First responder training centre proposed for Pinawa

By Tony Zerucha

Municipal first responders across eastern Manitoba could have another training option on a section of the Canadian Nuclear Labs site in Pinawa if a group of politicians have their way. 

The Eastman Regional Committee, consisting of elected officials from across the region, have declared it a 2026 priority.

RM of Lac du Bonnet Reeve Loren Schinkel said the Government of Canada has its own firefighting crews. The recently revamped service, which includes a planned new building for training, could be available for municipalities from Pinawa to Piney.

Schinkel said his group would love to see that expanded to include municipal firefighting services, paramedics and First Nations first responders.
“This is phenomenal,” Schinkel said. “It’s a perfect site to develop.”

Currently, most provincial training occurs in Brandon. Schinkel said some fire departments have experienced last-minute cancellations. High lodging and transportation costs strain already tight budgets. Having training close to home could dramatically reduce those costs.

Last year’s tragic fires highlight the need for training that reflects North Eastman’s topography, Schinkel said. The CNL site’s ample acreage would allow for helicopter training, for example.

“We’re hopeful that can become the regular training centre like the Brandon Fire

College,” Schinkel said.
He adds that much of the needed infrastructure is present courtesy of CNL.
“When they’re decommissioning that it doesn’t make sense to tear that out of the ground,” Schinkel said.

Schinkel added that CNL are “great to work with”, and the provincial reaction has been encouraging so far.

Rec centre contract approved

Springfield hires Bird Construction to build Armtec for $21.7M

By Tony Zerucha

Shovels could hit the ground regarding construction of the Armtec Community Recreation Centre as early as this spring.

On Feb. 17, Springfield council awarded the contract to Bird Construction for $21.7 million. The vote was 3-0, with Mayor Pat Therrien and Couns. Glen Fuhl and Melinda Warren in favour. Couns. Mark Miller and Andy Kuczynski abstained.
The awarded amount is roughly $1.1 million higher than the RM had budgeted for. That will be covered by accumulated surplus reserves.

In his report to council, director of community services Shawn Wilkinson said the eight bids submitted came with an average of $23 million. He added that Bird Construction, with whom the RM negotiated a price drop, was selected for reasons including municipal experience. The company is also building Dugald Estates.
Wilkinson said the final tab included a three per cent contingency fee of roughly $700,000 that should cover any cost overruns. For several reasons, including the facility being a new build, Wilkinson said he doesn’t expect the price to budge.

“We’re honestly not expecting a lot of overruns,” Wilkinson said. “They don’t want any surprises, but we want to make sure we’re covered obviously.”

The Armtec Community Recreation Centre will include a multi-purpose room, gymnasium, indoor walking and jogging track, play space, community kitchen, indoor turf rooms and administrative offices. Three full-time positions will be created.

Miller said he supports recreation for all Springfield citizens, but wished for a steering committee from the various community centres, along with more public consultation. He said Springfield should also have pursued public-private partnerships with groups like the YMCA, adding the recreation centre could have been built 20 years ago for a much lower cost.

“We’re in an affordability crisis and I have to be cognizant of that,” Miller said. “Yet, we are borrowing millions of dollars absent of federal support.

“Our members of parliament have yielded a goose egg for our community.”
Responding to Miller’s concerns about whether the RM can run the Armtec Community Recreation Centre on a cost-recovery basis, Wilkinson said the business plan covers five different scenarios, with the numbers showing it can be sustainable.

“We don’t want this to be a burden to anyone,” Wilkinson said. “We see this as a very positive step forward for the community. We need a community hub here.
“I truly believe recreation is a right not a privilege. We want to make recreation accessible and affordable.”

Finance manager Amram Bangura said the borrowing bylaw was based on 4.5 per cent interest rates. With rates below that level, borrowing at 3.5 per cent would drop the annual payment from $914,936 to $837,398. The current annual ratepayer cost of $18.36 per $100,000 of assessed property value could also fall with an increased assessment base. 

