After capturing a pivotal Game 5 win on Tuesday, the OCN Storm are just one step closer to becoming back-to-back KJHL champions. The Game 5 final was 9–6.

 

The Storm will be in Norway House tonight, and if a Game 7 is necessary, it will be played this Saturday at the GLMC. Should the Storm pick up a win tonight, they will become one of just seven teams to ever win multiple championships in back-to-back seasons.

 

A reminder for fans not travelling for the game: you can stream all the action online on the Storm’s official Facebook page.

After dropping both games against Norway House this past weekend, the championship series between the OCN Storm and the Northstars just got a whole lot more interesting. Game five will be happening tonight at the GLMC, with puck drop slated for 7:30 p.m.

A reminder that all games at home are free to attend. For those who live out of town, the games are broadcast live on the Storm’s official Facebook page.

After this past weekend of play, the Turnbull Cup stage is set and will see the Virden Oil Capitals and the Niverville Nighthawks duke it out in a seven-game series. The Nighthawks were able to get past Waywayseecappo in five games, whereas it took Virden six games to defeat Steinbach. Both teams will be looking to hoist the coveted trophy for the first time in their respective franchise histories.

Virden made the finals for the first time back in 2018 but fell to Steinbach in six games. Niverville, meanwhile, will be making their championship debut once the series kicks off. The official postseason finale schedule is expected to be released sometime this week.

The OCN Storm’s championship series against the Norway House Northstars kicks off tomorrow at the GLMC, with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. The Storm have a chance to not only go back-to-back, but to do so for the first time in the franchise’s history.

Norway House, on the other hand, will be looking to capture their second KJHL title since winning it in 2008. During this past regular season, the two teams met eight times, with the series ending in a tie as both clubs picked up four wins apiece.

The championship series promises to be must-see hockey and will truly feature a best-on-best matchup. All postseason games are free to attend here at home.

A reminder that M30 Athletics will be hosting both their hockey and volleyball championships this weekend across The Pas and OCN. The weekend will get underway following the opening ceremonies, which will take place Friday at 6:00 p.m. at the GLMC. All athletes, coaches, and dignitaries are asked to arrive thirty minutes early, dressed in their respective jerseys.

Around 500 athletes from across the province will be making the trek north to compete in this three-day multisport competition.

As for tournament gate fees, it will cost $5 per day to come out and spectate games taking place at both the GLMC and Roy H. Johnston Arena. However, admission will be free for elders aged 65+ and children six and under.

More information and tournament schedules can be found on the official M30 Athletics Facebook page.

Attention pickleball enthusiasts: UCN will be hosting a tournament on April 18 for those interested in grabbing a partner and paying the $40 registration fee.

There is a 24-team limit, so pairs are asked to sign up by calling 204-627-8535 or by emailing recreation@ucn.ca. All games will be played at the UCN campus in The Pas, inside the gymnasium, and the deadline to register is April 13.

Tournament schedules are set to be released on April 16. Rackets will be available for those who need them, and students are able to take part for free. A supper will also be provided, and games will get underway at 9:00 a.m.

Once again, Midwest Karate hosted their annual Joseph Kryschuck Memorial Friendship Tournament this past weekend at the Scott Bateman Middle School gymnasium.

There were two main focuses for this past weekend’s tournament. First, it gives novice competitors a chance to experience what a tournament entails and what to expect. As for the experienced athletes, the Friendship Tournament allows them to really hone in and further develop their skills before the big National Tournament that takes place in a couple of months.

Athletes from across the North were in attendance to compete in both the choreography aspect of the martial art and the sparring component.

After three sweeps and one series ending in five games, the semifinal stage is finally set for the MJHL’s Turnbull Cup playoffs. The three teams that wrapped up their series in four games include Niverville, Virden, and Waywayseecappo. The only team that needed five games to advance was Steinbach.

In the semifinals, Niverville will take on Waywayseecappo, while Steinbach will face Virden in the other matchup. The semifinal schedule has not been released yet, but games will certainly begin sometime this week.

