The Dauphin Clippers football team ended the Rural Manitoba Football League regular season with a 30-14 loss to the Swan Valley Tigers, Saturday in Dauphin.

The Clippers were missing some of their starters due to various reasons, which gave some rookies a chance to play.

“It gave a little bit of an opening for what we have next year,” said head coach Gerald Lopez, citing several players who played well throughout the game.

Julien Lopez led the defence with 12 tackles. Blake Thacker and Sly Fedorkiw had eight tackles each.

Julien Lopez ran the ball three times for 96 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown.

The Clippers ended the season in third place, with a 4-3 record, and will face the St. Vital Mustangs in the semifinals, Saturday in Winnipeg.

The Mustangs beat the Clippers in Dauphin, 55-54, Sept. 13, so Lopez expects another tight, close game.

“I think, not only our team, I think their team will be looking at our strong points as we’ll be looking at their strong points. So I think it will be a battle back and forth It will be a great game,” he said.

Bowlers in Dauphin may notice something new on the 10-pin lanes at Parkway Lanes.

The local bowling alley had the latest 10-pin string machines installed last week.

These highly efficient systems represent a major step forward in bowling technology.

Parkway Lanes proprietor Frank Scinocca said the facility used to use the free-fall system.

“And these new machines are on strings. And they’re highly efficient,” he said, adding it is the same pins that go up and down, so they will have to rotate the pins every so often.

“That’s part of the maintenance to replace the pins, because certain ones get hit more often,” Scinocca added.

Scinocca said the USB 24-volt 10-pin String Pinsetters system will likely be in most bowling centres.

“It’s just the latest technology and they’re even using it on the pro tours now. So it’s certified and accepted, even by professionals,” he said.

Bowlers may not noticed much of a difference. In some other bowling centres, Scinocca noted, the strings knock over the corner pins.

“The ones we put in are top of the line and they guarantee the strings will not knock over the corner pins,” he said.

Scinocca noted there are few breakdowns with the string system.

“You can go a week without an issue, which is wonderful, really,” he said.

The machines are made in Italy. But, Scinocca said it is cheaper to bring a small order like his through the US.

“And then we have to pay the dollar difference,” he said, adding the cost is approaching $200,000.

Scinocca first started thinking about it three or four months ago.

“All the proprietors who put these in are so happy. They said in some cases they got their life back instead of sitting back there all day and set pins or fix jams,” he said, adding there is still maintenance to it, but not as much as the old system.

Work began, Oct. 14, and was expected to take about a week. The work was done by a company which travels around the world doing such replacements.

“We want to try them out while they’re still here and work out any kinks, any issues at all, which would be nice,” Scinocca said.

Ste. Rose physician Dr. David O’Hagan was honoured with an appreciation dinner as he celebrates 40 years as a doctor at Ste. Rose Hospital.

Originally from South Africa, Dr. O’Hagan graduated from the Cape Town University School of Medicine in 1977. He then spent another six years in further training in surgery, obstetrics, internal medicine and pediatrics, which included two years of compulsory military service as a lieutenant in the medical corps.

Unhappy with the apartheid regime in South Africa at the time, Dr. O’Hagan made the decision to come to Canada, where he did several short locums in southern Saskatchewan.

“I just fell in love with Canada. I felt it was the right place and the right time for me,” he said.

Since Saskatchewan did not fully accept his medical credentials for full licensing and Manitoba did, Dr. O’Hagan visited four communities which were recruiting at that time, with Ste. Rose being one of them, having lost both of its physicians.

As a result, Dr. O’Hagan began his tenure at the Ste. Rose Hospital in 1985, where he has served that community, as well as three First Nation communities - Ebb and Flow, Crane River and Skownan and several Métis communities.

Moving from South Africa to Canada was a big change. Arriving in Saskatchewan in February, Dr. O’Hagan wore a light jacket, which he quickly learned was not the proper attire for a Canadian winter.

Dr. O’Hagan also learned that although the language was the same, a lot of words were different.

“Things like diapers and nappies, soothers and strollers. All were quite different,” he said.

Family medicine at that time was not as disciplined in South Africa as it is now, Dr. O’Hagan noted. But he did a lot of general training to get the whole scope, so he could be tuned in to that type of practice.