Springfield can also make additional payments to reduce the interest burden. CAO Colleen Draper said the project remains eligible for additional grants because it is just starting.

That wasn’t enough to placate Kuczynski, who alleged the recreation centre, lagoon and Dugald Oakbank Water System could cost taxpayers more than $100 million.
“Strange things are happening in this community,” Kuczynski said. “I’m not against the recreation centre... I’m for it, but all this borrowing is going to be on the backs of our residents.”

“We’ve been delaying this project for 32 years,” Therrien said. “Nothing’s going to go down in price. This will allow our (older) citizens to use a walking track. Our population has been asking for this and it serves the entire population of the RM of Springfield quite well.”

Armtec fundraising chair Mike Witkowicz said he is excited to see the contract awarded and the project proceeding. He said the contract will help convince hesitant community members and businesses that the project is actually happening after decades of false starts.

“It has been many years in the making with a solid foundation of community input, a business plan and funding from the province the RM, local businesses and community members,” Witkowicz said. “Many thanks to my committee for the countless hours and persistence when it seemed we were not going to see this day. Many thanks to the community members who have supported us at our community engagement events. 

“And thanks to everyone in the past who worked on earlier versions, you laid the solid foundation to the project and our belief as well as determination to get it done. Thanks to Mayor Therrien and Couns. Warren and Fuhl for your unwavering and unconditional support for this project.”

Fire destroys building on Heartland Colony

By Tony Zerucha

A community-use building on the Heartland Colony in the RM of Springfield is a total loss after a fire was reported in the early hours of Feb.18.

Springfield Fire and Rescue Service Chief Brian Seaton said the first call came into District 2 in Anola at 3:14 a.m. Oakbank Station 1 and Industrial Park Station 3 were paged shortly thereafter. When crews arrived, flames were reported as coming through the roof. 

A mutual aid request was sent out at 6 a.m. to Beausejour who responded with crews and a tanker to shuttle water to the scene. Beausejour crews worked until 2 p.m., with the Anola and Oakbank stations released around 3 p.m. One crew remained to monitor for hot spots.

The fire completely destroyed a 14,000-square-foot community building which included a cooking area, bakery, church, meeting rooms, laundry room and storage. Seaton said no injuries were sustained.

Sio appoints Winram CDO

By Mark T. Buss

TSio Silica continues to increase its corporate presence in Manitoba with the appointment of Jack Winram as chief development officer.

“As Sio Silica positions itself to become a global supplier of the critical mineral high-purity silica and the many value-added products derived from high-purity quartz silica, it only makes sense to formally establish ourselves as a Manitoba-based company,” said Sio president Carla Devlin. “Jack brings significant depth of leadership and experience to our executive team.”

A resident of the RM of Brokenhead, Winram joins Sio Silica in March following his tenure as president and CEO of the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association, where he spent six years advocating for responsible economic development, environmental stewardship and the growth of Manitoba’s clean technology and natural resource sectors.

“I have long been an advocate for growing our economy while ensuring we put our best foot forward through science and technology in managing our environmental footprint,” Winram said. 

He said it is well established that critical mineral development is a Manitoba advantage as the province has resources the world needs for the energy transition and advanced manufacturing.

“My message has always been that economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive. Everything we do has an impact on the environment; how we responsibly manage that impact while pursuing jobs, sovereignty and new wealth through primary industries like mining is the challenge, and the opportunity,” he said. “I am excited to continue being in the new role, but with the same goal.”

Sio Silica is the company applying for provincial approval for the installation, operation and decommissioning of silica sand extraction wells within the RM of Springfield. The purpose of the SiMBA Project mining operation is to extract high-purity quartz silica – a critical mineral essential to fibre optics, solar panels, semiconductors and other advanced technologies driving the global energy transition and digital economy.

