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John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff spoke to media Monday after the club recorded their ninth straight loss Saturday.

Few concrete answers for Jets’ tailspin

GM Cheveldayoff continues to preach patience despite club’s basement status

Mike McIntyre 9 minute read Monday, Jan. 5, 2026

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Steinbach hits it out of the park as Grand Slam host

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

Steinbach hits it out of the park as Grand Slam host

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Yesterday at 10:28 PM CST

STEINBACH —The Grand Slam of Curling hasn’t even left town yet and they’re already thinking about coming back to Steinbach.

“It’s got that wow factor walking in here,” said Jenni Cram, the GSOC’s communications director on Day 1 of the Players’ Championship inside the Southeast Event Centre.

Tuesday marked the GSOC’s return to Manitoba ice for the first time in eight years. With the $75-million arena opening in August and now being an option, the world’s best curlers might find themselves chowing down on Mennonite classics such as Vereniki and Schinka Fleisch a lot more frequently.

“We’ve been eager to come back to Manitoba. It’s been far too long, but it was a matter of finding the right venue,” said Cram.

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Yesterday at 10:28 PM CST

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Gimli’s Kerri Einarson lost her opening match Tuesday to Eun-ji Gim of South Korea.
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Gimli’s Kerri Einarson lost her opening match Tuesday to Eun-ji Gim of South Korea.

Bombers release Kolankowski, re-sign Schmekel; Jackson signs with Stamps

Joshua Frey-Sam 3 minute read Preview

Bombers release Kolankowski, re-sign Schmekel; Jackson signs with Stamps

Joshua Frey-Sam 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:09 AM CST

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have released their starting centre.

The club cut pending free agent Chris Kolankowski on Monday, allowing the 33-year-old to hit the open market early. He was slated to become a free agent on Feb. 10.

Kolankowski started every game over the last three seasons for the Bombers, and appeared in 73 contests — making 69 starts — overall since arriving in 2020. He won the 2021 Grey Cup with the Blue and Gold as a backup.

Kolankowski’s departure adds to the mystery around what the Bombers’ offensive line will look like next season. Tui Eli —the club’s sixth offensive lineman in 2025 — re-signed before the calendar flipped, while starting left guard Gabe Wallace and right tackle Kendall Randolph are already under contract, but the most veteran starters, Stanley Bryant and Patrick Neufeld, remain unsigned.

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:09 AM CST
Busy day of moves in Bomberland

Winnipegger Stone honoured to get Olympic call

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Preview

Winnipegger Stone honoured to get Olympic call

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Yesterday at 5:46 PM CST

Mark Stone feared he might have missed his one and only chance at the Olympics.

The Winnipegger was on the radar for Beijing in 2022, only to see the NHL withdraw from the Games due to the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adding literal injury to insult, ongoing back issues became too much to bear, forcing him under the knife a few months later and casting uncertainty over his future.

“When I went down before my second surgery, I wasn’t even sure if I was going to play again. You know, it creeps into the back of your mind. The first surgery didn’t work,” Stone said Tuesday prior to his Vegas Golden Knights facing the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre.

Turns out the second time was the charm — both for his medical procedure and his dream of playing on the sport’s biggest stage. Stone was named last week to Canada’s Olympic squad, which will head to Italy early next month.

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Yesterday at 5:46 PM CST

Mark Humphrey / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES

NHL veteran Mark Stone will play in his first Olympics this February after missing out on Beijing 2022 when the league withdrew from the Games over the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mark Humphrey / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES NHL veteran Mark Stone will play in his first Olympics this February after missing out on Beijing 2022 when the league withdrew from the Games over the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Redick: LeBron James exhibiting ‘a different kind of greatness’ with the Lakers this season

Brett Martel, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Redick: LeBron James exhibiting ‘a different kind of greatness’ with the Lakers this season

Brett Martel, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 11:22 PM CST

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — LeBron James sat at his locker — having just scored 30 points in 33 minutes to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Pelicans on Tuesday night — when the subject of his availability to play the next night in San Antonio came up.

“Every back-to-back, for the rest of the season, it’s TBD,” James said, as in, to be determined.

“I’m 41. I’ve got the most minutes in NBA history,” James continued with an incredulous grin. "Bank it right now, OK? What are we talking about?”

It's just that sometimes James — the NBA's all-time leading scorer and first ever to reach 40,000 career regular season points (42,575 and counting) — can still play with the type of vigor and effectiveness that makes him seem younger and more durable than he did while sitting out this season's first 14 games with sciatica.

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Yesterday at 11:22 PM CST

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) breaks free for a dunk against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) breaks free for a dunk against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Grand Slam of Curling returns to Manitoba Tuesday with Players’ Championship

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

Grand Slam of Curling returns to Manitoba Tuesday with Players’ Championship

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Monday, Jan. 5, 2026

It’s a shame how rarely Manitoba’s elite curlers get to play in their home province.

Gimli’s Kerri Einarson hasn’t thrown a competitive rock around these parts since early 2020 when she bested Jennifer Jones in the provincial final in Rivers.

It’s also been far too long for Winnipeggers Mike McEwen (2022 provincials in Selkirk) and Matt Dunstone (2023 provincials in Neepawa) who have gotten used to travelling coast-to-coast annually without playing in the Keystone Province.

