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Canada Games

SUPPLIED Team Manitoba swimmer Mia West with her medals at the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games.

Manitoba swimmer enjoys mega medal haul at Games

Mike Sawatzky  4 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019

As the Western Canada Summer Games reached its midway point Tuesday, there was little doubt Mia West had been one of Manitoba’s brightest stars in Swift Current, Sask.

The 13-year-old Winnipegger put the finishing touches on an amazing performance at the Games, finishing fourth in Tuesday’s female 1,500-metre open water swim at Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. 

It was Mia’s first attempt at an open water swim but she’s already a veteran presence in the pool, where she earned gold medals in 50-, 100- and 200-metre freestyle events, 200-metre butterfly and 200-metre individual medley.

She was also golden as a member of Manitoba’s 4x100 mixed freestyle relay and 4x100 female relay while adding silver medals in the 4x200 mixed relay and 4x200 female relay and a fifth-place finish in the 100-m breaststroke.

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‘Fantastic experience’ for Manitoba

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Preview

‘Fantastic experience’ for Manitoba

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Monday, Mar. 4, 2019

After two weeks of competition featuring more than 150 events across 19 different sports, the Canada Winter Games came to a close on Saturday night in Red Deer, Alta.

Team Manitoba sent 208 athletes to Red Deer to compete over the span of two weeks, with the group finishing in fifth place with 25 medals — nine gold, seven silver, and nine bronze. It was a big improvement from their performance at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C., where Team ‘Toba had 16 medals. Manitoba was the second most-improved team from 2015, as Alberta had 75 medals at the last Games, but finished this year with 100.

“We had a fantastic experience at the 2019 Canada Winter Games,” Team Manitoba’s chef de mission Marcie Halls-Stronciski said. “Our team really came together. They were supporting each other, watching other sports on their days off, got really into pin trading, cheering loud, and ringing their cow bells so everyone knew we were in the house.”

It’s impossible to know for sure what led to Manitoba’s increase in medals, but their state-of-the-art training facility that opened in the summer of 2017 — the Canada Games Sport for Life Centre’s Qualico Training Centre — might have a thing or two to do with it. Before the Qualico Training Centre was built, there was very limited space inside the Sport for Life Centre for provincial team training. The old gym could only accommodate one team at a time, but the facility now has the space for up to a dozen.

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Monday, Mar. 4, 2019

SUPPLIED
Winnipeg’s Tyson Langelaar (left), wins his third medal, this time a silver, at the 2019 Canada Games in Speed Skating - Long Track - 5000m Male, with a final race time of 6:56.36.
SUPPLIED Winnipeg’s Tyson Langelaar (left), wins his third medal, this time a silver, at the 2019 Canada Games in Speed Skating - Long Track - 5000m Male, with a final race time of 6:56.36.

Manitoba curlers nab silver and bronze at Canada Winter Games

Mike Sawatzky 5 minute read Preview

Manitoba curlers nab silver and bronze at Canada Winter Games

Mike Sawatzky 5 minute read Saturday, Mar. 2, 2019

Manitoba’s curlers struck for silver and bronze medals as competition wrapped up at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta., Saturday.

Skip Hayley Bergman of Rosenfeld led her team, third Anastasia Ginters of Altona, Rosenfeld’s Payton Bergman and lead Cheyenne Ehnes of Manitou to the gold-medal game in the women’s division before dropping an 8-3 decision to Ontario’s Bella Croisier of Sudbury.

Bergman’s crew will bring home silver medals while Graham Loewen of Winnipeg beat Newfoundland and Labrador 8-7 for the bronze medal in the men’s division.

“It’s pretty unfortunate for us not to have won the gold but overall we’re really excited about the way we played this week,” Hayley Bergman, an 18-year-old University of Manitoba student said via telephone. “Our goal, originally, was just to make playoffs so every thing after that... was gravy, just bonus.”

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Saturday, Mar. 2, 2019

SUPPLIED
Manitoba skip Hayley Bergman delivers a rock during the gold-medal game against Ontario's Bella Croisier.
SUPPLIED Manitoba skip Hayley Bergman delivers a rock during the gold-medal game against Ontario's Bella Croisier.

Archer on target

Taylor Allen 1 minute read Preview

Archer on target

Taylor Allen 1 minute read Friday, Mar. 1, 2019

Austin Taylor came into the Canada Winter Games aiming for a gold medal, and that’s exactly what he’ll be bringing home.

The 18-year-old Winnipeg native captured gold in archery’s individual male compound event on Thursday with a final score of 148.

