-McCall needed to strike and mark to advance and defend her title as Winnipeg’s tenpin champion.

No stranger to pressure, Naylor-McCall executed, winning by two points to earn a spot in the final.

Naylor-McCall made history last year as the first woman to win the Marinelli City Singles Championship in its 65-year history. Fast forward to March 9, she repeated as Winnipeg’s tenpin champion — one day after International Women’s Day.

“It was a really proud feeling in a sense, but also nerve-racking,” she said. “I felt like I was carrying the weight of all the women in the bowling community on my shoulders because it was International Women’s Day.”

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Midland Athletics
Brandon’s Taylor Bell had the title winning goal in third overtime for the Midland Warriors on Sunday — the team’s first American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1 national championship.

Brandon’s Bell boasts title-winning goal

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Brandon’s Bell boasts title-winning goal

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Friday, Mar. 27, 2026

Allow Taylor Bell to set the scene.

“I’m looking around the bench, everybody’s gassed, like we’re trying to figure out who we’re taking off next,” began the co-captain of Midland University’s women’s hockey team. “I take off Ashlyn (Kuffler), and I hop the boards, (Liberty University) almost had a scoring chance in our end, so I’m coming back, Callie (Maguire) sees me, gives me a little chip off the wall. I see Darbi (Poole) coming with me; she falls down, so I’m like, ‘Well, I gotta shoot it now.’ So I just put the puck on net and got my own rebound, and it went in.

“So, nothing special there.”

To the contrary. While the goal might not have been the flashiest Bell — a fourth-year forward from Brandon — scored all season, it was undoubtedly the most important, as it delivered Midland its first American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1 national championship on Sunday.

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Friday, Mar. 27, 2026

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS
Dakota Lancers’ Emilie McLean goes for a basket against Vincent Massey, Monday.

Dakota, Maples come out on top at provincials

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Preview

Dakota, Maples come out on top at provincials

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Monday, Mar. 23, 2026

This time, the Dakota Lancers got the last laugh.

One year after being denied a historic four-peat at the hands of the Vincent Massey Trojans, a revamped Lancers squad returned with another chance to win it all, against the same opponent at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Monday, and made good on their opportunity, earning a 78-73 triumph over the Trojans to capture the AAAA girls’ provincial basketball championship.

Later in the evening, the Maples Marauders defeated the Dakota Lancers 115-106 in overtime to win the boys’ provincial title.

The Dakota girls finished with a 30-2 record overall to capture their fourth title in the last five seasons.

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Monday, Mar. 23, 2026

DAVE WILLSON PHOTO
The Glenlawn Lions girls’ hockey team celebrates its 5-1 Game 2 win over the Vincent Massey Trojans Thursday to claim the MWHSHL Division 1 title.

Glenlawn Lions roar past Vincent Massey Trojans to capture MWHSHL title

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Glenlawn Lions roar past Vincent Massey Trojans to capture MWHSHL title

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Friday, Mar. 20, 2026

The Glenlawn Lions weren’t interested in hanging another ‘finalists’ banner.

And they won’t have to.

After two years of falling short at the finish line, the Lions pieced together a pair of dominant outings and swept the Vincent Massey Trojans in a best-of-three to capture their first Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League Division 1 title on Thursday.

“It meant the world to us going in,” said Lions co-captain Vayda Rigaux, who earned playoff MVP honours. “We knew it was going to be hard, and we knew we can’t get ahead of ourselves, but before every game, we knew we’d been in this (position and) not every team gets a chance at three championships, and we knew we couldn’t let this one go.”

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Friday, Mar. 20, 2026

LIU ATHLETICS PHOTO
Winnipeg’s Shadrak Lasu (22) had 13 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in the Northeast championship clinching victory.

‘It’s great that I can go and represent and show out’

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

‘It’s great that I can go and represent and show out’

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026

It is perhaps the closest thing Canada could have to a team in the NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournament and — of course — Winnipeg has a hand in it.

Most No. 16 seeds won’t garner much attention in the 68-team tournament, as many believe they are there for a good time, not a long time, but Long Island University has been an exception as five of its most important players hail from north of the border.

There are a pair of Ontario-born starting guards, Scarborough’s Malachi Davis and Toronto’s Jamal Fuller, who have played together since high school. Coming off the bench to play important minutes are freshman guard Max Ndlovu-Fraser and senior forward Caleb Johnson, who are rooted in opposite ends of the country, born in North Vancouver and North Preston, N.S., respectively.

And then there is Shadrak Lasu, the starting sophomore forward who is right in the middle of them all — Winnipeg.

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Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026

BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
The host Vincent Massey Trojans earned a 74-53 victory over the visiting Sisler Spartans in the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Assoiciation AAAA varsity girls basketball semi-final at Investors Group Athletic Centre at the University of Manitoba, Wednesday. The Trojans advance to the championship game. Pictured: Trojans guard Kishi Folarin (No. 10) drives to the hoop while Spartans guard Keane Sarmiento (No. 3) defends during first quarter action.

