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In just 20 games with the Southwest Cougars of the Manitoba AAA U18 Hockey League in the 2019-20 season, Cody Gudnason averaged more than a point per game with 13 goals and eight assists in the regular season.

The now 20-year-old went on to score twice and had six points in six playoff games with the Cougars that year. Moving forward to the 2020-21 season, Gudnason played had one assist across seven games with the then Neepawa Natives and he was looking forward to more, but the season was ultimately cancelled early on due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cody was drafted by Neepawa 60th overall in the 2018 MJHL Draft.

Heartbroken after his first junior season was cancelled because of the pandemic, Cody used that as fuel to train and prepare for the following season when he returned to Neepawa, producing 19 points in 53 games. The Titans finished just two points back of a playoff spot that year. Returning to the team last year, Cody took on the role as captain and while the Titans finished way back of a playoff spot, Gudnason took the next step in his development and his point total also increased as he racked up 21 points. 

Cranking things up this past off-season ahead of his final junior season, Cody is now 28 games into his final year as a junior player with the lone junior team that he has played with.

"It's been awesome here in Neepawa, there has been a lot of learning since I first joined the team at 17-years-old," said Gudnason. "It's a great organization and an incredible community, I love it here."

Originally from Killarney, as the Titans continue to creep up the standings in the MGEU West Division, Gudnason has taken his game to the next level. With eight goals and 19 assists, Cody leads the Titans in scoring and he is tied for 10th in league scoring. It has already been a career for the 20-year-old and with more than half a season left, Gudnason is looking forward to continuing doing whatever it takes to help the team win.

"I feel like I came in this year and I am playing a lot better than I have in the past," said Gudnason. "As a 20-year-old, I understand that I have to take on a bigger role than I have in the past. I also couldn't do it without my teammates, they push me everyday. Things have certainly been going my way so far."

Thanks to his success in November in particular, Cody has been recognized by the league as he was named the RBC Player of the Month. In 10 games, Cody scored four times and had 15 points to lead the club. Cody had five multi-point outings in November, which included a four-point outing when he scored a goal and had three assists in a 5-3 victory on November 15.

It's the first time that Cody has won the award during his time in the league.

"It means a lot to me, it's certainly an accomplishment that I'm very proud of," offered Gudnason. "Once again, I owe a lot of the credit to my linemates as well."

Neepawa will be back on home ice Friday when they play the Waywayseecappo Wolverines and the Titans are one of the hottest teams in the league. Sitting now at 14-13-1, Neepawa has a seven-point advantage over the Wolverines for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West. The Titans are also just two points back of Dauphin for third and three back of the Blizzard for second. 

The Titans will take a two-game winning streak into the contest which included a 4-3 win against Wayway on Tuesday night. Since a 5-2 loss to Dauphin on November 11, the Titans have won eight of their past 10 games. 

"It's been awesome. We knew what we had to do at the start of the season," said Gudnason. "With how strong our division is and the league in general, we know that we have to come out hard every single game. Everything has been going our way lately because we're putting in the work and it's paying off for us."

In a stunning turn of events, the Brandon Wheat Kings' highly anticipated 5th overall pick, the hometown hero Jaxon Jacobson, is set to make his debut against the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday night.

At the tender age of 14, Jaxon is poised to etch his name in the record books as the youngest player ever to don the Black and Gold jersey in a Wheat Kings debut.

The announcement sent ripples of excitement through the city, as fans eagerly anticipated witnessing the prodigious talent take the ice. Jaxon's journey from being a promising prospect to a debut player for his hometown team is nothing short of extraordinary.

Raised in the hockey culture of Brandon, Jaxon has been honing his skills since he first laced up his skates. The 14-year-old prodigy's remarkable ascent through the ranks has now culminated in a momentous occasion that transcends the boundaries of age and experience.

As the news of his debut spread like wildfire, the entire community rallied behind Jaxon, recognizing the significance of this historic moment. Coaches, teammates, and fans alike are gearing up to witness the young phenom showcase his prowess on the ice, anticipating the sparks of greatness that are sure to follow.