“It definitely means a lot. I was able to shoot strong and make the shots I wanted to throughout all my matches,” Taylor said.

He’ll have an opportunity to bring home another medal, as the compound mixed-team matches go today. Taylor, who will partner with Bryanne Lameg, is hoping for a similar result.

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Friday, Mar. 1, 2019

COURTESY KELLY TAYLOR
Saskatchewan's Jacob Bourassa takes bronze (right), Manitoba's Austin Taylor takes gold and B.C.'s Spencer Gamache earns the silver in archery's individual male compound event at the Canada Winter Games.
COURTESY KELLY TAYLOR Saskatchewan's Jacob Bourassa takes bronze (right), Manitoba's Austin Taylor takes gold and B.C.'s Spencer Gamache earns the silver in archery's individual male compound event at the Canada Winter Games.

Bachinsky scores three Games medals

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Preview

Bachinsky scores three Games medals

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019

Regardless of how Jesse Bachinsky performed this week at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta., he would have been an inspiration to others.

But the fact he’ll be bringing home three medals definitely doesn’t hurt, either.

Bachinsky, a 20-year-old Kenora, Ont., native, is a visually impaired cross-country skier for Team Manitoba. His week was highlighted by a gold-medal performance in the para-nordic standing 2.5-kilometre race, with a time of seven minutes 28.30 seconds, on Tuesday. He also won a bronze in the standing sprint on Wednesday, followed by another third-place result Thursday in the 5K race.

“It means a lot to me,” Bachinsky said moments after winning his final medal. “I train a lot of hours, and it’s an honour and privilege to be in the Canada Games.”

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Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019

Canada Games medallist Jesse Bachinsky (right) and guide Simon Lamarche. (Sport Manitoba)
Canada Games medallist Jesse Bachinsky (right) and guide Simon Lamarche. (Sport Manitoba)

Judo athletes add to Manitoba’s medal haul

Taylor Allen 2 minute read Preview

Judo athletes add to Manitoba’s medal haul

Taylor Allen 2 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019

Team Manitoba was on a roll at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta., on Wednesday.

The black and gold had their best day at the Games so far, as they added five medals to their total. Team ’Toba now has eight gold, four silver and seven bronze medals to put them in fifth place in the medal standings. Quebec is running away in first place with 124 medals.

Four of the five Manitoba medals on Wednesday came in judo. Winnipeg’s Sam Ulrich was the top performer of the medallists, as she will bring home a silver medal in the over-70 kilogram class.

The three other judo medallists won bronze: Winnipegger Michael Akbashev finished in the under-81 kg class, Selkirk’s Justin Ekosky of the Selkirk Judo Club in the under-73 kg class, and his sister, Sarah Ekosky, in the under-57 kg class.

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Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019

SPORT MANITOBA
Manitoba’s Sam Ulrich (left) won a silver medal at the Canada Games on Wednesday.
SPORT MANITOBA Manitoba’s Sam Ulrich (left) won a silver medal at the Canada Games on Wednesday.

Manitoba captures Bronze in ringette at Canada Winter Games

Mike Sawatzky 4 minute read Preview

Manitoba captures Bronze in ringette at Canada Winter Games

Mike Sawatzky 4 minute read Friday, Feb. 22, 2019

Manitoba's under-21 ringette squad was trailing 1-0 less than three minutes into the game but staged a spirited rally before going on to beat British Columbia 6-4 in Friday's bronze-medal showdown at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.

Oak Bluff's Taylor Hildebrand, who scored to tie the game 1-1 midway through the opening period, and Grosse Isle's Olivia McCowan, who sniped the eventual game-winner, potted a pair of goals each to lead the Manitoba attack.

Manitoba players appeared to be unfazed by the early deficit.

"It would be a concern if we didn't react to it properly," said Manitoba head coach Rob Walker via telephone. "I think we reacted properly. It was actually what we talked about before the game is we're at our best when we maintain our patience and control of the rink. We've got firepower, we've got strong defence. It's just a matter of how you react when something doesn't go the way you want it on the ice. I think we got it back fairly soon thereafter."

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Friday, Feb. 22, 2019

SUPPLIED
In Manitoba’s 8-7 double OT victory over Alberta at the Canada Games they came back from a 6-1 deficit while Alana Lesperance, centre, had four goals in the game.
SUPPLIED In Manitoba’s 8-7 double OT victory over Alberta at the Canada Games they came back from a 6-1 deficit while Alana Lesperance, centre, had four goals in the game.

