Weyburn curler Brennen Jones set for second trip to the Brier
By Greg Nikkel Weyburn curler Brenn-en Jones is excited for the upcoming Tim Horton’s Brier, which will run from Friday, March 3, to Sunday, March 12, in London, Ont., which will be his second time to play in the national men’s championship.
He plays third on the Kelly Knapp rink out of Regina, which recently won the SaskTel Tankard in Estevan.
The other members of the rink include Trent Knapp, lead; Mike Armstrong, second, skip Kelly Knapp, coach Brian McCusker and fifth player Dustin Kidby.
Jones had previously played on the Pat Simmons rink in 2011 which went to the Brier that year, and his teammate, Mike Armstrong, had played on the Scott Manners rink in 2012 at the Brier.
He explained he had stepped back from the sport about four years after his trip to the Brier in order to focus on his family and on raising his children.
“I didn’t really expect to compete again, but this opportunity came up to play with some good friends,” said Jones. “We all have the same drive and work ethic.”
This is the second year the Knapp rink has played together, and last year they lost out in a qualifier for the Tankard. This year, they played in six major events and won four of them, plus the Tankard win with the
victory over the Steve Laycock rink in the final.
Jones said the rink is playing very well together and described the team as an “even keel” group that is very supportive of each other.
“We let Kelly call the game. He asks us for input, and it seems to work very well. We have a really nice balance, and Kelly really enjoys our input and appreciates it,” said Jones.
“He has a really good idea of the strengths and weaknesses, and we can analyze the ice fairly well.”
Jones said he knows some of the older teams who will be at the Brier, as he’s played against a number of them, but there will be a few younger teams he hasn’t played, such as from B.C., PEI and Nova Scotia.
He’s not worried about them, as his teammates have played against these younger teams. Jones noted some of the teams, like Brad Gushue’s rink, have played more than they have, but the rink made the decision to stick around Saskatchewan this winter as they have families and work considerations.
“We know what our abilities are and we just to put our best foot forward and play the best we can,” said Jones. “We’re going to go out there and have fun. We’re with our best buds.”
He added there will be some family members who will make the trip out to London to watch them,
Knapp rink ready to represent Saskatchewan at Brier
The Kelly Knapp rink gathered with the SaskTel Tankard trophy after winning the provincial men’s championship in Estevan recently. In front are Trent Knapp, lead; Mike Armstrong, second; Brennen Jones, third, and skip Kelly Knapp. In behind are coach Brian McCusker and fifth player Dustin Kidby. Jones, who is from Weyburn, said he and his team mates are ready to compete on the national stage at the Brier, to be held March 3-12 in London, Ont.
although his wife and children will watch from home. Noting his kids are three and five years old, they are excited to know their daddy will be on TV, and will dress up in Saskatchewan colours to watch when their rink is playing.
“I couldn’t do it without the support of my friends and family. It’s nice to have the support to lean on,” said Jones, adding, “This is the most fun I’ve had in this sport in a long time, so it’s given me a nice breath of fresh air.”
Team SE Connects brings home gold from Winter Games
Asked if his previous trip to the Brier will help prepare him for the upcoming competition, Jones said that experience was 11 years ago, and he was only about 23 years old at the time.
“I’ve matured quite a bit since then. The Tankard had SaskTel there with cameras. We had quite a few viewers there, so that was a good experience. This is a completely different stage, and there’s going to be a lot more cheering, especially when Ontario is on the ice. It’s
hard to say what it’ll be like, but we want to do well,” said Jones.
He noted he was very appreciative of the Weyburn supporters who came down to the Tankard. “I did see a lot of familiar faces. We do have a lot of Weyburn support, and we certainly appreciate it.”
Jones pointed out there was a very sweet aspect to the Tankard win this year, as their lead, Trent Knapp, Kelly’s twin brother, had played in the SaskTel Tankard in 2018 on Colton
Flasch’s rink, and that year lost to Steve Laycock in the final, which was also in Estevan.
“We really wanted to win for Trent, and not see history repeated,” said Jones, noting that Trent is Kelly’s twin brother, and they have curled together most of their lives, so the win this year was extra sweet for them.
