<h2>Making Blazers history - Smith earns PRESTIGIOUS award</h2>For the first time in program history, the distinguished JWHL Elizabeth 'Liz' Turgeon Memorial Player of the Year Award has been given to a member of the Balmoral Hall Blazers U-19 team.Blazers forward Morgan Smith received the honour of the JWHL Player of the Year title after leading her Balmoral Hall squad to an eye-catching 39-12-4 record (82 points) as the team’s captain and showing off her talented knack for scoring in the process.&nbsp;Referred to as “Mo” around the rink by her coaches and peers, Smith amounted to an impressive total of 96 points this season for Balmoral Hall, recording 48 goals and 48 assists on the year.And to say this is the first time the 18-year-old has demonstrated her high offensive ceiling to head coach Sarah Zacharias and her Blazers teammates would be a foolish mistake.&nbsp;In fact, in the 2022-23 season with Balmoral Hall, Smith actually topped this season’s scoring mark, registering an astounding 50 goals and 63 assists for 113 points as just a junior in high school.Of course, 17 points less this year doesn’t take away from the incredible season Smith has had, but only points to her incredible offensive gifts at such a young age.&nbsp;Hailing from East St. Paul, MB., the left-shooting winger possesses a perilous shot, strong footspeed, and elite vision. These attributes give Smith all the makings of an elite offensive producer, and that’s why she is a threat to score from anywhere on the ice.And those on-ice qualities really came out to shine for Balmoral Hall in the 2024 JWHL Challenge Cup in Washington, D.C. Smith racked up six goals and two assists for eight points in just five tournament games for the Blazers.&nbsp;“Mo” also served to be the “Queen of special teams” for her team in the Challenge Cup, as she scored two of the team’s four power play goals and registered the team’s only shorthanded goal of the tournament.&nbsp;Smith’s determined efforts led her Blazers to a 2-1-2 record; however, it proved to be not enough after they bowed out in the semifinals to Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep team, who went on to win the Challenge Cup, carrying a practically flawless record of 5-0-1.The next stop for Smith is Bemidji, MN., where she will play NCAA Division I level hockey for the Bemidji State Beavers under newly hired head coach Amber Fryklund.

Blazers’ Morgan Smith Named JWHL Player of The Year

<h2>Wheat Kings to bid on 2026 memorial cup</h2>On Friday, the Brandon Wheat Kings announced their intent to bid on the holy grail of junior hockey - the CHL Memorial Cup - with plans to host the event in May 2026 at the newly renovated Westoba Place at the beloved Keystone Centre.&nbsp;Last hosted in Saginaw, the Memorial Cup is annually awarded to the champion of the CHL. Brandon now joins the Kelowna Rockets as the lone teams to bid on the 10-day tournament in 2026, but announcements from other WHL teams are expected over the coming days.&nbsp;“Hosting this event would be a tremendous honour for our organization, our city and our province,” team owner Jared Jacobson said. “Brandon, and Manitoba, have a storied history in hockey, and we are excited about the opportunity to showcase our community and province to the entire hockey world.”The Wheat Kings aim to bring this historic event back to Brandon for the first time since 2010, where they lost to a star-studded Windsor Spitfires team led by NHL talent Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique, Ryan Ellis, Cam Fowler and Phillip Grubauer.&nbsp;In 2010, the Keystone Centre proved to be the perfect venue for the popular tournament. Since then, the venue has hosted numerous world class events and has made several improvements to the main arena including a brand-new seating renovation to be finished for the coming season.&nbsp;On the ice, the Wheat Kings will have a strong core of top players and a tremendous amount of depth for the 2025-26 season.&nbsp;“We are very excited with the cycle we are entering as an organization. The timing of the Memorial Cup bid makes sense for us with a strong group of core players that will be established WHL veterans, as well as a deep and talented prospect pool,” said head coach and GM Marty Murray.Projected first round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft Charlie Elick will lead the charge on the back end while top prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft Roger McQueen will provide scoring and physicality up front. Most importantly, goaltender Carson Bjarnason will be going into his overage season with the Wheat Kings in 2026 and will provide stability between the pipes, something the Wheat Kings haven’t had in past Memorial Cups.With veterans like Bjarnason and Quinn Mantei mixed with trades and a bundle of young players such as McQueen, Elick, Jaxon Jacobson, Brady Turko, Joby Baumuller, and more first round picks to come, the 2026 Wheat Kings should be a powerhouse once again in the WHL.&nbsp;There is no doubt the Wheat Kings will be strong on the ice, however there may be a larger battle for the Memorial Cup host spot than they think.&nbsp;As of now, Kelowna is the only other team to announce their intent to bid on the 2026 Memorial Cup. In 2020, Kelowna was set to host the Memorial Cup before it was canceled due to the COVID Pandemic. Once again in 2023 Kelowna announced their intent to host the tournament but the honor was given to Kamloops. Now in 2026 the Rockets are doing everything they can to secure their spot as host, including the city setting aside $3.7 million for arena renovations.What looks good for Brandon is the passionate fanbase. The CHL has proven to work better in smaller markets where it can't be overshadowed by another large sports franchise. Despite some questionable attendance since COVID-19 the Wheat Kings still mean a lot to not only Brandon but surrounding rural towns.Since Friday’s press release the Wheat Kings have gained an immense amount of support from fans and some very important people, including Premier Wab Kinew, Mayor of Brandon Jeff Fawcett, and Minister of Sport Glen Simard.

