Weekend sports wrap: Natives pick up five of a possible six points; Tigers fall to Clippers
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- Published on Monday, October 21, 2013
myWestman.ca
The following is a complete look-back on what transpired in local sports over the weekend . . .
Natives win two games; lose in OT
The Neepawa Natives had one of their best weekends in recent memory.
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League club picked up five of a possible six points in three games over the weekend.
On Friday night at the Yellowhead Centre, the Natives opened up a three goal lead on the Swan Valley Stampeders, but wound up falling 4-3 in overtime.
Robby Moar, Sam Briscoe and Kyle McDonald scored the three goals for Neepawa in the loss.
Max Flanagan scored twice for the Stampeders, including the game winner at the 2:44 mark of overtime. Max Provencher and Mitch Deacon scored the other tallies for Swan Valley.
Cole Holowenko picked up the win in net for Swan Valley, making 34 saves in the process. Michael Gudmandson took the loss between the pipes for Neepawa, stopping 40 of 44 shots directed his way.
On Saturday, the Natives travelled to Virden to take on the Oil Capitals in what was a back and forth affair.
The Natives were able to get goals from five different scorers en route to a 5-4 win.
Sam Briscoe scored the game winner for the Natives shorthanded at the 17:20 mark of the third period. Newly acquired forward Steven Phillips, Clayton Heindrichs, Derrick Brooks and Drake Lindsay scored the other tallies for Neepawa.
Devan Schram, Jake Dudar, Sheldon Kowalchuk and Kevin Pochuk scored for Virden.
Davy Fisher stopped 24 of 28 shots to pick up the win in net for Neepawa. Former Native Adam Iwan wound up on the losing end between the pipes, making 26 saves for the Oil Capitals.
On Sunday, the Natives wrapped up their weekend with their second win in a row, defeating the OCN Blizzard 5-2 at the Yellowhead Centre.
With the score tied at two apiece after 40 minutes, the Natives were able to score three unanswered goals, two of which came from the stick of Riley Hillis, who helped the Natives climb out of the basement in the Sher-Wood Division, improving to 4-7-3 on the season.
Brayden Cuthbert, newly acquired Jaret Smith and Matti Jmaeff scored the other tallies for Neepawa, who received a 24 save performance in net from Davy Fisher.
Colton Robak and Grant Valiquette scored for OCN, who dropped to 7-6-1 on the year.
Natives news and notes . . .
- The Natives continue to keep three goaltenders on the squad. Davy Fisher, who recently returned from a concussion, joins Michael Gudmandson and rookie Tyson Verhelst as the three netminders on the roster.
- Forward Jaret Smith, 19, acquired in a deal with the SJHL's La Ronge Ice Wolves for Rhett Law earlier this month, played his first games as a Native over the weekend. Forward Steven Phillips also played his first games as a Native as well. The 19-year-old was recently acquired in a deal with the Yorkton Terriers.
- Lastly, 17-year-old forward Devin Warfield, who was recently picked up by the Natives in a deal with the SJHL's Humboldt Broncos, has decided not to report to Neepawa.
Here are the rest of the scores from around the MJHL over the weekend:
Friday:
Dauphin 3 Virden 2
Steinbach 3 Winnipeg 2
Selkirk 7 Wayway 2
Portage 4 Winkler 2
Saturday:
Dauphin 9 OCN 6
Portage 4 Wayway 2
Steinbach 2 Selkirk 1 (SO)
Sunday:
Selkirk 4 Portage 3 (OT)
Virden 3 Winnipeg 1
Winkler 5 Wayway 4
Wheat Kings defeat Tigers; 'Pink the Rink' night a success
The WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings built up a 4-1 second period lead and were able to hold for a 6-3 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers on Saturday night at Westman Communications Group Place.
John Quenneville led the Wheat Kings with a goal and two assists while Jayce Hawryluk, Rihard Bukarts and Richard Nejezchleb had a goal and an assist each. Captain Ryan Pulock and rookie Braylon Shmyr -- with his first goal of the season -- also scored for the Wheat Kings, who received a 43 save performance from veteran netminder Curtis Honey en route to the victory.
The Wheat Kings will now hit the road this week for their annual west coast road trip, beginning Friday night against the Chiefs in Spokane. Brandon’s next home game is Thursday, Nov. 7 against the visiting Saskatoon Blades.
Saturday night was 'Pink the Rink' night for the Wheat Kings, who sported one-time only pink jerseys during the game against the Tigers. Close to $25,000 was raised at the game for the Canadian Cancer Society as Wheat Kings jerseys were auctioned off, while 'Pink the Rink' t-shirts were also sold at the game.