The winner of the Brier will represent Canada at the World Men’s Curling Championship, which will be held this year in Ottawa.
Team Southeast wins 20 medals during Sask Winter Games
The 2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games ended on Saturday, and Team South East came home with a total of 20 medals, including five gold, seven silver and eight bronze.
The winners of gold medals included the following:
Artistic Swimming
Photo 1580 – courtesy Abby Kradovill
Team South-East Connections won the gold medal in the artistic swimming competition at the Saskatchewan Winter Games, with a championship score of 58.5147. From left are Sasha Mantei, Lily Popescu, Ella Leko, Ava Allen, Payton Caldwell and Marley Kradovill. The swimmers are from the Weyburn Artistic Swimming Club and the Estevan Mermaids, and were coached by Kim Neithercut and Meagan Rothwell, both of Weyburn.
SE artistic swimmers bring home gold, silver
Team South-East Connections attended the Sask. Winter Games held in Regina on Feb. 19 - 22.
Team SE Connections consists of athletes from Weyburn Artistic Swimming club, as well as the Estevan Mermaids. They are coached by Kimberly Neithercut and Meagan Rothwell, both of Weyburn.
Team members included, from Weyburn, Marley Kradovill, Payton Caldwell, Ella Leko, Lily Popescu, and from Estevan, Ava Allen, Sasha Mantei, Sierra Mantei, Rowyn Shier and Isabelle Pyra.
The team arrived at the Athlete’s Village on the University campus Feb. 19 and attended the opening ceremonies. The next few days were filled with numerous activities on campus and much success in the pool.
On Monday morning, the competition began with solo preliminaries and then athletes competed personally in the figure event, with Weyburn athletes all placing in the top 10.
Marley Kradovill won first place, Lily Popescu
was third, Payton Caldwell placed seventh, and Ella Leko was 10th.
The Tuesday solo finals were as follows:
A-final: Rowyn Shier, fourth, championship score: 53.6603
B-final: Isabelle Pyra, fourth, championship score: 52.3257. Sierra
Mantei, seventh, championship score: 49.5727
In the Duet Finals:
A-final: Payton Caldwell and Ella Leko won second, championship score: 58.2615, for the Silver medal. B-final: Ava Allen and Sasha Mantei won second, championship score: 55.6479.
In the Wednesday Team Finals: Team South-East Connections won first place, with a championship score: 58.5147 for the gold.
The Weyburn Artistic Swimming Club, their athletes, coaches and family members are very proud of the accomplishments and successes of all the athletes at the 2023 Sask Winter Games.
Many special friends and memories were made over the last three days.
The team gave a special thanks to the mission staff, Tina Clay, for her help and support during the Winter Games experience.
Figures Coed, Marley Kradovill; Weightlifting, 45 kg Female, Alix Rae; Weightlifting, 73 kg Male, Kaden Greenbank; Artistic Swimming Team, Coed, Team South East; Figure Skating Juvenile, Free Skate Female, Abby Haas.
Those winning a silver medal included: Bowling, Special Olympics, Individual Female, Robin Stelter; Artistic Swimming Duet, Coed, Payton Caldwell/Ella Leko; Weightlifting, 71 kg Female, Talen Kehiew PinacieLittlechief; Weightlifting, 76+ kg Female, Kirsten Cathy East; Figure Skating, Novice, Free Skate, Female, Rory Greenbank; Figure Skating, Pre-Juvenile, Free Skate Female, Vaida Lillian Maas; Figure Skating, Juvenile - Free Skate, Female, Rachel Duncan.
Winning a bronze medal were the following:
Artistic Swimming, Figures Coed, Lily Popescu; Table Tennis, Team Junior Male, Team South East;
Curling Mix, Team South East; Table Tennis, Singles, Junior Male, Carter Allen Morrison; Figure Skating, Juvenile - Free Skate, Female, Sydney Lynn Brooks; Figure Skating, Juvenile - Free Skate, Male, Nate Greenbank; Judo, Newaza Individual Competition, 60+ KG, Male, Zachary Kanasevich; Wrestling, Individual Competition, 42-46 kg Female, Avlynn Kimberly Drake.
