The Dauphin Clippers football team improved to 2-0 in the Rural Manitoba Football League, with a 23-20 win over the Interlake Thunder, Saturday afternoon in Dauphin.

Joseph Lopez led the offence with 156 yards rushing on five carries, including touchdowns from 56 and 30 yards out.

Scott Gower had 71 yards rushing on 10 carries, while Matt Zurba was one for six passing. He also scored on a two-yard quarterback keeper.

Jake Kuzmiak was good on all three converts and the Thunder conceded a safety to account for the rest of Dauphin’s scoring.

Defensively, Oliver Dandeneau led the way with 11 tackles, while Austen Semchyshyn had seven tackles and three assists and Lopez chipped in with eight tackles.

The Clippers built a comfortable lead only to see the Thunder stage a comeback that made things close.

Clippers head coach Jason Zurba said the defence stepped up and were playing well, which led to victory.

“A few penalties gave them the momentum, but (the defence) stepped up when they needed to,” he said.

A close game like this will benefit the Clippers down the road, Zurba said.

“You need to be punched in the mouth every now and then to keep us down at a lower level to move forward. So it’s awesome,” he said.

Playing as a team and not giving up when they were down, Zurba said, were keys to the victory.

The Clippers will hit the road for the first time, this Saturday, when they face the Moosomin Generals in Moosomin at 1 p.m., Manitoba time.

Noting the Generals beat Interlake, 47-44, Sept. 10, Zurba knows the Clippers will be in tough against Moosomin.

“Moosomin is going to be another tough opponent. They’re going to be big and tough and aggressive. So we’re looking forward to it,” he said.

Saturday’s game was the team’s first-ever alumni game, celebrating 50 years of high school football in Dauphin, with alumni in attendance and memorabilia on display.

Clippers manager Cam Bennet was pleased to see a number of former players in attendance, including players from 1961, 1968, 1971 and 1976, as well as the 1980s and 1990s and more recent alumni.

This is actually the 51st year of football in Dauphin, but COVID restrictions prevented the Clippers from celebrating last year.

Bennet would like to make it more of an event in the future in the hopes of getting more alumni to attend.

“If we can get people out and have a great time, why not do it every year? I’m actually thinking of maybe moving it to Thanksgiving weekend, if we can get a home game that day and make an event of that. I’d like to see this event grow and grow. It was a great crowd,” he said, adding the 50-50 was more than $350 which will help the team immensely.

If opening weekend of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League proved anything for the Dauphin Kings it is that there is a lot of room for improvement.

The defending Turnbull Cup champions opened the weekend with a pair of overtime games with the Neepawa Titans, with each team winning on home ice.

In Friday’s season opener, Kalen Reynolds staked Neepawa to a 1-0 lead 5:41 into the third period.

Anthony Bax pulled Dauphin even when he connected with 25 seconds left to send the game to overtime where he tallied the winner, 59 seconds in.

On Saturday, Neepawa got their revenge when Will Highet netted the winner, four minutes into overtime to give the Titans a 3-2 victory.

Following Friday’s home opener, Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley felt the Kings were sloppy in the second period, adding the passing was off.

“Obviously, it’s a work in progress. I think we had good speed. I think we outplayed them. I think we had good chances. Their goaltender was pretty good tonight,” he said. “We stuck with it and what do you say about Anthony Bax. He gets two big goals. It’s a nice way to open like that when you have so many new guys and you find a way to get it done.”

With only eight players back from last year’s championship squad, there are a lot of new faces on the Kings this season. Getting a victory like this will boost the team’s confidence right off the hop. Several players impressed Hedley, Friday night, including Bax, Nicholas Hatton and Matthew Gough.
Veteran Mason Smith had a great game, Hedley said, using his speed to create chances.

