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John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS files Redha Kramdi (right) grew up in Montreal as one of four children of hard-working immigrant parents.

Bombers’ Kramdi will have more than 20 family members in stands for East semifinal

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Yesterday at 8:19 PM CDT

It’s playoff football in Redha Kramdi’s hometown, and he’ll have 20-plus family members and friends in the crowd to cheer him on.

Surely, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers dime back must feel at least some pressure heading into Saturday’s East Division semifinal in Montreal against the Alouettes.

“It’s a game. I’ve been through so much in life that this is a privilege to be here,” said Kramdi earlier this week. “I would be a fool to be stressed or feel pressure about playing playoff football.”

As the son of Algerian immigrants, Kramdi learned at a young age what real pressure looks like. The family was situated in a rough area of Montreal and his parents worked two, sometimes three jobs to provide a better life for their four kids.

Manitoba Open

Olympic dream on the horizon for history-making pair

Laurie Nealin 5 minute read Preview

Olympic dream on the horizon for history-making pair

Laurie Nealin 5 minute read Yesterday at 7:18 PM CDT

SASKATOON — Two years ago, Canada’s pairs figure skating champions Deana Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps claimed their first Skate Canada International title, kick-starting a glorious season that culminated with world championship gold.

It was an historic win for Stellato-Dudek who, at 40, entered the sport’s record book as the oldest woman to win a world figure skating title.

This season, at 42, the tenacious athlete is poised to make Olympic history at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games in February.

“I’m really excited about it. It was something I wanted when I was young and I thought it was gone,” said the now three-time Canadian champion following their first 2025 Skate Canada practice.

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Yesterday at 7:18 PM CDT

Charles Krupa / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES

Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps are looking to fourpeat gold at the Skate Canada International in Saskatoon.
Charles Krupa / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps are looking to fourpeat gold at the Skate Canada International in Saskatoon.

Langelaar’s Olympic quest receives boost from the Jets

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Preview

Langelaar’s Olympic quest receives boost from the Jets

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Yesterday at 7:05 PM CDT

Tyson Langelaar is all about speed. Now, the 26-year-old long-track speed skater has received a significant boost from his hometown Winnipeg Jets in his quest to reach the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled,” he told the Free Press this week. “It’s a dream come true to be connected to them.”

The hockey club recently announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Langelaar that will help him on the road to Italy in February. He first approached True North with the idea over the summer.

“Amateur sport is very expensive. And it’s definitely not getting cheaper. I think for the last 20 years or so, amateur sport funding has always been behind the times and never really caught up,” said Langelaar, who now trains out of Calgary while also attending university.

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Yesterday at 7:05 PM CDT

SUPPLIED

The Winnipeg Jets recently announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Winnipeg long-track speed skater Tyson Langelaar.
SUPPLIED The Winnipeg Jets recently announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Winnipeg long-track speed skater Tyson Langelaar.

Jets’ Koepke important cog in penalty-killing unit

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Preview

Jets’ Koepke important cog in penalty-killing unit

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Yesterday at 6:46 PM CDT

Cole Koepke had an important life decision to make, so he sought a little help from his friends before signing on the dotted line.

Fortunately for Koepke, after the Winnipeg Jets came calling in free agency, he had two mainstays on the roster in Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk that he could lean on for information and guidance.

“Quite a bit. I actually didn’t even know what to expect going into free agency,” Koepke said before suiting up in his 11th game of the season against the Chicago Blackhawks. “I hadn’t really heard much about Winnipeg. But I knew those guys, so when it started to get brought up, they were the first call and I just kind of asked how things were — and if they thought it would be a good fit. They gave me their advice and I’m glad I took it.”

The end result was a one-year contract with the Jets worth US$1 million and it allowed Koepke to join an NHL club with two fellow University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs he was quite familiar with.

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Yesterday at 6:46 PM CDT

Abbie Parr / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES

Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Koepke registered 177 hits last season with the Boston Bruins and has already racked up 29 hits through the first 10 games with his new club.
Abbie Parr / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Koepke registered 177 hits last season with the Boston Bruins and has already racked up 29 hits through the first 10 games with his new club.

Bombers’ Vaval named Most Outstanding Rookie, Special Teams Player finalist

Taylor Allen 1 minute read Preview

Bombers’ Vaval named Most Outstanding Rookie, Special Teams Player finalist

Taylor Allen 1 minute read Yesterday at 1:11 PM CDT

The accolades continue to pour in for Trey Vaval.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers return specialist was named the West Division’s representative for both the Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player awards on Thursday.

Toronto Argonauts kicker Lirim Hajrullahu (special teams) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Devin Veresuk (rookie) are the finalists coming out of the East Division.

Vaval led the CFL in punt returns (75), punt return yards (957), missed field goal return yards (391), and return touchdowns (two on kickoffs, one via punt, and one missed field goal return). He also made four starts at cornerback this season where he recorded 21 defensive tackles and picked off a pass against Montreal on Aug. 21.

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Yesterday at 1:11 PM CDT

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES

Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval set a franchise record in September when he returned a 128-yard missed field goal for a touchdown against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval set a franchise record in September when he returned a 128-yard missed field goal for a touchdown against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

High school football player who suffered neck injury dies

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

High school football player who suffered neck injury dies

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:14 PM CDT

The family of a Winnipeg high school football player is mourning his death following a severe neck injury he sustained in a game earlier this month.

Darius Hartshorne died early Thursday morning, 12 days after undergoing an emergency medical procedure that included a spinal fusion and decompression of his vertebrae.

