Sports Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020

Calgary, Alta. – Hockey Canada has invited 35 Western Hockey League players, as part of a group of 113, to attend its virtual national under-17 development camp as the road to the 2020 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge begins.

The group, comprised of 12 goaltenders, 37 defencemen and 64 forwards, will be split into six teams for the week-long virtual camp, participating in a variety of sessions with a focus on player development through online education. The breakdown of WHL players includes four goaltenders, 11 defencemen and 20 forwards.

The list of WHL players invited includes 2005-born Connor Bedard, who was granted exceptional player status in March 2020 and subsequently selected by the Regina Pats, first overall in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. 

“The national under-17 development camp is the first stage in introducing these athletes to the Program of Excellence, and it is a great opportunity for them to develop as players and learn what it takes to wear the Maple Leaf,” said Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of national teams with Hockey Canada. “Our three under-17 teams are very fortunate to have these nine experienced coaches, and we know our coaching and support staffs will embrace the opportunity to guide the development of the top young players in Canada.”

Eight WHL personnel were also named for the national under-17 teams coaching staffs. Behind the bench, Kelly Buchberger (Langenburg, Sask. / Tri-City Americans) will lead Team Canada White as head coach with Dr. Ben Cameron (Summerside, P.E.I. / Lethbridge Hurricanes) serving as the team physician. Joining Team Canada Red will be Kris Mallette (Kelowna, B.C. / Kelowna Rockets) as the team’s assistant coach along with equipment manager Ramandeep Dhanjal (Saskatoon, Sask. / Prince Gorge Cougars). On Team Canada Black, Kirt Hill (Winnipeg, Man. / Edmonton Oil Kings) was appointed the director of operations with Landon Watson (Neilburg, Sask. / Regina Pats) joining as the video coordinator. Finally, Jason Smart (Red Deer, Alta. / Vancouver Giants) and Shaun Sutter (Red Deer, Alta. / Red Deer Rebels) were named to the scouting staff.

The coaching staff will lead Canada’s national men’s under-17 teams at the 2020 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Charlottetown and Summerside, P.E.I., in November.

For more information on Hockey Canada and the Program of Excellence, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter.

