Team Manitoba will face Team Atlantic today in the 7th place game at the 2023 National U18 Women's Hockey Championship in Dawson Creek. Manitoba dropped a 7-4 decision to Quebec in the quarterfinals. Morgan Smith of Winnipeg had a pair of goals for our province while singles went to Sara Manness of La Salle and Hayley Macdonald of East St. Paul. 


The top two teams in the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League meet tonight at J & G Homes Arena in Brandon. The second place Southwest Cougars face the first place Wheat Kings. The Cougars, who lost to the Eastman Selects and Winnipeg Thrashers this past weekend, have a 10-3 record while Brandon is undefeated at 12-0. The two teams also meet Saturday night in Souris. 
 

The Brandon Wheat Kings lost 4-3 to Moose Jaw. Jagger Firkus scored his 18th of the season 1:32 into overtime for the hometown Warriors. Carter Klippenstein, Brett Hyland and Nolan Flamand scored in regulation for the Wheat Kings. Brandon netminder Carson Bjarnason faced 42 shots. 


Kyle Kurz, Beth Peterson, Ian McMillan and Melissa Gordon are still perfect at the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in Swift Current and are one win away from qualifying for the semifinals. The Manitoba champions defeated Tyler Smith of Prince Edward Island 8-2 and Paul Flemming of Nova Scotia 5-3. Team Kurz is 8-0 and will play their final two Championship Pool games today against Scott McDonald of Ontario (6-2) and Shaun Meachem of Saskatchewan (7-1). 


Canada is set to play host Colombia tonight at the FIBA Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying tournament. The Canadians opened the four-team competition with a resounding 81-39 win over Venezuela Thursday. The top two teams from the event advance to one of the four Olympic qualifying tournaments in February.