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Free Press Community Review: East

Curl Manitoba
(From left) Quinn Lagace, coach Rej Lagace and Eva Le Heiget won the 2026 Manitoba U-20 mixed doubles championship.

Mixed, U-20 mixed doubles champs decided

– FP Community Review staff 2 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Colin Kurz of Deer Lodge Curling Club took home the Manitoba mixed curling title on April 12, defeating Austin Peters of Rivers, Man., 9-4 in the final of the weekend tournament at Pembina Curling Club.

Kurz and his team of third Meghan Walter, second Brendan Bilawka and lead Sara Krym put up a perfect 6-0 record on their way to the championship. It was the second provincial win for the quartet, who won the provincial, national and world mixed championships in 2019. They will represent Manitoba at the 2026 national mixed championships in November in Prince Edward Island.

On the same weekend, the Pembina C.C. duo of Eva Le Heiget and Quinn Lagace, coached by Rej Lagace, took home the U-20 mixed doubles championship with 7-4 win over Sierra Smith and Jake Kowalchuk of Gimli, Man. Le Heiget and Lagace also posted a perfect 6-0 record through the championship.

For Lagace, the win was his third provincial title of the year, as he also won the U-18 and U-20 junior men’s championships as a member of the Evan Boutet team.

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Photo by Tony Zerucha
Long-time member Jack Duncan (left) and general manager Scott Parker eagerly await the beginning of Rossmere Country Club’s 75th anniversary season.

Rossmere celebrates 75 years this season

Tony Zerucha Special to FP Community Review 4 minute read Preview

Rossmere celebrates 75 years this season

Tony Zerucha Special to FP Community Review 4 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

As it celebrates 75 years of supporting the community this summer, things have never been better at Rossmere Country Club. General manager Scott Parker said plans are well underway to make the 2026 season a memorable one.

Rossmere began its life as a nine-hole course which opened for play in 1952 on land that once stretched behind what is now the Curtis Hotel. In the late 1950s, the club and the City of East Kildonan traded that section of land for the golf course’s existing location. East Kildonan was planning housing developments and wanted to make Henderson Highway a main thoroughfare.

Rossmere’s 18-hole course was designed by Norman Woods in 1958, who also designed Falcon Lake Golf Course. Woods was a partner of famed golf-course architect Stanley Thompson. It opened for play in 1959, using three holes from the nine-hole layout.

In 1959, plans were approved to build a six-sheet curling rink attached to the clubhouse, which was a donated home that originally stood on the site of Lord Wolseley School at the northeast corner of Henderson Highway and Leighton Avenue. The curling rink opened in 1960 and suspended operations in 2018, when costly repairs to the ice plant proved prohibitive.

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2:01 AM CDT

Supplied photo by Ken LeBlanc
Damir Kudosov (second from left, in hat), who trains with Selkirk’s Maulers and Pan Am Boxing Club, won gold in the U19 65-kilogram division at the Boxing Canada national championships in Calgary last month.

Pan Am boxers strike gold in Alberta

Tony Zerucha Special to FP Community Review 4 minute read Preview

Pan Am boxers strike gold in Alberta

Tony Zerucha Special to FP Community Review 4 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Fighters from Winnipeg’s Pan Am Boxing Club posted a strong showing at Boxing Canada’s recent 2026 Canada Cup and U17/U19/U23 national championships in Calgary.

The competition left Dylan Martin, Pan Am’s head coach and manager, excited about what the future holds

Damir Kudosov captured gold in the U19 65-kilogram class. Normally a member of Selkirk’s Maulers Boxing Club, he also trained with Pan Am in the months leading up to the Calgary event. A Ukrainian newcomer to Canada, Kudosov has quickly taken to the sport.

“He did amazing,” Martin said. “He had a great win in the quarter-finals and an extremely challenging fight in the semifinals. He lost focus and got hurt in the first round but came back to win. In the finals, Damir stopped his opponent in the first round.”

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2:01 AM CDT

Supplied photo
Mila Wright is an active eight year old who takes part in the Mighty Kips program at Keystone Kips Gymnastics Club.

Mighty Mila will make you smile

Troy Westwood 3 minute read Preview

Mighty Mila will make you smile

Troy Westwood 3 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Mila Wright is an eight-year-old Grade 2 student at Tyndall Park Community School, and she really enjoys school.

“My favourite class is physical education because we get to run around and get our energy out,” she explained. “We play a lot of fun games. Trying a lot of different sports is fun too.”

Mila is known by her family as being a little girl who lights up a room when she walks in.

Given her answer to my question about her favourite class, it doesn’t surprise me to hear that Mila is often giggling and will randomly do backflips, making everyone smile. She said she really enjoys being active, and her parents make sure she has an outlet.

