The Winkler Flyers will meet the Calgary Canucks and the Miramichi Timberwolves will face the Navan Grads in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Centennial Cup Friday in Oakville, Ontario. The Manitoba Junior Hockey League champions finished third in Group B with two regulation wins and two shootout losses. The Canucks were second in Group A with two regulation wins, one overtime win and a regulation loss. The Melfort Mustangs and Collingwood Blues finished first in their respective Groups and earned byes to the semifinals. 


The Moose Jaw Warriors are Western Hockey League champions for the first time in the franchise's 40-year history. Brayden Schuurman scored the go-ahead goal with 5:03 remaining in the third period as Moose Jaw defeated the Portland Winterhawks 4-2 and swept the best-of-seven final in four straight games. Martin Rysavy had a first period power play goal and an empty netter with 2:27 left in regulation. Matthew Savoie also scored for the Warriors. Kyle Chyzowski and Marcus Nguyen replied for the Winterhawks. Moose Jaw captain and Dominion City native Denton Mateychuk was named the Playoff MVP. Moose Jaw will join the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights, the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League champion Drummondville Voltigeurs and the host Saginaw Spirit at the 2024 Memorial Cup which begins May 24th in Saginaw, Michigan. 


Canada will face Norway today (1:30 p.m.) at the 2024 World Men's Hockey Championship in Prague. Canada is in third place in Group A with eight points. Switzerland leads the standings with 11 points while Czechia is next with nine. Canada is coming off a 7-6 overtime victory over Austria on Tuesday. 


Minnesota and Toronto are going the distance in their PWHL semifinal. Claire Butorac scored 4:27 into the second overtime period to lift Minnesota to a 1-0 victory over Toronto at Xcel Energy Center. Maddie Rooney earned her second straight shutout after backstopping Minnesota to a 2-0 win in game three. The deciding fifth game goes Friday in Toronto. The winner will face Boston in the PWHL championship series. 


The Pembina Valley Orioles game against the Elmwood Giants at Koskie Field was rained out Wednesday night. The Orioles and Giants will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at Blue Cross Park which is the home of the American Association's Winnipeg Goldeyes.