We’re still a little ways away, but The Pas Huskies want all TPMHA hockey parents to know that their annual general meeting will be taking place at A&W on May 7 at 6:00 p.m.

 

Voting will take place for a variety of committee positions, such as vice president, treasurer, and tournament coordinator. Anyone wanting to suggest a rule change is asked to send in their proposal by April 22 so it can be reviewed or voted on at the meeting.

 

More information regarding the meeting can be found on The Pas Huskies’ official Facebook page.

The Virden Oil Capitals and the Waywayseecappo Wolverines swept their first-round series opponents last night and will now wait for the other two series to wrap up. It seemed as though both Dauphin and Neepawa didn’t have much of a chance from the start due to the level of play displayed by the Oil Caps and Wolverines.

 

Waywayseecappo ended up beating the Kings 3–1 to move on to the semifinals, while Virden thumped the Titans 7–2 in their final game of Round 1.

 

In other Turnbull Cup playoff action, after having a successful game against Winkler this past Wednesday, Niverville now only needs one more win in order to move on to Round 2. Much like Dauphin and Neepawa, Winkler has not looked like themselves in this 2025–2026 postseason.

 

The two teams will play tonight in Winkler. Meanwhile, Steinbach will also be in action and has a chance to create some distance against Portage in what will be their fourth playoff game against one another. Right now, the Pistons hold a one-game advantage over Portage. The Terriers, on the other hand, have a big opportunity to even the series at 2–2 heading into Game 5.

With the Turnbull Cup playoffs kicking off late last week, half of the teams competing are already starting to separate themselves thanks to the sheer domination displayed on the ice. Two West Division teams are already looking to pick up just one more win to move on to the semifinals.

The Waywayseecappo Wolverines and Virden Oil Capitals have both looked fantastic in their respective series. Virden will look to pick up their fourth win against Neepawa tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., and the same goes for Waywayseecappo in their first-round matchup against Dauphin.

Taking a look at the East Division matchups, Niverville is already two games ahead in their first-round series against Winkler and will aim to make it 3–0 tonight at 7:30 p.m. Portage was able to sneak away with a Game 1 win against Steinbach last Friday. Since then, however, they have dropped two games to the Pistons. Their next game takes place Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The OCN Storm have officially swept the Cross Lake Islanders and will now move on to face Norway House in the KJHL Finals. The Storm had control for most of the game until the final minutes of the third period. The score was 3-1 entering the frame when Cedrick Puffalt scored early to make it 4-1, but things started to get a little dicey after that. Cross Lake’s Kolby Cooper scored on the power play to make it 4-2, and then with less than a minute remaining, Jayden Blacksmith fired another one in to make it a one-goal deficit. Although it was a great push from the Islanders, the final nail in the coffin came from Keestin Danielson when he potted an empty-netter to make the final 5-3.

 

The regular season series between the Storm and North Stars is tied at four wins apiece. The first set of games is scheduled for April 3rd and 4th at the GLMC.

With the soccer season just around the corner, the Kelsey Rec is getting an early jump on registrations. To guarantee a proper-fitting jersey, parents and guardians are encouraged to sign up anytime between now and April 10th. The absolute registration deadline is set for May 1st, and the season is scheduled to begin on May 19th. The cost is $40, with a non-resident fee added where applicable. Games will be played on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, call 204-627-1134.

The OCN Storm can wrap up their semifinal series against the Cross Lake Islanders tonight in KJHL action. The boys are in Cross Lake for tonight’s game, and possibly tomorrow as well, currently holding a 2–0 lead over the Islanders in their best-of-five series.

 

Puck drop is set for 7:30 for both games. Fans wanting to tune in can catch the game in its entirety on the Storm’s official Facebook page.

 

The winner of this series will move on to face the Norway House North Stars in the KJHL Finals.