“He went in peace,” Jesse Ciaralli, who helped raise Hartshorne and his four younger siblings with his wife Stephanie, told the Free Press by text. “He was with myself and my wife. His siblings and baby cousins got to see him and share some laughs one last time. He died with honour and dignity.”

Hartshorne, a Grade 12 lineman for the Sisler Spartans, turned 17 on Saturday.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:14 PM CDT

DGN PHOTOS

Sisler Spartans lineman Darius Hartshorne, 17, died after he was injured in a game on Oct. 17.
DGN PHOTOS Sisler Spartans lineman Darius Hartshorne, 17, died after he was injured in a game on Oct. 17.

Kartusch, Nachtigall named province’s Golfers of the Year

Mike McIntyre 4 minute read Preview

Kartusch, Nachtigall named province’s Golfers of the Year

Mike McIntyre 4 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

Take a bow, Addison Kartusch. You too, Evan Nachtigall.

Manitoba’s reigning women and men’s amateur golf champions capped off terrific seasons by being named the provincial Golfers of the Year during a year-end ceremony on Wednesday night.

It’s the second consecutive time the 19-year-old Kartusch has taken home the hardware, and the first such distinction for the 24-year-old Nachtigall.

Both are well-deserved.

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Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS files

Evan Nachtigall: I’ve come a long way.
BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS files Evan Nachtigall: I’ve come a long way.

Sports Editor's Picks

Winnipeg Free Press:

Special Coverage: CFL Grey Cup 112

Special Coverage: CFL Grey Cup 112

Mike McIntyre:

Lowry a leader in every sense of word

Winnipeg Jets’ Adam Lowry (17) celebrates as Kyle Connorís (not shown) shot sneaks through the pads of Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) for the winning goal in NHL overtime action in Winnipeg, Thursday, December 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Taylor Allen:

Sky’s the limit for ‘Double Gold’ MacDonald

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS sports - jiu jitsu fighter, Logan MacDonald What: Brazilian jiu jitsu fighter who recently won gold at an event in California. Family owns a BJJ gym in town. Photos of Logan with his dad, MATT MACDONALD, in their home gym. See Taylor's story Dec 13th, 2022

Mike Sawatzky:

Deadline deal pays off for Terriers

Scott Stroh photo Defenceman Hayden Lacquette has become a key cog in Portage’s attack.

Joshua Frey-Sam:

Bob Dyce never considered coaching as a career; now he’s a CFL boss

The way the Dyce roll

Mike Sawatzky:

Brennan makes the most of opportunities

SUPPLIED Lucas Brennan is known for his willing to do the work required to improve and be successful on the ice.

More Sports

Nyquist improving ‘all the time’: Arniel

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Preview

Nyquist improving ‘all the time’: Arniel

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Gustav Nyquist is still searching.

The Winnipeg Jets winger feels the transition is coming along, perhaps not as quickly as he would like, but strides forward are being taken nonetheless.

No, the offensive totals are not eye-popping, with three assists to show for his first nine games going into Tuesday’s contest with the Minnesota Wild.

Yet, Nyquist is adapting to a new system and has been churning through a high number of different linemates during the first month of the campaign.

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Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025

MATT SLOCUM / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES

After a difficult 2024-25 season between the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets forward Gustav Nyquist is banking on himself to bounce back this season with his new club.
MATT SLOCUM / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES After a difficult 2024-25 season between the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets forward Gustav Nyquist is banking on himself to bounce back this season with his new club.

Winnipeg Jets hoping for a hot start against Utah Mammoth

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Preview

Winnipeg Jets hoping for a hot start against Utah Mammoth

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025

The Winnipeg Jets are about to face one of their biggest early tests of the young hockey season.

Sunday’s clash with the Utah Mammoth at Canada Life Centre will be a showdown between two of the NHL’s top teams right now — not only in the Central Division, but league-wide.

Winnipeg enters with a 6-2-0 record, while Utah carries an identical mark into Saturday’s meeting with the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul. After a few years of steady progress, the Mammoth are beginning to come of age and announce their arrival to the rest of the league.

“We know the skill that they have, and obviously they’ve taken a big step forward. So it will be a challenge,” Jets defenceman Neal Pionk said Saturday following an optional skate at the downtown rink.

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Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Connor Hellebuyck makes a save against Seattle Kraken’s Jordan Eberle during the third period in Winnipeg on Thursday. Hellebuyck will return to the net Sunday against Utah.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Connor Hellebuyck makes a save against Seattle Kraken’s Jordan Eberle during the third period in Winnipeg on Thursday. Hellebuyck will return to the net Sunday against Utah.

Survey says… Bombers O-lineman appears on Family Feud

Taylor Allen 3 minute read Preview

Survey says… Bombers O-lineman appears on Family Feud

Taylor Allen 3 minute read Friday, Oct. 24, 2025

What’s more nerve-wracking: playing pro football in front of 30,000-plus fans or being put on the spot by Steve Harvey on one of television’s most iconic game shows?

That’s a question only Blue Bombers offensive lineman Asotui Eli can answer.

Eli and his wife Tiana’s family participated in Family Feud in February and their two episodes finally aired earlier this week.

“It’s a different kind of atmosphere, but I’d say they’re similar. I’d say Family Feud challenged me a little more mentally,” said Eli following Friday’s walkthrough.

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Friday, Oct. 24, 2025

YOUTUBE

Bombers offensive lineman Tui Eli (left) recently appeared on an episode of Family Feud with Steve Harvey.
YOUTUBE Bombers offensive lineman Tui Eli (left) recently appeared on an episode of Family Feud with Steve Harvey.

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