Vincent Massey, Dakota to battle for basketball title for fourth consecutive year

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Vincent Massey, Dakota to battle for basketball title for fourth consecutive year

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

With one of their best players limited by injury, the Vincent Massey Trojans needed someone to pick up the slack in their biggest game of the season.

Ese Imiefo rose to the occasion.

The Grade 12 forward had her way in a 26-point performance to lead the Trojans to a 74-53 victory over the Sisler Spartans in the AAAA girls’ provincial basketball semi-finals at Investor’s Group Athletic Centre on Wednesday.

With the win, Massey extended its title defence and will play in its third straight provincial championship against the Dakota Lancers, back at IGAC on Monday at 6 p.m.

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Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026

MIKE STILL / BISONS ATHLETICS
Owen Weekes of the University of Manitoba Bisons celebrates one of his six service aces against the Laval Rouge et Or in the USports men’s volleyball championship in Windsor, Ont., on Friday.

Bisons’ men cruise into final four at v-ball nationals

Joshua Frey-Sam 4 minute read Preview

Bisons’ men cruise into final four at v-ball nationals

Joshua Frey-Sam 4 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

The Manitoba Bisons spiked their heartbreak from the Canada West final and served up a dominant showing to begin their quest for a national title.

Less than a week after falling to Trinity Western in the conference championship, the sixth-seeded Bisons cruised to a 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-17) triumph over No. 3 Laval at the U Sports men’s volleyball championships in Windsor, Ont., on Friday.

Playing in the program’s first national championship since 2017, the emphatic rebound secured the Bisons’ place in the semifinals for the first time in 14 years, where they will face the Canada West bronze medallists, No. 7 UBC Thunderbirds, on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT.

“We’re pretty proud of what we did at the Can West Final Four, pretty proud of us for beating UBC (in the semifinals),” said Owen Weekes.

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Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

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MATTHEW MERKEL / FREE PRESS
Manitoba Bisons’ Daxx Turner closed out his U Sports career Saturday with his second national gold in triple jump.

Bisons make program history as drama reigns at track and field nationals

Ben Little 9 minute read Preview

Bisons make program history as drama reigns at track and field nationals

Ben Little 9 minute read Sunday, Mar. 8, 2026

A photo finish doesn’t begin to describe what happened as the U Sports Track and Field Championships concluded Saturday at the James Daly Fieldhouse.

After three days of fast-paced action at the University of Manitoba, things came to a halt. One afternoon race was under review as officials spent more than three hours deliberating on a result that would determine the men’s national champion.

Hosting nationals for the second time in three years, the Herd’s program is growing at the right time. Fifteen Bisons competed for a medal Saturday, led by two veteran athletes who’ve been instrumental in the program’s success.

Fifth-year athlete Daxx Turner, the only triple jumper in Bisons history to win five Canada West Championships, aimed to close out his decorated collegiate career with a second national gold.

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Sunday, Mar. 8, 2026

INTERNATIONAL SKATING UNION
Winnipeg pair Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov capped off their junior career with gold at the ISU Figure Skating Junior World Championships in Estonia on Thursday.

Kemp and Elizarov set sights on 2030 Olympic Games

Laurie Nealin 6 minute read Preview

Kemp and Elizarov set sights on 2030 Olympic Games

Laurie Nealin 6 minute read Friday, Mar. 6, 2026

Winnipeg duo Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov have enjoyed remarkable success since they burst onto the international figure skating scene four years ago with only a year of pair skating experience on their resumé.

In short order, the rookies became known as podium threats at home and abroad, even as their ambitions were repeatedly stalled for months at a time — first by her ankle injury, then his collapsed lung and subsequent surgery and, finally, the injury to her back that kept them out of competition much of last season.

Through it all, Kemp, 17, and Elizarov, 22, refused to give up, each time coming up with a plan to methodically hurdle every roadblock.

On Thursday in Tallinn, Estonia, in their fourth appearance at the ISU World Junior Championships, that determination, their hard work and innate talent lifted them to the top of the podium.

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Friday, Mar. 6, 2026

Wesmen, Bisons drop quarterfinal openers

Joshua Frey-Sam 3 minute read Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

A HOT start for the Winnipeg Wesmen gave way to the more dominant team.

The Wesmen came out swinging early in the first match of the Canada West women’s volleyball quarterfinals, but ultimately couldn’t stand against a tough test for a full match, as they fell 3-1 (25-23; 14-25; 17-25; 11-25) to the Alberta Pandas in Edmonton on Thursday.

Winnipeg will try to keep its season alive when match 2 of the best-of-three series goes today (7 p.m. CT).

It will once again be a difficult task to take down the top-ranked program in the country.

2 minute read Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

MANITOBA Bisons teammates Raya Surinx and Eve Catojo headlined a list of female athletes in the province to be named Canada West conference volleyball all-stars on Wednesday.

Surinx, a fourth-year left side, and Catojo, a fifth-year middle, were recognized as first-team all-stars. Their teammate, setter Julia Martens, was named to the all-rookie team.