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2:00 AM CDT

Serving the prairies with pride

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Preview

Serving the prairies with pride

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Four local tennis players recently represented the prairies with pride on the national stage.

Mariya Gedz, Jett Nguyen, Hudson Joseph Van Den Bussche, and Natalina Zappia all qualified to represent Team Prairies at the Tennis Canada Fischer Indoor Junior National Championships at the U16 level.

The event was held at Club de tennis Île des Sœurs, Montreal, Que., from March 22 to 29.

In the U16 boys singles tournament, Nguyen was defeated by ninth-seeded Ilya Sherifali 6-1, 6-0 in the second round. In the U16 boys doubles, Nguyen and Van Den Bussche lost to Milan Grabovica and Eli Thomas Marks 6-4, 6-3 in the round of 32. As well as his doubles appearance with Nguyen, Van Den Bussche was defeated by Simon Stoyanov 6-0, 6-3 in the first round.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Free Press file photo
The annual Children’s Hospital Book Market at St. Vital Centre is a treasure trove for collectors of sports books. This year’s market runs from April 24 to 26.

So many sports books, so little time

T. Kent Morgan 6 minute read Preview

So many sports books, so little time

T. Kent Morgan 6 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

The Children’s Hospital Book Market will be held at the St. Vital Shopping Centre from Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26. It’s hard to believe, but this year will be year 66 for the volunteer-run event that raises funds for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba through the sale of used books.

The book market always has a special section devoted to sports books, and this columnist will be staffing it from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on April 24. Stop by to say hello and, more importantly, purchase books. As a reader, collector and historian, I have been adding to my much-to-large personal collection for several decades.

On the opening morning, several collectors will be waiting for the volunteers to uncover the sports books and allow the battles to begin for the treasures. One regular comes for Montreal Canadiens books he doesn’t have. Another goes to the golf section in the hope of finding instructional books that will help his game. Parents ask for recommendations of books that might generate more interest in reading for their athletic children.

The largest section is hockey, and I guarantee it will include at least one copy of Manitoba Hockey: A History, by Vince Leah that was published as a provincial centennial project in 1970 by the Manitoba Hockey Players Foundation. One year I found a copy signed by NHLers Bill Mosienko and Bill Juzda, as well as by the author. A signed copy of Cowboy on Ice, a biography of the colourful former pro Howie Young, often shows up, as it was published in Winnipeg.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Supplied photo
In February, Collège Jeanne-Sauvé guard Emma Elliott signed her letter of intent to play at the University of Winnipeg under coach Alyssa Cox.

Aiming to make an impact

Troy Westwood 3 minute read Preview

Aiming to make an impact

Troy Westwood 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026

Emma Elliott is an 18-year-old Grade 12 student at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé.

“School is going well. I’ve focused a lot on my studies this year,” she said. “My favourite class is biology. I find it very interesting and challenging.”

Emma is a multi-sport athlete, who competes for her school in cross-country, flag football, and ultimate frisbee. Her favourite sport, however, has to be basketball.

“I just love competing and I love how fast the game is,” said the 5-9 guard. “I really like how many ways you can impact the game as a player on the court.”

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Wednesday, Apr. 8, 2026

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Photo by John Kendle
The Dakota Lancers AAAA varsity girls’ basketball team celebrates its 78-73 victory over the Vincent Massey Trojans at the final buzzer of the final game on March 23.

Lancers girls go four for five

– FP Community Review staff 2 minute read Preview

Lancers girls go four for five

– FP Community Review staff 2 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

The powerhouse Dakota Lancers basketball team avenged its loss in last year’s final AAAA varsity girls’ provincial final by defeating the Vincent Massey Trojans 78-73 on March 23 at the University of Manitoba’s IG Athletic Centre.

Coached by Eric Sung, the Lancers earned their fourth provincial banner in the past five seasons, led by ball-handling Grade 10 guard Quinn Kelly, who scored 25 points, and by star forward Emilie McLean, who scored 19 points and added 23 rebounds.

Uloma Isinguzo scored 18 points for the Trojans, whose balanced attack featured 16 points from Emma Yard and 14 from Ese Imiefo. Massey led 23-19 after the first quarter, but Dakota rebounded to lead 44-40 at the half and 62-58 at the end of the third quarter.

