The Southwest Cougars season came to an end Friday night in Brandon. Easton Odut had a hat trick as the Wheat Kings downed the Cougars 9-3 and swept the best-of-five Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League quarterfinal in three straight. Dawson Andries, Nicholas Cullen and Jayce Thompson did the goal scoring for the Cougars.


Nolan Chastko scored twice in regulation and Dean Gorchynski potted the winner 1:47 into overtime as the Virden Oil Capitals shaded the Winnipeg Blues 4-3. Brody Wilson also scored for the Caps. Eric Reid made 34 saves.


The Neepawa Tigers have joined the Dauphin Clippers and Killarney/Wawanesa Raiders in the Westman High School Hockey League semifinals. Cohen Kulbacki had two goals and an assist as the Tigers downed Birtle/Shoal Lake/Rossburn 7-4 in the third and deciding game of their opening round series. Jaden Browning Lozinski scored the go-ahead goal with 1:58 left as Virden edged Deloraine/Hartney 5-4 and Koda Rocheleau had three goals and an assist as Major Pratt outscored Roblin/Grandview/Gilbert Plains 9-6. The Golden Bears and Trojans swept those best-of-three Consolation quarterfinals in two straight. Gavin Dayholos made 44 saves as Sandy Bay edged Boissevain/Souris 2-1 and evened that series at a game apiece. Matthew Toews and Nathan Pollichuk scored two goals each as Minnedosa/Erickson downed Reston/Elkhorn/Melita/Pierson 5-3 in the opening game of their series.


Hockey Manitoba Provincial Championships on this weekend include the CO-ED Under-15 Rural C in Melita. The Female Under-18 Rural A Championship is in Elkhorn/McCauley. The CO-ED Under-11 Rural C Championship is in Hartney.


The Brandon Wheat Kings and Winnipeg Ice both lost Friday night. Brandon gave up four unanswered second period goals and fell 6-3 to the Red Deer Rebels. Nate Danielson, Rylen Roersma and Nolan Flamand scored for the Wheat Kings. The Ice dropped a 5-3 decision to Regina. Pats captain Connor Bedard had four goals and an assist. Easton Armstrong, Matthew Savoie and Carson Lambos did the goal scoring for Winnipeg.


The Winnipeg Jets losing streak has reached five games. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two goals and two assists as the Edmonton Oilers downed Winnipeg 6-3. Mark Scheifele, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and Brenden Dillon scored for the Jets.


The Manitoba Moose lost 4-1 to Chicago. Cole Maier had the lone goal for the Moose. Wolves goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov made 39 saves and scored an empty net shorthanded goal at 16:42 of the third period.


Both Manitoba teams play their round robin openers this afternoon at the Brier in London, Ontario. Matt Dunstone will meet Kelly Knapp of Saskatchewan and Reid Carruthers will face Tanner Horgan of Northern Ontario. Last night defending champion Brad Gushue edged former World Junior champion Jacques Gauthier of BC 6-5 and former Manitoba champion Mike McEwen, who is playing out of Ontario, defeated Felix Asselin of Quebec 13-2.