Kelsey Huibers scored twice and Sophia Anderson had four assists as the defending Manitoba Female U18 AAA Hockey League champion Westman Wildcats downed the Yellowhead Chiefs 8-2 in Hartney in game one of their best-of-five semifinal. Addi Vines, Hayley Kolosky, Marlie Rutherford, Paige Crossley, Paige Kozak and Brooklyn Franklin also scored for the Wildcats. Grace Glover made 22 saves. Game two goes Saturday in Shoal Lake.


Virden Oil Capitals forward Nolan Chastko is a Manitoba Junior Hockey League All-Star. The 17-year-old Brandon native, who has 18 goals and 20 assists in 49 games this season, was selected a Rookie Team All-Star. 


The Major Pratt Trojans scored five second period goals en route to a 10-6 victory over Sandy Bay in game one of the Westman High School Hockey League's consolation semifinal. Koda Rocheleau and Raphael Mowbray had two goals each for the Trojans. Riley Kleinsasser scored twice for the Badgers.


Nicholas Jones recorded his first career Western Hockey League shutout Wednesday night at Westoba Place. The 18-year-old Calgary native stopped all 26 shots he faced as the Brandon Wheat Kings defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers 2-0. Zakhar Polshakov and Nolan Ritchie into an empty net did the goal scoring for Brandon. The Wheat Kings have seven games left and are three points back of the Tigers who hold down seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Brandon is one point behind the eighth place Swift Current Broncos.


The Winnipeg Jets wrapped up their three-game homestand with a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild at Canada Life Centre. Marcus Foligno had a goal and an assist for the Wild who received a 46-save performance from Marc-Andre Fleury. Logan Stanley and Nino Niederreiter replied for the Jets. Winnipeg has lost seven of its last eight games and will face the Florida Panthers on Saturday. 


The Manitoba Moose fell 3-2 to Abbotsford. Kyle Rau potted the winner on the power play 3:12 into overtime for the Canucks. Leon Gawanke and Wyatt Bongiovanni did the goal scoring for the Moose. 


It's day one of the Provincial Junior Varsity Basketball Championships. The Souris Sabres are at the A/AA girls championship in The Pas. Souris, Virden and Glenboro/Baldur are at the A/AA boys championship in Cranberry Portage. Crocus Plains girls and the Vincent Massey Viking boys are at the AAAA championships in Winnipeg. 


Matt Dunstone has a 7-0 record and has clinched a playoff spot at the Brier in London, Ontario. Dunstone defeated Nathan Young of Newfoundland & Labrador 13-3 and then beat Kevin Koe of Alberta 9-5. Dunstone, B.J. Neufeld, Colton Lott and Ryan Harnden will play their final round robin game against Tanner Horgan of Northern Ontario on the 1 p.m. draw. The Manitoba champions will clinch first place in Pool A if Horgan, who is 5-1, losses to Matthew Manuel of Nova Scotia this morning. Reid Carruthers won a pair of games Wednesday, 6-2 over Matthew Manuel and 8-4 over Jake Higgs of Nunavut. Carruthers, Derek Samagalski, Connor Njegovan and Rob Gordon are 4-3 and still in the playoff hunt. Carruthers will meet Kelly Knapp of Saskatchewan at 1 p.m.