For the first time in decades Winnipeg will field a third team, called the Bruins, in the upcoming MMAAA ( Manitoba AAA Midget League) season, bringing the total number of teams in the 34 year old league to 13. Many hockey people in the know have advocated for years that it was unfair that big old Winnipeg, with a CMA population approaching 800,000, had a huge unfair advantage over the much less populated rural teams, and of course they’re absolutely right.
Winnipeg based teams have dominated and won the league title consistently over the last few seasons, far too often IMHO. When the league first started there were actually five Winnipeg based teams in operation, so by adding another franchise at this particular time, it allows the playing field to be a bit more level; as common sense dictates it’s only fair that the league return closer to that original number. The SW Cougar pre-season tournament begins a week from today with six teams participating in the annual event.
A large enthusiastic crowd was on hand last week at TOGP to watch the U of Manitoba (Bisons) female hockey team take on their rivals from the U of Regina (Cougars). Many family members and friends came out because so many of the girls played their AAA midget hockey for either the Yellowhead Chiefs or the Westman Wildcats. A total of 11 players come from Western Manitoba with the most familiar name being Virden’s own Karissa Kirkup who is in her fifth year of eligibility and taking Kinesiology as her major. Other notable players were; Sam Geekie (Strathclair), Kaitlyn Crowe (Deloraine), Emma Coulter (Hamiota) and Shaelyn Vollotton (Ninette).
The Virden Oil Caps continue to work up hard and get ready for their season home opener which is Friday, Sept. 22nd versus the Dauphin Kings, before returning the favour the next night in Dauphin. To this end, they’ll play a pair of exhibition games against the Kings beginning tonight at TOGP, then going north the following night. Early exhibition games (losses) have shown that the squad really needs to tighten up defensively, not to mention finding some scoring prowess amongst its ranks. But there’s no need to panic, it’s very early and championships aren’t won in September.
The VCI Golden Bears football team lost a tough 21-20 heartbreaker to the Parkwest Outlaws in their season opening game played at home. The defence played very well limiting the Outlaws, who play out of Shoal Lake, to only a few big plays but unfortunately they came at the wrong time and took away all the momentum they had mustered to that point. The offence struggled at times but did show signs of life on numerous occasions, only to lose possession of the pigskin due to turnovers. The Bears’ next two games are on the road; today in Swan Valley and next week in Ste. Rose.
The NFL season is once again upon us and it didn’t take long for the so called experts to get it wrong, some predicting that the defending champion New England Patriots might go 16-0 this season. They lost their first game to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Virden Wellview GC held their annual two-person Fall Classic, with three different rounds being played (best score, alternate shot and best ball), and once again it proved to be a very successful event. Clear skies and windy conditions greeted the many duffers who no doubt enjoyed the competition; none more than the winners of the championship flight, Jason Corbett and Chris Knoop. Winners of the other two flights were Tyler Frattinger and Lawson Hayward and Kent Plaisier and Mike O’Grady.
Number one ranked Rafael Nadal’s 16th Grand Slam win, the US Open, elevates him to second place in the all-time standings of major winners, three behind the Swiss legend Roger Federer.
On the opposite gender side, unranked American Sloane Stephens won her very first major, not bad for a player who wasn’t even ranked in the top 900 a year ago (she’ll be #17 when the new rankings come out). Both players had huge smiles when they saw their $3.7 million pay cheques, especially Stephens who saw her 2017 winnings increase 10 fold; not bad for hitting a ball over a net, eh?
Until next time....