“(Blake) Boudreau, you could see his speed in the three-on-three (in overtime). He just kept on taking pucks away from guys,” Hedley said, adding it will take some time for the new players to get used to the league. “Once they get their feet under them and they realize what the league is about and the speed and compete that they need to work at, they’re going to be good players,” he said. “It could take us a little bit of time.”

Hedley liked the compete level from the younger players, such as local products Carter Zalischuk and Rylan Gibbs.

“I thought Zalischuk was really good. I thought Gibby was very good for his first game in the MJHL. I thought our newer guys, our younger guys were good. (Dario) Zitko was good. (Connor) Picard played well. They’re all ‘03s and ‘04s,” he said, adding some of the veterans could have played better. When it comes to putting a lineup together, Hedley looks for players with speed.

“And then you could work everything off that. If you play fast and compete hard, it causes trouble for the opposition,” he said. “Tonight, there were a few times we broke down in the D zone, but we’re just learning. The neutral zone got better as the game went on. We started controlling their speed. And offensively, this is just touching it, because I think the speed we have, and when these guys get used to the scissors support and the different ways to get to the net, we’re going to be a pretty tough team to beat. I just think there’s some real good stuff there to work with.”

Several players on the sidelines Friday night, made it into the lineup on Saturday. With 29 players still with the team, Hedley has some tough decisions ahead.

“We’re going to try and find ways to get guys in,” he said, adding he looks back to last year when he almost let Nick Braun go, but he had a good week and a couple of good games and ended up in the team’s top six all season. “We just don’t want to make a mistake. We want to give these guys an opportunity. And a lot of this right now is attitude and a positive work ethic,” Hedley said. “I know it’s not a good thing for billets and finances at times, but we just want to try to get it right and make sure we give the kids every opportunity to play here.”

The Kings are back on the ice tonight when they make their first trip north to face the OCN Blizzard at 7 p.m.

On the weekend, Dauphin plays another home-and-home, this time with the Swan Valley Stampeders, starting Friday in Swan River at 7 p.m., with the rematch in Dauphin, Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Tim Horton’s annual Smile Cookie campaign is underway once again and organizers are hoping to beat last year’s total.

Last year, $27,174 was raised, ranking Dauphin in the top 10 nationwide.

Local organizer Stacey Penner said proceeds from this year’s campaign will go to the new Maamawi Park.

“After helping out with different locations throughout the last few years, I decided to submit an application on my own since I’m invested in this one,” she said.

Penner added charities must submit an application to Tim Horton’s, which will then give approval for that charity to be the recipient of the funds raised through the campaign.

“We just had our ground breaking and I put in an application early on in 2022. Tim Horton’s starts collecting applications or looking at letters of requests in January. There’s a very specific guideline of things that they’re looking for as to who meets the criteria. And we met the criteria, so we’re lucky enough to be selected,” she said.

Last year, Johnston and Company matched all cookie sales made on the Friday of the week-long campaign. That is a strategy Penner plans to use this year, partnering with local businesses to match sales up to a certain amount.

“We spread the word and had some pretty incredible businesses step forward,” she said, adding six of the seven days have businesses agreeing to match sales. “Some of them set a cap, because you never know what you’re going into. Some of them left it wide open. Some of them said they’ll top up depending on how the sales go for each day. And some of them said they want to continue to contribute above and beyond whatever the amount of cookies are that will be matched,” Penner said.

More than $800,000 has already been raised for Maamawi Park through donations or in-kind services. But there are long-term goals that organizers would like to meet.

“For Phase 1, we are looking above and beyond the hill at the amenities, as well. But our budget for it is anywhere from $1 million to $1.4 million. So we are well underway to having enough funding to build the hill,” Penner said, adding they have already gone to tender, but due to the flooding throughout the province in the spring, Manitoba is worn thin with resources and capable trades workers who are able to work on the project. “So although we had a significant amount of interest in companies to build the hill during our first tender agreement, we could not find the right person for the job. So we’ll be retendering again very soon in the next month or two and, hope we can find our building partners,” she said.

