The Parkland Rangers hit the ice for training camp this past weekend, culminating with the annual intrasquad game, Sunday afternoon.

Liam Chartrand, Brayden Budalowski and Ryzlie Nepinak each scored twice to lead Team Black to a 7-5 win over Team White.

Derrel Murdock had Team Black’s other goal, while Ethan Carnegie with two, Joey Hall, Noah Smigelsky and Cade Legaarden replied for Team White.

Rangers head coach Joshua Tripp liked what he saw on the ice over the weekend.

“It started out a little bit slow, but me and the other coaches had a chat with the guys and ever since then, it’s been awesome. The pace has picked way up and they’ve been playing hard. It was really good to see,” he said.

Tripp liked the way the players battled and worked hard throughout the weekend.

“It’s hard, especially for the returning guys. It’s hard to push in camp when you’ve already played on the team. But we’ve made it very clear that it’s a new coaching staff and no one’s spot is solidified. And they’ve really impressed me with the way that they’ve worked all weekend,” he said.

Ten players from last year’s squad were in camp with several others still trying out for junior teams.

Some cuts were made following Sunday’s intrasquad game. Roughly 30 players will make the trip to Souris for the Southwest Cougars’ annual preseason tournament this weekend.

“There’s some guys that we want to see a little bit more and see in an actual preseason game,” Tripp said.

Parkland will face the Interlake Lightning, Friday, at 8:15 p.m. They won’t have much time to rest at they play the host Cougars, Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Tripp will keep an eye on the little things that makes a team successful.

“For the guys that we need an extra look at, it’s going to be the little things, right? So the back checks, the winning races to pucks, the battles, all that. We know how skilled all the players are, so those little things are what’s going to make them stand out to us. And that’s what we’re going to watch out for,” he said.

It will soon be decision-making time for the Dauphin Kings coaching staff as the 2024-25 Manitoba Junior Hockey League season draws near.

The Kings played three preseason games, last week, beginning with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Northern Manitoba Blizzard, Sept. 3, followed by a 4-3 overtime victory over the Neepawa Titans, Thursday, a game Neepawa led 3-0, 5:14 into the third period.

On Sunday, the Titans gained a measure of revenge with a 3-2 win, netting the winner with 3:56 remaining.

The first two games featured rookie lineups, which Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley felt played better as the games went along.

“The fact that we were down 2-0 to Neepawa after two in the rookie game and came back and won in overtime. (Jack) Bechard (who scored the overtime winner) played really well,” he said.

“(Declan) Hoad. (Ethan) Stewart with a big goal. I was real happy with the young guys. They’re going to be pushing for spots. There’s some real good talent here.”

Read the full story in this week’s Dauphin Herald.

The Dauphin Kings enter the Manitoba Junior Hockey League preseason with plenty of decisions to be made following the training camp this past weekend.

Camp culminated with the annual JoFo Cup intrasquad game, which saw Declan Hoad score the winner with 3:07 remaining in the third period to lift Team Barry Trotz to a 4-3 win over Team Myles Fee.

Cayden Glover paced Team Trotz with a pair of goals, while Rylan Gibbs added a single.

Gabriel Bugeaud had two for Team Fee and Jack Bechard had the other marker.

Cole Sheffield and Piet Mierreau combined to make 20 saves in goal for Team Trotz, while Austin Seibel and Hunter Bauer had 24 saves between them.

Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said the younger players look really good.

“We had a really good class of 2008s. Our 2005s have looked good. Our backend, the guys we brought in on the right side have looked good,” he said.

“The Haun kid (Matt) from the States is a 20-year-old, but he’s really played well defensively. He really moves pucks well.”

Hedley was pleased with the speed and compete level he saw throughout camp, as well as the offensive production.

“We had a lot of everything during the camp. Even today’s (intrasquad) game, guys were looking a little bit tired. But at the same time, I think with a day off in the next day or so for a lot of them, I think our exhibition games should have a lot of energy in it,” he said.

The first two games of the preseason - tonight against the Northern Manitoba Blizzard and Thursday against the Neepawa Titans - will feature all-rookie lineups.

Both games get underway at 7:30 p.m.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

The Parkland Rangers will hit the ice at Credit Union Place in Dauphin this weekend with about 40 players vying for a spot on the roster for the upcoming season.

Swan River native Joshua Tripp is entering his first year as head coach of the Rangers. He said a number of veteran players will be trying out with junior A clubs.

“We’ll see what happens with the junior camps, who trickles down. There should be a good number (of returning players), anywhere from six to 10, I’d say,” he said.

Tripp is expecting some tough competition  in camp. He ran a couple of skill development camps over the summer, so he is familiar with many of the players who will be trying out.