Name	Position	Height	Weight	Born	Hometown	2019-20 Team	WHL Draft
Ethan Buenaventura	Goaltender	6’1″	171	06/22/04	Winnipeg, Man.	Rink Hockey Academy (CSSHL)	CGY ’19 (4, 77)
Reid Dyck	Goaltender	6’4″	185	01/20/04	Wrinkler, Man.	Pembina Valley (MAAAU18HL)	SC ’19 (3,45)
Dylan Ernst	Goaltender	6’1″	149	02/06/04	Weyburn, Sask.	Moose Jaw (SMAAAHL)	KAM ’19 (2, 28)
Matthew Kieper	Goaltender	5’11”	146	03/08/04	Winnipeg, Man.	Winnipeg Bruins (MAAAU18HL)	REG ’19 (3, 63)
Keaton Dowhaniuk	Defenceman	6’0”	155	02/08/04	Sherwood Park, Alta.	OHA Edmonton (CSSHL)	PG ’19 (1, 3)
Tyson Jugnauth	Defenceman	5’11”	154	04/17/04	Richmond, B.C.	Okanagan (BCMML)	SC ’19 (1, 21)
Kevin Korchinski	Defenceman	5’10”	146	06/21/04	Saskatoon, Sask.	Saskatoon Contacts (SMAAAHL)	SEA ’19 (1, 10)
Mats Lindgren	Defenceman	5’8″	145	08/26/04	North Vancouver, B.C.	Burnaby Winter Club (CSSHL)	KAM ’19 (1, 7)
Denton Mateychuk	Defenceman	5’9″	170	07/12/04	Dominion City, Man.	Eastman (MAAU18HL)	MJ ’19 (1, 11)
Hunter Mayo	Defenceman	5’11”	173	05/07/04	Martensville, Sask.	Saskatoon Blazers (SMAAAHL)	RD ’19 (2, 23)
Josh Niedermayer	Defenceman	5’11”	202	02/20/04	Penticton, B.C.	Okanagan Hockey Academy (CSSHL)	VAN ’19 (2, 30)
Kalem Parker	Defenceman	5’8″	140	10/12/04	Clavet, Sask.	Saskatoon Blazers (SMAAAHL)	VIC ’19 (2, 32)
Grayden Siepmann	Defenceman	5’10”	175	05/26/04	Abbotsford, B.C.	Yale Hockey Academy (CSSHL)	CGY ’19 (1, 13)
Jason Spizawka	Defenceman	5’11”	165	01/16/04	Victoria, B.C.	South Island (BCMML)	VIC ’19 (1, 19)
Jace Weir	Defenceman	6’1″	165	05/21/04	Coldstream, B.C.	Okanagan (BCMML)	RD ’19 (2, 38)
Connor Bedard	Forward	5’8″	165	07/17/05	North Vancouver, B.C.	West Van Academy (CSSHL)	REG ’20 (1, 1)
Niall Crocker	Forward	6’2″	162	07/31/04	Delta, B.C.	Delta Hockey Academy (CSSHL)	PA ’19 (1, 22)
Nate Danielson	Forward	6’0″	165	09/27/04	Red Deer, Alta.	Northern Alberta Xtreme (CSSHL)	BDN ’19 (1, 5)
Josh Davies	Forward	5’8″	179	03/24/04	Airdrie, Alta.	Pacific Coast Academy (CSSHL)	SC ’19 (3, 54)
Conor Geekie	Forward	6’3″	172	05/05/04	Strathclair, Man.	Yellowhead (MU18AAAHL)	WPG ’19 (1, 2)
Kyren Gronick	Forward	5’11”	175	02/27/04	Regina, Sask.	Regina (SMAAHL)	PG ’19 (2, 26)
Jordan Gustafson	Forward	5’10”	159	01/20/04	Ardrossan, Alta.	Fort Saskatchewan (AMHL)	SEA ’19 (1, 8)
Jhett Larson	Forward	5’8″	152	02/03/04	Delisle, Sask.	Notre Dame Hounds (SMAAHL)	RD ’19 (8, 163)
Connor Levis	Forward	6’1″	180	10/05/04	Vancouver, B.C.	St. George’s School (CSSHL)	KAM ’19 (1, 20)
Brandon Lisowsky	Forward	5’8″	163	04/13/04	Port Coquitlam, B.C.	Burnaby Winter Club (CSSHL)	SAS ’19 (1, 9)
Rieger Lorenz	Forward	6’1″	165	03/30/04	Calgary, Alta.	Edge School (CSSHL)	WPG ’19 (4, 68)
Caleb Reimer	Forward	6’2″	162	10/09/04	Surrey, B.C.	Delta Hockey Academy (CSSHL)	EDM ’19 (1, 18)
Rylen Roersma	Forward	5’10”	161	07/25/04	Raymond, Alta.	Lethbridge (AMHL)	BDN ’19 (1, 16)
Matthew Savoie	Forward	5’9″	181	01/01/04	St. Albert, Alta.	Rink Hockey Academy (CSSHL)	WPG ’19 (1, 1)
Bowden Singleton	Forward	5’8″	150	05/15/04	Calgary, Alta.	Northern Alberta Xtreme (CSSHL)	VAN ’19 (2, 43)
Ben Thorton	Forward	6’1″	160	02/02/04	Agassiz, B.C.	Yale Hockey Academy (CSSHL)	SPO ’19 (1, 15)
Mathew Ward	Forward	5’7″	140	01/24/04	Kamloops, B.C.	West Van Academy (CSSHL)	SC ’19 (1, 14)
Oasiz Wiesblatt	Forward	5’6″	165	04/08/04	Calgary, Alta.	Calgary Buffaloes (AMHL)	MH ’19 (1, 12)
Koehn Ziemmer	Forward	5’11”	180	12/08/04	Mayerthorpe, Alta.	St. Albert (AMHL)	PG ’19 (1, 4)
Tyson Zimmer	Forward	6’0″	175	09/05/04	Russell, Man.	Okanagan Hockey Academy (CSSHL)	BDN ’19 (1, 6)

