Esterhazy's Baker selected in 2020 CFL Draft by the Toronto Argonauts

                                                 (Photo from Huskies Athletics)

Esterhazy product Sam Baker had his dream of getting drafted into the CFL become a reality on Thursday night. 

"It's a lifetime dream come true for sure, it's always been a goal for me to get drafted and glad my hardwork paid off", Baker said in a phone interview this morning (Fri)

The Esterhazy Warrior alumni was picked up in 6th round, 48th overall in the 2020 CFL Draft by the Toronto Argonauts.


Baker adds it feels even more special to do it coming from a small-town and from a 9-man high school football program.

"It just shows that it doesn't matter where you came from or what football you played growing up they will find you and just keep working hard." 

Baker just finished his 3rd year with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and during an injury riddled season he had 25 receptions for 370 yards & hauled in 5 touchdowns. 


GX94/Fox FM's Craig Read catches up with Baker below: 

bennywalchuk2 · Sam Baker - Draft

July's Sask. Summer Games set for Lloydminster postponed to July 2021

The Saskatchewan Games Council, the City of Lloydminster, and the Lloydminster 2020 Host Society have jointly announced the postponement of the 2020 Saskatchewan Summer Games until July 2021 due to health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19. The Games were originally scheduled to be held from July 26 – August 1 in Lloydminster, Sask.

The Games are now tentatively scheduled to run from July 18–24, 2021, and will feature competition from young athletes in 15 summer sports. All sports that were originally included on the sport calendar in 2020 are committed to participate in 2021.

As the global pandemic continues to develop in Saskatchewan and throughout Canada, ongoing discussions between the three parties indicate it is no longer viable for the Games to proceed as planned in July 2020 while ensuring the health and well-being of all participants, volunteers, spectators, and event staff. The decision was made final following advice from the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

The Saskatchewan Games are one of the largest amateur sporting events in Saskatchewan, seeing participation from over 2,000 athletes, coaches and officials from every corner of the province. The biennial Games, which alternate between summer and winter, provide an opportunity for the province’s developing athletes, coaches and officials to experience an exciting multi-sport event in preparation for higher levels of competition, including the Canada Games, Western Canada Summer Games, North American Indigenous Games, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

(Sask Games Release) 

2020 Manitoba Games set for Dauphin has been postponed until 2021

To keep Manitobans safe and reduce the spread of COVID-19, Sport Manitoba and the Dauphin Host Society have announced that the Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro that were set to take place from August 9–15, 2020, have been postponed and will take place next summer in Dauphin from July 11–17, 2021.

Sport Manitoba and the Dauphin Host Society worked with the City of Dauphin and the Provincial Sport Organizations to reach the collective decision to postpone the event, and will work with all Games partners in the coming months to continue to prepare and plan for the new Games date.

The Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro are staged every two years and alternate between summer and winter sporting events, and are the largest ongoing multi-sport event in the province. The Games involve upwards of 3,000 athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers, and represent an opportunity for young athletes to compete and prepare to reach national and international sporting stages.

The sports showcased at the 2021 Manitoba Games include: Athletics, Baseball, Basketball, Cycling, Golf, Rugby, Sailing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Triathlon and Volleyball.

(Sport Manitoba Press Release) 

Wolverine, Millionaire and a Terrier commit to College Hockey for this fall

Terriers' Ziegler commits to SAIT Trojans (ACAC) 

The Yorkton Terriers' are pleased to announced that graduating defenceman Zach Ziegler has committed to the Southern Alberta Institue Technology Trojans (ACAC) in Calgary, Alberta for this fall.

Ziegler, who hails from White City was picked up at this years trade deadline by the Terriers and chipped in with 8 assists in 16 games in a Terrier uniform.

He played in 150 career regular season Junior games with the Terriers, Nipawin Hawks, Lloydminster Bobcats and the Kindersley Klippers

Wolverines' Doyle will suit up with Minot State Beavers (ACHA) in 2020/21 

Waywayseecappo Wolverines graduating captain Nick Doyle will be advancing his hockey career at the collegiate level this fall.

The Winnipeg product will suit up playing ACHA Division 1 hockey with the Minot State Beavers this fall joining former Wolverines' Wayde Johannesson, Riley Vautour, Landyn Cochrane, Rhett Lough and Morgan Poirier on the current Beavers roster.

