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.

The Northern Manitoba Blizzard will look to wrap up their season this week after dropping both games this past weekend against Virden and Steinbach. This week’s slate of games includes a home contest against Dauphin tomorrow, a Wednesday road game against Swan Valley, and, lastly, on Sunday, the boys will travel to Waywayseecappo to play the Wolverines one last time.

Puck drop for the first two matchups is 7:00 p.m., while Sunday’s game will begin at 6:00 p.m. 102.9 CJAR will be broadcasting all three matchups.

A reminder as well that tickets are still on sale for the team’s upcoming Awards Banquet. Those interested in purchasing some can e-transfer payment@normanblizzard.com. Tickets are $35 each.

With the 2025–2026 season set to wrap up soon, the Northern Manitoba Blizzard organization would like to invite everyone to attend their upcoming Awards Banquet.
 

The season celebration will take place on Tuesday, March 17th, at the Wescana Inn in the Rendezvous Room. Cocktails will be served starting at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards presentation at approximately 6:30 p.m.
 

Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased via e-transfer to payment@normanblizzard.com. For more information, please contact Bonnie White at 204-620-2263.

The Northern Manitoba Blizzard came up just short last night against their Highway 10 rivals in the Swan Valley Stampeders.

After a quiet first period, captain Kelton Kellerman and the Blizzard power play unit orchestrated back-to-back goals to make it 2–0. Swan Valley responded quickly, as Dylan Ruff and Ryder Woods each scored to tie the game at two.

The Blizzard earned another power play opportunity late in the second period, and Kayne Pawlick capitalized, tapping in the team’s third special teams goal of the night to give the Blizz a one-goal lead heading into the final frame.

The third period saw two goals from the Swan Valley offence, ultimately securing a 4–3 victory for the Stampeders.

The Blizzard will now set their sights on tonight’s matchup against the Neepawa Titans. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at the Carberry Plains Community Centre.

This past weekend, M30Athletics announced that they will be hosting an All-Star Hockey Game for athletes under the age of seven from across the North.
 

The game is open to everyone. Those interested in signing up their child can do so by emailing M30athletics@gmail.com.
 

The event will take place on April 4th at the GLMC. All participants will receive an All-Star medal and an exclusive M30 Game Star T-shirt.

Starting Friday and running through Sunday, provincial hockey action will take place at the Roy H. Johnston Arena.
 

The U15 Single A Provincials will feature five teams competing in a single pool. The teams include The Pas Huskies, Brandon Wheat Kings, Morden Hawks, Russell Rams, and the Virden Oil Capitals.
 

Pool play will run throughout Friday and Saturday, with both the bronze medal game and the championship game scheduled back-to-back early Sunday.

Both the Northern Manitoba Blizzard and the Swan Valley Stampeders will be aiming to snap their respective losing streaks tonight as they face off against one another.
 

The regular season series between the two teams is currently tied at two games apiece. In their last meeting, Northern Manitoba defeated Swan Valley by a score of 6–3.
 

The Highway 10 rivalry is set to get underway at 7:00 p.m. 102.9 CJAR will be on the road with Northern Manitoba to provide coverage of this in-division matchup.

Basketball action took place this past weekend for a few teams from The Pas and OCN.

Starting with the SV Boys from MBCI and OLC, their Zone 11 Championship was held locally at MBCI. When pool play wrapped up, the Spartans finished first in their pool with a 2–0 record. Meanwhile, the Wolverines dropped both of their games and finished third.
 

Bracket play then got underway and featured three matchups. In game one, the Wolverines defeated the NNOC Warriors 61–42. In game two, the Hapnot Kopper Kings defeated the HBOIERC Huskies 72–48. Finally, the MBCI Spartans captured their fourth straight Zone 11 Championship with a dominant win over the Frontier Raiders.
 

The SV Girls Zone 11 Championship also took place over the weekend, but in Norway House at the Helen Betty Osborne Ininiw Education Resource Centre. There was one pool consisting of four schools, and after each team played one another, the stage was set. The championship game featured the Frontier Raiders and the Hapnot Kopper Kweens, while the third-place game saw MBCI take on the HBOIERC Huskies. The Kopper Kweens came out victorious in their contest, and unfortunately, the SV girls of MBCI came up just short against the Huskies, ultimately ending their season.
 

With the SV boys winning their fourth straight Zone 11 Championship, they will now focus solely on the upcoming Provincial AA Boys Basketball Championship, which will take place in the coming weeks.

The Northern Manitoba Blizzard will now focus on the week ahead after two tough outings against the Winkler Flyers and the Winnipeg Monarchs this past weekend. Even though the first period was extremely close, Friday’s game saw Winkler take control from start to finish. By the time the second period wrapped up, the score was 6–0 in favour of Winkler, and the Flyers went on to win the game 8–0.
 

In Saturday’s matchup, Winnipeg scored the lone goals in the first and second periods to give themselves a 2–0 lead heading into the final frame. Just before the halfway point of the third, Kelton Kellerman buried one to cut the deficit to a single goal. However, the Monarchs responded by firing in three unanswered goals to make the final score 5–1.

The Blizzard now face a four-game road slate this week, beginning with Swan Valley tomorrow, followed by Neepawa on Wednesday, Virden on Friday, and Steinbach on Saturday to cap off the week. 102.9 CJAR will be broadcasting tomorrow’s game, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m.