– The Brandon Wheat Kings have come a long way in the last 12 months. A year ago, the Wheat Kings were nine games under .500 and on their way to missing the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. This year, Brandon looks like a solid playoff-bound team and are battling for first-place. The Wheat Kings host the Swift Current Broncos Friday night (7:30 p.m., Westman Communications Group Place) and enter the game just two points behind the front-running Broncos in the East Division. The Wheat Kings haven’t played since Saturday’s 5-2 win over Prince Albert but it’s been far from a restful week for the team. A number of players missed practices this week because of illness but all were on the ice Thursday except Richard Nejezchleb, who is expected to play tonight. More on the Wheat Kings on Bruce Luebke’s blog at http://luberslounge.blogspot.ca/
– Former Brandon Wheat King and Souris product Travis Young has a new job. Young will make his debut as head coach of the Bridgewater Lumberjacks of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League Friday night. Young began this season coaching a pro team in Hungary after six seasons as an assistant with the Acadia Axemen.
– Christian Stockl is expected to make his Virden Oil Capitals’ debut this weekend. Stockl was assigned to the Oil Caps from the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels last week but hasn’t played since November 5th because of a concussion. Stockl had four goals and 11 points in 78 games in the WHL over the past two seasons but did score 36 goals and 68 points in 38 games with the Winnipeg Wild during his last season in the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League in 2011-2012. Stockl guested on Thursday’s edition of the Oil Caps’ Report on CKLQ.
– The Winnipeg Jets picked up their second straight win under new head coach Paul Maurice Thursday night, downing the Calgary Flames 5-2. Mark Scheifele, Bryan Little and Olli Jokinen all had a goal and an assist each for the Jets. Winnipeg remains two games under .500 and ten points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
– The Winnipeg Jets placed forward Evander Kane on injured reserve Thursday. Kane has missed the past two games with a hand injury sustained against the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 7th. To take his place, the Jets recalled forward Carl Klingberg from the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League.
– The New York Islanders sent former Wheat King Travis Hamonic back to Long Island Thursday for further evaluation of his upper-body injury, which is now believed to be a concussion. Hamonic was initially thought to be suffering from the flu when he had to leave Sunday’s game in Dallas after two periods. Those symptoms (aches, nausea) can also be concussion symptoms, which is how the diagnosis changed a day later.
– Another important weekend from the Brandon University basketball teams as they host the Manitoba Bisons tonight and tomorrow. The Bobcats are six points out of a playoff spot in the Canada West’s Prairie Division with just ten games to go in the regular season. Brandon is riding a three-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Lady ‘Cats can match their highest win total in the last ten years with a victory this weekend. Brandon is 3-and-9, with BU’s best finish in recent memory being a 4-and-16 record in 2003-2004. CKLQ’s Tyler Crayston has more on the Bobcats’ big weekend here.
– The Saskatchewan Roughriders are retaining a big part of their receiving core after re-signing Taj Smith Thursday. Smith was one of three Rider received to go over 1,000 yards during the 2013 season, catching 78 passes for 1,007 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s also one of three Riders still facing aggravated assault charges stemming from a fight outside a Regina nightclub in August. The case against Smith, Dwight Anderson and Eron Riley is due to be back in court next month.
– North American curlers had a sweep of their three evening matches at the Continental Cup in Las Vegas, to take a 6-3 lead over Team World. Brad Jacobs, Rachel Homan and John Shuster won their respective matches. Team World won two of three traditional team games in the morning draw, and Team North America won two of the three mixed doubles matches in the afternoon.
– The Canadian Junior Curling Championships opens in Liverpool, Nova Scotia this weekend. Carberry product Braden Calvert and his Winnipeg rink will try to defend the title Matt Dunstone won for Manitoba a year ago. Calvert is in a pool with Ontario, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Northern Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador and Nunavet. His first game is Saturday morning. CKLQ’s Bruce Luebke has more here.
– Canadian Olympic second Jill Officer was among the guests on CKLQ’s In the Hack with Resby Coutts on Thursday night. A look back at the Provincial Scotties and Brandon Men’s and Masters Bonspiel were also on the show. The podcast is here.
– Major League Baseball and the players’ and umpires’ associations are approving the use of instant replay this season. A manager will be allowed one challenge a game and if it is upheld, he’ll get a second opportunity to question a play. All reviews will be done by Major League umpires at a New York office.
– Montreal’s Eugenie Bouchard is through to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. The 30th seed defeated American Lauren Davis 6-2, 6-2 today at the Australian Open. Bouchard is the first Canadian woman to reach the round of 16 in Australia since Maureen Drake in 1999.