“It’s going to be a tight battle to fill out the team. The guys that are willing to work and sacrifice for the rest of the team, that’s going to be something I’m going to keep an eye out for,” he said.

“If they put the work in and they show me they’re going to be a team player, that’s going to be one of the main focuses.”

In terms of preseason games, the Rangers will play a pair of games at the preseason tournament in Souris, hosted by the Southwest Cougars.

Parkland will face the Interlake Lightning, Sept. 13, at 8:15 p.m., followed by a 9 a.m. date with the Cougars, Sept. 14.

Tripp is looking forward to running his first camp as head coach.

“I’m really excited. We’ve had some skates already, so I’ve met a lot of the guys that are coming to try out. Even just doing those, I’ve been getting really excited to get camp going,” he said.

After starting the season with wins in two of their first three games, the Dauphin Mavericks have struggled to hit the win column.

The latest setback came, Saturday in Winnipeg, where the local men’s rugby team dropped a 38-24 decision to the Wombats.

Nick Searle had two tries and two converts for Dauphin, while Austin Rivard and Brayden Tomchuk had one try each.

The Mavericks went into the game with the minimum of 15 players, but picked up a few players from the Eastman Warriors.

“And we actually lost three of our regulars in the first half to injuries, so it was just a battle of attrition,” said Mavericks player-coach Shawn Sarkonak.

“It was a good, hard fought battle, for sure. We did some really good things. They just took advantage of the lesser bodies.”

Injuries have been a problem of late, along with the unavailability of some players. But despite that, Sarkonak said they are hoping to finish the season strong when they return to Winnipeg, Saturday, to face the Wanderers at 3 p.m.

“And have a hard-fought game. We’re really pushing for guys to make it and then go into playoffs,” he added.

“We want to come away with the W, just to have some momentum going into playoffs.”

Dauphin currently sit sin fifth place with two wins, a draw and six losses. The Mavericks have 16 points, including six bonus points and trail the fourth-place Wombats by three points.

The Manitoba Summer Games, powered by Manitoba Hydro has come and gone and by all accounts it was a resounding success.

When all was said and done, it was Winnipeg Blue which topped the medal count with 103 in total, including 50 gold, 30 silver and 23 bronze.

Winnipeg Gold was second with 30 gold, 26 silver and 26 bronze for a total of 82. Team West was third with 78 medals on 15 gold, 30 silver and 33 bronze.

Team East was fourth, winning 24 gold, 22 silver and 22 bronze for a total of 68 medals, while Team South captured 15 gold, 16 silver and 14 bronze for 48 medals. Team North won a single bronze medal.

Based on feedback from athletes, coaches, spectators and Sport Manitoba, Games co-chair Carla Wolfenden said they are proud of Dauphin.

“It’s been a really great week,” she said.

Co-chair Clayton Swanton said the more than 700 volunteers helped to make the games such a success.

“Just so, so impressed with our volunteers. We know we live in a great community and that’s why we chose to host. We knew we could pull it off, because we know the people of Dauphin. But that was seven years ago when we chose to do that. And Dauphin is still Dauphin. Nothing changed and they came out in spades,” he said.

“And just to echo Carla’s comments, nothing but rave reviews from everybody from out of town about the hospitality in town and what a great week they’ve had. And we certainly had, too.”

It was the efforts of the volunteers which drove the success of the Games.

“We’ve had incredible volunteer support. Quality people every way you turn. Whether it’s in the kitchen or on the field of play, or at any of the venues. And it’s even people saying everyone in the stores in the different businesses have been very friendly and helpful and made them feel welcome,” Wolfenden said.

“So our volunteers are what made this event a success.”

It was pointed out during the VIP reception that many volunteers would work their scheduled shift and then go and lend a hand at other venues.

The local business community was also instrumental in the success of the Games. As Swanton noted, you can’t host an event of this magnitude or create the legacy of venues and projects without sponsors.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

The Gilbert Plains Country Club hosted its annual Senior Mixed Open Tournament, with 120 golfers taking part.

Pearl Maksymetz won the ladies tournament, carding an 88. Sam Robinson was awarded second place on a countback, while Joan Miller was third. They both shot a 90.

Sue Leney was awarded top spot in the first event, ahead of runner-up Edith Stevens, while Dez Fisher was third. They all finished with a 113.

Miller won the closest-to-the-line contest on no. 5, while closest-to-the-hole winners were Linda Ushkowski on no. 9 and Joan McCasker on no. 14.

Darrell Binkley shot a 76 to win the men’s tournament, finishing one shot ahead of Bill Allbutt. Jim Klempp was third with an 80.

