– Graham Black’s penalty-shot goal 1:43 into overtime lifted the Swift Current Broncos to a 4-3 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Broncos scored twice in the final 2:14 of the third period to erase a 3-1 deficit, with both goals coming with the net empty and an extra attacker on the ice. Chad Robinson, Tim McGauley and Rihards Bukarats scored the goals for Brandon who sit one point behind the first-place Broncos in the East Division though the Wheat Kings do have two games in hand. For more on the Wheat Kings, visit Bruce Luebke’s blog at http://luberslounge.blogspot.ca/.
– Carberry’s Braden Calvert and his Winnipeg team have locked up top spot and a bye into Sunday’s final at the Canadian Junior Men’s Curling Championship. Calvert and crew continued their winning ways on Wednesday by beating New Brusnwick 6-4 and Alberta 5-4, to improve their perfect record to 8-0. On the junior women’s side, Manitoba’s Meaghan Brezden won both her games on Wednesday to keep her playoff hopes alive and up her record to 5-3.
– It’s a big week for the Brandon University men’s basketball team as they look to close the playoff gap. The Bobcats welcome to the Winnipeg Wesmen to the Healthy Living Centre on Thursday night who sit eight points ahead of BU for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Prairie Division. Meanwhile, the Lady ‘Cats go after a fourth straight conference win against the Wesmen. CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston has a preview here.
– The struggles continue for the seventh-ranked Brandon University men’s volleyball team, dropping a straight sets decision against Winnipeg. Sebastien Steigmeier scored 10 kills for the Bobcats, who have lost five in a row and sit with a record of 7-10. On the women’s side, Vaovai Aiono had match-high 17 kills to lead the Lady ‘Cats to a four-sets win against the Wesmen. Alexis Loewen had nine blocks for BU, who improved their second-place record to 13-4.
– Sean Monahan scored his team-leading 14th goal as the Calgary Flames snapped their seven-game home losing streak, defeating the Phoenix Coyotes 3-2. In other action, Jussi Jokinen potted a pair as the Pittsburgh Penguins got past the Montreal Canadiens 5-1. Elsewhere, Detroit downed Chicago 5-4 in a shootout and Carolina got past Philadelphia 3-2. On Thursday night, the Winnipeg Jets go after a season-high fifth straight win against the San Jose Sharks.
– Garett Rempel scored twice and set up two more as the Neepawa Tigers beat the Boissevain Broncos 7-1 in Westman High School Hockey League action. Rylin Mitchler also had a pair of goals for Neepawa, who moved into a tie with Deloraine/Hartney for top spot in the standings, though the Colts have three games in hand. Elsewhere, Sean Cook got the shutout and Landyn Cameron scored two goals and an assist as the Major Pratt Trojans blanked the Crocus Plainsmen 3-0.
– The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed Canadian fullback Michel-Pierre Pontbriand to a new contract. The 30-year-old has spent three years with the Bombers and was slated to become a free agent in February. Last season, he had six carries for 61 yards and added eight tackles on special teams.
– Eugenie Bouchard’s run is over down under. The Canadian lost in the semifinal in straight sets against Li Na at the Austrlaina Open.
– DeMar Derozan scored a career-high 40 points and the Toronto Raptors snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the Dallas Mavericks 93-85.
