Friday, October 6, 2023
-The Brandon Wheat Kings have traded 20-year-old forward Dawson Pasternak to the Victoria Royals in exchange for a conditional draft pick. The move gets Brandon down to three 2003-born players – the maximum number allowed in the WHL. Those players are defenseman Kayden Sadhra-Kang and forwards Brett Hyland and Jayden Wiens. The Wheat Kings are home to the Calgary Hitmen Saturday night.
-The Winnipeg Jets dropped their final pre-season game 3-0 to the Ottawa Senators. The Jets open the NHL regular season October 11 in Calgary against the Flames.
-The deal has been finalized and the Calgary Flames are finally getting a new home. The new $1.2-billion-dollar event centre and entertainment district features a new rink – and also includes plazas, bars, restaurants and retail shops.
-The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are in action tonight in BC against the Lions. The teams are tied for first in the CFL West at 11-and-4. Winnipeg will have kick returner/receiver Janarion Grant back in line-up tonight. Grant was injured in Winnipeg’s 24-11 win over the Calgary Stampeders in Week 5. In the other game – the Toronto Argonauts host the lowly Edmonton Elks.
-Late CFL great George Reed is being honoured in Saskatchewan. The province has proclaimed October 7th as George Reed Day to pay tribute to the rugged fullback, who died this week just before his 84th birthday. Reed was the league’s all-time leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns when he retired in 1975.
-In the NFL – the Chicago Bears picked up their first win of the season – 40-20 over the Washington Commanders. The victory came just hours after word of the death of franchise great Dick Butkus. His family says he died in his sleep at home in Malibu. He was 80-years-old.
-Both the Brandon Bobcats men’s and women’s soccer teams are in Winnipeg on Sunday, October 8th against the Canadian Mennonite University Blazers. The women are 5-and-2 – while the men’s team is 4-0-and-3.
-The Canadian men’s volleyball team has a 4-and-1 record at the Olympic qualifying tournament in China. Canada swept Bulgaria, and now leads Pool C with 12 points. Poland (4-0) has 10 points and Argentina (3-1) has eight. The Canadians will face Number 21 Belgium tonight – and Number 22 Mexico on Sunday morning to wrap up round robin play. The top two countries from each of the tournament’s three pools advance to the Paris Olympics next summer.
