The Parkland Mavericks season has come to an end with a 36-17 loss to the Winnipeg Wombats, Sept. 7, in Winnipeg.

Oliver Dandeneau, Matt Zurba and Daniel Evans had Parkland’s tries and Evans added a convert.

It was the first playoff game for the Mavericks in more than 20 years and player-coach Shawn Sarkonak said it went well.

“We were in it, especially in the first half. It was really tight. Just a little more experience and a few extra subs on the other team and a couple of unfortunate missed tackles led to the difference in the game,” he said.

Sarkonak felt the Mavericks improved from the start of the season, noting they actually played a full season compared to last year, when there was no league for the team to play in.

“From start to finish there was definite improvement. Just toward the end, we just unfortunately weren’t able to get all our best players together on the field, actually up until the playoff game,” he said.

“Even at that, we were missing guys with some injuries that definitely would have added some depth and would have changed the dynamic of the game, for sure.”

Sarkonak is excited for the Mavericks’ future, noting the team’s younger players have already committed to playing next season.

“The future looks bright, for sure,” he said.

Although the Division 2 season may be over, the Mavericks will host Mavs Fest, Sept. 28, which will include players from the Winnipeg Wasps, Wombats and Winnipeg Assassins.

There will also be some women’s games featuring teams from Saskatchewan.

“The guys were looking at a way to end the season. They had hosted, a number of years ago, a similar thing where the Wasps came down and a team from Regina came in. There was a beer gardens set up. And they wanted to re-do it again,” Sarkonak said.

Girls who want to give hockey a try have the opportunity to learn about the game and to improve their skills, Saturdays throughout the winter.

Starting Oct. 12, the Saturdays Are For the Girls program will hit the ice at Credit Union Place in Dauphin from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Dauphin Minor Hockey Association vice-president Ashley Shaw said they were looking for programs to get as many girls involved in the sport as possible.

“It was brought up at the AGM to see if there was some options of just doing girls’ skates,” she said.

With the help of local businesses Twin Motors and Lee Electrical Engineering to offset some of the costs, the program is ready to get underway next month.

“Everyone seems to be very excited about it,” Shaw said.

The program runs 10 Saturdays over the course of the winter and will feature on-ice instructors. It is open to players ages five to 16.

Female players who have registered with Dauphin minor hockey can also register for the program, Shaw said. But any girls who just want to take part in the program can do so.

“You don’t actually have to play on a Dauphin minor hockey team to participate in this event,” she said.

The majority of the four or five instructors are women who have played the game themselves.

“So it’s going to be great having these individuals out on the ice and will also allow the girls to see that you can go on with hockey. It will be really exciting,” Shaw said.

Players can register by emailing Lindsey Kyle at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. There is no registration fee.

“If somebody has a daughter that was thinking about trying hockey, or is interested in taking part, then have them come out and give it a shot. I think it’s just going to be a lot of fun.” Shaw said.

The program will run, Oct. 12 and 19, Nov. 2 and 30, Jan. 4, 18 and 25, Feb. 8 and 15 and Mar. 1.

Dauphin’s Jackson Delaurier’s success on the Male Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) this summer will lead him Down Under in a couple of weeks.

Delaurier will be one of eight Canadians who will travel to New South Wales, Australia, to compete in the prestigious Jack Newton International Junior Classic, Oct. 1 to 4.

Delaurier qualified for the Australia event by winning the MJT tournament in Selkirk in July.

“First, I was put onto a short list for a chance to go, but I didn’t really think much of it, because I knew there’d be a lot of golfers to select from. Then about a week later I got an invite to go to Australia,” he said.

Delaurier was understandably excited to get the invitation.

“Australia is a different part of the world. Just to travel there and golf there will be fun,” he said.

While golf will be the major focus, Delaurier hopes to be able to enjoy some of the sites and sounds of the country.

“Just the experience in Australia. Just seeing what it’s like over there and seeing some of the kangaroo, koala bears that they have over there,” he said.

Besides the win in Selkirk, Delaurier has also had a couple of podium finishes on the MJT.

Delaurier hopes to continue in the golf industry, not necessarily as a golfer, but perhaps, someday as a golf pro at a club.

The need for air conditioning in the Watson Arts Centre has been well known for years, if not decades.

Now the centre will begin fund-raising towards fulfilling that need.

The fund-raising campaign, titled “Make the Watson the Coolest Building in Town”, is looking for donations from area residents.

“Technically, it’s heat pump technology. But it’s been talked about for years, but the costs were just too high. But the technology has progressed so much and the price has come down so much that it’s within doable range,” said Cam Bennet, chair of the Dauphin and District Allied Arts Council (DDAAC).

