With four of a possible six points in their first two games, and no regulation losses, the Northern Manitoba Blizzard are well poised to make the playoff round this coming weekend at the 2025 Centennial Cup in Calgary.
The top junior A champions from across the country are battling it out for national supremacy, and the Blizzard are showing they can hang with the best. They rallied for a single overtime loss point in their opener, and had their best period in the third of their second game to earn a crucial round-robin victory. And in a tournament where winning in regulation earns you three points in the standings, a clean victory can make all the difference when it comes to who makes the playoffs and who doesn’t.
“If you go down with zero or one points in two games, you’re basically chasing the rest of the tournament,” noted Blizzard Head Coach and General Manager Eric Labrosse. “It’s pretty tight in the standings, pretty much everyone has beat everyone else so far, so it’s really important to pick up points every game if you want to make the playoffs. We feel you need probably eight points to get into the playoffs.”

Cranberry Portage Winterfest is bringing another event to the community to acknowledge its history and significance in the trade route. For Canada, the committee is bringing back the Cranberry Portage Race to draw in a crowd.
“We brainstormed different ideas at a committee meeting for ways to celebrate the rich history of Cranberry Portage beyond our winter festival,” said Cranberry Portage Winterfest Volunteer Committee Member Carleen Wollman.

Dry spring conditions have kept Dauphin firefighters busy in recent weeks and, given the potential for serious harm, department officials are urging area residents to follow the rules around lighting fires and to use common sense before striking the match.

After a busy stretch the week before, during a time span between May 3 and 5, Dauphin Fire Department responded to six incidents, which included four calls for wild land blazes.

The first came in the afternoon of May 3 when  DFD was dispatched to a grass fire northeast of Dauphin after hydro lines came into contact with tree branches and showered sparks into the tinder dry grass below.

Just as firefighters were wrapping up that call, a mutual aid request came in from Sifton Fire Department at a yard and barn fire north of Dauphin. The two departments were working in high winds to control the fire, which was attributed to embers from a burning barrel when yet another call was received around 5 p.m. regarding a grass fire west of Dauphin off Hwy. 274.

Given everything that was going on, a mutual aid request was sent to the Gilbert Plains Fire Department, which responded with a full slate of manpower and equipment. The two departments working together limited damages from the fire, attributed to a controlled burn that outgrew the property owner’s ability to extinguish it.

That was not it for the weekend, however, as, after a call to assist paramedics in the city, fighters received another rural call for a blaze near Stony Point just after midnight.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a hay field on fire covering an area one mile wide east to west and two miles wide  north to south.

As the fire was located in a marshy area, and firefighting equipment was unable to access the area, firefighters remained on scene all night to ensure there was no threat to any structures.

It has been a difficult and stressful stretch for firefighters, that could have been much less difficult and stressful if a little more common sense had been exercised by some of those involved.

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

Area farmers have been hitting the fields lately with their seeders as weather and moisture levels allow, kicking-off the official start of the growing season. Pictured here, Sean Baskier puts down a field of beans on one of his quarters in the Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman.

On March 4, 2025, the residents of the St. Claude Health Center started a Playoff Support project. The residents picked their favourite team and coloured their logo. Lyla Thevenot, a Red River Métis citizen, cheered for the Northern Manitoba Blizzard. She loved the north and had an extensive knowledge of the history of the land and people. She was an ambassador for Métis culture to all she knew, teaching beading, making moccasins, and playing the fiddle. Her musical talent was known by many in the Métis community through singing, playing guitar, banjo, and piano. She was well known for her hospitality.

Each year, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League announces a Community Ambassador Team that includes one player from each team in the league.
Players are chosen for their outstanding citizenship and sportsmanship on the ice as well as off the ice, with a dedication to volunteering within their home team community.
With the support of RBC, each player can donate to an organization of their choice.
Alex Andre, from Northern Manitoba Blizzard, chose to donate to Opasquia School. Alex has played a major role in many of our after-school clubs, including Science, Lego, Pow Wow and Sports with the Blizzard. He has also volunteered for school-wide events when his busy schedule allowed him.
Alex, you are a true role model for our students, showing them how hard work, dedication and helping others go a long way for our community.