The Senior Varsity Boys basketball team capped off their 2025–2026 season in the best way possible this past weekend by winning the Provincial AA Boys Basketball Championship. The boys were in Gimli for their bracket-style tournament, and their first opponent would end up taking them to the brink of defeat.

The Gabrielle-Roy Les Roys certainly set the tone against the Spartans, but MBCI thrived when the pressure was on and ended up beating Gabrielle-Roy 64–63 in a nail-biting overtime period.

The Spartans then moved on to face the Immanuel Christian Falcons, a team they had already seen and defeated in a prior tournament earlier this season. It was no easy task, but the boys handled the Falcons in a hard-fought 73–69 victory.

After that game, the stage was set for the championship final, where MBCI would take on a familiar foe in Souris for all the marbles. The last time the boys played in Gimli during their regular-season basketball tournament, Souris defeated MBCI in the final 70–59. This time, however, the Spartans would get their revenge by winning 84–75.

That win will hold a very special place in the Spartan sports history books, as for the first time ever the MBCI Senior Varsity Boys basketball team has won a Provincial Basketball Championship. A huge congratulations goes out to the players, coaches, and volunteers who helped this squad throughout the entire season.

After back-to-back playoff wins on home ice, the OCN Storm are now just one victory away from booking their ticket to the KJHL Finals.

Wednesday’s game against Cross Lake saw the Storm topple the Islanders 5–0, with goaltender Logan Grenier standing out by recording his first shutout of the postseason. Yesterday’s contest was more of the same, as OCN once again dominated from start to finish. Forwards Shaden Duliak and Laz Constant delivered impressive performances, combining for a total of seven goals, as the Storm cruised to a 9–1 victory.

 

The Storm’s next game will take place in Cross Lake on March 23. In the other series, Norway House currently holds a one-game lead over Peguis.

The senior varsity boys from MBCI are currently in Gimli with their sights set on bringing home a coveted Provincial AA Boys Basketball Championship, and so far, the Spartans are on the right track.

Game one saw the boys take on the Gabrielle-Roy Les Roys. The senior varsity squad definitely had their work cut out for them, but when the clock hit zero, MBCI walked away with a 64–63 nail-biting win to advance to the semifinals.

MBCI is set to take on the Immanuel Christian Falcons today at 4:00 p.m. The winner will move on to the championship final, where they will face either the Carberry Cougars or the Souris Sabres tomorrow.

The Northern Manitoba Blizzard held their annual year-end awards banquet Tuesday evening at the Wescana Inn. The season celebration brought together players, billets, fans, and key members of the organization to reflect on the 2025–26 season.

The year certainly had its highs and lows, but regardless, the Blizzard approached the season with grit and integrity, proudly representing the north every time they hit the ice.

Several awards were handed out during the evening. Blizz captain Kelton Kellerman was recognized for both his dedication and defensive play. Jett Fogle’s offensive abilities were also acknowledged with a few awards, while the Most Valuable Player honour was shared between goaltenders Keagin Kelln and Nick Kunyk.

For a full list of award winners, visit the Blizzard's official Facebook page.

The OCN Storm begin their postseason journey tonight on home ice against the fifth-seeded Cross Lake Islanders. After a successful regular season that saw them finish as the number one seed, the Storm are heavy favourites to go back-to-back.

Puck drop for both tonight and tomorrow’s games is set for 7:30 p.m., and as always, a reminder that all Storm games at the GLMC are free to attend.

This first-round matchup will be a best-of-five series, with the next games scheduled for March 23rd and 24th at the Cross Lake Sports Complex. If a Game 5 is necessary, it will take place back on home ice on March 27th.
 

Prior to puck drop, at around 5:30 p.m., there will be a Storm playoff party for all ages at the GLMC. Fans are encouraged to bring the whole family out to enjoy hot dogs, hot chocolate, face painting, and sign-making.
 

The winner of this series will advance to face either Norway House or Peguis in the finals.

