Doug Zywina
Lady Mavericks return to pitch, men’s team gets wakeup call
The Dauphin Lady Mavericks returned to the pitch for the first time in more than 20 years, Saturday, when they traveled to Winnipeg to face the four-time defending Women’s Premier League champion Winnipeg Assassins in a game of 10s.
Fielding a team with experience, the Lady Mavericks played well in a 19-10 loss, with Ruth Evans scoring both tries for Dauphin.
Player-coach Cassandra Kostelnyk said the team was expecting to put up a fight, which is exactly what they did.
“But only a nine point difference between us and them and that’s the closest game that they’ve had this year,” she said.
Keeping the score close against the four-time champion Assassins will give the team confidence going forward.
“We held our own and we’re all really proud of ourselves. We played a really good game,” Kostelnyk said, adding the ladies played together as a team.
“And communicated in everything that we’ve been working on in the last couple of months now leading up to the game just really came together,” she said.
But there is still plenty to work on, notably, building their numbers.
The Lady Mavericks only had one substitute, which made for a long, hard game for everyone.
“A lot of us didn’t get a break,” Kostelnyk said.
For anyone interested in joining the Lady Mavericks, they practice, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., at Kin Field.
The Mavericks men’s team got a rude awakening when they faced the Assassins men’s squad, falling 31-24.
Nick Searle had two tries for Dauphin, while Joseph Lopez and Ryan Dreger had singles. Dreger also had converts.
Mavericks player-coach Shawn Sarkonak said it was a completely different game than the 70-0 win over the Winnipeg Wasps, May 25.
“There wasn’t much defence required in that game (May 25), but the guy definitely got a rude awakening being on the other side of the ball a lot more than they’re used to,” he said.
The loss was a learning experience, Sarkonak said, especially for the younger members of the team.
“Seeing what it takes to play a full 80 minutes. And when you’re exposed on the defensive side or having to be on the defensive side of the ball, you exert far more energy than you’re used to, or probably want to,” he said.
“But with the two differences in the two games, we can now look to fine tune things and find a middle ground. So we can play high level on the offensive side, but also have a very good defensive structure, so we don’t end up on the losing side of it again.”
The Mavericks will play their home opener, Saturday, when they host the Winnipeg Wombats at 3 p.m. It is a game the team is looking forward to.
“We weren’t originally supposed to have our home games start until July. But now we can put on a bit of a show for the residents around the Parkland area and get them excited, because July is going to be home field-heavy and we’re looking to get a lot of support out,” he said.
Clippers honour the best of the best
The Dauphin Clippers rugby teams held their awards banquet, June 10.
Megan Thompson won the girls 15s MVP Award, while Mai Maguet was named the girls 7s MVP.
Victoria Carter won the Pack Player of the Year Award, while Bree Walker won the Back Player of the Year Award.
Other winners included Scarlett Ruiz as the 7s Rookie of the Year and Kiersten Vandekerkhove as the 15s Rookie of the Year, Ashley Korney and Mila Heschuk shared the Playoff MVP Award, while Ruth Dandeneau won the Most Improved Player Award, Felicity Sahulka and Paityn Bourgouin shared the Spirit Award and Raylyn Koshowski won the Maverick Award.
Owen Tyschinski won a pair of awards, including Rookie of the Year and the Spirit Award.
William Miner won the MVP Award, Noah Chartrand won the Most Improved Player Award, Sully Fox was named the Forward Player of the Year, Alex Thompson won the Back Player of the Year Award, Colton Miner was named Playoff MVP and Rhett Tkachyk won the Maverick Award.
Pic of the Week
Get the party started
Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival held its kickoff party, Saturday at Obsolete Brewing Company. The evening entertainment included dances by both Bratstva Studios Ukrainian Dance and Zirka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, as well as a fund-raising barbecue, CNUF merchandise for sale, raffles and a live band. The festival itself will be held, Aug. 2 to 4, at Selo Ukraina, south of Dauphin.
- Doug Zywina/Herald
Showing their Pride
Winnipegosis held its third annual Pride Day, Sunday. The free family-friendly event included drag performances, drag story time, a guest speaker, as well as tattoos, face painting, vendors, games and a parade to end the day.
- Doug Zywina/Herald
Arson charges levelled in Ethelbert
An Ethelbert man is in custody in connection with a recent arson in that community.
In the early morning hours of June 1, Dauphin RCMP responded to a report of an arson at a residence located on Railway Avenue in Ethelbert.
An occupant of the residence reported hearing noises outside her window and when she looked outside, observed a fire on the outside corner of her home. She observed a male suspect running away from the scene.
The woman, along with her three children, exited the home without injury.
The local fire department, attended the scene and extinguished the fire. Minor damage was reported.
Officers made patrols in the area failed to locate the suspect. A description of the suspect was provided which allowed officers to identify the man.
Later that day, police went to a property, located north of Ethelbert, and arrested a 54-year-old man for arson.
Upon his arrest, officers located three knives and a hatchet in his possession.