Jacobson has 31 points, 13 of which are goals, in just 11 games this year with the U18 club. 

Jaxon Jacobson's debut promises to be more than just a game; it symbolizes the dreams of a young athlete coming to fruition and serves as an inspiration for aspiring players across the region. On Friday night, the Brandon Wheat Kings' newest sensation will skate onto the ice, ready to carve out a legacy as the youngest player ever to wear the revered Black and Gold.

At the recent 2023 BBSC Rural Roundup in Brandon, a fantastic representation from the Parkland Gators showcased their swimming prowess. Here's a glimpse of the outstanding performances of their talented members:

Harper Rudkavich:

  • 25m freestyle: 9th place
  • 50m freestyle: 11th place
  • 50m backstroke: 11th place
  • 25m breaststroke: 6th place

Ena Morrisseau:

  • 100m backstroke: 4th place
  • 25m freestyle: 2nd place
  • 50m freestyle: 4th place
  • 50m backstroke: 4th place
  • 25m breaststroke: 2nd place
  • 100m freestyle: 4th place

Madisyn Morden:

  • 25m freestyle: 6th place
  • 50m freestyle: 9th place
  • 25m breaststroke: 7th place

James Forsyth:

  • 50m breaststroke: 5th place
  • 25m freestyle: 5th place
  • 50m freestyle: 13th place
  • 50m backstroke: 9th place
  • 25m backstroke: 2nd place
  • 100m freestyle: 13th place

Isla Forsyth:

  • 25m freestyle: 12th place
  • 50m freestyle: 14th place
  • Mixed 100m free relay: Exhibition
  • 50m backstroke: 12th place
  • 25m breaststroke: 8th place

Polly Fjeldsted:

  • 25m fly: 1st place
  • 50m freestyle: 7th place
  • 50m backstroke: 3rd place
  • 50m breaststroke: 3rd place
  • 100m freestyle: 9th place

Frankie Fjeldsted:

  • 25m freestyle: 5th place
  • 50m freestyle: 8th place
  • 50m backstroke: 5th place
  • 25m backstroke: 1st place
  • 25m breaststroke: 4th place

Renee Fee:

  • 100m backstroke: 1st place
  • 100m individual medley: 2nd place
  • 50m freestyle: 2nd place
  • 50m backstroke: 1st place
  • 50m fly: 1st place
  • 100m freestyle: 1st place

Evan Favel:

  • 100m backstroke: 5th place
  • 25m freestyle: 10th place
  • 50m freestyle: 7th place
  • 50m backstroke: 6th place
  • 25m breaststroke: 3rd place
  • 100m freestyle: 5th place

Meredith Cottrell:

  • 100m backstroke: 3rd place
  • 25m freestyle: 1st place
  • 50m freestyle: 2nd place
  • 50m backstroke: 3rd place
  • 50m breaststroke: 1st place
  • 100m freestyle: 3rd place

Cheers to the Parkland Gators for their outstanding achievements in the pool!

The Golden Gals Provincial Curling Championship took place in Virden, Manitoba, from November 30 to December 2, 2023.

Among the sixteen competing teams, three proudly represented Dauphin. Although Rozak's team reached the finals, they narrowly missed the championship, losing to the Pelissier team from East St. Paul.

This year marked the 40th Anniversary of the Golden Gals, a significant milestone. The Golden Gals Curling Association was established to foster the sport among women aged sixty and older, with the provision that one team member may be between fifty-five and sixty.

The association's mission is to unite these curlers in a spirit of friendly competition, promoting camaraderie among participants with similar physical capabilities and shared social interests, bridging age gaps on the curling rink.

Looking ahead to 2024, District 9 is set to host the Golden Gals Provincials in November. While the exact dates and location are currently being finalized, play-downs to determine qualifying teams will be conducted in advance in each district.

For more detailed information about District 2, covering our local area, visit the website Golden Girls Curling.

