Collège Jeanne-Sauvé captures women’s high school hockey crown

The way Payton Durand was rolling, it should have come as no surprise to see her celebrating yet again.

The outstanding Collège Jeanne-Sauvé forward recently checked in at No. 4 on the Free Press’ coaches poll of the top 10 women’s high school hockey players in the province, She played like a No. 1 talent in the biggest series of the season.

“I just went into (the series) with a no-quit mentality,” said Durand, who was credited with the game-winning goal in a decisive Game 3 of the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League final on Friday.

“I wasn’t giving up on that puck and I knew that I had to help my team to win this, and I didn’t want to go down,” she added. “This is my Grade 12 year and I needed to win it. I gave it all I had.”

Martin leads Kildonan-East to provincial hoops championship showdown with Dakota

The Kildonan-East Collegiate Reivers will chase perfection on the court next week.

A 21-point performance from Grade 12 guard Rushawn Martin spurred the Reivers to an 87-72 triumph over the Sisler Spartans in the AAAA men’s basketball provincial semifinal at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Thursday.

Kildonan-East improved to 22-0 against Manitoban competition this season — their only loss came against Saskatoon’s Walter Murray Collegiate in an out-of-town tournament — and will look to finish with an unblemished record when they face the Dakota Lancers in the provincial final on Monday, March 24, at IGAC (8 p.m.).

The Reivers aren’t thinking that far ahead yet, though.

Lancers, Trojans in final showdown

The Dakota Lancers are one win away from Manitoba high school hoops history.

Sparked by a sensational 24-point triple-double from Grade 11 forward Emilie McLean, the Lancers played to a convincing 88-61 victory over the Garden City Gophers in the AAAA women’s varsity basketball semifinals at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Wednesday.

Dakota will look for an unprecedented fourth-consecutive championship when they face the Vincent Massey (Winnipeg) Trojans in the provincial final Monday, March 24, at IGAC at 6 p.m.

McLean’s triple-double came on the strength of 18 rebounds and 10 blocks on a night the Lancers had their way in the paint.

Dakota point guard’s dedication to training shows in her dynamic play

It doesn’t take long to understand why Taylor Schepp’s career trajectory has only pointed up.

The Dakota Lancers’ point guard is all business when it comes to basketball, and it shines when she’s on the floor.

“She’s as true as it gets as a point guard. Plays with a high motor, great shooter, great passer, and probably one of the best kids I’ve ever coached with her IQ for the game,” said Lancers head coach Eric Sung, who has headed the women’s varsity program for the last decade.

Schepp, the daughter of University of Manitoba Bisons men’s basketball head coach Kirby Schepp, was named the top women’s hoopster in the Free Press’ annual coaches poll of the top 10 high school players in the province due to her dynamic ability on the floor, but it’s the Grade 12’s dedication off the court that is rare for someone her age and has drawn rave reviews.

Glenlawn draws first blood in provincial high school hockey championship

Don’t forget about Chloe Minkus.

The Glenlawn forward doesn’t get the same attention as some of her teammates, but on a night the Lions were without three of their best players, she showed that she’s more than deserving of similar recognition.

A hearty four-point performance from Minkus powered Glenlawn to a 4-1 victory over the Collège Jeanne-Sauvé Olympiens in Game 1 of the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League Division 1 championship series at Seven Oaks Arena on Tuesday.

Glenlawn leads the best-of-three series and can claim its first city title in program history with a win in Game 2 Thursday, at Seven Oaks (4:15 p.m.). Game 3, if necessary, is Friday at 4:15 p.m.

Vayda Rigaux dethrones sister Delainey as top women’s high school hockey player

Delainey or Vayda Rigaux — take your pick.

The Glenlawn Lions are fortunate they don’t have to.

There hasn’t been a wrong answer between the 16-year-old identical twin sisters, who have continued to torch the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League this winter.

Delainey, a right-handed forward, led all players with 34 goals and 53 points during the regular season, while Vayda, a left-shooting blue liner, was a close second with 48 points. It’s the second year in a row that the Grade 11 sisters have gone 1-2 in the league’s scoring race.

Vincent Massey completes high school hockey triple crown with provincial title

The Vincent Massey Trojans had three goals at the start of the season: win the Husky Classic tournament, earn the program’s first city championship and triumph at provincials.

The Trojans, who won the Husky in October and conquered the Winnipeg High School Hockey League earlier this month, checked their final box on Monday.