Wheat Kings Set Sights on 2026 CHL Memorial Cup

<h2>Jets crack Top-10 list of pride-oriented clubs</h2>This June, Bet Virginia released a Top-10 LGBTQ2SIA+ inclusive NHL Teams list - And the Winnipeg Jets have come in at eighth place.&nbsp;The list was based on a scoring system created by Bet Virginia, assigning points to teams based on the number of pride posts on Instagram and Twitter, along with the reported LGBTQ2SIA+ safety of each city and state where the teams play.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Jets (117 points) were one of two Canadian teams on the list, with the Ottawa Senators finishing second with 139 points. The Washington Capitals took the top spot with 181 points.&nbsp;The Jets being mentioned on this list is a refreshing reset from what has been a disappointing year in LGBTQ2SIA+ inclusivity for the NHL.&nbsp;Top-10 Pride Inclusivity Rankings:<img src="https://game-on-hockey.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/screen-shot-2024-06-20-at-09.14.36.png">Before the 2023-24 campaign started, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and the NHL announced the ban of all specialty jerseys for the season, including Pride, Military Appreciation, and any other specialty night sweaters teams may honour/celebrate.&nbsp;This decision stemmed from many players - including many notable players like Brandon Wheat Kings alum Ivan Provorov - deciding to sit out warmups and not wear the jersey due to different beliefs. Bettman claimed it was a “distraction” from what these nights really represented.&nbsp;Some players were vocally upset, calling it unfair and saying it wasn't the way to go about this issue. But the NHL doubled down.&nbsp;&nbsp;Along with the jerseys, Pride Tape was also banned. Pride Tape became a staple in hockey the past few years, being a big part of Pride Nights around the league. A few lesser-known players such as former Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks forward Kurtis Gabriel wore it on his stick every game.&nbsp;Once again, this decision was met with major backlash from NHL fans and members of the LGBTQ2SIA+ community, making national news across North America.&nbsp;Just 72 hours after the tape ban, Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott decided to go against the NHL's ruling and wrapped the top of his stick with Pride Tape. Small protests from players like Dermott along with star players like Connor McDavid speaking out against the decision led to the NHL reversing the Pride Tape ban - making it a personal decision - in October.&nbsp;While the jersey ban is still in place, it is nice to see players and teams support inclusivity of not only the LGBTQ2SIA+ community but also military, Asian Heritage, Indigenous communities and more through special nights/events.&nbsp;Information from: BetVirginia.com <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.betvirginia.com/capitals/pride-month">https://www.betvirginia.com/capitals/pride-month</a>

Winnipeg Jets Recognized as Top-10 for LGBTQ2SIA+ Inclusivity in NHL

<h2>FIVE MANITOBANS LISTED IN 2024 NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING'S FINAL RANKINGS.</h2>NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft on April 16 with five Manitobans making an appearance.&nbsp;This is a weaker class when it comes to Manitobans, but there are some intriguing prospects. This year, the centralized draft will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada over the familiar two-day period: Friday June 28 to Saturday June 29.Game On's Jackson Bachewich has put together a scouting report on each of the five Manitobans listed, with each set to be revealed in the coming weeks as a five-part series leading up to the draft.No. 119. Luke Mistelbacher (Swift Current Broncos, WHL), Steinbach MB6’0”&nbsp;195 lbsRight WingMid Term Rankings: 210Final Rankings: 119Season Stats: GP:64 G:20 A:33 PTS:58 - Playoffs: GP:9 G:4 A:5 PTS:9&nbsp;Former Teams: U18 AAA Eastman Selects&nbsp;Luke Mistelbacher Scouting report:&nbsp;Strengths:&nbsp;<ul><li>Battle</li><li>Size</li></ul>Weaknesses:&nbsp;<ul><li>No Elite Tools</li></ul>Luke Mistelbacher is a very interesting case and one of the fastest risers in the late rounds of the class.&nbsp;Mistelbacher was born two months late in November of 2005 or he would have been undrafted in last year's class.&nbsp;Mistelbacher was undrafted in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft and signed out of training camp with Swift Current in 2021. Last year in his first full season with the Broncos, Mistelbacher found himself playing up and down the lineup and at some points even being scratched. He finished last year's campaign with 16 points in 56 games played.&nbsp;This past season he looked to be on the same trajectory, tallying seven points through his first 20 games of the season. But then he got hot. With the combination of being put higher in the lineup and the addition of Conor Geekie to the Broncos' lineup at the trade deadline, Mistelbacher caught fire. He finished this season with 58 points, 26 of them coming in the final 16 games of the regular season playing on a line with fellow Manitobans Geekie and Clarke Caswell.&nbsp;He definitely took strides in his game, but the question for NHL GM’s will be, was he producing on his own or was it because of the elite players he was playing with?&nbsp;Mistelbacher is a solid complimentary player with a good forechecking ability, and although he is only six feet tall, he uses his size well to protect pucks. He will most likely need more skilled linemates to succeed at the next level.&nbsp;We have seen undrafted players in the WHL Bantam Draft like Micheal Ferland, Brandon Hagel, Arshdeep Bains and more recently Brandon Wheat Kings' Carson Bjarnason have solid WHL careers. Mistelbacher will just have to translate his success to the next level on his own rather than relying on star players.Projected to go in the middle to late rounds, expect Mistelbacher’s name to be called on June 29.Luke Mistelbacher scored a Hat-Trick in round 1 of the WHL Playoffs against the Lethbridge Hurricanes: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qave7wI0FwM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qave7wI0FwM</a> - Western Hockey League (@WHL)Stay tuned for the next player to be revealed on Game On's Manitoba Draft Spotlight.