Winnipeg, Manitoba, June 24, 2020 – Baseball Manitoba announces that just over three months since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the province, it is safe to return to competition.   Baseball Manitoba submitted a Return to Play document to the Province of Manitoba in May of 2020. It was approved in early June, allowing Manitobans to return to training on June 8, 2020. Once training could begin, Baseball Manitoba continued to work towards a safe return to competition. Their target start date was July 1, 2020, but after a very successful Phase 1: Return to Training, they are pleased to announce Phase 2: Return to Competition can officially start on June 24, 2020. An updated version of their Return to Play Document is now available on their website at baseballmanitoba.ca.   Signage has been delivered and hung at ballparks, sanitizing supplies are being accumulated and distributed, and volunteers and players are adjusting to baseball under the new circumstances. Local baseball volunteers are working diligently to get the season started in a safe manner.   Checklists have been created for the following categories, including one for the new volunteer role of Health and Safety Coordinator. Baseball Manitoba intends for these checklists to help their community return to competition safely: Health and Safety Coordinator Player Coach Parent and Spectator Umpire and Clinician Ballpark Maintenance Staff   Baseball Manitoba is one of the first provinces within Canada to return to baseball competition. The Manitoba Junior Baseball League will host the first games of 2020 as 3 double headers get underway on Sunday, June 28. The Winnipeg AAA Baseball League will get underway on July 1. Finally, grassroots baseball games will begin Province-wide in early July.   For more information, please visit baseballmanitoba.ca.

MEDIA RELEASE

Football Manitoba and the Football Manitoba Hall of Fame committee have made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony to October 21st of 2021. This decision was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact on large group gatherings. We feel strongly that our inductees deserve an evening of accolades and recognition from all who wish to attend, and we simply cannot be confident that we would be able to offer that this year. Details regarding the 2021 Ceremony will be forthcoming.

• 2020– Inductees

Lou Bernstein – Player	Len Sitter – Coach
Shawn Churchill – Media	Vic Solyo – Player
Kevin Hart – Player	Chris Walby – Player
Wade Miller – Player	David Wheeler – Player
Al Leitch – Builder	Bob Wilkes – Coach
Bob Lawler – Coach	1970 North Winnipeg Nomads
Glen Johnson – Official	1970, 71, 72 Sisler Spartans
Bernie Novak – Official	1971, 72 Winnipeg Hawkeyes
Harold Jackmann – Player	1987 Crocus Plainsmen
Laura Shea – Builder	2007 University of Manitoba Bisons