It took the Northern Manitoba Blizzard three attempts and three extra overtime periods, but it was well worth the effort as they finally captured the Turnbull Cup as MJHL champions last Thursday in Dauphin.
Quincy Supprien (fifth) scored on an innocent looking shot off a draw in the Dauphin zone at the 14:03 mark, lifting the Blizzard to a 2-1 (3OT) Game 7 victory in front of 2,246 fans.
Second year Blizzard Head Coach and General Manager, Eric Labrosse, said once they were sure the puck crossed the line, the celebration was on.
“It was a feeling of relief, excitement and joy all mixed together,” said Labrosse. “It was tough to see on the bench if it went in, and when the light went on and the players started jumping, I realized we scored. After that, we had a huge group hug, and the players were on the ice celebrating. It was pure joy for several minutes.

A recent fire broke out on May 3, which led to The Pas Fire Department, Opaskwayak Fire Department and Manitoba Wildfire Services to be called in to suppress and extinguish the fire. It moved closer to the tri-community, which led to an evacuation of Big Eddy, Carrot River and Bracken Dam. At the time, residents were to go to the Veterans Hall in Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
Later, on Sunday, residents of Big Eddy could return to their homes. Residents in Bracken Dam were still under an evacuation order and were not permitted to return to the area. Any residents in these communities who felt uneasy about returning home due to the uncertainty of the situation, could continue to access temporary shelter at either the Veterans Hall or the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre.

The Community Foundation of Swan Valley (CFSV) held their sixth annual Spring Granting Night on Wednesday (April 30) at the Swan Valley Historical Museum, presenting several grants to various community organizations around the Swan Valley.
“We’re here not only to celebrate some amazing projects happening across the Swan Valley, but also recognizing the 20th anniversary of the CFSV,” said CFSV President Patti Henkelman, in her opening remarks.
“Over the past 20 years, including the grants presented tonight, the Foundation will have granted more than $1.5 million back into our community, supporting youth, education, recreation, culture and so much more. The Foundation has grown to reach $4.4 million in actual donations as of April 30 this year. Now we are working towards our next big milestone of $5 million with our Drive for Five campaign.
“The Drive for Five isn’t just about hitting a financial target,” Henkelman continued. “It’s about building long-term sustainability. It’s about ensuring that our communities will continue to thrive over generations to come.”
The evening kicked off with some musical entertainment from the talented Terri Boyd and Harper Dahl, singing and playing music for a few numbers, before the CFSV handed out 17 grants to community organizations.
• Benito Splash Park Committee – $50,000 in two parts for the Benito Splash Park build
• Benito and Area Drop-in Centre – $2,400 for building exterior renovation and repair
• Durban Commuity Cemetery – $5,000 for a cemetery information centre
• Swan Valley Snowmobile Association – $8,000 for Phase 3 of a shop heating system
• Swan River and District Community Resource Council – $4,000 for a commercial dishwasher in Heritage Manor
• Steeprock Bay Bible Camp – $1,250 for archery program equipment upgrade
• Swan River Nursery School Inc. – $5,000 for bathroom renovations
• Tread the Thunder Bike Club – $2,000 for a trail groomer
• Minitonas and Bowsman COPP – $2,000 for COPP operating equipment purchase
• Minitonas and District Arena – $3,500 for a water fountain and bottle filling station
• Wellman Lake United Church Camp – $8,000 for Phase 2 of a water system upgrade
• Swan Valley Girls Softball Association – $2,000 for jerseys purchase
• SVRSS – $3,000 for first aid equipment purchase
• Minitonas School – $4,300 for basketball equipment upgrades
• Minitonas School PAC – $3,500 for school outdoor space
• Swan River Trap Club – $4,500 for a storage building
• Bowsman Community Skating Arena – $4,500 for an overhead door replacement
Three grants were also given out by the Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program, which is headed up by SVRSS teacher Carol Larson.
• Steeprock Bay Bible Camp – $500 for archery program equipment upgrade
• Tread the Thunder Bike Club – $1,000 for trail groomer
• Swan Valley Girls Softball Association – $1,000 for jerseys purchase
The students of the YIP program also fundraised $1,000 to be invested with the CFSV.
“From our founders 20 years ago, to the volunteers and donors who support us today, this foundation is a reflection of the Swan Valley’s strength and spirit,” Henkelman concluded.

Greg and Charlotte Sauder, along with Community Wrap Around Services, invited everyone to the Swan River Legion Park for a walk in honour of loved ones who are missing or murdered. The event took place yesterday (May 5), on National Red Dress Day, a symbol that was coined by Metis artist Jaime Black as an aesthetic response to the critical national issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people.