Weekend sports wrap: Royals win senior A provincial title; Basketball Manitoba doles out awards
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- Published on Monday, April 21, 2014
myWestman.ca
The following is a recap of what transpired in local sports over the weekend . . .
Royals win senior provincial A title
The Deloraine Royals are this year's senior A provincial hockey champions.
The Royals defeated the Altona Maroons 3-1 in the provincial senior 'A' men's hockey championship final on Saturday at the MTS Iceplex in Winnipeg.
The Royals – the Tiger Hills Hockey League champions – ended up going undefeated at the week-long event, winning both of their scheduled contests and then following it up with a 7-3 victory over the Carillon Senior Hockey League champion Red River Wild in a semifinal on Friday.
The Royals roster included former Brandon Wheat Kings Jason Swyripa and Brad Twordik.
The North Central Hockey League champion Miniota-Elkhorn C-Hawks wound up losing both of their games in the tourney, failing to advance to the playoffs.
Meanwhile, in other senior hockey news, the host Dundas Real McCoys defeated the Clarenville Caribous 3-2 in double overtime on Saturday to win this year's Allan Cup Canadian senior AAA men's hockey title.
Basketball Manitoba doles out awards
Basketball Manitoba handed out its year-end awards on Saturday.
Two members of the Hamiota Huskies varsity girls basketball team won awards as Shayna Mathison was named the female A player of the year, while Jon Zilkey took home the male A coach of the year.
Meanwhile, Virden's Heidi Smith won female AAA player of the year honours; Ryan Diehl of Glenboro picked up the male A coach of the year award; Brandon's Don Thomson was named the coach of the year in the open category; while Chris Unrau of Boissevain was named the male AA coach of the year.
Team Canada undefeated thus far at world under-18
Team Canada is now three games into the world under-18 hockey championship in Finland and currently sit undefeated.
The Canadian team defeated Slovakia 2-1 in their latest game on Sunday and now sits with a 3-0 record.
The team includes Elkhorn's Travis Sanheim, along with Roblin's Jayce Hawryluk, Ryan Pilon and John Quenneville of the Brandon Wheat Kings.
To stay up-to-date on the progress of the Canadian squad, click here.
Bobcats announce recruit
The Brandon University Bobcats men's volleyball team announced the addition of its first recruit over the weekend in James Weir.
Weir is a 6-foot-7 middle blocker who was born in Saskatoon, but spent the past few years living in Canberra, Australia with his family.
Weir brings size and strength to a Bobcat roster (in particular the middle blocker position) that loses fifth-year captain Dan Boutwell.
"We are really excited to add James to our roster," said Bobcats head coach Grant Wilson in a release. "After communicating with him and watching his recruit video, I just felt he would be a great fit for our team.
"Finding big, solid, athletic middles can be difficult, and we feel we have found that with James," he continued. "I fully expect him to come in and challenge our returning guys for court time immediately. Definitely looking forward to working with him and seeing him wear the blue and gold."
Weir is coming off a successful season in which he helped the Canberra Heat to a silver medal in the Australian Volleyball League men's championship. Weir is also a scholarship student in the Australia Institute of Sport Development Program.
Weir will begin working towards a Bachelor of Physical Education Studies degree at BU this fall.
Calvert scores twice for Jackets
Brandon's Matt Calvert had a big game for the Columbus Blue Jackets in NHL playoff action on Saturday night.
Calvert, a former co-captain of the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings, scored the game-winner in the second overtime as the Blue Jackets defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3. Calvert also scored a shorthanded tally earlier in the contest, helping the Jackets even the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-final series at one apiece.
The goals were Calvert's first two playoff tallies of his NHL career.
Martin ends curling career with win
Kevin Martin wrapped up his professional curling career with a big win on Sunday.
Martin, who announced his retirement from the game earlier in the weekend, wound up defeating Brad Jacobs 4-3 to win the Grand Slam of Curling Players Championship on Sunday.
Martin will be joining Rogers Sportsnet next curling season as an analyst.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Jones and her rink won the women's title, defeating Rachel Homan 5-2 in the final.
With files from BU Bobcats release
Photo submitted