BISON SPORTS PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release June 23, 2020   Introducing Bisons Track and Field recruits for 20-21 WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons Track and Field team is pleased to announce 13 top Manitoban recruits for the 2020-21 season. “These athletes exemplify the tremendous work being done in track and field at both the high school and club levels in Manitoba,” said Bisons Track and Field head coach, Claude Berube. “With backgrounds in competitions at the provincial and national level, this group has all the tools to compete in Canada West and USPORTS. They will all be key members of the Bisons program moving forward.” This recruiting class is also strong off the field of play through their academic accomplishments and contributions to the community and sport, said Berube.  “Our coaches, and myself, look forward to have an exciting five years working with these athletes,” added Berube, who enters year 24 with Manitoba.  The Bisons track and field teams are returning many of their top performers from the Women’s team that finished fifth at the 2020 Canada West Conference Championships. The Bisons Men’s Track and Field team had another strong season in 2019-20 with a fourth-place finish at the Canada West Championships, and seventh at the USPORTS Championships. The vast majority of this strong team will be returning for the 2020-21 season. Abby Bestland, 18, competed in the sprints events with Sanford Collegiate.  Bestland is relatively new to the sport, having taken up track and field full-time a little over a year ago. She has made big strides in that timeframe, making the final at the MHSAA Championships in 2019, and also earning a spot on the Western Canada Summer Games team. During her high school career at Sanford Collegiate, she received the Coaches Award on three separate occasions, and was an honour roll student all four years. Adam Chahid, 19, was a sprinter with Kelvin High School.  Chahid has a strong resumé and desire to succeed. His area of strength are the sprints, which will no doubt make him a factor not only in his individual races, but also as a relay team member throughout his Bisons career. He was a finalist in two events (200m, 400m) at the 2019 MHSAA Championships. He also has interprovincial competition experience having made some provincial teams including the 2019 Western Canada Games. Tyler Cox-Yestrau, 17, competed in the sprints events at J.H. Bruns Collegiate.  Cox-Yestrau was a multi-sport athlete throughout his high school career and has started to focus on track and field this past year. He is considered one of the more versatile young sprinters in the province.  He was a double silver medalist in the 200m and 400m at the 2019 MHSAA Championships. He has represented Manitoba on various provincial teams including the Western Canada Summer Games team. He also competed at the Simplot Games this past indoor season which is one of the top high school meets in North America. In 2019, he was named the athlete of the year at J. H. Bruns Collegiate. Alex Davis, 17, ran sprints and middle distance at Balmoral Hall School.  Davis, who spent most of high school competing as a sprinter, has begun a transition to middle distance events and is showing promise, finishing third in the 400m at the MHSAA Championships.  She has also competed as a provincial team athlete, including last summer’s Western Canada Games, where she was a member of two medal winning relay teams. While a student at Balmoral Hall, she was also achieved honour roll status all four of her high school years. Graham Hutchinson-Campbell, 17, competed in sprints and jumps at J.H. Glenlawn Collegiate.  Hutchinson-Campbell has been consistently one of the top jumpers in the province. He is also a strong sprinter. He has medalled at the MHSAA Championships, and has experience as a provincial team member, highlighted by being a part of the 2019 Western Canada Games. As a student at Glenlawn, he was also twice an honour roll recipient.  Angela Kroeker, 18, is a middle distance / distance runner out of River East Collegiate.  A versatile athlete, Kroeker will have an important role on both the Cross Country and Track & Field team. Highlights of her high school career include gold in the 3000m at the 2018 MHSAA Championships and bronze in the 3000m at the 2019 Western Canada Games. Kroeker also brings experience of having competed at the national championships to the table. At River East Collegiate, she was named athlete of the year and achieved recognition as a honour roll student in each of her four years of study.  Justin Kroeker, 17, is a middle distance / distance runner from Edward Schreyer School.  Kroeker will be a part of both the Cross Country and Track & Field teams. He is a three-time silver medalist at the MHSAA level in the 1500m, 3000m and Cross Country, respectively. Kroeker also has provincial team experience being a member of both the Legion and Western Canada Games teams. He comes by his ability to compete as a middle distance / distance runner honestly as both his parents are former Bisons distance athletes. While studying at Edward Schreyer School, he was also named athlete of the year while earning placement on the school honour roll. Reese Lange, 18, is a sprinter out of Murdoch McKay Collegiate.  Lange has been one of the top sprinters in the province for the past few years and will surely make a smooth transition to university level competition. She was the 2019 MHSAA silver medalist in the 100m and is also part of a provincial record setting 4 x 100m relay team. Lange has represented Manitoba on several provincial teams, including the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games. While at Murdoch MKcKay, she was twice the athlete of the year and a four-time honour roll student.  Rachel Mann, 18, competed primarily in the hurdles at Kelvin High School.  Mann was a multi-sport athlete at Kelvin. Along with her accolades on the track, she received the MHSAA Soccer olden Boot Award. In track and field, she won gold in the 100m Hurdles at the 2019 MHSAA Championships. In the process, she also broke the championship record in the event. She has represented Manitoba on various provincial teams over the years including the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games. Mann was also a two-time athlete of the year at her school, and earned placement on the honour roll throughout her four years.  Jakob Paquette, 17, is a sprinter and jumper out of Garden City Collegiate.  Paquette had a strong 2020 indoor season and has made a case to be the top high school sprinter this year. He also compliments this with his ability in the long jump. Paquette was a silver medalist in both the 100m and long jump at the 2019 MHSAA Championships. He has provincial team experience as well as having competed at the Legion Championships. He is also an accomplished student being an honour roll student all four of his high school years. Issac Peters, 18, competed in the High Jump at Fort Richmond Collegiate.  Peters is one of the promising high jump athletes coming out of the high school system. He had a strong indoor season, culminating with second place finishes at both the provincial and high school indoor championships. Peters has experience in inter-provincial competition which will be valuable as he joins a strong group of jumpers on the Bisons team.  Daxx Turner, 18, excelled in the Triple Jump and High Jump while at Neepawa Area Collegiate.  Turner is one of the most promising jumpers in the country. He has focused on the triple jump and is now making inroads in the high jump. He is a multi-time medalist in the jumps events at the MHSAA level, and also the 2019 Canadian Junior triple jump bronze medalist. Turner’s performances in the triple jump have garnered him several age group provincial records, as well as ranking him third all-time on the Canadian list in the U18 category. He has also performed well in the classroom, earning honour roll recognition. Ilona Zrinyi, 17, joins the Bisons sprints and middle distance team from Vincent Massey Collegiate.  Ilona has a deep background in track and field and has had success at both provincial and national levels. She is considered one of the top middle distance runners in the province, and will have an immediate impact on the relay program. The Vincent Massey grad won gold in the 400m at the 2019 MHSAA Track & Field Championships, and was also in the top-four at the Cross Country Championships this past fall. A two-time high school athlete of the year, she was also a honour roll student throughout high school.