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MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS St. Charles Country Club’s Camryn Thomas took the lead after Round 2 of the Junior Championships at Pine Ridge on Wednesday.

‘Taking everything one shot at a time’

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 8, 2026

This week has been both a marathon and a sprint for Camryn Thomas and Jewel Lafleche.

Eighteen holes in the rain-delayed and re-scheduled Manitoba Women’s Amateur on Sunday. A gruelling 38 more on Monday — two rounds plus a pair of playoff holes to decide the third and final spot on the provincial team, which was ultimately claimed by Lafleche.

Then another 18 to open the Manitoba Junior on Tuesday, followed by 18 more in Wednesday’s daytime heat.

Now, 92 competitive holes over a 72-hour span later, the finish line is finally in sight. And the race is on to see who crosses it first and captures a championship.

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Amateur

Thomas Friesen / Brandon Sun files Brandon’s Hunter Oakden is just two shots behind current leader Adam Blair after the first round at the Manitoba Junior Championship.

Race to crown new champs tees off at Pine Ridge

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Preview

Race to crown new champs tees off at Pine Ridge

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2026

Adam Blair hopes he’s saved his best for last.

The Elmhurst golfer is teeing it up this week in the Manitoba Junior Championship for the sixth and final time. His top finish came in 2024, when he placed eighth, and the 18-year-old is on the cusp of aging out of the event after graduating from Vincent Massey Collegiate last month. He’s headed to Kentucky State University on a golf scholarship this fall.

A provincial title would be quite the parting gift, don’t you think?

“It would be pretty awesome,” Blair told the Free Press with a big smile.

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Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2026

NHL

Cassidy Dankochik / THE CARILLON FILES An invitation to the Winnipeg Jets development camp reinforces Adam Vigfusson’s (15) belief that there is more than one path to developing as a player.

Vigfusson vying to impress at Jets development camp

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Preview

Vigfusson vying to impress at Jets development camp

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Tuesday, Jun. 30, 2026

You’ll forgive Adam Vigfusson for having a bit of a “kid in a candy store” mentality these days.

The 20-year-old Gimli product is truly living his best life, fresh off winning a Manitoba Junior Hockey League title, a Centennial Cup championship, Most Valuable Player honours at the national tournament and earning a scholarship to St. Cloud State University that begins this fall.

This week, you’ll find him at Hockey For All Centre, skating alongside the likes of Viggo Bjorck, Brayden Yager, Colby Barlow and the other top prospects in the Winnipeg Jets organization. Vigfusson could hardly believe it when the Jets recently extended an invitation to their annual rookie development camp.

“I got the call asking if I wanted to come and it was like, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s something I never thought would happen.’ Just super excited to be here,” Vigfusson told the Free Press following Tuesday’s skate.

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Tuesday, Jun. 30, 2026

Amateur

SUPPLIED Steve Bradley with a nice late season muskellunge. Species of considerable length, like pike, muskies and large lake trout must be held horizontally across the front of the subject or seated and supported by the angler’s legs.

Fish handling tips for fishes’ welfare and better photos

Patrick Nolan 6 minute read Preview

Fish handling tips for fishes’ welfare and better photos

Patrick Nolan 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

Most of us who spend any appreciable time fishing have encountered those special moments when we want to capture a photograph of the catch that has just made it into the boat.

Numerous circumstances might be driving our desire to get that photo: a neophyte’s first fish, an exceptional catch, the so called “fish of a lifetime,” or any number of other factors that really can be determined only by the angler and the photographer.

Regrettably, many of us have also experienced varying levels of satisfaction with the images captured after we have released the fish to swim free, leaving the angler wishing for more, at which time it’s too late.

The good news is that with a little bit of forethought and planning, we can consistently take great photos of the fish we catch — with the fishes’ welfare of utmost interest, of course.

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Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

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SUPPLIED Divers Alex Tiaglei (left) and Braden Rumpit hit the road in their modified bus on a mission to cliff dive in all 50 United States in 50 days.

Taking the leap

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Taking the leap

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

Two months ago, Winnipeg high-diver Alex Tiaglei received a call that he could’ve easily confused for a belated April Fool’s joke.