The council has raised some funds already. They were the beneficiary of a fund-raising barbecue hosted by Westman Communications Group in June and Fusion Credit Union has donated $15,000. Another business has stepped up to the tune of $35,000.

“And we’ve got some reserves from the Roger Watson Fund, the Roger Watson donation from several years back,” Bennet added.

“We would prefer not to dip into the reserves and deplete them completely, which is why we’re doing the campaign. The reserves are there. It’s just a matter of how much are we able to dip into them.”

The campaign’s goal is to raise $12,000 and have the heat pump technology installed in June 2025.

The funds are in place, but the money raised from this campaign will go to taxes and any additional costs that may pop up.

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

The Parkland Rangers hit the ice for training camp this past weekend, culminating with the annual intrasquad game, Sunday afternoon.

Liam Chartrand, Brayden Budalowski and Ryzlie Nepinak each scored twice to lead Team Black to a 7-5 win over Team White.

Derrel Murdock had Team Black’s other goal, while Ethan Carnegie with two, Joey Hall, Noah Smigelsky and Cade Legaarden replied for Team White.

Rangers head coach Joshua Tripp liked what he saw on the ice over the weekend.

“It started out a little bit slow, but me and the other coaches had a chat with the guys and ever since then, it’s been awesome. The pace has picked way up and they’ve been playing hard. It was really good to see,” he said.

Tripp liked the way the players battled and worked hard throughout the weekend.

“It’s hard, especially for the returning guys. It’s hard to push in camp when you’ve already played on the team. But we’ve made it very clear that it’s a new coaching staff and no one’s spot is solidified. And they’ve really impressed me with the way that they’ve worked all weekend,” he said.

Ten players from last year’s squad were in camp with several others still trying out for junior teams.

Some cuts were made following Sunday’s intrasquad game. Roughly 30 players will make the trip to Souris for the Southwest Cougars’ annual preseason tournament this weekend.

“There’s some guys that we want to see a little bit more and see in an actual preseason game,” Tripp said.

Parkland will face the Interlake Lightning, Friday, at 8:15 p.m. They won’t have much time to rest at they play the host Cougars, Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Tripp will keep an eye on the little things that makes a team successful.

“For the guys that we need an extra look at, it’s going to be the little things, right? So the back checks, the winning races to pucks, the battles, all that. We know how skilled all the players are, so those little things are what’s going to make them stand out to us. And that’s what we’re going to watch out for,” he said.

It will soon be decision-making time for the Dauphin Kings coaching staff as the 2024-25 Manitoba Junior Hockey League season draws near.

The Kings played three preseason games, last week, beginning with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Northern Manitoba Blizzard, Sept. 3, followed by a 4-3 overtime victory over the Neepawa Titans, Thursday, a game Neepawa led 3-0, 5:14 into the third period.

On Sunday, the Titans gained a measure of revenge with a 3-2 win, netting the winner with 3:56 remaining.

The first two games featured rookie lineups, which Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley felt played better as the games went along.

“The fact that we were down 2-0 to Neepawa after two in the rookie game and came back and won in overtime. (Jack) Bechard (who scored the overtime winner) played really well,” he said.

“(Declan) Hoad. (Ethan) Stewart with a big goal. I was real happy with the young guys. They’re going to be pushing for spots. There’s some real good talent here.”

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

The Dauphin Kings enter the Manitoba Junior Hockey League preseason with plenty of decisions to be made following the training camp this past weekend.

Camp culminated with the annual JoFo Cup intrasquad game, which saw Declan Hoad score the winner with 3:07 remaining in the third period to lift Team Barry Trotz to a 4-3 win over Team Myles Fee.

Cayden Glover paced Team Trotz with a pair of goals, while Rylan Gibbs added a single.

Gabriel Bugeaud had two for Team Fee and Jack Bechard had the other marker.

Cole Sheffield and Piet Mierreau combined to make 20 saves in goal for Team Trotz, while Austin Seibel and Hunter Bauer had 24 saves between them.

Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said the younger players look really good.

“We had a really good class of 2008s. Our 2005s have looked good. Our backend, the guys we brought in on the right side have looked good,” he said.

“The Haun kid (Matt) from the States is a 20-year-old, but he’s really played well defensively. He really moves pucks well.”

Hedley was pleased with the speed and compete level he saw throughout camp, as well as the offensive production.

“We had a lot of everything during the camp. Even today’s (intrasquad) game, guys were looking a little bit tired. But at the same time, I think with a day off in the next day or so for a lot of them, I think our exhibition games should have a lot of energy in it,” he said.