Counting Down to the Draft - Manitoba Spotlight: Luke Mistelbacher 

<h2>The MbHHF makes 15 inductions for the class of 2024</h2>Last week, the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (MBHHF) announced its list of inductees for the 2024 class.The MBHHF has acknowledged the achievements and successes of players, coaches, general managers, officials, media members, and teams with connections to Manitoba since 1985.The induction of individuals into the MBHHF is based on nominations from Manitoba’s public, which are reviewed by an independent selection committee and then submitted to the MBHHF Board of Directors. Since 1995, this induction process has occurred only every two years.Inductees of Manitoba’s Hockey Hall of Fame all fall under one of seven categories: Player, Builder, Official, Media, Team, Dynasty, and Veterans. This year, however, the MBHHF has introduced an eighth category, acknowledging the volunteers in our province. This is known as the “Grassroots” category.This year’s list of inductees includes five players, three builders, one official, one media, one team, one dynasty, one grassroots, and two veterans for a total of 15 inductions.Requirements for eligibility in each category according to the MBHHF website are shown below.Player Category - Individual must have a Manitoba connection either through birth or having moved to Manitoba, having spent their developmental years in the province.Shane HnidyBorn in Neepawa, MB., Hnidy (48) played minor league hockey for the Yellowhead Chiefs U18 AAA squad before heading over to the WHL, where he spent six seasons playing for the Swift Current Broncos and Prince Albert Raiders. Hnidy was drafted in the 7th round (173rd overall) in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres and played with six different teams (Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers, Anaheim Ducks, and Minnesota Wild) before closing out his 12-year NHL career. In 550 NHL games played, Hnidy put up 16 goals and 55 assists for 71 points. Despite being acknowledged as a player in the MBHHF, Hnidy is also well-known for colour-commentating games for TSN’s Winnipeg Jets broadcast.Duvie WestcottGoing undrafted in the NHL Entry Draft, Westcott (46) made it to the NHL the hard way. The 192-pound defenceman was born in Winnipeg, MB. and thrived in his junior days playing for the Winnipeg South Blues. After playing for the NCAA’s St. Cloud State Univ., Westcott made his jump to professional-level hockey, playing for the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL. Westcott would eventually get an opportunity to play in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets but struggled to establish himself as a full-time player. In 201 career games, he produced 11 goals and 45 assists for 56 points. Westcott wrapped up the final three years of his professional career by serving as an alternate captain on the Hamburg Freezers, a professional team residing in GermanyRuss RomaniukGrowing up in Winnipeg, MB. and getting drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 1988, Romaniuk (54) lived out a childhood dream not many get to experience. Playing for his hometown team from 1991-1995, Romaniuk scored 13 goals and added 14 helpers in 102 games played. After wrapping up his NHL career in Philadelphia, Romaniuk jumped from league to league (IHL, DEL, BISL, BNL, EIHL) until finally calling it a career in 2005.Laurie LangrellBorn Februrary 11, 1939, Langrell is one of the oldest members of the 2024 MHHF inductee class. Hailing From Warren, MB., Langrell played in four different leagues throughout his career, but his most productive season was with the Winnipeg Braves of the MJHL. Langrell racked up 63 points in just 31 games with the Braves during the 1958-59 regular season and led his team offensively in the post-season, which helped them claim three different championship titles: Memorial Cup Champions, Abbott Cup Champions, and Turnbull Cup Champions. Langrell was also inducted into Manitoba’s Baseball Hall of Fame in 2021.Brad MaxwellThe Brandon, MB. product was selected seventh overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft. A significant reason Maxwell went so high in the draft was because of his three years spent with the Westminster Bruins of the WCHL. As a defenceman, Maxwell scored above a point per game pace for two out of the three seasons with the Bruins. After being drafted by the North Stars, Maxwell spent nearly his whole career there, playing eight of his 10 seasons with Minnesota. Maxwell, who also spent time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks, racked up 368 points in 613 career games. Maxwell died of lung cancer in September of last year.Builder Category - Individual must have a Manitoba connection, either through birth or having moved to Manitoba, and contributed to the development of the game of hockey in the province.Harvey BoltonBorn in Flin Flon, MB., Bolton (62) refereed his first hockey game at just 14-years-old. He enjoyed officiating so much that he went on to do it for five decades. Bolton now serves as referee-in-chief for the Norman Regional Minor Hockey Association.Wayne DeschouwerDeschouwer was born in Mariapolis, MB., but spent most of his life in Winnipeg, where his prints lie all over Hockey Manitoba’s community. Deschouwer spent nearly 60 years with Hockey Manitoba’s programs, serving as a player, coach, manager, and president. He was also given the Hockey Manitoba Volunteer of the Year Award in 2011-2012. Deschouwer died on October 1, 2018.