Manitobans named all-stars

2 minute read Friday, Feb. 22, 2019

Three Manitobans — Winnipeg’s Faith Hezekiah, UBC’s Keylyn Filewich and Regina’s Kyanna Giles — were honoured as Canada West women’s basketball first-team all-stars on Thursday.

Hezekiah, a fourth-year forward for the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, was a member of the conference’s second team a year ago. Giles is a third-year guard for the Cougars, while Filewich is a third-year forward for the Thunderbirds.

Hezekiah recorded a career-high average of 23.8 points per game to lead Canada West women, while also averaging 10.3 rebounds per game, second in the conference, and became the first Wesmen player in Canada West history to average a double-double in back-to-back seasons.

“Faith stepped into a leading role as a fourth-year (player) and guided our team through the season,” Wesmen head coach Tanya McKay said.

Langelaar wins mass start race, again

Mike Sawatzky 5 minute read Preview

Langelaar wins mass start race, again

Mike Sawatzky 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019

It's been a week speedskater Tyson Langelaar will probably never forget.

The 20-year-old Winnipeg product completed a memorable run at the Canada Winter Games Thursday by winning the men's mass start race, a chaotic 10-lap event, to bring his amazing haul to four golds and one silver medal.

But the circumstances of the win made it all the more special for Langelaar, who needed to return to the track Thursday to race the event again after a bizarre finish forced organizers to rule Wednesday's controversial result invalid.

"This is a big story for skating," said Manitoba team coach Tyler Williamson-Derraugh via telephone. "They raced (the mass start) yesterday and the lap counter got kinda screwed up and the guy that rang the bell rang the bell a lap late, so Tyson timed his attack perfectly and then the bell didn't come with one (lap) to go. The guy missed the (ringing of the bell) and Tyson came around with a huge lead and then the guy rang the bell but Tyson had anticipated it as the finish.

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Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Tyson Langelaar, from Winnipeg, completed a memorable run at the Canada Winter Games Thursday by winning the men's mass start race to bring his medal haul to four golds and one silver.
PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Tyson Langelaar, from Winnipeg, completed a memorable run at the Canada Winter Games Thursday by winning the men's mass start race to bring his medal haul to four golds and one silver.

Manitoba undefeated in ringette preliminaries, advances to semifinal

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Preview

Manitoba undefeated in ringette preliminaries, advances to semifinal

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019

Facing a 6-1 deficit at the hands of Team Alberta on Tuesday night, you’d think Manitoba’s ringette team would have pressed the panic button.

But they didn’t.

“You can always say to take it one shift at a time, chip away and get one goal at a time, and that is how you have to approach those things,” said Rob Walker, head coach of Team Manitoba at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.

“But when I walked in the dressing room (at the break), all I had to do was look in the eyes of the players, and I knew they were ready to go and ready to come back. There was no quit in anyone, which was really nice to see.”

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Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019

SUPPLIED
In Manitoba’s 8-7 double OT victory over Alberta at the Canada Games they came back from a 6-1 deficit while Alana Lesperance, centre, had four goals in the game.
SUPPLIED In Manitoba’s 8-7 double OT victory over Alberta at the Canada Games they came back from a 6-1 deficit while Alana Lesperance, centre, had four goals in the game.

‘Toba skaters speed to record times at Canada Winter Games

Taylor Allen 3 minute read Preview

‘Toba skaters speed to record times at Canada Winter Games

Taylor Allen 3 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019

Records are made to be broken and a pair of Manitoba speedskaters are proving that to be true.

Clandeboye's Alexa Scott broke two Canada Winter Games records this week in Red Deer, Alta. Scott, 17, first entered the record book on Tuesday in the long track 3,000-metre race with a time of 4:33.83. Finishing in second place was Quebec's Rose-Anne Grenier, who was nearly 10 seconds behind Scott as she crossed the line at 4:42.23.

But Scott wasn't done there, as she broke another record on Wednesday. This time, it was in the 1,000-metre race. Scott won in a time of 1:22.26. British Columbia's Brooklyn McDougall claimed silver with a time of 1:23.37.

To cap off what was already a legendary performance, Scott won another gold medal in her final race — the mass start.

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Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019

Supplied photo
Alexa Scott, centre, with coaches Scott Van Horne, left, and Cindy Klassen.
Supplied photo Alexa Scott, centre, with coaches Scott Van Horne, left, and Cindy Klassen.