For female volleyball players throughout the Parkland region, an opportunity to continue playing is on the way.

The Parkland Vipers Volleyball Club has announced tryout dates ahead of the club season. Tryouts will take place on December 10 and 17.

13U - 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. - DRCSS

14U - 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. - Mackenzie Middle School

15U - 10:00 to 12:00 p.m. - DRCSS

16U - 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - DRCSS

18U - 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. - DRCSS

"We have girls throughout the Parkland coming out to try to make teams, we are the Parkland Vipers," said Carla Wolfenden. "Club volleyball has really expanded over the years, there are dozens and dozens of girls teams in the province now which is very exciting. It's a great chance to play high calibre volleyball during the second half of the year after high school season."

The Vipers program competes in several tournaments per season. They host a home tournament and also travel throughout the country for events. National championships wrap up the season next year and over the past couple of years, the Vipers program has shown how great they are. 

If you're considering playing volleyball at the next level and are a girl, the Vipers is the perfect place to start.

"At the older age groups, there are scouts at tournaments from different universities," offered Wolfenden. "It's a good opportunity if you have some talent and desire, you can go anywhere. We have several people in town that have played with the national team and they started with the Vipers program."

If you are interested in trying out for the Vipers, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You should include your name, date of birth, and phone number in your email.

Bright Lights:

Dauphin recently hosted the Manitoba High School Athletic Association's (MHSAA) varsity boys and girls AAA volleyball provincials. Credit Union Place was transformed into a volleyball facility and the Clipper girls were able to win a bronze medal.

While the event is a thing of the past, Credit Union Place will be transformed again. The Manitoba Summer Games are coming to town next year and the provincial tournament was held as a test event.

As Carla says, the test event was an extreme success.

"I think everyone is still riding pretty high, the feedback was incredible," ended Wolfenden. "We have old friends from Winnipeg that were saying everyone is noticing what we're doing and that we are setting the bar, we are thrilled with how things went. We will be ready for the Manitoba Games, we're very confident."

Returning to league play after a tournament in Brandon, the Dauphin Clippers put on a show and made a statement in the process on Wednesday evening.

Opening a home-and-home with the Sandy Bay Badgers, the Clippers hammered Sandy Bay, 10-2.

Tyron Sweetman led the way for Dauphin with a pair of goals in the victory. Jesse Hockridge scored a pair of goals in the game while Julien Lopez, Boston Karlson, Ryder Chapman, Norman Lacquette, and Sully Fox scored singles for Dauphin in the game. 

Dauphin is now 9-3-1 in league play and they return to Credit Union Place on Friday evening to conclude a two-game set with Sandy Bay. 

Injuries happen in sports quite often and in some cases, it takes an athlete months and months to recover to get back up to speed.

For Breken Brezden, a hip injury that she suffered in September has provided plenty of stress for the Dauphinite over the past couple of months. While the injury held Breken back a little bit when it came to training at 100%, Brezden did not allow the injury to get her spirits down as she recovered and resumed her training ahead of the senior women's Skate Canada Challenge which took place from November 30 to December 3 at Seven Oaks Arena in Winnipeg.

Up for grabs was a spot in the Canadian national championships next month in Calgary. 

"I was definitely feeling very nervous, I wasn't at a point that I can confidently say that I was doing very well," said Brezden. "I didn't have maybe the difficulty that some of my competitors had. With that said, I made sure to get the things done that I could do very well and I believe I was successful in doing that."

The top 18 skaters at the event would earn the right to compete at the nationals and when the dust settled on Sunday afternoon, Brezden locked up her spot with an 11th-place finish. Brezden was in 12th place after racking up 50.32 points in her short program and a great free program saw her jump up one spot.

The finish put her comfortably inside the Top 18 as Breken will now head to Calgary for the nationals next month. It will be her first time competing in a senior women's national championship.