The proposed project calls for the use of water well drilling rigs to drill extraction wells and install casings in the target sand deposit. Using compressed air, sand will be brought to the surface with groundwater. The water from the slurry would be separated from the sand on site, undergo filtration and UV treatment before being returned down the wells. The separated silica sand would be transported to a licensed sand processing facility.

Sio Silica’s previous efforts have found opposition from neighbouring municipalities and citizen groups concerned about potential environmental issues and impacts to two aquifers that service the region. An attempt to acquire an environmental license was denied by the province in February 2025 as it was deemed the environmental risks were too significant. 

Last summer, Sio attempted to partner with Brokenhead Ojibway Nation (BON) to at least partially ensure First Nations realize some benefits from resource extraction projects in their territory – a potential $20 million annually. BON members voted against it.

This past November, Sio Silica again applied for a provincial environmental license and submitted a revised proposal to drill fewer wells in a much smaller area.
Winram noted that Sio Silica’s SiMBA Project impacts him on a personal level.

“The extraction site is near where I live, and my family, like many others in the area, relies on groundwater for drinking water,” he said. “Sio is taking extensive steps to ensure environmentally safe silica extraction and groundwater protection. What better way to help ensure that happens than by joining the Sio team.”

Winram’s appointment comes less than two weeks after Sio Silica announced it partnered with the University of Manitoba to investigate the design a state-of-the-art, non-invasive groundwater observational network to track changes in aquifer health in real time. Sio claims such a system would be a transformational step in how Manitoba stewards groundwater and would provide a scientifically rigorous foundation for sustainable economic development.
– Staff

EMCA welcomes Fierbois to Pinawa

The Eastern Manitoba Concert Association (EMCA) is proud to present Fierbois  on March 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Pinawa Community Centre.

Fierbois features oboist Caitlin Broms-Jacobs and pianist Madeline Hildebrand. Known for their joyful and electrifying performances, the duo have been fast friends and musical collaborators since 2014 when they performed their first concert together on Winnipeg’s prestigious Millennium Recital Series. Having instant chemistry, the two realized they had found their perfect musical match, and have since gone on to bring their expressive music making to audiences across Canada.  

The name Fierbois, meaning ‘proud wood’ in Old French, reflects both the core material of their instruments and the duo’s connection to the strength, elegance, and natural beauty of the Canadian landscape. 

Their thrilling interchange of musical ideas is instantly apparent in their performances with the goal of inspiring audiences and bringing joy through music.  

At the heart of their program is Oscar Peterson’s Canadiana Suite, a jazz‑inspired tribute to Canada’s geography that takes listeners on a rich, unforgettable journey through sound, place, and national identity. Experience a musical journey that fuses history and nature through artistry.

Broms-Jacobs is the principal oboist of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, where she has been often featured as a soloist, and also performs frequently as guest principal oboist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. 

Hildebrand has recently performed with Philip Glass and the Kronos quartet, and has enjoyed solo concerts across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. She is a recent graduate of Stony Brook University and currently teaches at Brandon University and Canadian Mennonite University.

Tickets are priced at $25 for adults and $15 for those under 30 years of age. They can be purchased online at emcaconcerts.com or at Solo Market in Pinawa. Tickets will not be sold at the door, but online purchases remain open until showtime.  

A cash-only concession, offering snacks, drinks and alcoholic beverages, will be available pre-show and during intermission. Guests requiring mobility access are asked to use the back entrance of the Pinawa Community Centre. 
Don’t miss this show!

Cross country skiing along the Winnipeg River Tourism Corridor

When winter settles in along the Winnipeg River, the landscape changes. The forests grow quieter, the river edges freeze over, and fresh snow transforms familiar places into something new. It’s a season that invites you to slow down, and one of the best ways to experience it is on cross country skis.

Throughout the Winnipeg River Tourism Corridor, local ski clubs quietly get to work each winter, grooming trails and maintaining routes that wind through forests, past open spaces, and alongside the river itself. These trails connect more than just kilometres of snow, they connect communities, landscapes and the shared love of winter.

