Around the NSL: Rise falling, Boychuk’s beauty of a boot, Roses remain flawless

NOT to step on the toes of Week 3, which technically kicked off Wednesday, but can someone check the pulse of the Vancouver Rise?

The defending inaugural champs have lost of all three games this season. The Rise dropped its season opener 3-2 to AFC Toronto, then were shutout by the Montreal Roses 4-0 last Saturday. On Wednesday, the club was blanked again — this time at the hands of the Ottawa Rapid.

To get back to Week 2, seven shots — with only one making it on target — isn’t going to win a footy game. This was the abysmal stat line posted by the Rise in its matchup against the Roses. Montreal, meanwhile, had 16 shots on net with seven on target and four of those making it past Vancouver goalkeeper Morgan McAslan.

What might be worse is that Wednesday’s Week 3 game is the Rise’s last match until May 18, when they visit the Halifax Tides.

Bombers QB Elgersma not exactly your typical rookie

A little snowfall in May wasn’t going to spoil the opening day of Blue Bombers rookie camp for Taylor Elgersma.

“To be here for the first time looking around this place, it’s beautiful. What more can you ask for?” said the 24-year-old quarterback out of Wilfrid Laurier.

“You gotta love it, that’s what we play this game for. I think if you can play well in the cold, then you can take advantage of people and I think I do it well. It’s nice to get out here in the fresh air today and let it fly.”

He certainly did let it fly on Wednesday, showcasing why the Green Bay Packers went against the norm and brought the U Sports product to training camp a year ago.

Spot on Sea Bears roster a full-circle moment for point guard Chaney

Armani Chaney was still a young man when he built up a lot of layers in a short amount of time.

Jets gunning for NHL Draft Lottery luck

Memo to Winnipeg Jets fans, coaches and management: grab your rabbit’s foot. Scour the nearest field for four-leaf clovers. And — if your memory goes back that far — try to find what you were wearing on April 30, 2016, and hope it still fits.

This team could use a little luck.

The NHL Draft Lottery takes place at 6 p.m. Tuesday (live on Sportsnet), and the Jets are hoping their fortunes go from good to great.

Winnipeg finished 26th overall in the regular-season standings, which means it is currently slotted to pick seventh overall in the draft, scheduled for June 26 (first round) and 27 (rounds two through seven). But that position could rise or fall depending on how the ping-pong balls bounce.

Winnipeg cyclist Smith having breakout season with pro stage race debut

Clara Hughes. Leah Kirchmann. Adam Smith?

It might be a bit ambitious to place his name among some of the most accomplished athletes in Manitoba’s rich — and likely underrated — road cycling history right now, but Smith, a 19-year-old from Winnipeg, is providing every reason to believe that he could be well on his way.

You see, Smith, a climber cyclist, has ascended steadily both nationally and internationally over the last few seasons, and now finds himself in the middle of a breakout season overseas that could yield a professional contract sooner than later and catapult his career to new heights.

Smith recently raced on the mountainous terrains of Asturias, Spain, in the Vuelta Asturias UCI 2.1 road race — a four-stage professional event that featured some of the best riders in the world — and did more than hold his own, especially early on.

Stars on Ice skaters embrace high fashion with designer dresses

If anyone knows how to make a statement, it’s Canadian Olympian Deanna Stellato-Dudek.

Not only did the 42-year-old make history in February as the oldest female figure skater to compete at the Olympic Games in almost a century, Oscar de la Renta dressed her for the occasion — in Milan, Italy, one of the great fashion capitals of the world.

“I think a partnership between haute couture and figure skating is a match made in heaven,” says Stellato-Dudek, who won three Canadian titles and the 2024 world championship with pairs partner Maxime Deschamps.

Her collaboration with the New York fashion house marked the luxury brand’s first foray into figure skating costume design.

Moose rookie Wahlin impresses as he learns pro game

Lucas Wahlin has adopted a simple but smart mindset when it comes to his hockey career.

“That every day is a tryout,” he told the Free Press on Sunday.

So far, so good for the rookie Manitoba Moose forward, who has given head coach Mark Morrison every reason to keep him in the lineup even as the stakes have gotten higher for the hockey club.

“It’s an honour to be playing,” said Wahlin. “There’s so many different guys here and there’s so many different skilled guys here with so many different attributes that they can throw in. You just have to capitalize on every opportunity, and that’s what I’m trying to do day-by-day.”

Working the family farm set up top NHL draft prospect Carels for hockey success

It takes a village to raise a hockey player.

Carson Carels would be the first to tell you his just happens to include hundreds of cows, goats, peacocks, chickens and whatever else might be wandering the 2,000 acres of rolling hills in south-central Manitoba that he and his family call home.

The farm isn’t just where the 17-year-old lives. It’s where he was built.

“It has shaped who I am,” said Carson.