&nbsp;Jack MckenzieMckenzie, who originally served Hockey Manitoba as a coach, transitioned to a league executive role after creating the Junior B Hockey League in 1970.Official Category - Individual must have a Manitoba connection and made a significant contribution to the sport of hockey over an extended period of time in leagues or systems by accomplishments that may be considered, include, but are not limited to: officiating awards and recognition received; a history of involvement in the sport and performance as an official or administrator of officials; served as a mentor, supervisor and/or developer of officiating programs in Manitoba; assignment to major championships and events; level of certification attained; commitment to the sport of hockey as demonstrated by years of service and activity.Paul KrestanowichPaul Krestanowich served Manitoba’s hockey community as a referee, coach, and president for over five decades. Krestanowich officiated AHL games as well as international games in South Korea for the World University’s Winter Games. Krestanowich was president of the Assiniboine Park Hockey Association and coached a number of River Heights’ youth hockey clubs. In 2014, Krestanowich also won Hockey Canada’s Canadian Tire Hero of Play Award.Media Category - Individual must have made an exceptional contribution to Manitoba hockey through media in print, broadcast, and/or digital media. It is open to journalists, editors, publishers, broadcasters, producers, artists, photographers, or others who have had a significant impact by working in the media.Kelly MooreKnown for his unique voice on 680 CJOB, Moore has now worked in radio for almost 50 years. Starting out in 1976 as a part-time evening announcer at CFVR in Abbotsford. B.C., Moore now finds himself atop sports coverage for CJOB, while also serving as the Game Night Host on Winnipeg Jets broadcasts.Team Category - Team must have been organized and located in Manitoba.2012 Southeast Prairie ThunderLed by head coach Jamie Leach and tournament MVP Devon Leblanc, the 2012 Southeast Prairie Thunder were titled Canada’s best men’s senior hockey team after capturing the 2012 Allan Cup in Lloydminster, AB.&nbsp;Dynasty Category - Team must have been organized and located in Manitoba and achieved success over an extended period of time over consecutive seasons.1986-1992 Cartwright ClippersWinners of six consecutive SWHL championships.Grassroots Category - Individual must have a Manitoba connection where their volunteer efforts in a community have helped develop the game of hockey.Laurent KerbratKerbrat, also known as “Maddog,” was born April 2, 1948, in Winnipeg, MB. Aside from coaching, Kerbrat was a giver. For over 35 years, “Maddog” spent hours flooding the ice for St. Laurent’s community, even waking up in the middle of the night to ensure the ice was ready to go for the kids. He donated to players who couldn’t afford to play and gave equipment to those who couldn’t afford their own. In 2008, Kerbrat was recognized for his volunteering by Hockey Canada and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Kerbrat died on July 28, 2020.Veterans Category - NAEd ReigleBorn on June 19, 1924, Reigle’s hockey career was highlighted by stints with the Omaha Knights (USHL Sr.), Cleveland Barons (AHL), North Bay Trappers (NOHA), and Boston Bruins. The Winnipeg, MB. product played just 17 games for the Bruins during the 1950-1951 season, where he collected two assists. After ending his playing career in 1957, Reigle switched gears to coaching. Reigle bench-bossed the Sweden national team in the 1960 Olympics and West Germany in the 1968 Olympics. Reigle died on November 20, 2003.&nbsp;Hal WinklerBorn on March 20, 1892, Winkler is the oldest inductee of the 2024 MBHHF class. The 5-foot-8, 150-pound netminder from Gretna, MB. spent his junior years with the Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Tigers of the Western Canada Hockey League from 1922-1926. Winkler then moved up to the NHL, playing his first season with the New York Rangers, where he posted a 3-4-1 record with a 1.65 GAA and two shutouts. He then played two seasons with the Boston Bruins, where he went on to record 15 shutouts in the 1927-28 season, along with posting a good-looking 1.52 GAA. Winkler retired in 1931 and died on May 29, 1956.Canad Inns Polo Park will host a ceremonial dinner for the new inductees on Saturday, October 5.

Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2024

<h2>Another big week for manitoban goaltenders</h2>Brandon, Manitoba's Kristen Campbell has been named the PWHL’s inaugural Goaltender of the Year."It's an honour to win this award," Campbell told the Grand Forks Herald. "There are so many great goaltenders in this league and I think that was showing throughout the year in all the low-scoring games. I'm just really grateful and thankful for all my teammates in Toronto who also made this possible."Campbell was the only goaltender to record more than 10 wins this season, tallying 16 wins with PWHL Toronto—seven more wins than Emerance Maschmeyer of PWHL Ottawa, who finished second in wins with nine.Campbell’s 1.99 goals against average also led all PWHL goaltenders who recorded more than 10 starts this season.Her .927 save percentage finished third among PWHL goaltenders—a category led by fellow Manitoban netminder Corinne Schroeder.Campbell’s historic season comes as no surprise to people who have been following her career.Impressive campaigns with Manitoba’s Westman Wildcats AAA program, and Shaftesbury Titans women’s high school club earned her national recognition, where Campbell suited up with the Canadian Women’s U18 team—earning a silver medal.At the collegiate level, Campbell transferred from North Dakota’s Fighting Hawks to Wisconsin, joining the Badgers in 2017. Campbell went 90-13-7 over three seasons with the Badgers, where she averaged an incredible 1.03 goals against in 41 starts in 2018-19 en route to a national championship.With few avenues to continue her illustrious career after college, Campbell dressed in only 14 games from 2020-21 to 2022-23.The founding of the PWHL changed the narrative for Campbell - and women across the world - providing an opportunity to continue playing the sport they love on a professional basis.Campbell is expected to return to Toronto next season for her second year of a three-year contract—where she will try and defend her title of the PWHL’s best goaltender.Corinne Schroeder inks two-year extension with PWHL New YorkAnother Manitoban netminder, Corinne Schroeder, has agreed to a two-year extension with PWHL New York.“Corinne has definitely proven that she belongs among the world’s elite at her position,” said PWHL New York general manager Pascal Daoust. “Beyond her physical presence and athleticism, her relentless determination to improve every day on and off the ice and become the best version of herself makes her a key player in our pursuit of excellence and championship.”Schroeder’s .930 save percentage led all PWHL goaltenders in the league’s inaugural season, where she averaged 31.67 saves per game.The extension makes Schroeder the first New York player to re-sign with the club this offseason.“I’m incredibly excited to be back in New York” said Schroeder. “The fans are so supportive and encouraging, to play in front of them again will be an honour."The Elm Creek native posted notable stats in minor hockey with the Pembina Valley Hawks and the Balmoral Hall Blazers prep program.After four seasons and 91 starts with Boston University of the NCAA, Schroeder transferred to Quinnipiac for the 2021-22 season, where she finished third in the nation with a save percentage of .951.Schroeder joined the Boston Pride of the Premier Hockey Federation in 2022-23, earning PHF Goaltender of the Year and Rookie of the Year honours after posting a .955 save percentage, going 19-1-0 during the regular season.After her debut season with PWHL New York, the 24-year-old backstop is excited to get back in net and help guide the team to its first playoff appearance.“This past season I experienced a lot of growth as a person and a player, so I’m excited for further growth personally and as a team. I’m looking forward to playing a greater role in continuing to build our organization and community.”

PWHL Goaltenders Campbell and Schroeder Representing Manitoba at the Highest Level