Winning fourth place at the Games were: Biathlon, Sprint U16 Male, Braxton Sage Charlebois; Biathlon, Relay Mixed Coed, Team South East; Artistic Swimming, Solo Coed, Rowyn Shier; Table Tennis, Team Junior Female, Team South East; Table Tennis, Team Cadet Female, Team South East; Table Tennis, Team Cadet Male, Team South East; Curling, Female, Team South East; Speed Skating, Relay Female, SE/PC/PV/STOON; Table Tennis, Singles Junior Male, Emmanuel Esteban Pallarca; Target Shooting, Super Final Air Rifle Female, Love kenda Margarette Giroux; Wrestling, Individual Competition, 61 kg Female, Avery Barnett; Wrestling, Individual Competition 56 KG, Female, Khloe Sophia Higgins.
Gold Wings drop pair vs Notre Dame
Silver medalists at Winter Games
The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Gold Wings visited the Notre Dame Hounds for their last two regular season games over the weekend, and dropped them by scores of 5-0 on Saturday, and 2-1 on Sunday. In Saturday’s game, two of the goals were on the power play, and one was short-handed.
Amy Swayze was in the goal for the game, and she stopped 36 of the 41 shots on net.
In Sunday’s match, the two teams were scoreless after one period, and the Hounds scored on the power play in the second period.
The Gold Wings’ Paisley Arntsen tied the game with a power play goal,
assisted by Ashton Bender and Addison Longmore two minutes into the third. Notre Dame scored the winning goal with 2:41 left in the game.
Swayze was in the net once more for the game, except for 49 seconds at the end of the game when she was pulled for the extra attacker, and she saved 34 of 36 shots.
Weyburn Review, Weyburn, Saskatchewan -- March 1, 2023 6 sports
Photo – David Willberg, Estevan Mercury
The duo of Ella Leko and Payton Caldwell posed with their silver medals in the A finals for the Duet artistic swimming competition at the Saskatchewan Winter Games in Regina. Photo 9865 – courtesy Abby Kradovill
Weyburn athletes medal at nat’l powerlifting championships
Four Weyburn athletes took part in the Canadian Powerlifting Union National Championships in Richmond, B.C., last week.
Natalie Butz took first place in the 84 kg Sub-junior Equipped division. She had a squat of 132.5 kg, a national record bench press of 90.5 kg, and a deadlift of 125 kg.
Charlene Cossar took the gold medal in the 69 Open Equipped division with a squat of 180 kg, a bench press of 113 kg setting a new national record, and a deadlift of 187.5 kg.
Ryan Fowler competed in the 120+ Master Equipped class. He finished his day with a squat of 310
kg, a bench press of 245 kg, and a deadlift of 240 kg, which gave him a first place finish. Calla Hrynewich placed first in the 69 kg Sub-junior Equipped division. She set new national records in all her lifts with her squat of 125 kg, bench press of 78 kg, and deadlift of 122.5 kg.
Red Wings drop two close games
The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings travelled to Flin Flon for a pair of weekend games versus the Bombers, and came away with two close losses, as they seek to secure a playoff spot.
The Red Wings lost 4-3 on Friday night, and 5-3 on Saturday night.
In Friday’s game, Flin Flon was up 3-0 before Weyburn was able to score in the second period, with Ryley Morgan scoring seven minutes in, assisted by Ian Maier.
Maier was able to add a goal with a minute and nine seconds in the period, assisted by Morgan and Matteo Turrin, and Morgan scored his second goal of the night early in the third period, tying the game. He
was assisted by Blake Norris and Turrin.
The game was tied until the Bombers scored the winning goal at 8:25.
Morgan was named the game’s first star for his offensive performance.
Matt Schoephoerster was in net for the game except for a minute when he was pulled for the extra attacker, and he saved 54 of the 58 shots made on goal.