All aboard the Gus Bus: Moose Game 2 hero heating up in the post-season

A cursory look at his Hockey DB page suggests that the development of the Gus Bus might have stalled this season.

After all, it was the first time in six seasons that David Gustafsson didn’t get into a single game for the Winnipeg Jets, the team that chose him in the second round (60th overall) of the 2018 draft.

After the shock of being sent down unexpectedly, Gustafsson found himself at a fork in the road as it pertains to his professional hockey career.

The Swedish centre could either spend his time lamenting what could have been or adopting a woe-is-me attitude about his lot in life — or he could embrace the role that helped him get to the NHL in the first place with the Manitoba Moose.

Winnipeg’s Vaccaro first Bison to be drafted first overall

Over 250 people inside the Caboto Centre fell silent as Giordano Vaccaro’s phone started to ring.

Family, friends and members of the local football community sat on pins and needles, waiting to see who would be on the other end of a life-changing call to the Winnipeg offensive lineman.

As many had anticipated — and hoped — it was the team holding the first overall pick: the Ottawa Redblacks.

“You ready to be a Redblack?” asked Ottawa head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie over FaceTime.

Track runner Davis sporting Maple Leaf again alongside Canadian greats

Living in a world that is predicated on speed, Tyrell Davis has seen just how fast life can change.

The Winnipeg sprinter is in the midst of a whirlwind start to the calendar year that no one, including him, could have predicted, especially when considering how it all started.

Davis sped to Canadian university gold in the men’s 60-metre event at the U Sports championship in March, then swapped his Manitoba Bisons singlet for one with the Maple Leaf, as he represented Canada in Poland and Louisiana for the World Athletics Indoor Championships and World Relay Camp, respectively, in the following weeks.

Now, the 21-year-old is back in Canadian colours as one of the youngest of 29 Canadians in Gaborone, Botswana, for the World Athletics Relays this weekend (May 2-3).

DiVincentiis steps up in Moose playoff victories

Drew MacIntyre had a feeling Domenic DiVincentiis would be up for the challenge.

Based on what he had seen from the Winnipeg Jets goalie prospect during the course of the past several seasons, MacIntyre — who is the goalie coach for the Manitoba Moose — knew that DiVincentiis would be ready to come out of the bullpen and wouldn’t be overwhelmed by the moment.

Even though the Moose were facing elimination after dropping the series opener against the Milwaukee Admirals on Wednesday, MacIntyre had watched DiVincentiis battle through a rough stretch late in the season, only to rebound to win his final two starts of the regular season.

By turning aside 50 of 52 shots on goal, DiVincentiis was one of the big reasons the Moose posted consecutive 2-1 victories over the Admirals to advance to a best-of-five series with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Recognition five decades later for Manitobans who helped usher Canada onto Olympic stage

It’s been five decades, but the memories remain vivid for a trio of Manitobans that helped the country make volleyball history at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

“I remember the incredible feeling of walking into Olympic Stadium and just the roar (of the crowd),” said Connie Lebrun, now 71 and living in Edmonton, recalling the opening ceremonies.

“That was just like the most incredible feeling, and I still always get chills on my spine when I hear the Canadian anthem.”

Lebrun, Mary Dempster and Claire Lloyd all wore the Maple Leaf at those Games when Canada made its debut in the sport.

Spring temperatures welcome as most golf courses set to fully open by Saturday

Despite a few remaining snow mounds and some standing water in areas, golf courses in and around Winnipeg have started teeing it up for the season, with many more expected to follow in the coming days.

One of the first to open was Shooters Family Golf Centre, which has become notorious for its quick jump into the outdoor season.

Owner Guido Cerasani opened the back nine for the first time on April 15, but was forced to close it again owing to Mother Nature taking another swing at low temperatures and snowfall. All 18 holes have been available for walking players since Monday, and Cerasani said enthusiasts have taken full advantage.

“Big time. (Tuesday) and (Monday), it was like full-bore summertime,” said Cerasani, who opened his driving range on March 27, then again on April 2.

Kornberger, Asagwara, Posthumus get call to the Basketball Hall

For 40 years, Bryan Kornberger coached his teams under one guiding principle: loyalty.

It’s what the locally renowned basketball coach felt he received time again during his long tenure as the head of Glenlawn Collegiate’s varsity girls’ program. It’s also what Kornberger strived to give back to his players each day.

Kornberger worked under that principle because it’s exactly what his former head coach, Dale Bradshaw, harped on during his playing days at Dakota Collegiate. Bradshaw inspired Kornberger to start coaching, and he’s since become one of his biggest supporters.

“Two things: he taught us not only what we needed to do to win the game, but why we were going to do it this way. And second off, he taught me loyalty. And with those two things, you can’t go wrong,” Kornberger said Tuesday at the University of Winnipeg’s Duckworth Centre after being announced as a member of the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2026 induction class.