Sports
Northwest by southeast?
6 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025The extended warm days this autumn inspired me to squeeze in a few more road trips before I need to break out the winter tires.
Having spent a great deal of time in the southwest of our province earlier this summer, I chose to explore the southeastern corner recently. Travelling along the Trans-Canada, I saw the sign for East Braintree and highway 308. I have never been down this path before, so I turned off. I recommend this drive!
About an hour into my journey, I was faced with a fork in the road; the junction of PTH 525 East. This road starts out as a provincial roadway, but about 10 kilometres in, it becomes a Minnesota state road! Yes, this is the famous Northwest Angle of the North Star State. There is not much here; a post office, a few fishing lodges, a restaurant, and a cute nine hole golf course!
If you are not familiar with the Northwest Angle, it is a part of Minnesota that is separated from the main state by the Lake of the Woods. North of this peninsula, across the inlet, lies Ontario. The west edge is Manitoba’s border. South and east lies the waters called Big and Little Traverse Bays of the aforementioned LOTW. Boats and snowmobiles, within their respective seasons, are the easiest way to get to this area. Getting there by car, however, is a one road option in the summer, and that road only goes through Canada.
Advertisement
St. Vital youngster’s soccer dreams
3 minute read Preview Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025Building a team
6 minute read Preview Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025Bonivital S.C. scholarship applications still open
1 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025There’s still a window to apply for Bonivital Soccer Club’s scholarship.
According to the club’s website, the scholarship is intended to support young athletes — who are Bonivital players — who wish to continue taking part in soccer while pursuing a full-time, post-secondary education.
The scholarship is $1,000, and one each will be awarded to players representing: U17 girls’ premier; U17 boys’ premier; U18 girls’ recreational; and U18 boys’ recreational.
There is a number of criteria for applicants to be eligible for a scholarship, organizers say.
‘You have to have that fighting spirit’
3 minute read Preview Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025Williamson left a mark on U.S. hockey
4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025Murray Williamson, a Manitoban who made a major impact on hockey in the United States, died in the Twin Cities on Sept. 15 at age 91. At the time of his death, he was described as a hockey legend and a trailblazer whose contributions shaped the sport in the United States for decades. He was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Manitoba Hockey Hall as a builder in 2009.
Williamson was born in Winnipeg where he played junior hockey for the St. Boniface Canadiens of the MJHL. He was also an excellent junior baseball player with the Winnipeg Buffaloes. His journey to U.S. hockey glory began when he was scouted by University of Minnesota head coach Johnny Mariucci while playing senior in Mariucci’s hometown of Eveleth, Minn. He was approached about joining the Gophers while shooting pool in a pool room owned by Mariucci’s former Chicago Black Hawks teammate goalie Mike Karakas. Williamson had been thinking about attending the University of Michigan.
Mariucci always focused on recruiting players from Minnesota rather than bring in players from out-of-state and Canada, so making an offer to Williamson was unusual. The Winnipeg forward joined the Gophers for three seasons and was an All-American in 1958-59 when he led the team in both goals and assists. That season the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux beat Michigan State 4-3 in overtime to win its first NCAA championship. Winnipeg’s Steve Thullner and Ralph Lyndon played for UND with defenceman Lyndon contributing a goal and an assist in the victory. Barry Thorndycraft, Williamson’s teammate on the 1953-54 St. Boniface Canadiens, was an assistant coach.
In his role as a coach and a builder is where Williamson made his mark. He served as head coach of the U.S. National Team from 1966-67 to 1971-72 and coached the team in the 1968 and 1972 Winter Olympics. Henry Boucha from Warroad, MN, who played for the junior Winnipeg Jets in 1969-70, played for the U.S. in the 1971 World Championship and was the team’s leading scorer in 1971-72. Flin Flon’s George Konik, who settled in the Twin Cities after his outstanding career at the University of Denver, was captain of the National Team in 1970-71 when the team finished sixth. The former Flin Flon Bomber defenceman, a 2011 Manitoba Hockey Hall inductee, wasn’t eligible to play for the States in the Olympics.
J.H. Bruns alumna off to TWU
3 minute read Preview Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2025‘One of those guys who never gave up’
3 minute read Preview Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2025Exploring Hamiota’s golf course
4 minute read Preview Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2025Kicking their way to nationals
3 minute read Preview Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025CUAC hosting 100th anniversary event on Sept. 19
4 minute read Preview Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025Rolling hills at Rossman Lake
5 minute read Preview Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2025Team Manitoba brings home 34 medals from Canada Summer Games
1 minute read Preview Wednesday, Sep. 3, 2025Winnipeg Senior Baseball League champs crowned
1 minute read Preview Wednesday, Sep. 3, 2025Team Manitoba brings home senior cricket inter-provincial title
4 minute read Preview Wednesday, Sep. 3, 2025Local hockey scouts honoured
4 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 3, 2025The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Federation held its second Wall of Honour induction dinner in Okotoks, Alta. on July 29.
Ten scouts with a connection to Manitoba were among the 30 honoured.
The scouts were recognized in four categories: Pioneer prior to 1967; Early Era 1968-1980; Modern 1981 to Present; and Major Junior. The three Pioneers were Winnipeggers Denis Ball and Jimmy Walker and Jeep George from North Battleford, Sask., who scouted for the New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers and the NHL Central Scouting.
Ball started scouting part-time for the Rangers in 1949 and became a full-time scout in 1953. He later served as general manager and vice-president of hockey operations for the St. Louis Blues. Walker started scouting for the junior Winnipeg Jets and became the team’s chief scout in 1970. He spent 20 years as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks.
LOAD MORE