Volunteers are needed to help with the campaign. Penner said there are two-hour shifts available for anyone who wishes to decorate cookies, hold signs or just make small talk with those using the drive-through.

Anyone interested in volunteering can call Penner at 204-647-2471 or call the restaurant at 204-638-3299. Penner appreciates everything the staff at Tim Horton’s does to make the campaign a success.

“It’s amazing the commitment that they show towards the smile cookies. And they do it with a smile on their face themselves. I just think the Dauphin Tim Horton’s must be run so well, because I’ve built a relationship with them,” she said. “And not only the management and owners, but with individual staff members who bust their butt throughout the week of Smile Cookie.”

In conjunction with the Smile Cookie campaign, there will also be a donation-based garage sale, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tim Horton’s is accepting items for the sale at the store.

If there are enough volunteers, windshield washing will be available in the parking lot, Sept. 23, for donations to Maamawi Park.

It has been a busy summer at the Parkland Regional Library in Dauphin.

Among the many things going on, according to library director Alison Moss, was the TD summer reading program, with drop-in activities every Thursday, including crafts for all ages.

“There were paper puppets every week, so kids could stop by and pick up a new one. We were encouraging people to come on down and use the puppet stage that we have set up in our children’s room,” she added.

There were also scavenger hunts, Indigenous art and colouring and poetry pages which were available every week.

PRL also hosted a story walk, which allowed patrons to get outside to enjoy a story.

“The film club was also back in action this summer. There were colouring contests, as well. And a really neat project in mid-August. We partnered to host a reel opportunity workshop. That was for young people interested in a career in film or TV. That was a virtual experience,” Moss added.

PRL also hosted a Manitoba Underground Opera production of Goldilocks and the Three Singing Bears, which proved to be a popular event.

Things will not be slowing down any time soon as PRL will remain busy through the rest of this month and into October.

Third Thursday Music returned with Copper Penny performing this past Thursday and author Audrey Lute will host a book reading, Sept. 22, for her book, “The Pond and Beyond.”

The film club will show The Workers Cup at 7 p.m. and a creative water colour class will be held, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

“People can call the library for more information, but all supplies will be provided,” Moss said.

The Infant Rhyme Time is back in person, starting Oct. 6, running until Dec. 8, at 10 a.m., every Thursday.

PRL will team up with Culture Days to host an art challenge display in the library and there will be a Pecha Kucha presentation, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.

The next Third Thursday Music will feature Johnny Pacey, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.

Jan Jenkins, Moss added, had an art display in the library over the summer and the Quilters Guild has some of their talent on display until the end of the month.

Moss offers her thanks to the schools and local child care centres and summer camps.

“People brought groups in for field trips and tours and that’s such a great way to get young people connected with the library. And it’s just fun for everyone involved. We have fun and the kids have fun,” she said. It was hard, Moss said, to remember what it was like at the library pre-pandemic. “But I think it’s rivaling what it used to be like. There are some days that it is incredibly busy. And that’s great,” she said.

Staff are often wearing masks and it is encouraged, but Moss said, it is still a personal choice.

“Much like anywhere else these days,” she said.

People showed an interest in the library, which had a table set up at the recent Recreation, Health and Leisure Mart at the Parkland Recreation Complex curling rink.

“People from all walks of life and that’s exactly what we want to see,” Moss said, adding they were asking for suggestions on what patrons would like to see at the PRL, which also offers DVDs free to take out with a membership. “We also have Canopy, which is an online streaming service, so there’s movies, documentaries and classes for learning. So that’s really neat for all ages,” she said.

PRL also offers Creativebug, which offers instructional classes with instructors from all over on a range of topics, Moss said.

“From soap making to water colours to fabric arts. Just an incredible amount of creative possibilities,” she said, adding the library launched electronic magazines, which are on the Libby app, where ebooks and audio books can be found.