"I'm very proud and happy with the result," said Brezden. "When it comes to competition, it's all about turning up that competitive spirit, even if it isn't perfect. It's been a challenging few months, but I'm very happy and excited that I was able to qualify for the nationals."

The 2024 Canadian National Skating Championships occur from January 8 to 14 at WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. When it comes to what Breken is looking forward to most, it all starts by just stepping into the facility.

"It's a gorgeous facility, so it's going to be very exciting to get the opportunity to skate there," ended Brezden. "I also haven't been to Alberta in a while so that will be a nice change. And, competing at my first national women's championship will be the best part of it all."

In preparation for the event in just more than a month, Brezden will train six days a week. While that may seem daunting to some, Brezden is doing what she loves and it's her passion and dedication that has led her to the national stage. 

The Dauphin Kings losing streak has now reached three games.

Recording just 15 shots, Dauphin lost a hard fought 2-1 game to the Virden Oil Capitals, as Virden increased their West Division lead to seven points over the Kings with the victory.

With the defeat and paired with a Blizzard victory over Swan Valley, Dauphin has now dropped to third place in the West, one point behind the Blizzard. Cayden Glover scored Dauphin's lone goal of the contest. The Kings struggles on the power play continue as they went 0-for-3 and they have just four man advantage goals on their last 45 chances.

Josh Lehto (16) and Brett Sabel (4) did the scoring for Virden in the victory. The two teams will meet again on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. on Tractor Lotto Sunday. Dauphin will first host the Winnipeg Blues on Saturday evening for Teddy Bear Toss Night.

Five Parkland Gators spent time in Winnipeg competing in the Seals Last Chance swim meet. 

Renee Fee

200m backstroke - 5th
100m backstroke - 9th
50m backstroke - 9th
50m fly - 16th
100m freestyle - 17th
50m freestyle - 22nd

Chayne Paziuk

100m backstroke - 6th
200m freestyle - 7th
50m fly - 7th
50m freestyle - 13th
100m breaststroke - 13th
50m breaststroke - 14th

Lily Montagnion

50m backstroke - 7th
100m backstroke - 10th
50m fly - 10th
200m freestyle - 11th
50m freestyle - 14th 
100m freestyle - 16th

Lauren Lesiuk

100m breaststroke - 17th
50m breaststroke - 18th
50m fly - 31st
50m backstroke - 39th
100m freestyle - 46th

James Gemmill

50m backstroke - 19th
100m freestyle - 22nd

It was a busy weekend for the Dauphin Clippers hockey team as they were in Brandon for the annual Vic Inn tournament.

After advancing to the Crocus Plains Division championship game, the Clippers came out flat in a 7-1 loss to the Neepawa Tigers to finish in second place in the division. They earned their spot in the final by downing John Taylor, 2-1. Tyron Sweetman and Julien Lopez scored for Dauphin in the victory.

Before that, Dauphin downed Portage, 5-3. William Miner scored a pair of goals in the game while Julien Lopez, Cody Zurba, and Tyron Sweetman also scored for Dauphin in the game. Dauphin also played a very good Garden City Fighting Gophers team tight in a 3-0 defeat. 

Dauphin returns to Westman High School league play on Wednesday when they head to Sandy Bay to play the Badgers. The Clippers will then wrap up a home-and-home with Sandy Bay on Friday as the teams return to Credit Union Place at 7:30. 

While the Dauphin Kings have struggled as of late and were swept over the weekend on a two-game road trip, they are still recognized by the Canadian Junior Hockey League.

In another week of Top 20 rankings done by the CJHL, the Kings are honourable mentions this week With wins in 15 of their 23 games, Dauphin still is just five points back of Virden for first place in the West Division and the Kings have two games in hand. Dauphin will play Virden in two massive games on Tuesday and Sunday of this week. The Kings have given up just 59 goals this year which is the third-fewest across the MJHL.

Dauphin also hosts Teddy Bear Toss night on Saturday when the Winnipeg Blues come to town.

Around the MJHL, the Steinbach Pistons, Winkler Flyers, and Virden Oil Capitals are all ranked inside the Top 20.

