It was not the start the Parkland Rangers were looking for when they hit the ice for game one of their best-of-five semifinal series with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Brandon grabbed a 2-0 lead, 1:09 into the game and skated to an 8-1 win.

Callum Halls scored three times and Braden Keeble scored twice and added two assists to lead Brandon to the win.

Nolan Chastko chipped in with a goal and two assists, while Dylan Schrader and Nolan Roberts also scored. Mason Lobreau made 22 saves in the win.

Carter Zalischuk had Parkland’s only goal, which came on a power play. Brenden Birch-Hayden made 28 saves through two periods and Kyler Swanton stopped seven in the third.

Rangers coach Tyler Carefoot said the Rangers failed to minimize their turnovers, which led to the Wheat Kings scoring two goals early.

“We just simply turned the puck over at the blueline, they go down on a two-on-one and we can’t give that team those kinds of chances,” he said, adding the early two-goal deficit took the wind out of Parkland’s sails. “We just couldn’t seem to get right back into it. We lost our intensity, we lost our sandpaper and grit and we were just kind of holding on the rest of the way,” he said.

Brandon, he added, is a team that will capitalize on turnovers and game one was evident of that.

Entering the series, Carefoot talked about the need to say out of the penalty box, something the Rangers failed to do as Brandon scored three times on eight chances with the man advantage.

Twice the Rangers were called for four-minute penalties, which they managed to kill off.

“There were a couple of penalties I didn’t like. There’s two four-minute penalties. When you give a team like that four minutes on the power play, they’re capitalizing,” Carefoot said.

There were parts of the game where the Rangers played well.

“We had some cycles going, getting pucks to the net. It’s just minimizing turnovers and that’s something we’ve got to do a better job of,” Carefoot said.

For game two, the Rangers need to focus on moving the puck a little faster in the offensive zone.

“If you see a guy open, you can’t hesitate. You’ve got to get the puck to the open man and get pucks on net quicker,” Carefoot said. “One of the things I thought they did well was they’re were just so relentless in front of the net, just poking and prodding. Just keep competing until the whistle goes. And I think they scored, for sure, two or three goals that way.”

Despite the game one loss, Carefoot remains confident in his team and feels they can still make a series of it.

“That game for either team, there was no grit or sandpaper. It was like a November game. Both teams were just playing it out,” he said. “Ultimately, we need to tighten up on our turnovers and add far more grit and sandpaper like we had the last series. Factor in not giving them two four-minute power plays.”

Game two is in Dauphin, Friday at 7:30 p.m., with game three in Brandon at 1:30 p.m.

The Dauphin Ladies Bonspiel took place over the weekend at the Dauphin Recreation Complex curling rink, with 24 teams competing.

Melissa MacQuarrie, curling with Kaylee Robinson, Shannon Demeria, Jolene Showdra and Allison Barsewsky, won the first event over Chantel Jersak. Leanne Urbanovitch was third and Leanne Fedak was fourth.

The Tina Toews rink, with Carol Sime, Suzette Crandall, and Candace Devos won the second event, beating Lindsey Kyle. Tiffany Armstrong was third and Courtney VanAlstyne was fourth.

In the third event, Janelle Lach, Hayley Lamb and Camille Lough finished first, beating Betty Caruk. Avery Scott was third and Lois Roazk was fourth.

The Northwest Métis Council (NWMC) Inc., in partnership with the Dauphin RCMP Detachment, hosted the first-ever Family Violence Initiative Nature Walk at the Northgate Trails, Sunday afternoon.

After the opening prayer, the event included speeches from Elders talking about their life experiences, a performance by the D-Town Steppers junior dancers and musical entertainment.

Brenda Winters, NWMC housing first co-ordinator, said there are different initiatives put out in conjunction with the RCMP.

“So when we had seen the ask go out there, we put together a plan. We originally wanted to do this in the fall. It would have been gorgeous. But due to COVID restrictions, we just kept postponing it and postponing it,” she said. “But it was an initiative that we thought that we could have whole families come and take part.”

To hold the event, NWMC had to meet certain criteria, such as providing printed material and speakers to give advice to family members.

“We wanted to keep it really casual, so we did ask our Elders to share family experiences. And, of course, with the Métis culture, we want the dancers and the fiddlers, so we have entertainment,” Winters said, adding there were also speakers on behalf of the RCMP.

Winters would like to see the nature walk become an annual event, noting there are a lot of initiatives available.