 

The Opaskwayak Soccer Association will be holding its Annual General Meeting this upcoming Sunday at the Oscar Lathlin Collegiate Gym from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The main focus of Sunday’s meeting will be filling several positions on the OSA board. The association is looking to fill the roles of president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, registrar, and equipment manager.

Soccer in OCN runs completely on volunteer support, so if you’ve ever thought about lending a hand but feel like you lack knowledge about the sport, just know that no experience is required.

The Northern Manitoba Blizzard are set to wrap up their 2025–26 campaign with a Sunday contest against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines.

As of right now, the Wolverines have locked themselves in as the third seed in the MGEU West Division, meaning their first-round playoff matchup will be against the Dauphin Kings.

Waywayseecappo has three games remaining and is currently riding a three-game losing skid. Meanwhile, Northern Manitoba will be aiming to snap their eight-game losing streak and pick up their first road win of the season.

Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m., and 102.9 CJAR will be live on location to deliver the final Blizzard broadcast of the season.

The entry fee deadline for the M30 Athletics Indigenous Hockey and Volleyball Championship is set for March 25th. The entry fee to register a hockey team is $800, while the fee to register a volleyball team is $400.

Payments can be made via e-transfer or cheque. More information regarding payment details can be found by visiting the official M30 Athletics Facebook page.

The roster deadline is also an important date to keep in mind, as teams must have their complete roster submitted by March 21st.

For more information about this upcoming event, which runs from April 3rd to 5th, you can email m30goalie@gmail.com.

The Northern Manitoba Blizzard gave their fans quite an exciting game last night in the final home matchup of the 2025–26 season. Northern Manitoba welcomed Dauphin for the last time this year, and although the first period saw no scoring, it was still an entertaining affair between the two division rivals.

The first goal came very late in the second period. With about 19 seconds remaining, captain Kelton Kellerman fired home a power-play goal to give the Blizz a 1–0 lead heading into the final frame.

However, Luke Myhre of Dauphin was able to tie the game just before the halfway mark of the third period. The period eventually came to an end with the score still tied, sending the game to overtime.

In the extra frame, Ty Pratte would eventually call game for the Kings by scoring his sixth goal of the season, making the final 2–1 for Dauphin.

Northern Manitoba will have a chance to pick up more points tonight when they take on the Swan Valley Stampeders. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., but our Blizz broadcast will begin after Legion Bingo.

 

A reminder for Blizz fans across the north, tomorrow evening from 7:00 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m., the organization will be hosting an autograph session in the Roy H. Johnston Arena’s main lobby.

It’s a great opportunity for Blizz fans to meet and interact with their favourite players. Player trading cards will also be available for purchase at $10 per pack.

With nicer weather just around the corner, baseball players and their parents will be excited to hear that registration is now open for the upcoming Tri-Community Minor Baseball season.
 

Much like last year, there will be a total of five age categories. Players that fall in the U5–U7 age range will have a registration fee of $60. Meanwhile, players in the U9, U11, U13, and U15–U18 divisions will have a registration fee of $100.
 

Those interested in signing up early can visit rampregistrations.com. The registration window will remain open until the end of April and close on May 1st. The first day of baseball is scheduled for May 20th, with games being played on Mondays and Wednesdays in the evening.
 

There are also a few other things worth noting. First, the U11, U13, and U15–U18 divisions will have rep teams created for provincial competitions. Secondly, coaches are very much needed for the upcoming season. Those interested can email baseballassociation@outlook.com.
 

Lastly, one of the best ways to stay up to date is by following the official Tri-Community Minor Baseball Association Facebook page.

Tonight’s Blizz Hockey broadcast, brought to you by Shanes, will be live on 102.9 CJAR as the Blizz are set to take on division rival Dauphin. Northern Manitoba will be aiming to snap their six-game skid and pick up a win in their final home game of the 2025–26 season.

As for Dauphin, a win tonight would not only extend their winning streak to three games, but a victory over the Blizz would also solidify their position as the number two seed heading into the postseason.

Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., with our Funky Threadz pre-game show getting underway at around 6:45 p.m.