#4 - Steinbach Pistons - 20-3-1

Despite losing for the first time in more than a month, Steinbach still ranks right up near the top of Canada. From October 25 to December 2, Steinbach rallied off 11 straight wins. Sitting with 20 wins on the campaign in their first 24 games, the Pistons are on top of the East Division by two points over the Terriers and the Pistons also have four games in hand.

Steinbach did fall to Portage on Sunday evening. Steinbach has been outstanding defensively this year giving up just 47 goals and offensively, they are the most efficient team across the league with 104 goals. Seven different Pistons have recorded at least 20 points this season, led by Kirk Mullen with his 31, and Leo Chambers is just behind with 29. 20-year-old goalie Cole Plowman has also been incredible between the pipes with 14 wins in 17 games started. Plowman has a .936 save percentage to go along with a superb 1.81 goals-against average.

Many are saying this year's Steinbach team is better than last year's club which won the MJHL championship and competed in the Centennial Cup. While there is still plenty of season left, there is no doubt that this year's Pistons roster are championship contenders and at this point in the season with their offensive talent and excellent defensive play, they could be league favourites.

What's next: December 07 @ Virdedn, December 08 vs Portage, December 10 @ Neepawa, December 13 vs Niverville, December 15 vs Freeze

#6 - Winkler Flyers - 17-3-1-1

As good as Steinbach has been defensively this year, Winkler has been better. Across 22 games, the Flyers have allowed just 40 goals. The duo of hometown star Malachi Klassen and Liam Ernst of White City has helped Winkler become one of the best defensive teams in recent years in the league.

One of the best stories surrounding Winkler, at least locally, is the play of Jayce Legaarden. Just a few years removed from scoring 46 goals with the Parkland U18 Rangers, Jayce has made a smooth transition to the junior lifestyle as the Grandview star is fourth in team scoring with nine goals and 11 assists. Jayce leads Winkler with six power-play goals. Winkler has four 20-point scorers led by Trent Penner with his 11 goals and 16 assists. This year's Flyers team could be the best roster in many years, which begs the question... is this the year?

One of the oldest cliches in the book is 'defence wins championships'. Sitting five points back of Steinbach for first in the East Division, the Flyers have been close over the years, but they have never been able to get over the hump. If this is the year for Winkler, no one will be surprised. But based on previous playoff appearances, likely not many people will be surprised if they can't get over the hump to win a league championship.

What's next: December 06 @ Waywayseecappo, December 08 vs Blizzard, December 10 vs Swan Valley, December 15 @ Niverville, December 16 vs Dauphin

#13 - Virden Oil Capitals - 16-5-2-2

The Virden Oil Capitals got the best of the Blizzard Junior A Hockey Club in the first round of the Turnbull Cup playoffs last year as they sent the Blizz home packing in six games. If it weren't for the Blizzard over the past week, the Oil Capitals would have likely entered the top 10.

The Blizzard beat Virden twice of the past seven days including on Sunday in a 2-1 shootout victory against their West Division rivals. Nonetheless, Virden still has a comfortable lead in the West Division and their offence has scored the second-most goals in the league with 99, only behind Steinbach's 104. A big addition to the team recently was Grady Lane as the 20-year-old former WHLer brings a great physical presence to the team's roster and he is a great team guy.

Virden is another one of those teams that has people wondering if this is the year. They lost in the league final last year against Portage, they lost in the league final in 2018 and in between, they have never been able to get over the hump. Also just like Winkler, this could be one of the best Virden rosters in many years. They faced the heartbreak of losing in the finals last year and they have brought back many pieces from that roster including Josh Lehto, who leads the league with 31 points. When the dust settles, Virden will be an extremely tough out and it'll be interesting to keep an eye on what's happening in Oil Country.

What's next: December 05 @ Dauphin, December 07 vs Steinbach, December 08 @ Selkirk, December 10 @ Dauphin, December 15 vs Swan Valley