Marc Andre Dorais, of Ethelbert, has been charged with arson with disregard for human life, criminal harassment, mischief, possess ion of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and three counts of failing to comply with a probation order.
He was remanded into custody for a court appearance in Brandon.
Murder update
Police have officially charged a suspect in connection with a double homicide in Minegoziibe Anishinabe, June 2.
Oryan Flamand, 19, a community resident, is facing two charges of second degree murder related to the shooting deaths of a 34-year-old man and a 52 -year-old woman. He remains in custody.
The investigation continues.
Summer Games committee planning a daily Party in the Park
Major multi-sport events normally begin with an opening ceremony and wrap up with a closing ceremony with competition sandwiched in between.
But the organizing committee for the 2024 Manitoba Summer Games powered by Manitoba Hydro is adding a social twist with a daily Party in the Park during the Aug. 11 to 17 event.
“The games is seven days. We have an opening ceremony on the first day and a closing ceremony on the last day, so it is five days in between, Monday to Friday, we are having an event every day in CN Park right in front of the train station called Party in the Park,” committee member Martijn van Luijn said.
The full story can be found in this week's Dauphin Herald.
Cooking up a storm
Howard Wirch and Brady Johnson dump some freshly-cooked lobster into the cooling tub at the Dauphin Rotary Club’s annual lobsterfest, Friday at Obsolete Brewing Company. The event proved to be another success, with 116 tickets sold, exceeding the expectations of organizers. There were 150 lobsters and 120 pounds of mussels cooked for the event, which sold out in three to four days, with proceeds going to the Rotary Club.
- Doug Zywina/Herald
Putting around
Kent Miner sank this putt on no. 12 during the soldout Dauphin Kings Par 3 Extravaganza, Saturday, at the Gilbert Plains Country Club. The team of Mark Odut, Chris Todoruk, Mike Csversko and Seth Gares won the tournament, shooting a 48. Jon Yerama, Brendan Green, Stephen Chychota and Josh MacQuarrie were second on a countback over Rob Bouchard, Anthony Wiens, Ray Karlson and Brad Carefoot after both teams finished with a 50. Next year’s tournament will take place at the Dauphin Lake Golf Club.
Delaurier, Karlson capture title at Gary Brandon Memorial Tournament
Jackson Delaurier and Boston Karlson won the Gary Brandon Memorial Golf Tournament, this past weekend at the Dauphin Lake Golf Club.
The newly crowned champions defeated Shawn Woods and Lance Nugent in the championship flight final.
Mark Odut and Regan Hedley won the third-place match.
Jake Wiens and Steve Desroches won the first flight, defeating Bart Michaleski and Blaine Johnson. Glen Rutherford and Larry Johnson were third.
Ron Low and Andy Pickering won the second flight over Ron Love and Mike Penrose, while James Davidson and Keith Hanke were third.
The third flight was won by the team of Seth Gares and Noah Wiens. They beat Owen Connolly and Ray Karlson, while Brett Farnsworth and Darius Vendramin were third.
Dean Cooley and Ron Hedley won the fourth flight over Gerald Thiessen and Zachary Thiessen. Chris Todoruk and Danny Scott were third.
Mike Sparrow and Rob Bouchard won the fifth flight, defeating Dean Bodnar and Mark Talbot, with Darnell Duff and Derrick Brucks finishing third.
In the sixth flight, Jeff Campbell and Jordan Campbell took top spot beating Mike Zazuliak and Ryan Zazuliak. Sheldon Love and Ryan Gardner were third.
Tom Cyr and Dryden Vendramin won the seventh flight, defeating Steve Bell and Grant Edgar. Jordan Morrisseau and Kelly Ogg finished in third place.
Clippers girls win gold, boys silver at provincials
The Dauphin Clippers girls rugby team are two-time provincial champions after a convincing, 92-0 win over the Souris Sabres, Friday.
Bree Walker led the way with three tries, while Kiersten Vandekerckhove, Ashley Korney and Mai Maguet each scored twice. Lindsey Korney, Tanya Devos, Ryann Richard-Soltis, Tylee Rudkavich, Lucile Musick, Ruth Dandeneau and Raylyn Koshowski all had singles.
Megan Thompson had five converts, while Walker had one.
Dauphin finished the season undefeated, going 7-0 and outscoring their opponents, 490-0.
Clippers assistant coach Kent Miner said being a two-time provincial champion feels great.
“It’s very good for the girls to have that second victory, especially without letting a point against them this year, I think, is an all-out record for any rugby team out there,” he said.
One of the reasons the Clippers were able to score so many points is the team-first attitude of every player.
“The reason why they got so many points as a team is everybody worked together. There was no individual play. If there was individual play, those players just got subbed out for a team member. So everybody knew they had to play together as a team or watch from the sidelines,” Miner said, adding that was the key to the team’s entire success this season.
“It was just playing together as a team. Always running with support. Always having a friend with you.”
This was the second year the local high school program has benefited from the Parkland Pirates youth rugby program.
Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.