On the other end was his American-born friend Braden Rumpit, whom Tiaglei had dove against at several competitions around the world.

Rumpit gave it to him straight: he planned to do a cliff dive in all 50 United States in 50 days, and he wanted Tiaglei to do it with him.

“I mean, at first I thought he was kind of crazy,” said Tiaglei. “But then I started thinking about it, and the pieces were definitely falling together pretty well.”

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Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

Amateur

Golf Manitoba Photo St. Charles Country Club’s Camryn Thomas finished fifth this past weekend in the Junior Girls category at the NextGen Prairie Championship.

Manitobans crushing the links: Bevy of Top-10 finishes for local golfers this past weekend

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Manitobans crushing the links: Bevy of Top-10 finishes for local golfers this past weekend

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Monday, Jun. 22, 2026

When it comes to the future of Manitoba golf, it would appear the kids are alright.

A trio of young provincial players earned Top 10 honours this past weekend at the NextGen Prairie Championship which was held at the Neepawa Golf & Country Club.

Leading the way was 16-year-old Camryn Thomas, who finished fifth in the Junior Girls category after rounds of 79, 76 and 81. That left her 10 shots back of B.C.’s Serin Girard, who edged out Saskatchewan’s Grace Odnokon in a playoff.

Alberta’s Raylee Denton finished third, while Ontario’s Vivian Liu was fourth.

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Monday, Jun. 22, 2026

Amateur

International Skating Union Photo Winnipeggers Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov will make their senior-level Grand Prix debut in October.

Winnipeg pair skaters among world’s rising stars

Laurie Nealin 6 minute read Preview

Winnipeg pair skaters among world’s rising stars

Laurie Nealin 6 minute read Monday, Jun. 22, 2026

When the International Skating Union announced its 2026 Grand Prix of Figure Skating entry lists last week, it described the global series as “world-class competition featuring many of the sport’s biggest names alongside a new generation of rising stars.”

Winnipeggers Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov, who graduated from the junior ranks as the 2026 world pair champions, are among those rising stars. Their senior-level Grand Prix debut will mark the official start to their four-year build towards the 2030 Olympic Winter Games.

Kemp, who turns 18 on Wednesday, and Elizarov, 22, will open at Skate Canada International in Kelowna, B.C., at the end of October, the second of six events on the circuit. Their teammates, world bronze medallists and Canadian champions Lia Pereira and Trennt Michaud, are the top seeds in that event.

Two weeks later, the Winnipeg duo is slated to compete at Skate America in Washington state alongside Germany’s world champions and Olympic bronze medallists Minerva Hase and Nikita Volodin.

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Monday, Jun. 22, 2026

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MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Sport Manitoba’s new president and CEO Evan Andrew will focus on helping members grow their sports in a safe and inclusive way.

Sports Manitoba’s new president and CEO a team player

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Sports Manitoba’s new president and CEO a team player

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026

It was less than a decade ago when Evan Andrew was the “new guy” sitting at a small desk on the fifth floor of the Sport Manitoba building after landing a role with the 2017 Canada Games Host Society.

“I didn’t really know anyone at Sport Manitoba at all. I was out there, plugging away in one of those cubicles and people would be like ‘Hey, who are you?’” said Andrew with a laugh in a sit-down interview with the Free Press on Thursday.

“I would say they took a bit of a chance on me, for sure. I was the director of marketing and sponsorship for the Canada Games, and I hadn’t necessarily managed a bunch of people so I think they took a chance, but in the end, it was a very successful Canada Games and the areas I oversaw, we achieved, or even overachieved, in some of those areas around revenue generation.”

With the Games in the rear-view mirror, Andrew was hired as Sport Manitoba’s new director of marketing. He worked his way up to become director of business operations before recently earning the ultimate promotion: Sport Manitoba president and CEO.

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Thursday, Jun. 18, 2026

Amateur

J.R. Oshima / O Athletix Winnipegger Domenic Horvath said he’s enjoyed being moved to the rusher position on the national men’s flag football team.