In Powerview-Pine Falls, the Duck Lake Ski Club offers a trail system that feels like a true winter escape, starting right at the edge of town and quickly carrying skiers into the quiet of nature. The 11 kilometres of groomed trails glide through mixed wood forest, across open meadows, and into peaceful spruce bogs, where the only sounds are skis on snow and the wind moving through the trees. Midway along the route, the chalet provides the perfect place to stop and take a break, warm up, and enjoy the stillness before continuing on. With an outhouse located nearby, it’s a comfortable and convenient rest point that makes spending a full winter day on the trails easy and inviting.

Further south, the trails maintained by the Lac du Bonnet Cross Country Ski Club wind through the Agassiz Provincial Forest, offering skiers a chance to experience rolling terrain, forested ridges, and quiet winter landscapes. With 16 kilometres of groomed trail, there’s plenty of room to explore, whether you’re heading out for a shorter ski or spending more time enjoying the outdoors. Clearly marked routes make it easy to navigate at your own pace, inviting skiers to slow down and take in the beauty of winter.

Nestled north of PR 307, between Whitemouth Falls Wayside Park and the Seven Sisters hydro dam, the Seven Sisters Falls trails offer a scenic escape for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. With three loop options – a short 3K, a medium and a long 7K – you can choose the distance that fits your pace. The trail is fairly easy, yet delightfully varied, featuring fun hills perfect for a long, fast glide. Most of the route winds through lush bush, but it also passes the Seven Sisters hydro dam, where the Whitemouth River meets the Winnipeg River, offering picturesque open-water views. Keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife, including white-tailed deer, rabbits, and majestic bald eagles. Thanks to meticulous grooming, the trails are always in top shape, especially after fresh snowfall. A perfect blend of adventure, nature, and tranquillity awaits at Seven Sisters Falls.

In Pinawa, the Whiteshell Cross Country Ski Club maintains over 40 kilometres of groomed ski trails, reflecting the community’s strong connection to the outdoors. The trail network is remarkably varied, weaving through upland boreal forest, wetlands, granite outcrops, and even the local golf course. Skiers can choose between gently rolling terrain or more technically challenging routes: the golf course trails offer rolling loops with a few optional steep hills, while the forest trails feature numerous climbs of up to 20 metres in elevation, along with downhills that include curves and sharp turns. Together, these trails offer everything from relaxed gliding to thrilling, skill-testing descents. It’s easy to spend a full winter day here by skiing in the morning, exploring town paths or river views in the afternoon and ending with the satisfying feeling of having truly experienced the season.

Cross country skiing along the Winnipeg River isn’t about rushing from one place to the next. It’s about fresh tracks after a snowfall, quiet forests, and the simple rhythm of moving through winter at your own pace. Whether you’re visiting one trail system or exploring several communities along the corridor, these ski destinations offer a chance to see the Winnipeg River region in its most peaceful and memorable season.

Before heading out, be sure to check local trail conditions, confirm whether an online or in-person waiver or sign-in is required with the local ski club, and consider supporting the volunteer-run ski clubs that make these winter experiences possible by making a donation or joining the ski clubs.

– The Winnipeg River Tourism Corridor is a regional tourism and economic development initiative highlighting the potential of the river system.

Manitoba Loppet skis into Pinawa

By Stu Iverson

The 47th Manitoba Loppet took place Feb. 15 on the golf course trails of the Whiteshell Cross Country Ski Club. 

It was partly cloudy and -2 C at the start of the first race and warmed to 4 C before the end. The winds were light, snow cover was good and the track was fast. 
There were 28 participants in the 30km loppet, which was won by Gideon Hoeppner of Boundary Trails Ski Club with a time of 1:34:59.  Sarah-Lynn Bergen of Team Windchill was the fastest female at 2:05:32. 

The 15km race was the largest with 36 competitors and was won by Kate Sawatsky of Boundary Trails with a time of 0:53:38. Preston Earl, also of Boundary Trails, was second at 0:54:36.