“It’s just for people to take action and act on them,” she said.

Winters would like to see the event go back to the original plan of being held in the fall.

“Because it’s gorgeous up here. It’s a nice place to showcase. It’s something we’re trying to get moving in the community of Dauphin for more people to use it. So I just really wanted people to see what all there is to offer up here,” she said, adding a shuttle service was available for those who needed it.

Winters noted the nature walk is open to everyone.

“It’s not just a Métis function. It’s for the whole public,” she said, adding she was pleased with the turnout of more than 100 people.

Watson Arts Centre (WAC) co-ordinator Peter Nadolny, admires a painting by Winnipeg artist Kathleen Shellrude being exhibited at the WAC’s art gallery.

The theme of the exhibit is Forest Royalty and Shellrude’s work will be on display until the end of March.

Sylvie Telfer, 11, uses a broom to push melted snow towards a storm drain on Edward Ave., Saturday afternoon.

With the rapid melting of all the snow the city received over the winter, some streets are experiencing a build up of water, but city crews have been out opening drains to help alleviate the situation.

The Dauphin and District Community Foundation was the recipient of a significant donation from a Dauphin resident who passed away two years ago.

Peter Sklepowich, who died May 14, 2020, bequeathed $507,088 to the foundation.

Jason Beyette of Johnston and Company Law Office is in charge of the estate. He knew Sklepowich, meeting him through the agriculture industry.

“When I was in my summer jobs, I worked at Cargill in Dauphin and Peter was farming. So that’s how I initially met Peter, through the farming industry,” he said, adding Sklepowich used to farm in the Keld area, before moving to Dauphin in 2006. He worked at various jobs, including Dauphin Recreation Services when he passed away.

Sklepowich’s entire estate was bequeathed to charity, with half going to DDCF and the other half split between the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Cancer Society.

“When Peter came in to talk to me about preparing his will, he indicated he wanted to leave it to charity. And we had discussed some of the different possibilities,” Beyette said. “And he was impressed with the Dauphin and District Community Foundation, because he liked the fact that his principle was never spent and the interest would be earned and put into projects in the community. That’s what really sold him on the charity.”

Beyette said anytime money is granted to a local group through DDCF, it will trigger memories of Sklepowich for him.

“That’s something I think is a neat way to leave your legacy in life,” he said. “There are also some wonderful tax benefits to giving to a charity. His estate was more significant because of his charitable bequests relieving some of his tax obligations. So we were actually able to leave more money in the hands of his charities because he left his estate to the charities.”

There are still a few assets in the estate to be disposed of, Beyette said, adding the final distribution will likely take place sometime next year.

“To my knowledge, I think this is probably the biggest donation that the foundation has received in one single bequest. So it’s fairly significant. And I think the foundation is looking forward to more milestones where they can do more things in the community,” he added. “There are many projects that probably wouldn’t have had the success they have had because of the foundation.”

DDCF executive director Kit Daley said the bequeath will have a significant and long-lasting effect on the community.

“With Mr. Sklepowich’s gift, we will be granting out an additional $20,000 to the community next year and that will continue to grow every year. Gifts to the foundation are gifts to the community and we are so grateful for his support,” she said.

(From left, DDCF board member Justin Tokarchuk, Jason Beyette presenting a cheque to DDCF board member Darren Eddie, DDCF executive director Kit Daley and DDCF board member Martijn van Luijn.)

Chris and Clifton Flett of the Chris Barker Band performed for a small, but enthusistic crowd at the Old Fire Hall, Friday evening.

The next event at the Old Fire Hall will be an open mic night with host Gary Procyshyn, Apr. 1, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Shayne Gauthier of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Grey Cup were in Dauphin, Saturday, as the first stop on a tour of the province.

Fans had plenty of chances to get an autograph and photo taken with the Bombers linebacker as he toured the Cup through several local businesses, set up this display in the lobby of Credit Union Place and dropped the ceremonial opening faceoff at the Dauphin Kings Ukrainian Night, Saturday.

A Grand Plains Hawks player skates into the offensive zone against the Roblin Stars in the gold medal game at the U13 Rural C Provincials, Sunday in Grandview.

Roblin took home the gold with a 3-2 victory, while Manitou won the bronze with a 5-4 win over Boissevain. Miniota beat Gimli, 5-3, to win the consolation.

Other teams competing in Grandview were Holland, Deloraine and MacGregor.