Dr. O’Hagan noted family medicine was in its infancy when he started and he became involved in the Rural Family Medicine residency program in Dauphin, which was one of the first rural programs in Canada. He served as program director for 15 years.

Dr. O’Hagan has seen a lot of changes when it comes to family medicine over the years.

“We’ve seen lots of changes. There’s a few medicines that are still around since I started with a lot of new ones. A lot of new inventions. CT scanners were not around, so we didn’t know very much about what was happening to people when they were alive,” he said.

“Many autopsies were done just because people died and we didn’t know why. Now it’s very rare for it to be done, because we generally know what people are dying from.”

Dr. O’Hagan met his wife in Ste. Rose and together they have three children and two new grandchildren.

While he has no regrets about his decision to come to Canada, Dr. O’Hagan admits there are a few regrets when it comes to certain medical decisions.

“Almost no regrets, just that I’m maybe too busy to spend time with my patients than I would like to,” he said.

Dr. O’Hagan was reluctant to be honoured with such an evening, but broke down and agreed to it.

“It’s good for the community. It is good for me. It’s good for our hospital and the staff. I think it’s a recognition of what everyone does,” he said.

Dr. O’Hagan plans to slow down a little bit over the next few years, but has no plans to retire.

The Dauphin and District Handivan Association (DDHA) has provided safe, reliable and vital, transportation services for seniors, persons with disabilities, and others with mobility challenges.

DDHA celebrated 40 years with an event at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 20, Saturday.

Board members, drivers and clients were invited for coffee or tea and cake following a short program.

DDHA president and board chair Marge Beyette said Ron Bourdin was the person who started the handivan services 40 years ago.

“I believe he only had himself working and one van,” she said.

DDHA now has five vans. Four of them, Beyette said, have ramps and one is ambulatory.

“We use that one a lot for people that don’t have wheelchairs or may have a walker. But we can fold that up and put it in the back,” she said.

“So it’s a little cheaper to run gas wise.”

Along with the five vans, there is one full-time driver and seven others who are casual, though they sometimes run into full-time hours depending on how busy it gets.

The need for such a service continues to grow.

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

The SVRSS Tigers Football team travelled to Dauphin this past Saturday (Oct. 18) for their final regular season game of the season against the Clippers. The Tigers were able to send their grade 12 players off with an upset win over the Clippers - by a score of 30-14. Here, Ryder Kushniryk breaks a tackle.

The Dauphin Clippers football team scored a 22-8 win over the Moosomin Generals, Saturday in Dauphin.

The first half was a defensive battle, with neither team able to do much until late.

The Clippers defence came up with a big goalline stand in the first quarter and thought they had done it again with under a minute to go in the second quarter. But the referees ruled the Generals crossed the line to open the scoring with 37 seconds left on the clock.

Dauphin answered right back.

On the first play after the kickoff, Julien Lopez scored a touchdown on a pass-and-run covering 60 yards to tie the game. Lopez then ran the ball in for the two-point convert to put the Clippers up 8-6 at halftime.

Clippers coach Gerald Lopez said scoring right after Moosomin took the lead was a huge momentum shift.

“I think that final score was an uplifting boost to our whole team. Right after that, all the kids were firing on all cylinders,” he said.

The Clippers held Moosomin off the scoresheet on another goalline stand in the second half.

“It was all building up until where our defence was clicking on all cylinders. That huge defensive goalline stand proves where we are at this point,” Lopez said, crediting defensive co-ordinator Robbie Tomkins for his guidance of the team’s defence.

Lopez was impressed with the team’s discipline on both sides of the ball, noting players walked away rather than reacting.

Lopez added high praise for offensive co-ordinator Nathan Thacker’s new offensive scheme, which coach Jason Pike executed brilliantly.

“The ball was spread around really evenly. There was no real big numbers on one person. Everyone as a whole contributed to the win,” he said.

Defensively, Blake Thacker had 13 tackles, while Sly Fedorkiw and Kingston Stirling had nine each. Julien Lopez had seven tackles and one interception. He also had a 101-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Offensively, Cody Zurba was 14 for 20 in passing for 129 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Owen Gonty had three catches for 29 yards, one touchdown and one two-point convert. Cole O’Connor had three catches for 40 yards.

