The Turnbull Cup champion Winkler Flyers selected forward Layne Schofield of La Salle with the first overall pick of the 2024 Manitoba Junior Hockey League Draft Sunday morning. Schofield had eight goals and 15 assists in 25 games with RINK Hockey Academy U17. The Flyers also took forward Aiden Jacobson of Winnipeg with the 12th overall pick in round one. Winkler selected defenseman Jack Swaenepoel of Souris and goaltender Ryler Gates of Carman in round two; forward Noah Stott of Steinbach in round three; forward Ethan Stanley of Brandon and defenseman Connor Zuk of Brandon in round four; forward Zachary Lansard of Ste. Anne in round five and forward Colter Martens of Grunthal in round six. Defenseman Casey Magarrell of Domain went to the Swan Valley Stampeders third overall in round one. Grayson Slaney of Dominion City was chosen by the Neepawa Titans in round two. The Dauphin Kings took defenseman Brody Wytinck of Bruxelles and Swan Valley selected forward Dwight Sawatzky of Mather in round three. The Virden Oil Capitals chose forward Ragnar Gills of Morden while the Portage Terriers took forward Jack Perrier of Darlingford in round four. 


The Saginaw Spirit are Memorial Cup champions. Josh Bloom scored the go-ahead goal with 21.7 seconds left to lift the host Spirit past the London Knights 4-3 in the championship game on Sunday night. Saginaw is the eighth first-time participant to win the Memorial Cup since 1972. The Spirit are also the third host team in the last six tournaments to win the championship. Moose Jaw Warriors captain and Dominion City native Denton Mateychuk was named to the CHL First All-Star Team. 


Rob Emery, Max Murphy and Andy Armstrong belted three-run homers as the Winnipeg Goldeyes bounced the Lincoln Saltdogs 15-2. Zac Reininger picked up the win in his return to the mound after missing his last start with an injury. He threw six innings allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out two. The Fish open a three-game series against the Kane County Cougars tonight (6:30 p.m.) at Blue Cross Park. 


Marco Trstenjak of Elmhurst, Addison Kartusch of St. Charles and Rob Oliphant of Rossmere won the Manitoba Match Play Championships Sunday at the Breezy Bend Country Club. Trstenjak defeated Thomas Scott of Dauphin 4 & 3 in the men’s final. Kartusch earned a 6 & 5 victory over Jeri Lafleche of Niakwa in the women’s final. Oliphant shaded Jay Doyle of Niakwa 2 & 1 in the senior men’s final.


The Winnipeg Blue Bombers made a number of player moves on Sunday. The Bombers released American receivers Sy Barnett,  Josh Vann, Ronnie Blackmon Isaiah Coulter & Aron Cruickshank; National receiver AK Gassama; American defensive backs Russell Dandy, Demetries Ford, Bill Hackett, Isaiah Norman, Travon Fuller, Patrick Rogers & Juan Lua; American quarterback Darren Grainger; American offensive lineman Chris Ivy; National offensive lineman Ethan Kalra & Michael Vlahogiannis; National defensive back Bret MacDougall; National defensive lineman Collin Kornelson; National punter Dante Mastrogriuseppe; National defensive back Nico McCarthy; American linebackers Dylan Moses, Tre Thomas & Johnny Petrishen; American offensive lineman Chidi Okeke; American defensive linemen Chauncey Rivers & Taylor Upshaw; National receiver/running back Jonathan Rosery and American running back Chris Smith. Added to the practice roster were American offensive lineman Larnel Coleman, Kendall Randolph & Micah Vanterpool; American linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel; American defensive backs Michael Griffin & Tyrique McGhee; National defensive lineman Owen Hubert; American receivers Josh Johnson & Keric Wheatfall; National receiver Jeremy Murphy and Global linebackers Lucky Ogbevoen & Fabian Weitz. National long snapper Ian Leroux was transferred to the suspended list. The Blue Bombers play their season opener Thursday at home against the Montreal Alouettes.