Weekend sports wrap: Krzyzaniak, UND fall short against Minnesota in WCHA championship game; MJHL playoffs recap

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Published on Monday, March 10, 2014

myWestman.ca

The following is a recap of what transpired in local sports over the weekend . . .

Krzyzaniak, UND fall to Minnesota in WCHA Final Face-off championship game; will not be advancing to NCAA tournament

Neepawa's Halli Krzyzaniak and the University of North Dakota women's hockey team dropped a 3-1 decision to Minnesota on Saturday night in the WCHA Final Face-off championship game in Bemidji, Minn.

The loss coupled with the fact that UND was not selected to take part in the NCAA tournament on Sunday, means Krzyzaniak's first season as a member of UND has officially come to a close.

UND advanced to the WCHA championship game after edging Wisconsin 1-0 in a semifinal on Friday.

For more, click here.

Tigers fall to Colts in Game 1

The Neepawa Tigers dropped a 2-1 decision to the Deloraine/Hartney Colts in Game 1 of their Westman High School Hockey League best-of-three semifinal series. Game 2 of the series isn't until March 19.

In the other semifinal, the Major Pratt Trojans advanced to the league championship series after defeating the Dauphin Clippers 7-1 in Game 2 on Friday. With the win, the Trojans swiped the series and will now await the winner of Neepawa and Deloraine/Hartney.

Meanwhile, the Glenboro/Carberry/Baldur Wildcats are the league's consolation champions after sweeping the Minnedosa Chancellors in the final.

Tigers heading to provincials

The Neepawa Tigers were swept by the Major Pratt Trojans in the best-of-three north provincial playdown final last week.

The Trojans gained entry into the provincial A/AA high school hockey championship. However, because Major Pratt (Russell) are the hosts, Neepawa has earned a spot in the event, which is slated to take place, March 13-15.

MJHL: Wolverines eliminated from playoffs

The Waywayseecappo Wolverines were eliminated from the Manitoba Junior Hockey League playoffs on Friday night.

Daniel Stagg had a goal and an assist, helping the OCN Blizzard edge the Wolverines 5-4 in the third and deciding game of the Sher-Wood Division survivor series at the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre in The Pas.

The Blizzard advanced to take on the Dauphin Kings in a best-of-seven Sher-Wood Division semifinal. The series began on Sunday and it was the Kings who shut out the Blizzard 5-0, taking a 1-0 series lead.

The other Sher-Wood semifinal pits the Virden Oil Capitals and the Swan Valley Stampeders and that series got underway on Saturday as three different scorers helped the Stampeders defeat Virden 3-0.

Meanwhile, in the Addison Division, the Portage Terriers are taking on the defending league champion Steinbach Pistons. That series is currently tied at a game apiece as both teams were able to pick up wins over the weekend. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Blues defeated the Selkirk Steelers 5-0 on Sunday and currently hold a one game lead in the other series.

Wheat Kings' struggles continue

The Brandon Wheat Kings continue to make life difficult for themselves in their efforts to make the playoffs in the Western Hockey League.

On Friday night, the Wheat Kings dropped a 6-3 decision to the Edmonton Oil Kings at Westman Place.
Rihards Bukarts, John Quenneville and Ryley Lindgren scored for Brandon in the loss.

On Saturday, the Wheat Kings travelled to Prince Albert and wound up falling 3-2.

Rihards Bukarts scored both goals for the Wheat Kings, who now sit with a 31-29-6-3 record and are currently tied with the Red Deer Rebels and Prince Albert Raiders for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference with 71 points.

Lisoway watch: Neepawa's Quintin Lisoway went pointless on the weekend. The forward has nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 66 games.

AAA Wheat Kings fall to Selects

The Brandon AAA midget Wheat Kings were eliminated from the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League playoffs on Sunday afternoon.

The Wheat Kings, who finished in first place in the standings during the regular season, losing only three times in regulation time, lost 4-3 in the fifth and deciding game of their league semifinal to the Eastman Selects at the Sportsplex in Brandon.

The Wheat Kings held a 3-1 lead in the second period, but allowed three consecutive tallies to the Selects, who will now advance to the championship final against the Winnipeg Wild.

Kirklan Lycar scored the game winner for the Selects -- his second of the night -- at the 12:55 mark of the third period.

Manitoba Winter Games comes to a close

The 2014 Power Smart Manitoba Winter Games wrapped up in Winkler, Morden and the RM of Stanley.
Team Westman finished the event in third place in the medal standings with 48 medals in total (19 gold, 14 silver and 15 bronze).

Among the highlights during the last couple of days included the Westman female hockey team winning gold, defeating Team Central 1-0 in the gold medal game on Saturday, while a Westman doubles badminton youth female team also took home a gold as well.

The most decorative athlete for Team Westman was Brandon's Kristjan Frederickson, who took home seven medals in total -- all of which were in gymnastics.

For a full recap of the event, click here.

Koe wins Brier

Alberta's Kevin Koe has captured the Canadian men's curling championship.

Koe's rink scored three points in three separate ends to beat B.C. skip John Morris 10-5 at the Tim Hortons Brier Sunday in Kamloops.

Meanwhile, Manitoba's Jeff Stoughton stole five points in the first four ends to build a 7-0 lead and cruise to a 9-5 win over Jean-Michel Ménard of Quebec in the bronze-medal game Sunday morning.

Hockey Manitoba provincial championships: Neepawa midget team loses in bronze medal game

Several provincial hockey championships took place over the weekend.

In the midget rural C boys event, Neepawa dropped a 6-1 decision to host Gladstone in the bronze medal game. Pineview defeated Lake Manitoba 6-3 in the championship final. Meanwhile, in the midget rural B event, Foxwarren defeated Teulon 5-2 in the gold medal game, while Lakeside edged Treherne 3-2 in the bronze medal match.

Other results saw host Souris defeat Red River 4-1 in the gold medal game at the pee wee rural B event, while Boissevain got past Ste. Anne 3-0 in the bronze medal contest; Foxwarren defeated Grunthal 6-1 in the pee wee rural C championship in MacGregor, while Carberry doubled up Rock Lake 8-4 in the third place game.

To find out all the winners and losers of the championships over the weekend, head over to the Hockey Manitoba website.

Tiger Hills Hockey League: Plainsmen tie series with Lakers

The Tiger Hills Hockey League playoffs continued over the weekend.

The Eastern Division final between the Carberry Plainsmen and the Gladstone Lakers is tied at one game apiece.

Tyler Harland scored the game winner on Friday night as the Lakers edged the host Plainsmen 6-5 in overtime in Game 1 of the series. On Sunday, the Plainsmen rebounded, edging the Lakers 7-6 in Gladstone.

Meanwhile, the Deloraine Royals hold a 2-1 lead over the Souris Elks in the Western Division final.

Brad Twordik scored the winning goal in overtime for Deloraine in Game 2 of the series on Saturday, as the Royals edged Souris 7-6.

Game 3 on Sunday saw the Elks beat the Royals 4-1.

Jets fall to Sens

The Winnipeg Jets dropped a 5-3 decision to the Ottawa Senators in NHL action on Saturday afternoon.

Newcomer Ales Hemsky picked up three assists, helping the Senators in the victory.

Bryan Little, Tobias Enstrom and Dustin Byfuglien scored for the Jets, who dropped to 30-28-7 and are now five points back of a wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Photo of Krzyzaniak courtesy of UND athletics