Doyle in his final year with the Wolverines had 12 goals, 34 assists for 46 points in 59 games.

Mils' Birk will play for Anna Marie College this fall 

The SJHL's Melville Millionaires announce that F Grady Birk has committed to the Anna Marie Amcats in Paxton, Mass starting in the 2020/21 season.

The Carlsbad, California native suited up in 30 games with the Mils compiling 9 points after being acquired from the La Ronge Ice Wolves earlier in the season.

What did the Swan Valley Stampeders and Waywayseecappo Wolverines do at the 2020 MJHL Bantam Draft?

SWAN VALLEY STAMPEDERS

1st round, 8th overall

D Calder Crossin - Brandon, MB - (Brandon AAA Wheat Kings)
(36GP  12G 37A = 49 points) 

2nd round, 19th overall

D Foxx McColl - Elkhorn, MB -- Yellowhead Chiefs
(30GP  17G 25A = 42 points) 

3rd round, 30th overall

F Ty Love - Miami, MB - Pembina Valley Hawks
(36GP  14G 18A = 32 points)

4th round, 39th overall

F Tristan Arnason - Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Hawks
(35GP  15G 24A  = 39 points)

5th round, 49th overall

F Keaton Johnson - Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Sharks
(36GP 11G 15A = 26 points) 

6th round, 56th overall 

D Carter Sotheran - Sanford, MB -- Pembina Valley Hawks
(36GP  14G 30A = 44 points)

2020 Draft Recap with Stamps. Asst Coach and Director of Player Personnel Darren Webster

bennywalchuk2 · Darren Draft Recap - April 26

Waywayseecappo Wolverines

1st round, 4th overall:

F Ben Roulette - Rivers, MB - Yellowhead Chiefs
(16GP   7G 10A = 17 points)

1st round, 7th overall 

D Kurt Rookes (Manson, MB) - Yellowhead Chiefs
(33GP  12G 29A = 41 points) 

3rd round, 26th overall 

F Merik Boles - Lorette, MB - Eastman Selects
(36GP  19G 16A = 35 points) 

6th round, 62nd overall 

F Keenan Skrupa -Brandon, MB - Brandon Wheat Kings
(35G  13G 32A = 45 points) 

8th round, 84th overall

F Tyson Vouriot (Winnipeg, MB) - Rink Hockey Academy
(30GP  10G 9A = 19 points)

Wolverines Head Coach/GM Taylor Harnett recaps the draft below:

bennywalchuk2 · Taylor - Draft Recap 2020

**Other Local selections:

D Skyler Carriere (Roblin, MB) in 6th round, 65th overall to the Dauphin Kings


For full look at draft results CLICK HERE 

Local players selected in 2020 WHL Bantam Draft

F Brayden Dube (Roblin, Manitoba) -- 2nd round,  29th overall to the Seattle Thunderbirds

(36GP  74G  56A = 130 points with the Parkland Bantam AAA Rangers)


D Ty Plaisier (Virden, Manitoba) -- 4th round, 74th overall by the Regina Pats

(36GP  10G 19A = 29 points with the Southwest Bantam AAA Cougars)


D Aiden Ziprick (Russell, Manitoba) -- 7th round, 148th overall by the Lethbridge Hurricanes

(36GP  14G 33A = 47 points with the Parkland Bantam AAA Rangers)


F Kyan Grouette (Dauphin, Manitoba) -- 7th round, 153rd overall by the Everett Silvertips

(36GP  36G 52A = 88 points with the Parkland Bantam AAA Rangers)


F Carter Zalischuk (Dauphin, Manitoba) -- 8th round, 172nd overall by the Spokane Chiefs

(35GP  23G 30A = 53 points with the Parkland Bantam AAA Rangers)


D Matthew Ronn (Ebenezer, SK) -- 9th round, 185th overall to the Saskatoon Blades

(30GP  9G 20A = 29 points with the Yorkton Bantam AA Crossfit Function Terriers)


F Aiden Sotas (Birtle, Manitoba) -- 9th round, 198th overall by the Portland Winterhawks

(33GP  19G 10A= with 29 points with the Yellowhead Bantam AAA Chiefs)


F Carter McKay (Melville, SK) -- 10th round, 213th overall to the Prince Albert Raiders