Winnipegger Horvath embracing rusher role on national men’s flag team

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Preview

Winnipegger Horvath embracing rusher role on national men’s flag team

Joshua Frey-Sam 7 minute read Tuesday, May. 26, 2026

This time it feels real for Domenic Horvath.

When the 26-year-old was selected to the Canadian men’s flag football roster for the first time last year, a piece of him felt prideful about what he had accomplished — and a bigger part felt somewhat slighted when he was quickly named an alternate for the team, which prevented him from travelling to games with the active roster.

That was one of many humbling moments in the last 12 months for the Winnipegger, who believes he is one of the top flag players in the country.

“I do feel like last year hurt the ego a little bit, because I never got a fair shot, and I know this year they see what I can do now that they’ve given me the shot to perform,” Horvath said Tuesday. “So I’m feeling good about that.”

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Tuesday, May. 26, 2026

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MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Former Bison John Loewen (centre) poses with the current men’s basketball team in a ceremony celebrating his $1 million donation to the program Monday morning at the U of M.

Hoops program receives largest single donation in Bisons sports history

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Preview

Hoops program receives largest single donation in Bisons sports history

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Monday, May. 25, 2026

More than 70 people gathered inside the Investors Group Athletic Centre early Monday to celebrate a monumental day for Manitoba Bisons basketball.

John Loewen, a post player for the Herd from 1968-73, has donated $1 million towards the men’s hoops program to help support key initiatives for the next decade.

After his playing career, Loewen went on to become an MLA and a prominent businessman who founded Payworks.

“My time at the University of Manitoba was very formative in everything that happened afterwards,” Loewen told the Free Press on Monday.

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Monday, May. 25, 2026

Amateur

THOMAS FRIESEN / BRANDON SUN FILES St. Charles Country Club’s Addison Kartusch recently completed her sophomore season at Bowling Green State University by winning the National Golf Invitational on Sunday.

Kartusch set to make pro debut on the links

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

Kartusch set to make pro debut on the links

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Addison Kartusch is still in the early stages of her golf career, though she’s been around long enough to know that another trip to the winner’s circle can provide a meaningful springboard for what figures to be an enlightening summer ahead.

Kartusch, who plays out of St. Charles Country Club and recently completed her sophomore season at Bowling Green State University, captured top spot at the National Golf Invitational at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz., over the weekend.

Her three-round total of seven-under 209 (71-68-70) gave her a four-stroke cushion over Kiley Reisner of Wyoming and Kartusch said her putting was a critical element during the 54-hole event.

“I definitely improved a bit over the last couple of weeks, especially with my lag putting,” Kartusch said in a telephone interview. “But I also saw some more putts drop, including some longer putts from outside of 20 feet and (made) more putts from the scoring zone, from 15 feet and in, which was nice. My ball striking was solid, but I was happy with my short game.”

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Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Amateur

JACOB MALLARI / UBC ATHLETICS Winnipeg’s Jill Matsubara is having a breakout season in her sophomore year with the UBC Thunderbirds that will be capped off by playing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Softball World Series this week.

Infielder Matsubara playing big role in UBC’s historic run

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Infielder Matsubara playing big role in UBC’s historic run

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Jill Matsubara has been on the road for the last two weeks, but she’s not itching to return home.

If things go her way, she’ll happily continue to live out of her suitcase.

You see, the Winnipeg-born sophomore infielder is in the midst of a historic run with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, who are preparing for their first appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga., this week.

It took a few timely hits and some good fortune for the Thunderbirds to reach the national championship tournament, but for Matsubara, this was the inevitable next step for the program after reaching the NAIA Championship Opening Round tournament — which precedes the World Series — for the first time last year.

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Wednesday, May. 20, 2026

Amateur

SUPPLIED The Brandon Wheat Kings took defenceman Marko Malbasa of St. Andrews in the second round of the Western Hockey League Prospects Draft. Malbasa was one of 15 Manitobans drafted to the league.

Rink Hockey Academy scores big in Prospects Draft

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Preview

Rink Hockey Academy scores big in Prospects Draft

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Monday, May. 11, 2026

The way Marty Murray sees it, the Brandon Wheat Kings essentially came away with the equivalent of two first-round picks from the Western Hockey League Prospect Draft last week.