Charlotte Agatep of Red River Nordic had the fastest time in the 6km race at 0:28:18 with Josh Wiens of Boundary Trails finishing second at 0:31:52. There were 13 participants.

Eleni Narvaez-Attas of Downtown Nordic won the 3km race with a time of 0:15:08. Maverick Jones of Whiteshell Ski Club was second at 0:16:36. There were 15 competitors with 8 being from the Whiteshell Ski Club. 

The Whiteshell Trophies, awarded to the fastest male and female skiers from the Whiteshell Cross Country Ski Club, went to Peter Vilks and Dorothy Quayle. Peter had a time of 2:18:59 in the 30km race and Dorothy came in at 1:20:20 in the 15km race.

The event was well organized and a lot of laughter and banter was heard in the Pinawa Club as the results were presented and people relaxed after a good day on the trails.

Beausejour curlers provincial finalists

By Mark T. Buss

École Edward Schreyer School will be well represented in two-person mixed curling over the next couple of years as a pair of Grade 10 students recently reached the provincial finals.

Barons Mallory Linke and Riley Michaels made their mark at the Manitoba High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) mixed curling championships in Hamiota Feb. 13-14. Guided by long time Barons’ coach Theresa Bouchard, the local duo came home with the runner up banner, losing to Morden curlers Annabelle Lanthier and Colton Graham 10-7 in the final.

“(We are) so excited to see how far this pair can go,” Bouchard said. “For their first taste of provincial competition, this pair was very impressive.”

While regular curling has teams of four throwing two stones each, doubles play has teams of two players delivering five stones per end. The scoring is the same as in a regular curling, but there are “positioned” stones placed before the beginning of each end, a modified free guard zone, a powerplay and other differences.

With MHSAA mandating six-end games, Day 1 was gruelling for Linke and Michaels as they played four games. The first two contests were both losses as they were defeated 6-5 by Swan Valley and 4-3 by Morden. Topping Stonewall 7-1 in Game 3, they finished the day falling 8-4 to Hamiota.

Day 2 opened with Beausejour closing out their round robin play with a 5-4 victory over Dakota, good enough to finish fourth in their pool and make the playoff round.
Despite a 2-3 record to that point, Bouchard said they were very happy with  how Linke and Michaels were playing as they started out against the top two seeds in the pool and we had very good games against them.

 “We were leading Swan Valley 4-1 after four ends before giving up a big end and losing 6-5, and we kept pace with Morden (as we were) tied coming home,”

Bouchard said. “Beating Dakota Saturday morning was a huge confidence boost. We had lost two exhibition games to them earlier this year. That was the point where we learned that we can make the big shot under pressure and we had achieved our goal of making the playoffs.”
In the quarterfinals, the Barons knocked off first place Garden City 6-4 in convincing fashion.

In the semis, the Barons played a perfect last end to score three in an exciting come from behind 7-6 win over Baldur to advance to the championship final.
Morden’s Lanthier and Graham, both in Grade 12, made it count early as they scored six in the second end, forcing the Beausejour pair to chase the remainder of the game.

“We bounced back with  threes in the third and fifth ends of the game to keep it interesting, but the team from Morden was superb,” Bouchard said. “They were on a mission and they maintained control of the game.”

West Kildonan defeated Baldur 6-5 for third place.
The Barons coach said she was very impressed with the resiliency of her players throughout the event, noting the overwhelming majority of the teams are much older and more experienced.

“Mallory and Riley epitomize the term ‘student-athlete.’ They are dedicated, eager to learn, goal-oriented and will do everything they can to become better curlers,” Bouchard said. “They work great together. They communicate well, support each other and are fabulous ambassadors for our school and the sport of curling.”

Linke and Michaels defeated Whitemouth’s Branden Amos and Koryll Desroiers 7-6 to win the Zone 13 banner Feb. 5 and punch their ticket to the provincials.