Dakota’s McLean was named the tournament’s most valuable player, while Emma Elliott of Collège Jeanne-Sauvé Olympiens won the players’ choice award.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Supplied photo
The Béliveau Barracudas girls’ hockey team won the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League’s Division 3 title recently. Pictured are (back row, from left): May McCusker, Taylor Willoughby, and Lexi André. (Middle row, from left) Braedan King (head coach), Olivia Milberg, Avery Tabak, Sadie Leary, Ruby Oster, Alexis Leary, Grace Bain, Violet Heroux, Rielle Cherewick, Harley Maytchak, Callie Haight, Maddy Kuypers, Will Duffin (assistant coach), and Evan Rogers (assistant coach). (Front row, from left) Quinn Schmidt, Alison Whitaker, Hailey Gauthier, Acadia Flockton, Sarah Craig, Kendra Ott, and Andyn Ewald. Missing: Avan Hepburn and Leah Robinson.

‘Champions are forever’

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 5 minute read Preview

‘Champions are forever’

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 5 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

The Béliveau Barracudas girls’ hockey team has created its own little piece of history.

The team recently won the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League’s Division 3 title, beating the St. John’s-Ravenscourt Eagles two games to none in the best-of-three final — winning 5-1 at SJR’s Dutton Arena on March 16, and 5-3 at Southdale Community Centre’s east rink on March 17.

It’s the first time the Windsor Park-based team has won an MWHSHL divisional title.

“It’s fantastic,” said Braedan King, the team’s head coach. “The girls worked so hard, right from training camp.”

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Supplied photo
The Glenlawn Lions girls’ hockey team won the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League’s Division1/2 East title recently. Pictured are (back row, from left): Brad Nechwediuk (co-head coach), Emily Deck (assistant coach), Violet Curtis, Cavell Woroniak, Daisy Aseltine, Ariel Benci,
Ava Price, Adriana Conrad, Lara Stubbs, Ashley Antunes, Trinity Benci, Anya Perchaluk, Dean Rigaux (co-head coach) and Courtney Cyrenne. (Front row, from left): Neve Halpenny, Delainey Rigaux, Heather Williams, Vayda Rigaux, Kaitlynn Gluck and Jessie Decraene.

Glenlawn Lions girls’ win hockey title

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Preview

Glenlawn Lions girls’ win hockey title

Simon Fuller STAFF REPORTER 3 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

The third time was a charm for the Glenlawn Lions girls’ hockey team.

The St. Vital-based team emphatically beat the Vincent Massey Trojans in two straight games to win the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League’s Division1/2 East title.

The Lions beat the Trojans 6-2 at Century Arena on March 17, followed by a 5-1 victory at St. Arena on March 19.

Significantly, the championship win came on the heels of heartbreaking, back-to-back playoff final series losses in 2024 and 2025, to Shaftesbury Titans and CJS Olympiens, respectively.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Free Press file photo
This year’s Super-Spike volleyball tournament and concert series will run July 17 and 18 at Maple Grove Rugby Park.

Super-Spike to return to Winnipeg July 17, 18

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 1 minute read Preview

Super-Spike to return to Winnipeg July 17, 18

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 1 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

The 24th edition of Super-Spike will be held at Maple Grove Rugby Park (90 Frobisher Rd.) on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18.

As ever, Super-Spike combines Western Canada’s largest outdoor volleyball tournament with a weekend-long concert series.

This year’s musical guests will include FeFe Dobson, and Tyler Shaw, as co-headliners, both set to make their debut Super-Spike appearances. Local talent including Always Dale, the Dust Rhinos, Boone, Skene, and several DJs with also be appearing on the main stage throughout the two days, organizers say.

The capacity has been expanded to 400 teams for this year’s event — last year saw a sold-out capacity of 375 teams.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

International Skating Union
Skylar Van Horne competes in the 3,000 metre race at the ISU 2024 World Junior Speed Skating Championships in Japan. Van Horne, who grew up in Bridgwater, completed her junior career in February at the ISU junior championships in Germany.

Speeding ahead

Tony Zerucha Special to FP Community Review 4 minute read Preview

Speeding ahead

Tony Zerucha Special to FP Community Review 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Skylar Van Horne’s junior speedskating career may have just ended, but she’s eagerly anticipating making the jump to the senior circuit for the 2026-27 season.

Van Horne, an 18-year-old who grew up in Bridgwater but moved to Calgary to study and train last fall, wrapped up her junior career in February after a successful final season in the junior ranks. In January, she finished second overall at the Canadian junior championships, which guaranteed her a spot on the Canadian team at the junior world championships in Inzell, Germany.

Van Horne, who races at the 500, 1,000, 1,500 and 3,000-metre distances, registered a couple of top 10s in her individual events and was a member of the Canadian trio that finished third in the team sprint event, setting a Canadian record in the process.

However, the Canadian skaters disqualified for an equipment issue, which left a bad taste, so Van Horne and her teammates set out to prove something when they got back to the training base in Calgary.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Seniors curling champions crowned

FP Community Review staff 2 minute read Preview

Seniors curling champions crowned

FP Community Review staff 2 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Charleswood’s Paul Scinocca and Fort Garry’s Jennifer Clark-Rouire successfully skipped their rinks to Manitoba men’s and women’s seniors titles on March 23 at Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club.