More Games medals for Manitoba in speedskating

Taylor Allen 3 minute read Preview

More Games medals for Manitoba in speedskating

Taylor Allen 3 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019

Tyson Langelaar is leading the way for Team Manitoba at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.

Langelaar, who turned 20 on Sunday, celebrated his birthday weekend in style by winning two gold medals for the province.

The Winnipeg speedskater's first gold came in the 1,500-metre long track race on Saturday with a time of 1:56.12. Alberta's Kaleb Muller finished in second at 1:57.55.

On Sunday, Langelaar captured another gold, this time in the 500 metres. His total time after two races was 1:14.73, edging out Quebec's Cédrick Brunet's time of 1:15.27. Langelaar continued to add to Manitoba's medal total on Tuesday, as he grabbed a silver medal in the 5,000-metre race. Muller came away with the gold in that one, as his 6:52.95 time topped Langelaar's 6:56.36.

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Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Tyson Langelaar, left, who turned 20 on Sunday, celebrated his birthday weekend in style by winning two gold medals for Team Manitoba at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.
PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Tyson Langelaar, left, who turned 20 on Sunday, celebrated his birthday weekend in style by winning two gold medals for Team Manitoba at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta.

Ringette star Manitoba’s flag-bearer for Canada Winter Games

Mike Sawatzky 6 minute read Preview

Ringette star Manitoba’s flag-bearer for Canada Winter Games

Mike Sawatzky 6 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019

Manitoba's powerhouse under-20 ringette squad is a solid favourite to strike gold at the Canada Winter Games later this month, so it made perfect sense for organizers to select one of the team's stars to serve as the province's flag-bearer.

Alana Lesperance, a 19-year-old University of Manitoba student, was thrilled with the honour.

"I can't even put it into words," Lesperance said Tuesday at a news conference to unveil her selection ahead of the Games, slated for Feb. 15 to March 3 in Red Deer, Alta.

"Our province has so many good athletes and they put in so much effort, so to be able to represent each and every one of them is really a privilege. That's exciting."

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Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Alana Lesperance, Ringette player, has been named opening ceremonies flag bearer for 2019 Canada Winter Games by Team Manitoba Tuesday.
RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Alana Lesperance, Ringette player, has been named opening ceremonies flag bearer for 2019 Canada Winter Games by Team Manitoba Tuesday.

Local track star wins summer games award

Taylor Allen 2 minute read Friday, Aug. 10, 2018

It’s been a year since Victoria Tachinski won gold for Manitoba at the Canada Summer Games, but her performance is still being recognized today.

It was announced Wednesday that Tachinski, as well as Team New Brunswick para-athlete Max Arsenault, have been named the recipients of the 2017 Canada Summer Games Roland Michener Award.

It’s a $2,000 athletic bursary, which is awarded at the one-year anniversary of the Canada Games, that goes to athletes who exemplified leadership, co-operation and excellence during the Games.

Tachinski, a Vincent Massey Collegiate grad who now runs track at Penn State, captured three medals at the Games, as she helped guide her relay team to a silver medal in the 4x400-metre relay to go along with a gold medal in the 400m and a silver medal in the 800m race.

Games leave legacy worth celebrating

3 minute read Preview

Games leave legacy worth celebrating

3 minute read Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017

As the city cleans up after a humdinger of a party, the Canada Summer Games leave behind many legacies that ensure Manitoba will long remember the summer of 2017.

One permanent memento that seems an apt symbol of Winnipeg’s role as the Games’ main host and hub is the 2.5-metre-high “WINNIPEG” sign that was erected beside Festival Stage at The Forks. The block letters are illuminated and shine brightly, much like the city’s reputation after the Games that were successful beyond expectations.

Officials held a news conference on Tuesday to outline a windfall of sporting equipment and facility improvements that are spinoffs of the Games that ended Sunday.

More than $800,000 worth of equipment has been endowed to Manitoba’s sporting community, including Swiss timing electronics, upgraded scoreboards, docks, a pontoon boat, a batting cage and 3,000 competition-level balls.

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Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017

TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Flag-bearer Maddy Mitchell at the closing ceremonies.
TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Flag-bearer Maddy Mitchell at the closing ceremonies.

Manitoba medallists

Staff 3 minute read Monday, Aug. 14, 2017

Manitoba won a total of 42 medals during the course of the 2017 Canada Summer Games — 10 gold, 15 silver and 17 bronze. We would like to salute those athletes and their accomplishments.

GOLD MEDALS

Athletics

400m Female: Victoria Tachinski

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