Elkhorn’s Taylor Sanheim is competing for a national championship.
The son of Kent and Shelly Sanheim helped the Penticton Vees capture a berth into the Royal Bank Cup – Canada’s national Junior A hockey championship. The prestigious event runs May 13-21 in Cobourg, Ont. The Brooks (Alta.) Bandits, Vees, Trenton (Ont.) Golden Hawks, host Cougars, and Terrebonne (Que). Cobras will battle for a national title.
The Vees punched their ticket to the RBC Cup by claiming the second qualifier spot at the Western Canada Cup. The event, which the Vees hosted, featured the champions from the western four Junior A leagues and the B.C. runner-up. Pentiction, the B.C. champs, started the tournament 1-1-1 but then got on a roll. The Vees won their final round robin game with Sanheim lighting the lamp on the game winner against Portage, the Manitoba champs who he used to play for. Penticton shut out Battlefords, 4-0, in the three versus four game and then beat the Chilliwack Chiefs, 3-2, to earn an RBC spot. Brooks beat Chilliwack, 6-1, in the WCC championship game. In four WCC games, Sanheim accumulated a goal and an assist.
Terriers
The three-time Manitoba Junior Hockey League defending champion Portage Terriers were unable to secure a RBC Cup spot. They won their first WCC game but fell in the next three. The Elkhorn duo of veteran Josh Martin and rookie Layne Toder played important roles for the Terriers this past season.
Frederick Awards
Elkhorn’s Karli Frederick was honoured with two awards from the Yellowhead Chiefs midget AAA female hockey team. Frederick won the Unsung Hero and the Players Choice award. She has committed to play next season at Assiniboine Community College.
Richardson Hall of Fame
The late Wayne Richardson (1941-2005) was inducted into the Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame on May 6 in the all-around category. He grew up in the McConnell and Hamiota areas and went on to contribute to the game as a player, organizer, coach, and supporter. As a player, “Snoop,” named for his frequent canine companion as a youth, was a shortstop and catcher for the Portage Canadians and Portage Dodgers in the 1960s and 70s. The Central Manitoba Fastball League All-Star was described as a standout batter and versatile fielder. He organized and coached teams that had success at the league, provincial, and national levels. As well, Richardson was an umpire and, as a restaurant owner, helped pay for team expenses.
