Team Jace Freeman of Virden and Team Dayna Wahl of Altona captured the Provincial U18 Curling Championships Saturday at the Altona Curling Club. Freeman, Elias Huminicki, Jack Steski and Rylan Graham beat Ronan Peterson of the Heather 6-5 in an extra end. Wahl along with third Piper Stoesz, second Anna Ginters and lead Gillian Hildebrand defeated Grace Beaudry of St. Vital 5-3. All four teams will compete at the Canadian U18 Championships in Timmons, Ontario from February 5th-11th.


Canada wrapped up the preliminary round with a 5-1 victory over Sweden at the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax. Brennan Othmann had a pair of goals and Connor Bedard picked up four assists for the Canadians who finished second in Group A with a 3-1 record and will meet Slovakia in the quarterfinals on Monday.


24 hours after winning 11-2 in Moose Jaw, the Brandon Wheat Kings fell 6-2 to the Warriors at Westoba Place. Moose Jaw scored twice on the power play and once shorthanded. Nate Danielson and Luke Shipley scored for the Wheat Kings. Ben Zloty scored 44 seconds into overtime to lift the Winnipeg Ice past the Saskatoon Blades 2-1.


Kyle Connor scored the go-ahead goal 6:55 into the third period and Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves as the Winnipeg Jets edged the Oilers 2-1 in Edmonton. Neal Pionk also scored for the Jets who killed off a high-sticking double minor to Brenden Dillon with 2:24 left in regulation.


The Manitoba Moose lost 5-2 to the Abbotsford Canucks at Canada Life Centre. Cole Maier and Evan Polei did the goal scoring for Manitoba.