Vincent Massey earned a 3-2 victory over the River East Kodiaks in the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association men’s hockey provincial championship final at Seven Oaks Arena.

It’s the second provincial banner in program history.

Vincent Massey star point guard tops coaches poll of top 10 varsity players

Cameron Fay calls it “Magnus Time.”

The Vincent Massey Trojans’ varsity boy’s basketball head coach doesn’t know when the moment will arise — neither do his players, for that matter — but knows he can count on it.

It’s a sixth sense that his star player, Magnus Carlos, taps into when his team needs it most.

“I’ve known him for a long time, and when it comes to clutch moments, and when the game gets big, he gets bigger,” Fay said.

Vincent Massey crowned high school hockey champs thanks to Kinnear’s OT heroics

The Vincent Massey Trojans were the team to beat all season, and in the end, they were the ones to win it all.

High school hockey league investigating post-game brawl

The Winnipeg High School Hockey League is investigating a brawl that occurred earlier this week after a game between the Warren Wildcats and the Powerview/Sagkeeng Wild at the Sagkeeng Arena Complex.

Dana Gordon, president of the Winnipeg High School Hockey League, confirmed an investigation is ongoing and that no comment would be provided until the probe has been completed.

A video that circulated on social media shows during the handshakes at the end of the game, words were exchanged between players on opposing teams and a fight broke out.

Things quickly escalated into multiple scraps on the ice and while officials attempted to get the situation under control, it took several minutes before order was restored.

St. Mary’s Academy shutters prep hockey program

Members of the St. Mary’s Academy U18 prep hockey team are playing with heavy hearts following news the school has shuttered the program beyond this season, the Free Press has learned.

School officials informed families in late November the SMA Prep Flames team would play its last season in 2024-25. It wasn’t until recently, after all avenues to save the club were exhausted, that the magnitude of the situation started to sink in.

“I look at 18 faces every single day at practices and games and trying to keep the outside noise away from the dressing room and how disappointed they are,” said head coach Larry Bumstead. “The graduating players are very concerned about their teammates and where they’re going to play next year. We’re trying to keep things upbeat and focus on the games at hand and that’s the really disturbing part. How do you address this with the girls?”

Bumstead has been with the Flames, who play in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, since their inaugural season in 2011-12. It’s a hyper-competitive club that’s on the ice four to five times per week, has off-ice training regimens and travels to compete against other prep schools in Canada and the U.S.

A sporting no-trans land?

They were just the latest headlines in a long list of them targeting transgender athletes in the United States.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would prevent people designated male at birth from participating in women’s or girls’ sporting events.

On Thursday, the NCAA announced only athletes who were assigned female at birth will be eligible to play women’s university and college sports.

The controversial subject has long been a simmering political firestorm in the U.S. It boiled over last fall when NCAA women’s volleyball schools repeatedly forfeited games against San Jose State because it was believed a member of the team identified as transgender.

Growing the game: Interest in Manitoba high school hockey league reflects national trend in women’s sport

Interest in girls’ hockey is booming, thanks in part to the creation the PWHL, the Professional Women’s Hockey League. However, the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League has seen steady growth since its inception.

Vincent Massey collects first provincial girls’ volleyball crown; Kodiaks win boys’ title

The Vincent Massey Vikings played the long game Monday night.

When they were finished, the Brandonites were the proud owners of the first provincial AAAA varsity girls volleyball title in school history.

Sparked by a superb 22-kill performance from left side Jersey Hansen-Young, Massey roared back from an opening set loss to beat the Collège Jeanne-Sauvé Olympiens 3-1 (20-25, 28-26, 25-22, 25-21) in the championship final at Investors Group Athletic Centre.

“Every single person who stepped out on the court, and even the people that were on the bench, made a gigantic impact,” said Hansen-Young, who added five digs and three service aces en route to being named tournament MVP. “We wouldn’t have been in this position and we wouldn’t have had this outcome without every single person on our team.”

Kodiaks Fielding grows into leadership role

It’s one thing to enjoy a productive season on the ice, however, River East Kodiaks forward Nolan Fielding is dominating at a completely different level.

The 17-year-old, playing in his second year of Winnipeg high school hockey, has been nearly unstoppable for the Kodiaks so far this season.

In 11 games, the River East Collegiate senior has racked up 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points in the league’s top division.

The Kodiaks’ alternate captain is currently scoring at the remarkable pace of 2.82 points per game and averaging more than a goal per game.