The win improves Dauphin’s record to 4-2.

The Clippers will end the season at home, Oct. 18, when they host the Swan Valley Stampeders, which will determine the rankings for playoffs.

“Hopefully we can ride this momentum all the way,” Lopez said.

For the fourth year in a row, the Dauphin Clippers varsity girls rugby team are Westman High School Rugby 7s champions.

The Clippers clinched the title by going 4-0 at the final jamboree of the season, Oct. 7, in Brandon.

Dauphin defeated Souris, 19-14, Crocus M, 48-0, Steinbach, 33-26, and Massey 2, 46-0.

Clippers coach Shawn Sarkonak said the Clippers had a couple of close calls against Souris and Steinbach.

“Souris made it a one-score game and same with Steinbach. Both sides have heavily improved over the years and it’s actually nice to see, instead of us blanking other teams or having such a wide spread score,” he said.

“To tell you the truth, we’re not used to it. But it was good to see. And the girls actually said they enjoyed those two close games.”

Dauphin last played Steinbach two years ago at 7s provincials, where they won, 48-0.

“But they have definitely heavily improved. They are known as the top 7s side in the Winnipeg area. So it was nice to actually have them out and see how improved they have gotten,” Sarkonak said.

Sarkonak was especially impressed with the Clippers ball movement and support for each other.

“Working on keeping the ball moving instead of trying to get into a rucking competition, because it takes more players out of your regular play. If you can keep popping it up and keep the ball moving, it spreads the defence out a lot more and creates a lot more space,” he said.

Now the Clippers will shift their focus to repeating as 15s champions in the spring.

“It’s a huge harvest year as we’re graduating 10 players,” Sarkonak said.

The JV Clippers showed vast improvement, splitting their four games, opening with a 34-5 loss to Massey 1, before beating Massey 2 27-10. The JVs then picked up their second straight victory, 25-5 over Crocus G, before losing to Steinbach 53-5.

Overall, the JVs finished in fifth place with a 3-9 record.

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

The Rural Municipality of Dauphin council held its regular meeting, Oct. 7.

Accounts and finances

Council approved 19 cheques, as well as payroll and online payments in the amount of $176,615.57.

Transportation

Assistant public works foreman Charlie Mosionier reported the gravel program is complete, as is roadside mowing. The mowers will be starting to cut main drainage ditches in the south.

The graders are busy preparing roads for winter.

Crews have to do some approach top repairs that were damaged in the spring flood, but not reported until now. One was at E-7-24-20 and the other in the Bloomfield Subdivision Plum Bay.

The shale hauling for dirt road maintenance is complete and the Stoney Point Beach campground has been winterized.

The berm at the riverbank stabilization at Skuter Crossing has been fixed, as it had settled over the season.

The brusher also cleaned the scrub at N-22-28-20, as well as E-17-17-19 for visibility and access issues.

Garbage being dumped on the roads and in ditches is an ongoing issue.

Crews have received approval from MTI for the installation of a new speed board sign in the Eclipse. The installation will be done soon.

Approach ID# 467 is also complete.

Drainage

Crews have done a few more surveys and the brusher scrubbed out the ditch at E-3-24-20 for drainage and snow issues.

Delegations

Dauphin fire chief Cam Abrey presented his fire report to council.

Recreation funding

Council unanimously approved the Recreation Funding Agreement between the City of Dauphin and the RM of Dauphin, which includes details regarding capital and operating funding, governance structure and membership and term.

June District host

Council will offer to host the 2026 June District Meeting.

Working group

meetings

Council wishes to proceed with future Parkland Regional Working Group meetings.

Resolution

Council approved an application of Maksym Davydiuk to move a previously lived-in home in the RM to NW 18-27-19 wpm, under certain requirements.

Minister meetings

The municipality will put in a request to meet with Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations at the AMM convention minister meetings. They will also put in a request for a meeting with Dauphin MLA and Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn outside of the conference.

Support

Council offered its full support for an immediate annual increase to the Manitoba Water Services Board’s capital budget, beginning in 2026, to $100 million from its current $24 million.

The Dauphin Clippers varsity girls rugby 7s team is undefeated after three jamborees, including winning both games at its home jamboree, Sunday.