The first two games of the preseason - tonight against the Northern Manitoba Blizzard and Thursday against the Neepawa Titans - will feature all-rookie lineups.

Both games get underway at 7:30 p.m.

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

The Parkland Rangers will hit the ice at Credit Union Place in Dauphin this weekend with about 40 players vying for a spot on the roster for the upcoming season.

Swan River native Joshua Tripp is entering his first year as head coach of the Rangers. He said a number of veteran players will be trying out with junior A clubs.

“We’ll see what happens with the junior camps, who trickles down. There should be a good number (of returning players), anywhere from six to 10, I’d say,” he said.

Tripp is expecting some tough competition  in camp. He ran a couple of skill development camps over the summer, so he is familiar with many of the players who will be trying out.

“It’s going to be a tight battle to fill out the team. The guys that are willing to work and sacrifice for the rest of the team, that’s going to be something I’m going to keep an eye out for,” he said.

“If they put the work in and they show me they’re going to be a team player, that’s going to be one of the main focuses.”

In terms of preseason games, the Rangers will play a pair of games at the preseason tournament in Souris, hosted by the Southwest Cougars.

Parkland will face the Interlake Lightning, Sept. 13, at 8:15 p.m., followed by a 9 a.m. date with the Cougars, Sept. 14.

Tripp is looking forward to running his first camp as head coach.

“I’m really excited. We’ve had some skates already, so I’ve met a lot of the guys that are coming to try out. Even just doing those, I’ve been getting really excited to get camp going,” he said.

After starting the season with wins in two of their first three games, the Dauphin Mavericks have struggled to hit the win column.

The latest setback came, Saturday in Winnipeg, where the local men’s rugby team dropped a 38-24 decision to the Wombats.

Nick Searle had two tries and two converts for Dauphin, while Austin Rivard and Brayden Tomchuk had one try each.

The Mavericks went into the game with the minimum of 15 players, but picked up a few players from the Eastman Warriors.

“And we actually lost three of our regulars in the first half to injuries, so it was just a battle of attrition,” said Mavericks player-coach Shawn Sarkonak.

“It was a good, hard fought battle, for sure. We did some really good things. They just took advantage of the lesser bodies.”

Injuries have been a problem of late, along with the unavailability of some players. But despite that, Sarkonak said they are hoping to finish the season strong when they return to Winnipeg, Saturday, to face the Wanderers at 3 p.m.

“And have a hard-fought game. We’re really pushing for guys to make it and then go into playoffs,” he added.

“We want to come away with the W, just to have some momentum going into playoffs.”

Dauphin currently sit sin fifth place with two wins, a draw and six losses. The Mavericks have 16 points, including six bonus points and trail the fourth-place Wombats by three points.

The Manitoba Summer Games, powered by Manitoba Hydro has come and gone and by all accounts it was a resounding success.

When all was said and done, it was Winnipeg Blue which topped the medal count with 103 in total, including 50 gold, 30 silver and 23 bronze.

Winnipeg Gold was second with 30 gold, 26 silver and 26 bronze for a total of 82. Team West was third with 78 medals on 15 gold, 30 silver and 33 bronze.

Team East was fourth, winning 24 gold, 22 silver and 22 bronze for a total of 68 medals, while Team South captured 15 gold, 16 silver and 14 bronze for 48 medals. Team North won a single bronze medal.

Based on feedback from athletes, coaches, spectators and Sport Manitoba, Games co-chair Carla Wolfenden said they are proud of Dauphin.

“It’s been a really great week,” she said.

Co-chair Clayton Swanton said the more than 700 volunteers helped to make the games such a success.

“Just so, so impressed with our volunteers. We know we live in a great community and that’s why we chose to host. We knew we could pull it off, because we know the people of Dauphin. But that was seven years ago when we chose to do that. And Dauphin is still Dauphin. Nothing changed and they came out in spades,” he said.

“And just to echo Carla’s comments, nothing but rave reviews from everybody from out of town about the hospitality in town and what a great week they’ve had. And we certainly had, too.”

It was the efforts of the volunteers which drove the success of the Games.

“We’ve had incredible volunteer support. Quality people every way you turn. Whether it’s in the kitchen or on the field of play, or at any of the venues. And it’s even people saying everyone in the stores in the different businesses have been very friendly and helpful and made them feel welcome,” Wolfenden said.

“So our volunteers are what made this event a success.”

It was pointed out during the VIP reception that many volunteers would work their scheduled shift and then go and lend a hand at other venues.

The local business community was also instrumental in the success of the Games. As Swanton noted, you can’t host an event of this magnitude or create the legacy of venues and projects without sponsors.

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