– The Brandon Wheat Kings moved into sole possession of first-place in the WHL’s East Division with an 8-1 victory over Swift Current on Friday night. Richard Nejezchleb had two goals and an assist for the Wheat Kings with Jayce Hawryluk adding a goal and helpers in tying Brandon’s biggest offensive output of the season. John Quenneville had a goal and an assist in his return to the Brandon lineup after a six-game absence while Quintin Lisoway also had a goal and an assist, with Eric Roy and Jesse Gabrielle scoring the other Wheat Kings’ goals. Brandon is idle Saturday before opening a three-game road trip by visiting Swift Current on Sunday (6:30 p.m., 880 CKLQ). For more on the Wheat Kings, visit Bruce Luebke’s blog at http://luberslounge.blogspot.ca/
– Brad Reichardt scored a power-play goal 1:44 into overtime as the Virden Oil Capitals edged the Waywayseecappo Wolverines 6-5 in MJHL action Friday night. Corey Haverstick had a hat-trick for the Oil Caps as they closed to within four points of front-running Dauphin in the Sher-Wood Division. The Kings had their 11-game winning streak snapped with a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Blues Friday while other games saw Steinbach defeat Swan Valley 6-4 and Portage downed OCN 2-1.
– Tanner Koroscil’s hat-trick led the Yellowhead Chiefs to a 6-4 win over the Parkland Rangers in Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League action Friday night. Derek Cross added a goal and two assists as Yellowhead closed to within one point of Kenora and Pembina Valley for the final two playoff spots. Meanwhile, Tyler Kirkup scored twice to pace the Southwest Cougars to a 4-2 victory over Kenora. The victory means Southwest is locked into fifth-place in the standings and will face Eastman in the first round of the playoffs.
– Derek Hainsworth and Jordan Barnes each scored twice to lead the Deloraine Royals to a 7-2 win over the Melita Bisons in Tiger Hills Hockey League action Friday night. The victory allows the Royals to clinch first-place in the Western Division. Other games saw Blaine Jarvis have four goals and an assist to lead Gladstone past Pilot Mound 5-4 and Kelly Prince’s hat-trick led Boissevain past Hartney 7-5.
– Big wins for Brandon University’s volleyball teams last night. Sebastien Steigmeier had 21 kills to lead the Bobcats to a straight sets win over the Calgary Dinos (29-27, 28-26, 25-18). The victory improves the Bobcats chances of a playoff spot, but they’ll still to beat Calgary again tonight in their final regular season match to guarantees themselves a post-season berth. Meanwhile, the Lady ‘Cats swept Calgary (25-23, 25-13, 25-15) to remain tied with Trinity Western for second-place in the Canada West Conference. CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston has more on the Bobcats here.
– The BU basketball teams both fell to 5-and-14 season the season with home court losses to the Lethbridge Pronghorns last night. The Bobcats lost 73-69 with Ilarion Bonhomme leading Brandon with 16 points while Ali-Mounir added 14 points and 11 rebounds. On the women’s side, Brandon dropped a 64-62 decision to Lethbridge. Cassie Cooke had a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady ‘Cats.
– Manitoba’s Chelsea Carey dropped a 5-4 decision to defending champion Rachel Homan Friday night in the Page 1-2 Playoff at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Homan gets a bye into Sunday’s final, where she’ll try to complete an undefeated week and become the first team to go through the Scotties without a loss since Linda Moore in 1985. Carey, meanwhile, drops to Saturday’s semifinal where she’ll face either Saskatchewan or Alberta. Stefanie Lawton and Val Sweeting play in the 3-4 Page Playoff game Saturday morning.
– There is no quarterback controversy with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Rookie head coach Mike O’Shea named Drew Willy as the starter during his introductory media conference Friday. Winnipeg acquired the second-year pro from Saskatchewan Thursday and signed him to a contract two-year extension.
– Five gold medals will be awarded Saturday on the first day of competition at the Sochi Winter Games. Medals are up for grabs in the men’s five-thousand-metre speedskating, the men’s 10-k sprint in biathlon, the women’s moguls, the men’s slopestyle final, and the women’s 15-kilometre skiathlon. Canada’s women’s hockey team will be in action against Switzerland.
– Alex Rodriguez ended his legal fight with Major League Baseball. The New York Yankees’ third baseman withdrew, and accepted a season-long suspension. Rodriguez was among 14 players suspended last summer following baseball’s investigation into an anti-aging clinic accused of distributing banned substances. A-Rod received the harshest punishment, and was the only player to contest his penalty.