Del Pasiechwik won the first flight on a countback over Clay Wyborn after they both finished with an 87. In third place, one shot back was Merv Beazley.

A countback was needed to determine the top three in the second flight.

Top spot went to Jim Wright, with Brian Michelski in second and Doug Cook in third. They all shot a 95.

A countback was also needed for the third flight, with first place going to Larry Hammett, with Wayne Brezden taking second place and Terry Murray in third. They all shot a 101.

A countback gave first place in the fourth flight to Curt Pedersen with a 117. Stephan Bobinski was second after shooting a 123, while Len Yakielagsh was third with a 130.

Darren Drisko won the putting contest, while Frank Clement won the closest-to-the-line contest on no. 5 and Binkley won the closest-to-the-hole on no. 4. John Abrams won the closest-to-the-hole on no. 17.

A shortened lineup resulted in a lopsided loss for the Dauphin Mavericks, Saturday in Brandon.

Facing the Barbarians with only 14 players available, dropped a 52-12 decision.

Nick Searle and Willi Budzinski had Dauphin’s tries, while Daniel Evans had a convert.

Mavericks player-coach Shawn Sarkonak said Brandon gave the Mavericks a player to meet the 15-player requirement.

“And then when we had an injury, they gave us another one. But, yeah, a lack of bodies, heat and just a strong squad on the other side in the Barbarians,” he said of the loss.

There were positives to take from the game, however.

“The guys that came, they all stayed positive. We did really well with our forwards work and we had some good runs in the backs. It was just attrition got to us. They had a full complement of subs and we had none,” Sarkonak said.

There are things to build on for the next contest, Aug. 17, in Winnipeg against the Wombats.

“We had a close game with them when they came to town here earlier in July. I’m sure it’s going to be another close game, too. So we’re just going to keep working on team play and moving the ball and playing a fast game,” Sarkonak said.

The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) celebrated the grand opening of its MEDOCare Pharmacy in Dauphin with a ribbon cutting ceremony, Friday afternoon.

Vice-president of the Northwest Region and MMF Minister of Health and Wellness, and Early Learning and Child Care Frances Chartrand said the pharmacy has been in the works for several years

“Our Elders and seniors spoke about us having a pharmacy, having our own economic bills, our own economic development. And to also ensure that we provide programs and health services for them,” she said.

“So it’s a reality today.”

Funding, Chartrand said, was provided by the Red River Métis government.

“When we built the government’s office in the centre of the city of Dauphin, what we decided to do was the Elders and seniors talk about their prescriptions. We run a prescription drug program. So then we decided for it to be feasible to be one of our businesses that we would run directly out of our site,” she said.

Located at 422 Main Street South, the entrance to the pharmacy is on the south side of the building facing 5th Ave. SE. It is also wheelchair accessible via a ramp at the back of the building.

For now, the pharmacy is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“And we’re going to look at opening Saturdays or Sundays, but that will be down the road,” Chartrand said, adding the pharmacy is open to anyone in the Parkland.

“I’m so happy it’s in the City of Sunshine. I’m just excited. I just love making sure we have full support from the city. We have support from the RM and we have support from all the citizens in the City of Sunshine and the Parkland area,” Chartrand said.

Read the full story in this weeks Dauphin Herald.

The Province of Manitoba has committed $2.11 million to repair damage done to the Gilbert Plains Country Club (GPCC) as a result of flooding this past spring.

Dauphin MLA and Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn said it was an unfortunate circumstance that resulted in the flooding after a nearby dam was clogged creating ice jams, which lead to flooding in the area.

It was consultations with Premier Wab Kinew and different governmental departments that led to the provincial government to provide funding for repairs.

“With the importance of the Manitoba Summer Games happening in this geographic area and the golf course being considered as the golf course to be chosen, the government stepped up,” Kostyshyn said.

“This is a contribution that we feel will help move this forward and take the financial pressure off the golf course committee.”

Kostyshyn noted the ice jam is something that happens on an annual basis.

“I think it’s just a matter of communicating and paying attention to the importance of the immediate removal of the ice jams that tend to build up in that area. Definitely that will be an ongoing communication with the municipality and the golf course,” he said.

The dam, Kostyshyn said, was built a number of years ago.

“It’s a weir dam that really holds water back so they can use the river water as a means of irrigation on the golf course. So it’s a man-made dam, but usually what happens is the icebergs would flow over the dam. But this year, unfortunately, the icebergs started to accumulate and it accumulated to the point where it built a fairly high dam and then it create a back flood that created the problems that happened,” he said.

Kostyshyn said the government will continue to help out in any way it can given the importance of the golf course to the local tourism industry.

Read the full story in this weeks Dauphin Herald.