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Barracudas taking nothing for granted in provincial fast-pitch tourney

The undefeated Collège Béliveau Barracudas varsity girls fast-pitch team is aiming for a provincial title this weekend — avenging a semifinal loss a year ago.

The Barracudas are in a field of 12 teams set to compete in the Manitoba High Schools Athletics Association championship, Friday and Saturday in Ile des Chenes.

Head coach Jeremie Gauvin said Thursday despite his team’s perfect record, no one is taking the competition lightly.

“I think, if anything, we’re the underdogs, to be honest. We play really stiff competition with the country teams. They’ve got a lot of talent out there. They are good, well-coached teams,” said Gauvin.

Manitoba hitting above its weight on national volleyball team

While Manitoba comprises just one of 13 provinces and territories in Canada, the prairie province accounted for one quarter of the athletes named to the roster for the Under-21 men’s national volleyball team.

Spencer Grahame, Samuel Ludwig, Jonah Dueck and Josh Jehle were named to the 16-man roster for the U21 national squad that will compete in the the NORCECA Men’s U21 Pan American Cup from June 3-11 in Havana, Cuba, and the FIVB Men’s U21 World Championships from July 7-16 in Manama, Bahrain.

Not only do they hail from Manitoba, they all play for the University of Manitoba Bisons. The Bison athletes will be joined by their head coach Arnd (Lupo) Ludwig and their assistant coach Mike Stephens who were announced as the U21 head coach and assistant coach, respectively. Lupo Ludwig is also Samuel Ludwig’s father. The chance to coach this team was meaningful for coach Ludwig especially when he looks back at his playing days.

“It’s something very special for me, specifically because I was playing at the 1987 Junior World Championships in Bahrain as well, so it’s a full circle (experience),” said Ludwig.

Golf Manitoba season tees off with match-play championship

Addison Kartusch stood on the opening tee at the Manitoba junior women’s golf championship nearly a year ago in search of a breakthrough performance. And shine she did, winning the title by 13 strokes at St. Charles Country Club, her home course.

What a summer it turned out to be for the Winnipeg teen.

After a top-five finish in the provincial women’s amateur at Granite Hills and a victory at the junior championship, Kartusch, 16, was invited to Golf Canada’s NextGen Selection Camp in Caledon, Ont., then placed in the top-30 at the Canadian junior, and finally, represented Manitoba at the Canada Summer Games in Ontario’s Niagara Region.

She capped a fabulous 2022 season by making a verbal commitment to attend Bowling Green (Ohio) State University, an NCAA Division 1 program, in the fall of 2024.

Thieves target Elmwood Giants

The Elmwood Giants gave up some steals before the 2023 Manitoba Junior Baseball League season had begun.

The perennial league champions fell victim to thieves in the spring, losing costly ballpark equipment and tools in a couple of break-ins at Koskie Field on Chalmers Avenue.

The Giants, however, keep battling, on and off the field.

“We’re actually surviving pretty good,” said manager Ed Kulyk, whose squad is off to a 3-3 start. The Giants have captured six consecutive MJBL crowns.

Bisons expected to name veteran bench boss Burnett new men’s hockey coach

The University of Manitoba has found its new head coach of men’s hockey.

Gord Burnett, a 42-year-old Regina product with a lengthy coaching resume in junior hockey, is expected to be unveiled as the successor to long-time Bisons head coach Mike Sirant as early as this week.

Burnett, who has spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors, was the winning candidate in a hiring process that lasted several months.

After spending four seasons as an assistant coach with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice, he was named head coach of the Winnipeg Blues and led the MJHL club to a playoff berth in 2019-20.

Fearless family making mark on gridiron

Lori Turski owes her football career to a speeding ticket.

She was standing in line at the Law Courts getting ready to pay her fine when she saw a woman, Terri Wolfe, wearing track pants with the words ‘Women’s Tackle Football’ running down the side of the leg.

As a longtime fan of the gridiron game, it immediately caught Lori’s attention.

“So, I said to her, ‘You play tackle football?’ And she’s like ‘Yeah, do you want to play?’ And I was like ‘Absolutely,’” Lori, a 48-year-old from Lorette, told the Free Press on Thursday.

Top PHF puckstopper Schroeder finds new hockey home in Montreal

The Premier Hockey Federation’s best goaltender has a new home.

Corinne Schroeder, the 23-year-old Elm Creek product who took the PHF by storm as a rookie in 2022-23 with the Boston Pride, has signed a one-year contract to join the Montreal Force.

Further details of the deal were not disclosed, but Schroeder, who had a productive four-year NCAA career with Boston University and a fifth season with Quinnipiac University before turning pro, was a free agent and considered an offer to return to the Pride as well as two other PHF clubs.

“There’s a lot that went into it obviously,” Schroeder said Wednesday from Elm Creek. “I’m sad to be leaving Boston… I’ve been out here for a while but I think one major piece for me was being back in Canada. I haven’t played for a Canadian team since high school (at Balmoral Hall) and being a little closer to home was a big part of my decision. I’m very excited to be in Montreal. I think it’s a great city.”

Manitobans scaling the heights

Climbers have long existed outside the mainstream of sports in Manitoba but the sport’s brightest young members are hoping to reach unprecedented heights this week.

La Roche on the road to recovery

Winnipeg’s Shae La Roche is the oldest and most seasoned member of the Canadian women’s water polo team.

Bisons track star Manitoba athlete of the year

Madisson Lawrence ended 2021 defeated. On April 20, she’ll be crowned a champion.

Sisler grad in search of a football home

Richard Lugumire was an NCAA Division II athlete last Monday preparing for the upcoming football season.

Trio of Winnipeggers named to national swim teams

Three local swimmers have major events to look forward to.

Nepinak-Sargent the picture of calm as Ice face biggest test yet

Jordyn Nepinak-Sargent was the MVP of the Manitoba Female U18 AAA Hockey League playoffs and she had the numbers to prove it.

Allard, who’s from Winnipeg and turns 24 this month, was in her second season with the University of Saskatchewan’s women’s volleyball team when she walked into head coach Mark Dodds’ office with a plan.

Portage product helps Minot State skate to NCAA title

Joey Moffatt didn’t land the NCAA hockey scholarship he wanted but he still found an excellent outlet to continue playing when he wrapped up a five-year junior career last spring.

Woods a two sport titan

The Toronto Six was trailing 3-2 midway through the third period of last Sunday’s Premier Hockey Federation championship game in Tempe, Ariz., and Taylor Woods knew her moment had come.

Ice clinch Manitoba Female U18 championship in OT thriller

The Winnipeg Ice are champions of the Manitoba Female U18 AAA Hockey League.

Perseverance pays off

The ability to overcome adversity is not something that can be measured in a 40-yard dash or any other drill.

Teen leaves competition in her wake

There must be something in the water in Manitoba.

Lancers repeat as provincial champs

The Dakota Lancers were not accustomed to adversity.

Ready to take it to another level

Connor Church is enjoying a two-year run that’s seen him become one of Canada’s premier young grapplers.