<h2>Ste. Anne product taken 42nd overall by Toronto at 2024 pwhl draft</h2>Three months ago, Ste. Anne's Raygan Kirk led the Ohio State Buckeyes to their third-straight National Championship appearance and was perfect, stopping all 27 shots she faced in the 1-0 win over Wisconsin in the title game. Her stellar performance helped Ohio State win its second Championship in the past three seasons.&nbsp;The 23-year-old backstop then turned her attention to the upcoming PWHL Draft.&nbsp;In her final draft-eligible season, Kirk shined between the pipes. She owned an outstanding 22-2-0 record, a 1.05 goals-against average, a .945 save percentage and a phenomenal 10 shutouts (combined between the regular season and playoffs).&nbsp;Pre-draft rankings had the former Eastman Selects standout all over the board.&nbsp;The Athletic&nbsp;had Kirk ranked 24th overall and the No. 2 netminder in the draft, while&nbsp;The Hockey News&nbsp;ranked her as the third-best goaltender and the 55th overall prospect, which would have seen her go undrafted.&nbsp;Based on her outstanding senior season, it seemed like a lock for Kirk to be selected at Monday’s draft, but she had to wait for the very last pick to hear her name called by PWHL Toronto.Before going to college, Kirk won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship, starting all four games and earning MVP of the tournament. She also became the youngest player ever to be invited to a Team Canada Summer Showcase camp (2019).But the road to the 42nd overall pick wasn’t only national championships and gold medals. Back in 2021, the place she started her NCAA career folded its women's and men’s hockey teams.In her two years at Robert Morris University, Kirk posted a combined 23-13-2 record and seven shutouts. She really started to break through with a .939 save percentage in her sophomore season which was 11th best among Division I netminders in 2020-21.&nbsp;After finding a new home at Ohio State, Kirk went from being a top goaltender in the NCAA to sitting on the bench behind Amanda Thiele and Andrea Braendli. Kirk started a combined 15 games in her first two years with the Buckeyes, remaining behind both Thiele and Braendli which saw Ohio State go to back-to-back National Championships (one win, one loss).But this past season it was a whole different story; Kirk stole the starting role from Thiele and she never looked back.&nbsp;With four postseason shutouts and a .942 postseason save percentage, Kirk capped off her college career by earning the Women’s Frozen Four MVP - an award that has been won by a goaltender just nine times in its 24-year history - and a place on the all-tournament team.&nbsp;Kirk will now head one province east from her hometown, where she will join fellow Manitoba product, good friend and PWHL Toronto star netminder Kristen Campbell.And once again the road will not be easy for Kirk, as she will likely have to battle Erica Howe and Carly Jackson for a backup role behind one of the PWHL’s very best puck stoppers.

Ste. Anne’s Raygan Kirk the Lone Manitoban Selected at 2024 PWHL Draft

<h2>Capital region junior hockey league expands to seven member clubs</h2>The Capital Region Junior Hockey League announced on Tuesday that junior hockey will return to the town of La Broquerie, Manitoba, for the 2024-25 season.The La Broquerie Habitants (Habs) - a team rich in hockey history - have become the CRJHL’s second expansion team since 2022.“We are very happy to be able to build on the tradition of hockey in La Broquerie by bringing a Junior 'B' team to the community,” said team president Ken Tallaire on Tuesday. “There is already a lot of excitement from players and community members, so we can’t wait for the start of the season.”In January of 2024, La Broquerie celebrated 75 years of Habs hockey through its senior, junior, and community programs. Not even five months later, the community has welcomed back its junior hockey club, which will compete at the highest level in its program history.La Broquerie Habs junior hockey history dates back to 2002-03, competing as a junior “C” club in the Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League.In their inaugural season, the Habs went 19-3-1-1 during the regular season, finishing as league champions after defeating Mitchell in the HTJHL final to secure their only junior title. After the cancellation of the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Habs never returned to the HTJHL – leaving the town without a junior hockey team the last four years.The Habs name pays homage to La Broquerie’s senior men’s team, which was founded in 1948-49. The club won 17 league championships in its history, including two provincial senior titles.After 70 years, the senior Habs ceased operations in 2019 – they have yet to return. &nbsp;Though the Habs’ spirit has been carried on in La Broquerie’s minor hockey programs, the community has missed its senior and junior clubs.“Growing up, I always saw a junior team as well as senior team,” said Denise Turenne in an interview with SteinbachOnline.com during La Broquerie’s 75th anniversary of hockey celebration in January. “My son, who's also in the U18 group, will no longer have anywhere to play once that team has done this year. So, I would love to see more groups added throughout the junior and senior team.”Just months later, Denise and her son’s wish has been granted – an opportunity to continue playing the game of hockey at a junior level within the community.The CRJHL was founded in 2018 when five southern Manitoba teams – the Arborg Ice Dawgs, Lundar Falcons, North Winnipeg Satellites, Selkirk Fishermen, and St. Malo Warriors – split from the northern Manitoba teams of the Keystone Junior Hockey League to form a new league, citing travel as the main reason for leaving.After welcoming Beausejour as the sixth member of the CRJHL in 2022 (the league's finalist this past season), the CRJHL now adds La Broquerie as its seventh team in the league’s six-year history."We are incredibly excited to welcome the La Broquerie Habs to the CRJHL family," league president Chris Poponick said. "The inclusion of this new team reflects our commitment to growing the sport of hockey in the Capital Region and providing more opportunities for young athletes to develop and compete at a high level. We look forward to seeing the Habs hit the ice and make their mark in the upcoming season."