Scinocca, third Ed Barr, second Paul Armstrong and lead Joel Newbury (along with fifth man Gregg Melnyk and coach Don Nelson) defeated Deloraine’s Murray Warren 7-5 in the men’s final.

It was the first Manitoba championship for Scinocca, Barr and Newbury. Armstrong was a member of the winning masters team earlier this year.

Clark-Rouire, third Karen Klein, second Susan Baleja and lead Raunora Westcott (with coach Howard Restall) overcame Darcy Robertson’s Fort Rouge team 6-3 in the women’s final.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Years ending in six lucky in these parts

T. Kent Morgan 4 minute read Preview

Years ending in six lucky in these parts

T. Kent Morgan 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

If you review the hockey history of Manitoba, you will note that several years ending with the number six have led to a championship for a local team.

The Winnipeg Jets began the 2025-26 NHL season with dreams of winning the Stanley Cup, based on the club’s success in 2024-25, when it topped the league standings during the regular season. As this season winds down, it will take more than a miracle to add another championship to that list.

The series of successful sixes began in 1896 when a team from Winnipeg did win the Stanley Cup. In 1895, the Winnipeg Victorias travelled east to play games in Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City and Montreal. The team won four of five and, while in Montreal, learned that teams from the west could challenge for the Stanley Cup, which had been put up for play in 1893.

The Winnipeg Victorias thus issued a challenge to the Montreal Victorias and the two clubs met in the eastern city on Feb. 14, 1896. It was a happy Valentine’s Day for the visitors, who won 2-0 on goals by captain Jack Armytage and Tote Campbell. Goalie George (Whitey) Merritt, who was wearing cricket pads for protection, got the shutout. On Dec. 30, 1896, Montreal reclaimed the Cup with a 6-5 victory in a game played at the McIntyre rink in Winnipeg.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Photo by John Kendle
MHSAA AAAA boys’ all-stars were (from left): Joaquin Ong (St. Paul’s); Kobe Alejo (Churchill); Veer Brar (Maples, tournament MVP); Andrey Yamborko (Maples); Brady Penner (Dakota, also named the players’ choice award winner) and Daniel Rom (Dakota).

Maples makes basketball history

FP Community Review staff 2 minute read Preview

Maples makes basketball history

FP Community Review staff 2 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

The Maples Marauders won the Manitoba high school AAAA boys’ basketball championship for the first time on March 23, with a thrilling, 115-106 overtime victory over the Dakota Lancers in the final, played in front of a raucous crowd at the University of Manitoba’s IG Athletic Centre.

Up nine points with the final seconds winding down, the Marauders were swarmed on-court by classmates and fans who couldn’t contain their enthusiasm.

Grade 10 guard Veer Brar led the way for the Maples squad, contributing 36 points as the teams traded leads and scoring runs in a see-saw contest. The Lancers led 54-48 at half-time, the teams were tied at 74 at the end of the third quarter and knotted at 101 at the end of regulation time. In OT, Maples held Dakota to just five points and two shot-clock violations while scoring 14 points.

Brar was named most valuable player of the Manitoba High Schools’ Athletic Association AAAA boys tournament, Dakota’s Brady Penner won the players’ choice award and the tournament all-star team was comprised of Penner and Daniel Rom from Dakota, Andrey Yamborko from Maples, Kobe Alejo of the Churchill Bulldogs and Joaquin Ong of the St. Paul’s Crusaders.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

Supplied photo
The Shaftesbury Titans girls hockey team won the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League’s Division 2 championship this year. It is the team’s second championship in the past three seasons.

Titans bring championship banner to Shaftesbury

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Preview

Titans bring championship banner to Shaftesbury

Sheldon Birnie STAFF REPORTER 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

The Shaftesbury Titans finished atop the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League’s Division 2, winning the championship banner with a 2-1 victory over the Dakota Lancers on March 18 at the Hockey for All Centre in Headingley.

“It felt amazing,” said captain Megan Humniski. “It couldn’t have gone any better than that. We were all really happy.”

“When playoffs started, they had a goal in mind, and they took it game by game,” said fifth-year coach Tom Miko. “They’re quality people first, and that’s what made the difference. They never got too high or too low. It was fun and at the end of the day they had to go home and do their homework. I’m very proud of the group as a whole.”

Humniski, a Grade 12 centre who has played for the Titans the past three seasons, scored nine goals and seven assists through 21 regular season games. In the playoffs, she scored eight goals and added five assists in nine games, leading the team by example.

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Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026

April 22, 2026