On Saturday, the two teams traded goals back and forth in the first and second periods, with the score 4-3 at the end of two frames.
Jackson Hassman scored for the Red Wings in the first period, assisted by Morgan and Ty Mason, then Mason scored in the second period, assisted by Morgan. Nick Kovacs added one
more, assisted by Elijah Anderson. In the third period, the two teams were scoreless until the Bombers scored on the empty net with six seconds to go in the game. Dazza Mitchell was in the goal for 59 minutes, stopping 44 of the 48 shots on net, and he was named the game’s first star.
The Red Wings were in Wilcox to face the Hounds on Tuesday night, and this weekend, will play the Kindersley Klippers on Saturday and Sunday, March 4 and 5, and then will travel to Humboldt to play the Broncos on Wednesday, March 8. The Red Wings will then be back at home on Thursday, March 9, to host Notre Dame at Crescent Point Place.
Yellow Grass opens Big 6 semi-finals against Redvers
The semi-finals are underway in the Big Six Hockey League’s playoffs.
The seventh-seeded Yellow Grass Wheat Kings defeated the No. 2 Oxbow Huskies 2-1 on Friday night in Yellow Grass to sweep the best-of-three quarter-final series. It was the final quarter-final matchup to be decided, advancing the Wheat Kings to face the top team in the league, the Redvers Rockets, in the best-of-five semi-finals.
In the opening game of the series on Feb. 21, held in Redvers, the Rockets came out on top 7-2.
Braden Mellon of the Wheat Kings scored twice, once short-handed in the first period, unassisted, and on the powerplay in the second period. He was assisted by Zach Douglas and Luke Arndt.
The series moves to Yellow Grass tonight, March 1, at 8 p.m., and then back to Redvers on Friday,
March 3 at 8 p.m. for game three.
In Friday night’s game, Jesse Watson scored in the first period, and Ethan Klebeck’s goal 42 seconds into the middle frame doubled the advantage.
Cody Levesque was in goal for Oxbow, and Tanner Erickson was the Yellow Grass goalie. Redvers advanced after sweeping the eighth-ranked Midale Mustangs in the first round. The Rockets have won 21 straight games, including the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the No. 3 Moosomin Rangers will play the fifth-ranked Bienfait Coalers in the other series. Moosomin advanced by beating the No. 6 Carlyle Cougars in two straight, while Bienfait needed three games to knock out the reigning league champions, the fourth-seeded Carnduff Red Devils.
The semifinals will be best-of-five series.
Weyburn Review,
-- March 1, 2023 sports 7
Weyburn, Saskatchewan
Learning about lacrosse
Review Photo 8858 – Greg Nikkel Coach Chuck Anderson helped to encourage a young boy to scoop up a ball with his raquet, as player Callie Dammann looked on at right, during a try-out evening for the Weyburn Lacrosse Association on Wednesday evening at the Credit Union Spark Centre. Over 40 children of all ages attended to find out what is involved in playing the sport of lacrosse. Another free session will be held on March 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Team SE bowling team competes at Games
Photo 1220 – courtesy Jo-Ann Paxman
The Special Olympics five-pin bowling team for Team Southeast gathered at the bowling lanes where they competed during the Saskatchewan Winter Games. From left are Robin Stelter, Devon Jensen, Antonius Quist, Vernon Ernst and Sarah Henry. The team finished in sixth place overall, and Robin earned a silver medal for singles bowling, and 211 was her highest score during the Games. The team was coached by Jo-Ann Paxman and manager Brad Ernst.
Silver medalist in bowling
Photo 4415 – Jo-Ann Paxman Special Olympics bowler Robin Stelter of Weyburn showed off her silver medal from the Saskatchewan Winter Games for singles bowling. Her highest score during the Games was 211. She was also part of the Team SE bowling team, which finished in sixth overall.
Weyburn lifters win national medals
Photo 7161 – courtesy Heidi Fowler Weyburn powerlifters Ryan Fowler, Calla Hrynewich, Natalie Butz and Charlene Cossar gathered with their medals at the Canadian Powerlifting Union National Championships in Richmond, B.C.
