Saturday Sports Update

Five opening-round series came to an end Friday night in the Tiger Hills Hockey League playoffs. Jesse Bernard had three assists as Killarney downed Melita 6-1 and Taylor Sanheim had four goals and four assists as Miniota-Elkhorn defeated Souris 15-1. The Shamrocks and C-Hawks swept those best-of-three West Division quarterfinals in two straight. Trey Evenson had four goals and two helpers as Gladstone downed Carberry 9-3. Tyler Jury had a goal and two assists as Minnedosa doubled up on Pilot Mound 6-3 and Mike Reykdal scored twice as Wawanesa beat Cartwright 5-2. The Lakers, Bombers, and Jets swept those East Division quarterfinals in two straight. Rhett Boschman made 21 saves as MacGregor downed Neepawa 5-2. That series is tied at one.

The Portage Terriers are back on home ice tonight in one of five MJHL matches. The league's top team will welcome the Winkler Fyers to Stride Place for a 7:30 p.m. match. The Flyers are third overall and are ten points behind the Dogs with two games in hand.

Speedskater Sofia Bieber of Winnipeg will carry Manitoba’s flag and lead Team Toba into the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island tonight for the opening ceremony of the 2023 Canada Winter Games. Week one sports include Biathlon, Female Curling, Freestyle Ski, Gymnastics, Male Hockey, Karate, Ringette, Speedskating, Squash, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Basketball. Competition begins Sunday.

Kelsey Huibers scored twice, Hayley Kolosky had three assists and Grace Glover stopped all 14 shots she faced as the defending Manitoba Female U18 AAA Hockey League champion Westman Wildcats blanked the Central Plains Capitals 5-0 and now lead the best-of-five quarterfinal two games to none.

The Ste. Anne Aces have joined the Warren Mercs and Portage Islanders in round two of the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League playoffs. Ken Selby had a hat trick as the Aces downed the Red River Wild 8-3 and took the best-of-five quarterfinal three games to one.

The Morris Mavericks are into round two of the Zone 4 High School Hockey League playoffs. Rylan Keck had two goals and an assist as Morris downed Garden Valley 5-2. The Mavericks swept the best-of-three quarterfinal in two straight. Ketema Wall scored both goals for the Zodiacs.

The Pembina Valley Hawks lost 1-0 to the Winnipeg Avros who now lead the best-of-five quarterfinal two games to none. Hawks netminder Kaylee Franz faced 26 shots.

Slade Sotheran scored the go-ahead goal with one second left as the Pembina Valley Twisters edged the Transcona Railer Express 2-1. Riley Goertzen also scored for the Twisters.

Brandon dropped a 3-1 decision to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Calder Anderson had the lone goal for the Wheat Kings. The Winnipeg Ice score five first period goals en route to a 7-1 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Dominic Toninato scored and drew an assist of Jansen Harkins' go-ahead goal 26 seconds into the third period as Manitoba edged the Iowa Wild 2-1 at Canada Life Centre. Moose netminder Arvid Holm stopped 14 of the 15 shots he faced.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have agreed to terms with receiver Rasheed Bailey on a one-year contract. Bailey returns for his fourth season with Winnipeg. The Philadelphia native posted career-best numbers with the Blue Bombers in 2022, starting all 18 regular season games, the West final and the Grey Cup. He caught 63 passes for 729 yards and nine touchdowns.