Joining Martens on the squad of first-year standouts was Winnipeg Wesmen outside hitter Anna Filippin-Buller, while fellow Wesmen, third-year outside hitter Brooke Duncalfe, was recognized as a second-team all-star.

On the men’s side, Bison middles Jonah Dueck and Jordy Heppner were named second-team conference all-stars.

SUPPLIED
2026 Manitoba junior champions: Skip Shaela Hayward, Third India Young, Second Keira Krahn, Lead Dayna Wahl and Coach Ron Westcott.

Junior curling champs realistic about chances at nationals

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Junior curling champs realistic about chances at nationals

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

SHAELA Hayward isn’t getting ahead of herself.

Sure, the skip from Carman won the national U-18 women’s curling crown in 2024. And yes, most of the field from that event will be at the Canadian U-20 Curling Championships in Sudbury, Ont., from March 28-April 4.

But Hayward — who claimed her third consecutive Manitoba junior championship on Sunday in Morris by defeating Cassidy Dundas (Heather Curling Club) 6-5 — is quick to remind you that her past performance doesn’t guarantee her anything.

“You would think (we have lots of confidence), but the field is so, so tough and the teams only get better,” she said.

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Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Wesmen outside hitter Ella Werbiski (No. 14) spikes the ball while Dinos middle/outside hitter Leni Blanke (No. 1) goes up for the block.

Wesmen fall short in Game 2 against Dinos

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Wesmen fall short in Game 2 against Dinos

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

It can be easy to forget that the Winnipeg Wesmen — for as talented as they are — are still a young team comprised of many first-time starters.

Friday night had many of the highs that the team has come to deliver on countless occasions in the second half of the season, but ultimately too many lows and a painful reminder of the squad’s inexperience as the Wesmen watched their lead disappear in what would’ve been a series-clinching set in Game 2 of the Canada West women’s volleyball play-in series.

The Wesmen, who had battled back after losing the opening set, held an 8-5 lead in the fifth set over the Calgary Dinos as the teams switched sides. What happened from there can be chalked up to naïveté.

The Dinos quickly knotted the frame at 8-8 and, following a Wesmen timeout, went on to win seven of the next 10 points to complete a thrilling and bitter 3-2 (25-19; 22-25; 22-25; 27-25; 15-11) comeback victory at Duckworth Centre.

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Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
University of Winnipeg Wesmen left side Brooke Duncalfe

Wesmen earn spot in Canada West women’s volleyball quarterfinals

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Wesmen earn spot in Canada West women’s volleyball quarterfinals

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

This time, the moment wasn’t too big for the Winnipeg Wesmen.

One night after the young squad was taught a harsh lesson about putting away a playoff match, the Wesmen put those learnings into action as they executed a 3-0 (25-22; 25-20; 25-16) rout of the Calgary Dinos in a series-clinching Game 3 of the Canada West women’s volleyball play-in series at Duckworth Centre on Saturday.

The night prior, Winnipeg had relinquished a two-sets-to-one lead and was up once again 8-5 in the fifth set, but lost 10 of the next 13 points to fall in a heartbreaker.

The bounce back was emphatic. The Wesmen cruised for stretches on this night, but more importantly, it was what they did any time the momentum hung in the balance — they grabbed it back in an instant.

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Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Wesmen guard Emmanuel Ugbah (No. 8) drives to the hoop while Thunderbirds forward Nikola Guzina (No. 6) defends during second quarter action Saturday.

OT heartbreak for Wesmen in Canada West men’s basketball semifinals

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

OT heartbreak for Wesmen in Canada West men’s basketball semifinals

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

The Winnipeg Wesmen had done just about everything right.

For 46 minutes, the No. 3-ranked men’s basketball team in the country had scrapped their way to the brink of one of the biggest victories in program history, despite losing two of its best players earlier in the contest.

But as the No. 5 University of British Columbia Thunderbirds’ shot makers came alive late and into an extra frame, those dreams quickly turned into nightmares.

A desperation shot from deep fell short as time expired, and the Wesmen were left wondering what could have been as they fell in an intense, heartbreaking 92-89 loss to the Thunderbirds in the Canada West men’s basketball semifinals.

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Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS
From left: speedskaters Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin and Valérie Maltais. The trio repeated as back-to-back Olympic gold medallists in the women’s team pursuit.

Canada needs to harness momentum for next Olympic push

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Canada needs to harness momentum for next Olympic push

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

MILAN — The Games are over. Now let the debate back home begin.

As the curtain closed on the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, leaders of the Canadian Olympic Committee were sounding the alarm.

Yes, there were highlights and memorable moments over the past two-and-a-half weeks. But should 21 total medals — Canada’s lowest Winter Games haul since Salt Lake City 2002 and good for eighth overall — be cause for concern?

Those on the front lines believe the country’s high-performance sport system is under growing strain — and that what unfolded in Italy could be a troubling sign of things to come without a significant boost in federal funding.

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Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

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