– Quietly efficient may be the best way to describe Taylor Green’s contributions to the Brandon Wheat Kings over the last two months. Green has an impressive plus-17 rating over the last 25 games and currently leads all Brandon blueliners with a plus-nine rating for the season. For more on this story, visit Bruce Luebke’s blog at http://luberslounge.blogspot.ca/. Green and the Wheat Kings open a four-game road trip in Edmonton on Tuesday afternoon. It’s the Oil Kings’ Hockey Hooky promotion, which means an matinee tilt with CKLQ’s pre-game show beginning at 12:05 p.m.
– The WHL’s player of the week is Portland Winterhawks’ forward Brendan Leipsic. The Winnipeg product scored three goals, nine points to go along with a plus-nine rating as the Winterhawks won three games during that stretch.
– Shane Gingera of the league-leading Selkirk Steelers is the MJHL player of the week. Gingera got four goals in two games last week for the Steelers, who extended their unbeaten streak to 18 straight games. Virden Oil Capitals’ forward Artsiom Kalashnikov was a runner-up for the award.
– The Edmonton Oilers have back-to-back wins after doubling the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Monday behind David Perron’s hat-trick. There are 11 games on the schedule for Tuesday night, including the Winnipeg Jets welcoming the Nashville Predators.
– An Olympic send off celebration is set for Tuesday night at Tundra Oil and Gas Place in Virden. The Westman figure skating duo of Paige Lawrence and Rudi Swiegers are off Sochi to represent Canada at the Winter Games. The event is running from 7-9 p.m.
– The Brandon University women’s basketball team has gone local to land their first recruit for the 2014-2015 Canada West season with Hamiota’s Shayna Mathison signing with the Lady ‘Cats. Mathison was named MVP at the ‘A’ provincial championship last season and was a final cut for Manitoba’s bronze medal winning team at the Canada Games this past summer. CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston has the full story here.
– Westman volleyball standout Natasha Rupa is getting thrown right in the fire in her freshman year with the Winnipeg Wesmen. The former Shoal Lake Shark is in a starting role in the second-half of the Canada West season and leads the team with 342 assists. Read more on Rupa’s rookie year here.
– Keith Braaksma of the Glenboro Panthers is the MHSAA’s rural high school coach of the month for December. This season, Braaksma led the Panthers JV boys’ team to a provincial volleyball title and guided the varsity boys’ team to a runner-up finish at the ‘A’ championship.
– The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have re-signed defensive back Alex Suber to a new contract. Suber had 54 tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery, while adding six tackles on special teams last season. He’s entering his fifth CFL campaign and was set to become a free agent in February.
– Patrick Patterson stole the ball with seconds to go and knocked in the game-winning bucket, as the Toronto Raptors beat the Brooklyn Nets 104-103. Kyle Lowry had 31 points for the Raptors.