Comets facing Satelites in playoffs

By Tony Zerucha

Despite the Beausejour Comets closing out their 2025-26 regular season with a 6-2 win over the La Broquerie Habs last week, the club finished in second place in the Capital Region Junior Hockey League standings behind St. Malo.

As a result, Beausejour faces the North Winnipeg Satelites in the first round of the playoffs. The best-of-five series started on Feb. 23 in Beausejour with the COmets winnineg 9-2. Game 2 was Feb. 24 in Winnipeg. Results were unavailable at press time.

Game 3 is in Beausejour Feb. 27 at 8 p.m.. If necessary, Game 4 is scheduled for Winnipeg on Feb. 28 with Game 5 back in Beausejour March 2 at 8 p.m..

Beausejour swept the five-game season series against the Satelites, highlighted by a 17-3 thrashing on Dec. 9. They outscored North Winnipeg 39-12 over the five games.
The other playoff match ups see Lundar taking on Selkirk and Arborg facing La

Broquerie. No. 1 St. Malo has a bye into the semi-finals
On Feb. 20, Greyson Wood’s hat-trick led the Comets to the win over the La Broquerie 

Logan Ashe opened the scoring 39 seconds into the game, but the Habs replied two minutes later to make it a 1-1 game after 20 minutes. Wood scored in the opening minute of the second on the power play to give the Comets a 2-1 lead they held until late in the frame when Mario Gagnon evened the score.

Beausejour owned the third period, with Wood scoring twice, Ashe netting his second of the night, and Carter Lee adding his first of the campaign. Job Peters chipped in three assists and Alex Cavanagh made 20 save for the win. Beausejour took 34

shots.
Wood was a finalist for CRJHL Rookie of the Year, but saw Arborg Ice Dawg Tytan Johnson claim the honour. Johnson also won the top defenceman award over Comet Seth Hlady and St. Malo’s Ben Dias.

Xtreme dispatch Red Wings in three games

By Tony Zerucha

The Springfield Xtreme moved on to the HTJHL semi-finals after dispatching the Grunthal Red Wings in three straight games. They completed the sweep with a 5-3 win on Feb. 21.

Ethan Da Silva’s goal with 24 seconds remaining in regulation gave the Xtreme a 3-2 win in the opener on Feb. 18. The Xtreme penalty killers were key in the victory as they killed seven of eight chances against.

Michael Jette opened the scoring at 6:35 of the first period. His power play marker was assisted by David Hazlitt. Grunthal’s Colter Martens scored a man advantage goal of his own in the second to make it a 1-1 contest after 40 minutes.

Jette and Aidan Osborne set up Connor Eggerman 28 seconds to give the Xtreme a short-lived 2-1 lead, but Grunthal scored the equalizer three minutes later. With time winding down, Jette and Osborne set up Da Silva for the game winner.
Josh Rach made 21 stops for the Xtreme, who tested Grunthal’s Hayden Janzen 34

On Feb. 20, four different Xtreme players bulged the twin in a 4-1 road win. Cam Osborne opened the scoring at 8:46, thanks to Mason Lesuk and Connor Toth. Jette potted the game-winner at 16:52. Aidan Osborne earned the assist.

Grunthal got on the board seconds in the middle frame, but John Pelltier restored the two-goal cushion at 2:36. Aidan Osborne scored on the power play at 6:41 to close  the scoring. Springfield held the edge in shots 35-28. Rach earned the win.

On Feb. 21, the Red Wings held a 1-0 lead after one period when Evan Jasper scored on the power play at 4:31. Mason Lesuk added another power-play goal at 16:44 to give Springfield a brief lead, but Grunthal tied the contest again 35 seconds later.

Chase Janas put the Xtreme ahead to stay 31 seconds into the third period, with Eastan Crane adding to the lead at 6:35. Grunthal cut into the lead on the power play at 9:26, but Lesuk scored into an empty net with nine seconds left to make the final 5-3.

