Virden’s Shane Price was named Westman South’s Most Promising Official for the 2022-2023 hockey season.
As previously reported in the Empire-Advance, earlier this year the son of Kevin and Allison Price was selected to join the Manitoba Junior Hockey League officiating crew as a linesperson. Price also officiates a wide variety of other levels of hockey.
“He is quick, and confident and continues to grow and learn with the game,” said Virden Minor Hockey Referee-in-Chief Brittany Pappel earlier this year.
Wawanesa’s Brad LaRocque was selected as Westman South’s Most Deserving Official. He is the father of Virden Oil Capitals goaltender Owen LaRocque. Souris’ Lauren Nay was picked as the Most Improved Official.
Curling Provincial Berths
Two young rinks with local connections punched their tickets this past weekend to the senior provincial curling championships.
Virden’s Jace Freeman led his rink to Viterra Men’s Provincial Championship by winning a qualifier in Virden. The son of Roxanne and Graham Freeman skips a rink that competes at the junior level. Teammate Nick Senff is the son of former Virden resident Danny Senff. The Viterra championship will be held in Stonewall on Feb. 6-11.
“It was a great feeling getting to earn the berth at home in Virden,” Freeman said. “We had lots of family and friends supporting us, which made the experience that much more memorable. I am really looking forward to getting to play on arena ice again. Playing beside and against some of the elite teams from our province is always an amazing feeling.”
It is Freeman’s third time qualifying for the senior provincials. He played in 2022 with his father, his brother Brooks, and Dwayne Barkley. Freeman successfully skipped a rink to a berth in the 2023 event, but he was playing at the Under 18 nationals so his brother stepped in for him.
In Clearwater, the Shaela Hayward rink earned its way into the Manitoba Provincial Scotties Championship. Hayward, a Carman resident, is the daughter of former Virden resident Darcy Hayward. Her rink won a best-of-three playoff in two games. Hayward said, “We played great all day, and it was definitely our best event so far. In the first game we were tied up playing the last end and stole to win. The second game I had an open hit to win it and earn the berth.”
Hayward served as a fifth for Grace Beaudry at the last Manitoba Scotties. She said, “It was an amazing experience, and I knew I wanted to try and comeback with my own team this year.”
This time around the Manitoba Scotties will be held in Morden, Jan. 23-28.
“We’re excited to play against Manitoba’s top female teams,” Hayward said. “These are athletes that we have looked up to our entire curling career and getting to play against them is so exciting. We are also looking forward to playing at the Morden arena. With Morden being so close to Carman, it will almost be like playing for a hometown crowd.”
C-Hawks Win
The Miniota-Elkhorn C-Hawks beat the host Virden Oil Kings, 9-3, on Saturday.
“The game against the C-Hawks was really well attended with great support from both fan bases which led to a great atmosphere for the game,” Virden general manager Ryan Mathieson said. “We had stretches of strong five-on-five play but got into penalty trouble and the C-Hawks capitalized.”
Shawn and Brad Bowles each scored twice for senior M-E hockey team. Older brother Jason Bowles had a goal and racked up six points on the night. Defenceman Brad Cole recorded a goal and three assists. C-Hawks goalie Cory Gardham made 25 saves. Tristin Rinn stopped 30 shots for Virden. Jeremy Johnson led the Oil Kings with two goals.
The C-Hawks enter this week with a 6-2-0-0 record. They sat second in the Tiger Hills Hockey League’s Western Division. The C-Hawks play Dec. 16 in Rivers, Dec. 22 in Souris, and host MacGregor on Dec. 29.
Virden was 4-4-0-1 as of Monday. The Oil Kings’ final home date of 2023 is Dec. 16 versus Gladstone. The team plays Dec. 22 in Rivers.