Victoria Kuzyk recently harvested these strange looking potatoes from her garden on Railway Ave.

The ground was so hard, she had to get a neighbour to help get them out of the ground

There's lots more on Agriculture in our area in this week's Dauphin Herald!

More than 30 players are trying out for the Parkland Rangers U18 hockey team at Credit Union Place in Dauphin.

The team held scrimmages, last week and will be back on the ice this week, with an intrasquad game going Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The Rangers will play preseason games in Souris against Brandon and Norman at the annual Southwest Cougars tournament this weekend and will host the Yellowhead Chiefs, Sept. 20, in Dauphin at 7:30 p.m.

The regular season opens, Sept. 24, against the defending league champion Winnipeg Wild at 4:30 p.m.

It’s decision time for the Dauphin Kings coaching staff.

The Kings ended the preseason with a 1-2-1-0 record as the team prepares for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League regular season.

The Kings lost 2-1 in overtime to the Swan Valley Stampeders, Sept. 6, then beat the Wisconsin Lumberjacks, 6-1, on home ice, Wednesday.

On the weekend, the Kings traveled west to play the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Melville Millionaires, Saturday, losing 5-0.

On Sunday, Dauphin dropped an 8-4 decision to the Yorkton Terriers in Melville.

The regular season opens Friday, with the Kings hosting the Neepawa Titans at 7:30 p.m.

Following Friday’s home opener, the Kings and Titans will meet in Neepawa on Saturday in a rematch at 7:30 p.m.

Dauphin made one deal last week, sending Ben Hackl to his hometown Dryden Ice Dogs of the Superior International Junior Hockey League for future considerations.

Hackl had four goals and 20 points in 40 games last season, adding one goal and two assists in 14 playoff contests in helping the Kings win the Turnbull Cup.

Kings court:

Former Kings defenceman Scott Gillingham is one of 15 candidates running for mayor of Winnipeg. Gillingham was first elected to council in 2014 and was re-elected four years later.

He played for the Kings in the 1987-88 season, scoring five goals and adding 34 assists for 39 points in 45 games.

It was a season of streaks for the Dauphin Mavericks.

The local men’s rugby team started the year with four straight losses and followed that with four straight wins.

The Mavericks ended the season with another four losses in a row, the last three coming this past weekend in Winnipeg.

The Mavericks dropped a 37-17 decision to the league-leading Wombats, Saturday afternoon then lost 38-17 to the Saracens in the early evening. On Sunday, the Wanderers were awarded a 20-0 win after the Mavericks forfeited the game, dropping Dauphin’s record to 4-8.

Jeff Zeiler, Willi Budzinski and Shawn Sarkonak each scored tries in the first game and Nick Searle had three tries in the second game. Converts were kicked by Willi Budzinski and Jordan Campbell.

Mavericks president Codi Harrigan was pleased with the team’s play, noting they opened the scoring against the Wombats.

See what he had to say in this week's Dauphin Herald!

The Parkland Recreation Complex curling rink was home to the annual Dauphin Recreation, Health and Leisure Mart, Sept. 6.

The busy evening gave 14 organizations the opportunity to accept registrations for the upcoming fall and winter seasons or display what they have to offer.

The Dauphin Clippers football team beat the defending Rural Manitoba Football League champion Swan Valley Tigers, 2908, in their season opener, last Thursday in Dauphin.

Oliver Dandeneau led the offence with 77 yards rushing on just three carries, including a 66-yard touchdown run. Kade Glennie had just one carry for 55 yards and Scott Gower had 44 yards rushing on 12 carries. Will Stinson ran the ball for another 37 yards on seven touches.

Matt Zurba completed just one of six pass attempts, but he made it count as he connected with Jaymen Fee on a 15-yard TD.

Joseph Lopez led the defence with seven tackles, including three sacks, and an interception return for a touchdown.

Get a full rundown in this week's Dauphin Herald!