La Broquerie Awarded CRJHL Expansion Team

<h2>Flyers' Andrew given invite to Pittsburgh Penguins' development camp</h2>On Friday, the Manitoba Junior Hockey League announced that Winkler Flyers forward Dalton Andrew has been invited to attend the Pittsburgh Penguins development camp this summer.The comical transition from Flyer to Penguin will be a great opportunity for the MJHL’s leading scorer to prove his talents on an even bigger stage with much tougher competition.The 6-foot-5, 205-pound forward just wrapped up what was, by all accounts, a breakout season, racking up 43 goals and 39 assists for 82 points in just 54 regular-season games. These totals nearly doubled his production from last year, when he finished the 2022-2023 season with just 42 points.The offensively dominant 82-point season from the Brandon, MB. product was also the most by anyone on his team and the entire MJHL, which earned him the MJHL First Team All-Star honours. The next highest point scorer in the league went to teammate and MJHL MVP, Trent Penner, who trailed four points behind Andrew with 78.&nbsp;After Winkler finished second overall in the MJHL standings during the regular season (42-11-2 for 89 points), Andrew carried over his offensive prowess to the post-season, putting up 14 points in 15 playoff games. These offensively potent numbers helped earn Winkler its first Turnbull Cup in 26 years with a four-game sweep over the Steinbach Pistons in the final.And although Winkler’s fortunes came to a close at the Centennial Cup after a quarterfinal loss to the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks, Andrew once again stood out from the competition, being awarded the Best Forward of the 2024 Centennial Cup (six goals, three assists in four preliminary games including a four-goal game).As Andrew continues to make a name for himself in the hockey world, heading to Pennsylvania for Penguins development camp could serve as a unique opportunity to learn what it takes to make it in this sport.After development camp in the summer, Andrew will look toward a big 2024-2025 campaign in the fall with the Division I University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Dalton Andrew Earns Opportunity in Pennsylvania

<h2>Five Manitobans listed in 2024 nhl central scouting's final rankings.</h2>NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft on April 16 with five Manitobans making an appearance.&nbsp;This is a weaker class when it comes to Manitobans, but there are some intriguing prospects. This year, the centralized draft will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada over the familiar two-day period: Friday June 28 to Saturday June 29.Game On's Jackson Bachewich has put together a scouting report on each of the five Manitobans listed, with each set to be revealed in the coming weeks as a five-part series leading up to the draft.No. 216. Josh Fluker (Wenatchee Wild, WHL), Boissevain MB 6’0”&nbsp;160 lbsDefenceMid Term Rankings: 139Final Rankings: 216Season Stats: GP:64 G:3 A:12 PTS:15 - Playoffs: GP:5 G:0 A:0 PTS:0&nbsp;Former Teams: Southwest Cougars U15/U18 AAAJosh Fluker Scouting report:&nbsp;&nbsp;Strengths:&nbsp;<ul><li>Defensive play&nbsp;</li><li>Physical&nbsp;</li><li>Skating</li></ul>Weaknesses:&nbsp;<ul><li>Offence</li></ul>After being taken 7th overall by the Swift Current Broncos in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft, Josh Fluker was expected to take a big step forward in his NHL draft year.Last season was disappointing for both Fluker and the Broncos as Fluker has one goal and two assists in 55 games - two fewer points than he had in 10 games the year before - and Swift Current needed him to take a big step forward as the team's 7th overall pick.&nbsp;By the WHL trade deadline Fluker had two goals and nine points in 36 games for the Broncos, not as much as they would hope but his defensive game was shining. Then a bombshell. The Western Conference's third-place Wenatchee Wild decided to blow it up and trade all their star players. Manitoba's Conor Geekie was sent to Swift Current. Heading back was Josh Fluker along with other assets.Fluker finished out the season with six points in 28 games with Wenatchee and a rough five-game playoff series to close out the year. It's safe to say Fluker has never been known for his offensive game, only scoring 20 points in his final year of U18 AAA hockey. But he is known for what he can do on the defensive side of the puck.Fluker is a confident player who can carry the puck up ice or dish it out with precise passes. He can open passing lanes for himself with his quick feet and deceptive puck handling.You don't usually find a 6’0” defensive defenseman, but that is how Fluker plays. He is calm and composed under pressure in his own end and has great energy and physicality for a smaller d-man.&nbsp;Fluker may go undrafted, but he is a player that is worth taking a gamble on when it comes to the later rounds. His offensive game may not be the best when looking at a smaller defenceman, but his defensive poise may be what gets him selected on June 29.Stay tuned for the next player to be revealed on Game On's Manitoba Draft Spotlight.