The head coach and general manager of the Wheat Kings conceded that he and his scouting staff gave some consideration to choosing defenceman Marko Malbasa of St. Andrews 18th overall before ultimately going with forward Rylan Edwards in that spot.

Fortunately for the Wheat Kings, by the time they made their next selection in the second round at 42nd overall, Malbasa — who played for the Rink Hockey Academy U15 Prep program last season — was still available.

“We felt really lucky to get him where we did,” Murray said in a telephone interview on Monday afternoon. “Big body. Good character, being a captain. He does everything pretty well. He can play heavy and play defensive and he can provide some offence.”

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Monday, May. 11, 2026

Amateur

SASHA SEFTER / FREE PRESS FILES June can be one of the best months for action and species, as fish typically start to feed aggressively in shallow water.

Angling for cost-effective fishing trip straightforward

Patrick Nolan 6 minute read Preview

Angling for cost-effective fishing trip straightforward

Patrick Nolan 6 minute read Friday, May. 8, 2026

Where a fishing trip may have previously been considered a predictable and consistent event that occurred year after year, unforeseen economic stressors are forcing many anglers to re-examine where our dollars go.

As well, there will always be people looking to book their first ever trip, either because there is an interest, a special event or people are staying closer to home in this new economic landscape.

The good news is that all is not lost because the opportunity to successfully plan a rewarding trip to northwest Ontario doesn’t have to be expensive, difficult or tricky.

For the context of this column, short term rentals really can be the angler’s best pathway and represent the lowest barrier to entry. Airbnb is our friend, and there are dozens of places to stay that we can navigate to, view photos, message owners and read reviews. The website is safe and does a good job protecting the consumer where deposits are refundable — subject to date limitations — and both guest and host are insured.

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Friday, May. 8, 2026

Amateur

RICH LAM / UBC ATHLETICS PHOTO Former Vincent Massey Trojan Olivia Weekes paints every corner of the UBC Thunderbirds’ basketball history books: fourth all-time in UBC’s Canada West scoring (1,239 points), second in total rebounds (751), top 10 in steals (151 — eighth), blocks (50 — ninth) and minutes played (2,489 — ninth), and holds the women’s program record for free throws made (331).

Weekes crushing it in Land Down Under

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Weekes crushing it in Land Down Under

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Friday, May. 1, 2026

Dave Taylor has a funny way of describing what makes Olivia Weekes a rare breed on the basketball court.

“I say this in the nicest possible way, and really in kind of a positive coaching way: she’s a bit of a cheater,” said Taylor, who coached the 5-11 guard this past season, her last with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

It’s a nod to Weekes’ elite competitive nature, which shone on the courts of Winnipeg and led to a stellar run in high school with the Vincent Massey Trojans before she was recruited west, where she starred for five years with the Thunderbirds.

“If we’re doing a drill in practice, we’re keeping score, and as soon as we’re keeping score, she wants to win,” added Taylor. “And if it means she’s got to push her teammate out of the way or foul to win, she’s going to do it.”

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Friday, May. 1, 2026

Amateur

THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Team Canada’s Audrey Vandervelden, left, and teammate Betty Baxter during 1976 Olympic games in Montreal against Peru.

Recognition five decades later for Manitobans who helped usher Canada onto Olympic stage

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

Recognition five decades later for Manitobans who helped usher Canada onto Olympic stage

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Saturday, Apr. 25, 2026

It’s been five decades, but the memories remain vivid for a trio of Manitobans that helped the country make volleyball history at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

“I remember the incredible feeling of walking into Olympic Stadium and just the roar (of the crowd),” said Connie Lebrun, now 71 and living in Edmonton, recalling the opening ceremonies.

“That was just like the most incredible feeling, and I still always get chills on my spine when I hear the Canadian anthem.”

Lebrun, Mary Dempster and Claire Lloyd all wore the Maple Leaf at those Games when Canada made its debut in the sport.

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Saturday, Apr. 25, 2026

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