Rach made 24 saves for the win. Springfield took 26 shots.
In other quarterfinal series action, the first-place Macdonald Swarm and ninth-place East. St. Paul Gators are tied at one game apiece, as are the Mitchell Mustangs and Ste. Anne Aces. The Niverville Clippers ousted the Steinbach Huskies in three games.

Winterhawks sweep Islanders to move on

By Tony Zerucha

The Springfield Winterhawks have advanced to the SEMHL semi-finals following a three-game sweep of the Portage Islanders.

The Winterhawks survived a late surge to top the Islanders 7-5 in the series opener on Feb. 16. They amassed a 2-0 lead after the first period on goals from Brody Welsh and Mathieu Moreira. 

Before widening the advantage to 5-1 after 40 minutes as Carter Barley, Adam Hughesman and Dexter Kuczek bulged the twine.

Moreira’s second of the game made it 6-1 33 seconds into the final frame, but Portage mounted a furious comeback with four goals in 14 minutes to make it 6-5 at 15:32. Keith Grondin scored an empty-netter at 18:36 to ice the win.

Springfield scored on its only power play while allowing two goals on seven chances against. The Winterhawks were outshot 35-34. Steve Christie earned the win.
Islander Joey Sutherland was suspended three games after he was assessed a match penalty as the game ended.

The Winterhawks power play was pivotal in a Game 2 victory on Feb. 19. Springfield was down 1-0 in the second period when Islander Kian Calder was assessed a double minor for slewfooting at 2:50. They scored twice on the ensuing man advantage, with Owen Blocker and Carter Barley hitting the net.

Matt Lamoureux made it 3-1 at 1:46 of the third period. Portage scored at 8:25 to make it a one-goal game, but they couldn’t find the equalizer. Springfield outshot Portage 45-27. Christie was between the pipes.

Four Winterhawks scored on Feb. 21 in a 4-0 Winterhawks win. Owen Blocker,

Grondin, Grant Perdonic and Dobie Unrau were the marksmen. Goalie stats were not reported.

Springfield could learn its next opponent on Feb. 25. The first-place Winkler Royals lead the Notre Dame Hawks 2-1, with games scheduled for Feb. 23 and 26. Results of the Feb. 23 contest were unavailable at press time.

The Red River Wild and Morden Bombers are tied 2-2, with the deciding game on Feb. 24. Results were unavailable at press time. 

Walls stepping back from Sabres football

By Tony Zerucha

Springfield’s football community is preparing to say goodbye to its founder Tom Walls, who is stepping down this summer. 

Walls is technically taking a one-year leave of absence from a teaching position with the Winnipeg School Division, who he jokingly thanked for allowing him to spend so many workday hours on football. He and wife Shandy are moving to Colombia after she accepted employment there.

Walls said he’ll stay involved through the spring gym season, and will assist incoming head coach Shane Lucier with planning and play development remotely during the season. In meetings with coaches, players and parents, everyone wished to maintain a similar structure.

Those meetings, while hard, were important for everyone. This includes some seniors who need consistency as they pursue university or junior careers.

“There were two things I needed to do in those meetings,” Walls said. “I needed to let them know I wasn’t leaving them for another team; it was an opportunity for my family, and it was going to be okay.”

Walls had lived in Springfield for three years when Shandy looked in their yard and told him they could erect some goalposts and hold kicking camps.

“I said we can do more than that,” Walls said.

The Sunrise Coyotes program was founded in 2014. The early years brought predictable struggles on the field; some gave up. But others persisted, including a girls’ team that won three championships in four years.

“That showed us it could work here,” Walls said.

That was followed by a powerhouse bantam team that solidified a winning environment. Players and families stuck around. Younger siblings signed up; a program was born.

Equally important was what was happening on the sidelines. Walls and coaches like Ken Clegg, Val Medved, Marcell Pelland and Ian Hickey began coaching peewee together. That was 12 years ago – they’re still together today.

“The coaches really like being around each other. That brings stability,” Walls said.
The high school football come to Springfield in 2019. To date, six seasons have brought five banners to the school, along with a year-round program that keeps the players engaged.