(24GP  29G 38A = 67 points with the Melville Bantam AA Millionaires)


F Will Munro (Swan River, MB) - 11th round, 228th overall by the Kelowna Rockets

(26GP  23G 23A = 46 points with the Parkland AAA Bantam Rangers)


F Jaxon Sperling (Yorkton, SK) - 13th round, 278th overall by the Winnipeg ICE

(31GP  19G 22A = 41 points with the Yorkton Bantam AA Crossfit Function Terriers)

Swan Valley Stampeders & Waywayseecappo Wolverines announce auto-protects ahead of 2020 MJHL Bantam Draft

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League will be holding their annual Bantam Draft coming up online this Sunday. 

Ahead of the draft, MJHL clubs are given the opportunity to list as many as two players born in 2005 from their respective home zone.  

New to this year’s draft procedures, teams will have the option to decline an Auto-Protect selection and defer that pick to Round 7 or 8 of the draft. 

The Swan Valley Stampeders announced pair of Swan River products in forward Will Munro (pictured above right) and defenceman Bo Eisner (pictured above left) as their auto-protect players. 

Munro had 23 goals, 23 assists for 46 points in 36 games with the Parkland AAA Bantam Rangers while Eisner who also suited up for the Rangers chipped in with 19 points in 35 games. 

Meanwhile for the Waywayseecappo Wolverines they decided to use their auto-protect on defenceman Aiden Ziprick. 

The Russell, Manitoba product had 14 goals, and 47 points in 36 games with the Parkland Bantam AAA Rangers.

For a full look of all MJHL Auto-Protect lists CLICK HERE 

Yorkton's Kunkel named new President of Golf Saskatchewan

Golf Saskatchewan, which is the governing body amateur golf in the province held their annual general meeting virtually on Saturday and they elected a new President.

Yorkton product Don Kunkel was named the new Golf Sask President after serving the past couple years as Vice-President. 

Kunkel told Golf Saskatchewan in a interview “It’s pretty humbling,“It’s good to give back, I am as passionate about golf, maybe more so than hockey. They got to me first in hockey, they got the first 25 years of my life after I quit playing,” 

Kunkel, who owns the “Owl’s Nest” at the Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton first joined the board of directors 7 years ago 

For more information on the Golf Sask AGM and the plan for golf amid the COVID-19 pandemic .. CLICK HERE 

Local products named to 2020 SaskFirst Female Camp Rosters

The Saskatchewan Hockey Association and SaskFirst High-Performance program has announced the Top 29 players in the Female Under-18 program along with the Top 34 players in Female Under-16 program. 

With the cancellation of the SaskFirst Female Tournament which was set to take place April 10-12, the selections for both programs were completed using player evaluations conducted at the identification camps back in February.

 “Despite the cancellation of the SaskFirst Female Tournament, we are fortunate to have player evaluations from our I.D Camps that allowed us to make these selections. We are confident with the players selected and look forward to meeting up this summer.” 

      - Joel Houseman, Program Director – SaskFirst High-Performance.

The Female Under-18 program is coming off a Silver Medal performance at the 2019 National Women’s Under-18 Championships and looks to stay on the podium in 2020. As the current restrictions on social gatherings remain, the Top 29 players will take part in a virtual workout and team builder in June. From there, an orientation camp has been scheduled for August 8-9 in Regina. The final camp for these prospective Team Saskatchewan players will be in Saskatoon on September 17-20 for a series of exhibition games. Following the Saskatoon weekend, the final roster will be selected to attend Nationals in Dawson Creek, British Columbia in early November.

The Female Under-16 program has expanded its player opportunities this season and will be sending two teams to the Swift Current Wildcats Preseason Showcase scheduled for September 10-13. The Top 34 players include 17 players from the north region and 17 players from the south region of the province. This format allows for more players to progress in the provincial program and develop their skill in a provincial setting.

 Ahead of the tournament, the Under-16 program will conduct their Summer camp this August alongside the Under-18 program.

(Sask Hockey Release) 

LOCALS NAMED

U16 Top 17 South

Ellie Rawlick (Yorkton) 

Alyssa Rasmuson (Moosomin) 

Emma Silvernagle (Stockholm) 

U18 Top 29 

Jordyn Bear (Ochapowace)

Kyla Bear (Ochapowace)

Ava Metzger (Moosomin) 

Megan Hayhurst (Wapella) 

Terriers' defenceman Karo commits to Milwaukee School of Engineering (Division III)

The SJHL's Yorkton Terriers are pleased to announce that graduating defenceman Connor Karo has committed to play college hockey this Fall.