Counting Down to the Draft - Manitoba Spotlight: Josh Fluker 

<h2>Oh, What Could Have Been...</h2>The Winnipeg Jets made multiple noteworthy moves before the 2024 NHL trade deadline in March, but what could the team have done differently to prepare for a deep playoff run?The Jets prioritized their offence at the deadline, acquiring veteran centreman Sean Monahan from Montreal. Additionally, the Jets traded for forward Tyler Toffoli of New Jersey, later trading for Devils’ defenceman Colin Miller.After Toffoli and Monahan combined for just two goals and three points in five postseason games, with Miller dressing in only Game 5, it’s easy to look back upon the Jets’ deadline decisions critically.&nbsp;&nbsp;So, could general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Jets have looked elsewhere, or added to their three springtime gets?Winnipeg was regarded by many as the league’s best defensive team this season. The Jets allowed the fewest goals throughout the regular season behind another fantastic year from netminder Connor Hellebuyck, whose efforts earned him his fourth Vezina Trophy nomination.In their first-round series against Colorado, the title of “best defensive team” could not have been further from the truth. The Jets averaged 5.6 goals against per game, as well as an average of 37 shots against per game – both ranked worst among the 16 postseason teams.With that in mind, Winnipeg finished 15th in goals per game this season in the NHL, averaging 3.16 goals per game. The Jets’ powerplay struggled as well, operating at 18.8% for the season, placing them 22nd in the NHL.It’s clear there was room to improve on both sides of the ice for Winnipeg. These are four affordable names that may have been worth considering as well at the NHL’s trade deadline.1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joel Edmundson (LD) Age: 30 Cap hit: $1.75M (UFA in 2024) Cost: Third and seventh-round pick in 2024 (Toronto) Brandon, MB. product Joel Edmundson is a 6-foot-4 defenceman who would have added some depth to the Jets’ blue line. He is a physical d-man who gives his team an extra edge in the defensive zone. He is a left-handed defenceman, who could have filled the role of either Dylan Samberg (-7 in five postseason appearances) or Nate Schmidt (-5 in just three postseason appearances). With a contract worth $1.75M – which expired at the end of the 2024 season – Edmundson would have been a low-risk loan who the Jets could release or extend at the end of the season. 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Alexandre Carrier (RD) Age: 27 Cap hit: $2.5M (UFA in 2024) Projected cost: High second-round pick or low first-round pick Nashville Predators defenceman Alexandre Carrier was rumoured to be on the block ahead of the trade deadline in March. At 5-foot-11, Carrier makes up for his size with a high hockey IQ and great mobility. He has a weapon of a shot, which makes him a great option on the powerplay. He logged over 21 minutes of ice time per game in the postseason for Nashville. Carrier’s versatility made him an attractive piece at the deadline and may have been available for Winnipeg’s second-round pick from Montreal. However, giving away their second-round pick means the Jets would have had no picks in the first three rounds of the 2024 NHL Draft. 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; David Savard (RD) Age: 33 Cap hit: $3.5M (UFA in 2025) Projected cost: First-round pick Montreal’s David Savard is another reliable defensive defenceman who would be placed in the Jets’ top two pairings. He is a fearless shot blocker who tallied 163 blocked shots this season (third on the team) and plays a shutdown role that may have been useful against Colorado. He averaged over 20 minutes per game this year with Montreal. The Canadiens were not desperate to move him at the deadline, allegedly seeking a first-round pick for the 33-year-old defenceman. At his age, Savard is not worth a first-round pick. However, after the Jets sent a first and a third-round pick to Montreal for Monahan in February, one wonders how much extra it would have cost the Jets to add Savard to a package deal. 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jason Zucker (LW) Age: 32 Cap hit: $5.3M (UFA in 2024) Cost: Sixth-round pick (Nashville) Jason Zucker has averaged 40 points over his last two seasons and could have provided the Jets some scoring down the depth chart. His $5.3 million cap hit seems alarming at first, but the Jets $13 million-plus in cap space indicates that he was indeed affordable as a loan player for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Zucker has fan favourite appeal as a talented forward who has struggled with injury but is capable of a career resurgence with the right fit. Perhaps the most attractive element to Jason Zucker was the cost. The Arizona Coyotes, now Utah, dealt Zucker at the buzzer to Nashville for the low cost of a sixth-round pick. There may have been some risk in acquiring Zucker given his injury history, but for a sixth-round pick, he may have been worth pursuing. Hindsight is always 20/20, and it’s easy to look back and wonder what the Jets could have done differently to extend their five-game visit to the 2024 postseason.Tyler Toffoli had 44 points in 61 games with New Jersey before coming to Winnipeg, where he totaled 11 points in 18 games with the Jets.&nbsp;Sean Monahan found his rhythm as a Jet, posting 24 points in 34 appearances with Winnipeg.&nbsp;Colin Miller didn’t get enough ice time in Polar Night Blue, but looked solid in his sole postseason appearance in Game 5. With just five appearances for the Jets, it’s hard to determine Miller’s value going forward.With their contracts set to expire this summer, will we see any of Winnipeg’s deadline additions back in blue next season? NHL Free agency begins July 1.

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