The top-selling jersey that was auctioned off was 20-year old defenceman Rene Hunter's sweater that went for $2,100.
This marked the first time ever that the Western Hockey League club has donned pink jerseys in support of the worthwhile cause during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Wolverines come up short against Lions
The Westman Wolverines knew they needed to play one of, if not their best game they have ever played since they joined the Manitoba Major Football League a few years ago on Saturday afternoon.
The Wolverines did exactly what they sought out to do, but wound up coming up a bit short, falling 34-30 to the undefeated East Side Eagles in a semifinal contest in Winnipeg.
Wolverines quarterback Seth Hume went 10-for-18 through the air for 127 yards and a touchdown, while Shayne Sebree ran the ball 21 times for 139 yards and two major scores.
The league final will be an all-Winnipeg matchup as the Eagles will take on the Fort Garry Lions, who defeated the St. Vital Mustangs 41-28 in the other semifinal.
The Wolverines roster this year included Bradley Kyle, Bryce Unger and Tony Taylor of Neepawa.
Tigers fall to Clippers; Vikings lose
The Neepawa Tigers dropped a 46-16 decision to the Dauphin Clippers in Rural Manitoba Football League action on Friday.
The Tigers were down by only four points (20-16) to the Clippers at halftime, but Neepawa was unable to keep pace in the second half as the Clippers scored 26 unanswered points en route to the win.
Tigers running back Lynden Middleton had 20 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown, while Jason Caines caught two passes, including a 35 yard catch for the Tigers.
On the defensive side of the ball, Layton Dixon, Will Birnie and Brady Unger each had sacks, while Wyatt Salmon had a fumble recovery for the Tigers, who dropped to 4-3 on the season.
Meanwhile the Brandon-based Vincent Massey Vikings dropped a 37-7 decision to the Oak Park Raiders in Winnipeg High School Football League action.
The Vikings finished their first season in the league's top division with a 1-6 record, missing the playoffs.
Tigers lose in soccer provincials
The Neepawa Tigers girls squad were relegated to the consolation side at the provincial rural soccer championship over the weekend.
The Tigers dropped a 6-1 decision to the Shoal Lake Sharks on Friday morning. The loss meant the Tigers dropped to the consolation side where they wound up defeating Dauphin 3-1 to advance to consolation semifinal. However, that was as far as they'd get as the Tigers lost to the Hapnot Kopper Kweens 7-5 which eliminated Neepawa from the event.
The Stonewall Rams wound up winning the provincial girls championship, while Hapnot claimed the consolation title. On the boys side, Steinbach took home the top prize, while Rivers ended up as the consolation winners.
Robertson makes quarter-final at Neil Andrews Classic
Neepawa's Kelly Robertson and his curling team took part in the Neil Andrews Legends Classic over the weekend.
Robertson and his crew wound up falling to Brandon's Shawn Taylor 5-3 in a quarterfinal matchup.
Taylor wound up moving on to the championship final, but ended up losing to Winnipeg's Scott Furevick by a score of 6-4.
Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League: showcase weekend wraps up
The Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League held its showcase weekend, which began Friday and wrapped up on Sunday in Morden.
The Yellowhead Chiefs won both of their games over the weekend, defeating the Norman Northstars on Saturday by a score of 6-2 and followed that up with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Eastman Selects on Sunday.
Other scores saw the Southwest Cougars defeat the Norman Northstars 6-1 on Friday and then on Saturday, drop a 6-1 decision to the Winnipeg Wild. The Brandon Wheat Kings meanwhile, beat the Winnipeg Thrashers 5-4 on Saturday and following that up with a 3-1 win over the Central Plains Capitals on Sunday.
BU review: basketball teams successful
The Brandon University basketball teams were successful over the weekend. The men's team defeated the Dakota College Jacks 83-61 on Friday and 91-73 on Saturday in exhibition action at the Healthy Living Centre. The women's team meanwhile, won both of their games as well against Dakota College, winning 72-48 on Friday and 75-50 on Saturday.
Turning to volleyball, the BU men's team defeated the host Laval Rouge et Or in five sets on Friday and in straight sets on Saturday in exhibition play.
Bombers eliminated from playoff contention
The Toronto Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 26-20 at Investors Group Place on Saturday.
The Bombers were officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.
Jets edge Blues; lose to Preds
The NHL's Winnipeg Jets went 1-1 over the weekend.
The Jets were able to squeak out a 4-3 shootout win over the St. Louis Blues on Friday night and followed that up with a 3-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Sunday.
The Jets currently sit with a 4-5-0 record.
In photo: Game action from Friday night's MJHL tilt between the Neepawa Natives and the Swan Valley Stampeders.
Photo by Lanny Stewart