The Clippers beat their JV counterparts, 41-0, to open the tournament. They then defeated Vincent Massey 1, 48-0.

The wins improve Dauphin’s record to 7-0. They will look to win the fall 7s season at the final jamboree, today in Brandon, hosted by Crocus Plains.

Clippers coach Shawn Sarkonak felt the girls had a bit of a rough start against the Clippers JVs.

“I think they were underestimating our JV team and the JVs came out strong. We were able to come out of that with the win, like we should,” he said.

Overall, Sarkonak was much more pleased with the second game, with the way the team was moving the ball, offloading it and keeping the flow of the game.

Sarkonak noted the team has been working hard in practice.

“They just work on the structure and the flow and just moving from sideline to sideline. And communication. And just the different scenarios and what you can find yourself in. They’re using it today,” he said.

“When there isn’t a ruck formed, they’re releasing the ball and getting to their feet. They’re waiting for support to get there. They’re counter-rucking. They’re doing everything we’ve asked them to do.”

When the 15s season gets underway in the spring, the varsity squad will definitely be leading that team, Sarkonak said.

“But overall, with the experience that the JV players are getting, they’ll definitely be putting their hands up for starters spots, for sure,” he added.

After the opening loss to the varsity squad, the JVs lost to Souris, 25-5.

No score was reported from the game against Crocus M.

Noting all of the players on the JV team are first-year players having never played before, JV coach Codi Harrigan has seen improvement in the team’s play.

“I’ve seen a really good, positive increase in performance from these girls. They came out first practice not knowing anything,” he said.

“We’re definitely advancing game after game after game. And we’re shocking some people, other coaches have told me.”

The team continues to learn and improve with every practice and game.

“They enjoy being out here with each other. They’re building a good team with one another. Their skills are improving, for sure,” Harrigan said.

Competing in the fall 7s season will give the JV players a head start when the 15s season begins in the spring.

“They’ve got a head start on the 15s here. They’ve faced three of the toughest teams here today and they’re getting a taste of the game,” Harrigan said.

“They’re getting to see what the competition is like and they’re going to go against the same girls in the spring. It’s good for them to come out and play these girls now and they know what they have to work on in the winter.”

After dropping their season opener, the Parkland Rangers have won two games in a row, in convincing fashion.

The Rangers scored a 7-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings, Sept. 28, and hammered the Kenora Thistles, 11-1, Oct. 4.

Rangers head coach Rick Freese is seeing the hard work and consistent effort he was hoping for.

“Especially from the young kids. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve got some veteran players up front that are scoring goals and they’re doing their thing, especially on the power play,” he said.

“And we’ve got some veterans on the backend like Ryder Gardner. And I know (Owen) Sigvaldason hasn’t played here, I know this is his first season, but he’s played real well.”

Freese said the line of Alex Campbell, Dayson Martin and Noah Smigelsky has played well in the early going, combining for seven goals and 16 points.

“We’ve been lucky here these last couple of games. Our young kids are working hard. They’re forechecking hard. They’re killing penalties. We’ve been successful here as of late,” Freese said.

One bright spot is the balanced scoring. The 11 goals on Saturday came from nine different players.

“That means everybody is contributing. Everybody is getting involved. And it means I can play everybody against anybody in the league up to date,” Freese said.

“Sure, we have our power-play units and our PK units. But it’s nice to see everybody getting involved. And another indication that everybody is starting to work. And they’re starting to play the system we want, especially in the neutral zone. When we do what we need to do in the neutral zone and they do what they’ve been taught in the neutral zone, we keep those guys wide and we seal the zone and we just move. So yeah, I’m happy with everything so far, for sure.”

The Rangers will now prepare for the annual trip north to Thompson, where they will play the Norman North Stars, Saturday and Sunday.

“That’s the life of a hockey team. Ten or 15 minutes after you enjoy your win, it’s time to move on. The bigger prize is at the end. That’s just how it is,” Freese said.

After playing Norman, the Rangers will face some stiffer competition as they play the Winnipeg Wild, Eastman Selects, Winnipeg Bruins twice and Winnipeg Thrashers before their next home game, Oct. 31.

“We’re going to be in Winnipeg for three weekends in a row. This month on the road is going to be a tough test, for sure. Better to get it out of the way now, though, than later on,” Freese said.