The Golden, Colorado product will suit up for the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders in Milwaukee, Wisconsin starting in the 2020/21 season.

Karo, who was acquired from the Weyburn Red Wings in early January suited up in 19 games in a Terrier uniform chipping in with 2 goals, 4 assists for 6 points.

He also suited up in the SJHL with the Kindersley Klippers and the Weyburn Red Wings.

2020 Manitoba Junior Hockey League Bantam Draft set for April 26th

The Manitoba Junior Hockey League announced on Saturday that the 11 member league will be holding their 2020 MJHL Bantam Draft on Sunday, April 26th starting at 9AM MB time. 

Traditionally the MJHL Draft has been held the first week of June, “with the abruptness of season’s end and the subsequent cancellation of all hockey activities for the foreseeable future across the province and nation, we felt it was important to provide some much needed excitement and positivity during what has been a disappointing and difficult time for everyone” comments Kim Davis, MJHL Commissioner.

Prior to the MJHL Draft, teams will submit up to two (2) Auto-Protect selections from the designated home zone.  New to this year’s draft procedures, teams will have the option to decline an Auto-Protect selection and defer that pick to Round 7 or 8 of the draft.  

Full details of procedure updates along with Auto-Protect selections will be released on Monday, April 20.

You can follow along to the draft live at www.mjhlhockey.ca/draft or follow along to my Twitter account at @BennyGX94Sports for all up-to-date Stampeders and Wolverines' selections. 

(MJHL Release) 



DRAFT SELECTIONS

SWAN VALLEY STAMPEDERS

1st round, 8th overall

2nd round, 19th overall

3rd round, 30th overall

4th round, 39th overall

5th round, 49th overall

6th round, 56th overall 

1st round, 7th overall 

2nd round, 18th overall 

3rd round, 26th overall 

4th round, 40th overall 

6th round, 58th overall 

6th round, 62nd overall 

7th round, 70th overall 

Thursday's Local Hockey Notes

SWAN RIVER'S MCKAY INKS 1 YEAR DEAL WITH AHL'S ROCKFORD ICEHOGS

The American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs have announced that they've signed forward Riley McKay to a 1 year AHL deal for this 2020/21 season. 

The 21 year old Swan River, Manitoba had his final year of his Junior hockey career cut short due to COVID-19, but he did compile 19 goals, 19 assists for 38 points in 62 regular season games with the WHL's Saskatoon Blades. 

McKay played in 260 career games in the WHL with Blades and the Spokane Chiefs, while he began his Junior career during the 2015/16 with his hometown Swan Valley Stampeders (MJHL). 

ROBLIN'S BROOK EARNS WHL'S EASTERN CONFERENCE SCHOLASTIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR

 The Western Hockey League announced today that Regina Pats forward and Roblin, Manitoba product Jakob Brook has been named the WHL Eastern Conference Scholastic Player of the Year and nominee for the Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Memorial Trophy presented by CIBC.

The 2019-20 season marks the second consecutive season Brook has been named the Eastern Conference Scholastic Player of the Year.

The 18-year-old maintained a 93.5 percent average in his core courses, excelling in Physics 30 (97 percent), Biology 30 (93 percent), Pre-Calculus 30 (92 percent), and English Language Arts (92 percent).

In 107 WHL regular season games with the Pats and Prince Albert Raiders, Brook has recorded 22 points (10G-12A).

Appearing in 23 WHL playoff games with the Raiders, Brook posted a pair of assists and won a WHL Championship in 2019.

This past season with the Pats coming off an injury he had one goal in 8 games. 

(WHL Press Release)

Terrier alumni Legien captures ACAC Men's Hockey Rookie of the Year

Yorkton Terrier alumni Jared Legien has been named the ACAC Men’s Hockey Rookie of the Year after a excellent first year with the NAIT Ooks.

The Pilot Butte, SK product scored 32 goals, 16 assists for 48 points in 28 games which left him 2nd in league scoring

Legien played in 114 career games with the Terriers compiling 71 goals, 61 assists for 132 points.