“Year-round programs like we have at SCI, you don’t find them at other schools except for that big ones like Oak Park and Dakota,” Walls said. “They’re huge schools. We have between 560-580 kids.”

Walls said his three proudest life accomplishments are his marriage, kids and Springfield’s football program. The latter has allowed him two blend in the other two. Football wouldn’t have happened without Shandy, who raised funds when few were to be had. Tommy Jr. was an award-winning Sabres pivot who played American college football. Daughter Aiden was active in merchandising.

The winning was nice, and Walls communicated that to his players. More importantly, Walls was reminded of the joy in the process; every team building event, every practice, brought people together. Children were growing into responsible adults.
“The real joy has been in the relationships with the players, coaches and parents,” Walls said. “What these programs teach young people is rarer and rarer in society: not giving up when things get hard, selflessness, and eventual reward over immediate gratification.”

That message has endured, as Walls saw in a recent alumni game. Two original 2019 players brought their own children, one only three months old.
“He thought so much of the program and that game that he wanted his wife and kid to be there,” Walls said.

Walls also joked that when alumni bring their kids, perhaps it’s time for fresh blood to patrol the sidelines. He then got serious when recalling players share stories of substance abuse and suicidal thoughts; they trusted him enough to share their innermost fears.

“One father told me we changed his son’s life for the better; that’s the kind of thing that sticks with you,” Walls said.

Walls has several irons in the fire, including a book that could soon be published. He’s also promoting professional development services to teachers and coaches in South America.

And Walls wouldn’t be Walls without some football. He’ll be coaching the Medellin Raptors.

Is South American football different than what Walls is used to? Canadian football isn’t what a grinning Walls was used to when he initially came north.

“Everywhere else has four downs, and they don’t give you a point for kicking it through the end zone,” Walls laughed. “I’m going back to my roots.”

Smith headed to Manitoba Games

By Tony Zerucha

Oakbank curler Sierra Smith is packing her bags for Thompson, where she will join Team Eastman at the Manitoba Winter Games from March 4-7. 

Smith and Interlake partner Jake Kowalchuk earned their spots by winning a mixed doubles curling regional qualifier at the Springfield Curling Club in Dugald on Jan. 3.
Smith and Kowalchuk took early control in the opening game by scoring two in each of the first two ends on the way to an 11-2 victory. In the clinching second draw, Smith and Kowalchuk broke open a 1-1 deadlock with three in the third end and five in the fifth to win another 11-2 decision. This one was called after six ends.
The partners gelled quickly, after only meeting in September. After a couple of practices, they entered the January regional qualifier.

“Those games were the first games we have ever played together,” Smith said. “We formed a team (after) he reached out to me. We have known each other for around three of four years, as we faced each other in inter-club curling.”
Smith said mixed doubles is different from traditional curling formats in several ways. For starters, there are only two players on each team. Teams throw just five rocks per end, compared to the usual eight.

“One player throws the first and the fifth rock which was me. The other player throws the middle three which was Jake,” Smith explained. “For the game, there’s always two rocks that are in play. The team that has hammer has the rock placed back four foot and the team that doesn’t have hammer has their rock placed as a centre guard, usually mid.”

Athletes between the ages of 10-17 will compete in 12 sports over seven days: ringette, archery, speed skating, futsal, alpine skiing, curling, gymnastics, figure skating, cross country skiing, wrestling, badminton and hockey. 

Sport Manitoba will release the complete Eastman team roster at the end of January. Eastman includes much of the Interlake and communities north of the Trans Canada Highway.

Serving the communities of
Springfield (Oakbank, Dugald, Anola), Beausejour, Brokenhead, Whitemouth, Reynolds and surrounding areas.

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 The Lac du Bonnet Clipper

Serving the communities of
Lac du Bonnet, Pinawa, Seven Sisters, Powerview-Pine Falls, RM of Alexander, the East Beaches and surrounding areas.

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