The good news is the drought ends this week with Steinbach hosting the Grand Slam of Curling’s (GSOC) Crown Royal Players’ Championship inside the Southeast Event Centre. The action kicks off Tuesday and runs through Sunday featuring the top 12 men’s and top 12 women’s teams in the world battling it out for a combined prize purse of $480,000.

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Monday, Jan. 5, 2026

Darren Calabrese / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES

Kerri Einarson is looking forward to being ‘a home-crowd favourite’ at the Grand Slam of Curling’s Players’ Championship.
Darren Calabrese / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Kerri Einarson is looking forward to being ‘a home-crowd favourite’ at the Grand Slam of Curling’s Players’ Championship.

McDavid nets hat trick as Oilers drill Predators 6-2

Shane Jones, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

McDavid nets hat trick as Oilers drill Predators 6-2

Shane Jones, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:27 PM CST

EDMONTON - Connor McDavid scored three goals, including one on a penalty shot, and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists as the Edmonton Oilers came away with a 6-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.

Kasperi Kapanen had a goal and an assist and Curtis Lazar also scored for the Oilers (21-16-6) who snapped a two-game losing skid.

The team that has scored first has emerged victorious in the last 20 Oilers’ games, with Edmonton now sporting an 18-1-3 record when getting the game’s first goal.

Ryan O’Reilly and Nick Blankenburg replied for the Predators (19-19-4) who have lost two of their last three.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:27 PM CST

Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros (74) is scored on by Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during second period NHL action, in Edmonton on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Nashville Predators goalie Juuse Saros (74) is scored on by Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) during second period NHL action, in Edmonton on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Sports Editor's Picks

Thomas Friesen:

Peterson rink wins Manitoba to earn spot in Scotties Tournament of Hearts

Kelsey Calvert, from left, Beth Peterson, Katherine Remillard and Melissa Gordon-Kurz hoist Manitoba’s women’s curling championship trophy in Rivers on Sunday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Ken Wiebe:

Time running out for Chevy to salvage Jets’ season

FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS Jets’ forward Gabe Vilardi looks skyward Thursday as the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate after scoring late in the third period.

Ken Wiebe:

‘Maybe in 2026, we can start scoring some goals’: Jets’ losing streak continues

Detroit Red Wings centre Andrew Copp (18) is pursued up the ice by Winnipeg Jets centre Cole Perfetti (91) during the third period of Wednesday’s game in Detroit. (Duane Burleson / The Associated Press)

Mike McIntyre:

Changes long overdue as Jets’ tailspin continues with loss to Oilers

Fred Greenslade / THE CANADIAN PRESS Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (right) makes a save while Jets’ centre Morgan Barron (left) and the Oilers’ Spencer Stastney look for a rebound Monday night in Winnipeg.

Joshua Frey-Sam:

Wesmen’s Stewart looks to conclude final hoops year on top after father’s death

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Donald Stewart, captain of the Winnipeg Wesmen, is playing his final season of university men’s basketball with a heavy heart after his father, Paul Stewart, died following a battle with cancer.

Ken Wiebe:

Former Jets blue-liner thriving as psychologist after hanging up his skates

Chris Tanouye / NHLPA Jay Harrison speaks at the First Line NHLPA Health and Wellness Press Conference in 2024.

More Sports

Islanders, Rangers and Devils have vastly different goaltending situations midway through the season

Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Islanders, Rangers and Devils have vastly different goaltending situations midway through the season

Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press 5 minute read Yesterday at 10:07 PM CST

NEW YORK (AP) — Ilya Sorokin was spotless in his return to the net Tuesday night, 24 hours after good friend Igor Shesterkin went down with an injury that looked like it could be serious. Across the ice from Sorokin, Jacob Markstrom gave up goals on the first two shots he faced and could not make a save when needed on the way to allowing nine of them.

Early in the New Year and just past the midway point of the NHL season, the three teams in the New York area are in very different spots when it comes to goaltending, and that contrast could portend how things go the rest of the way with a tight playoff race shaping up in the Eastern Conference.

Getting Sorokin back is a boon for the Islanders, who have won five of their past seven games to keep pace with first-place Carolina. Sorokin was sharp with no signs of rust shutting out New Jersey, sliding side to side looking like there were zero ill effects from the nagging lower-body injury that kept him out since Dec. 19.

“I was a little nervous because of not playing in two weeks and feel a little bit not in my game in the first couple minutes,” Sorokin said after the 9-0 rout made him the Islanders' career shutout leader with 26. “But after shot by shot, I start to feel confidence.”

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Yesterday at 10:07 PM CST

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) stops a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) stops a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Kakko, Catton score 2 goals each as Kraken beat Bruins 7-4 to extend point streak to 8-0-1

Josh Kirshenbaum, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Kakko, Catton score 2 goals each as Kraken beat Bruins 7-4 to extend point streak to 8-0-1

Josh Kirshenbaum, The Associated Press 3 minute read 12:30 AM CST

SEATTLE (AP) — Kaapo Kakko had two goals and an assist, Berkly Catton scored his first two NHL goals, and the Seattle Kraken beat the Boston Bruins 7-4 on Tuesday night.

Jared McCann had a goal and an assist, and Jordan Eberle and Ben Meyers also scored as Seattle extended its point streak to nine games (8-0-1) — the second-longest in franchise history. Matty Beniers, Vince Dunn and Freddy Gaudreau each had two assists, and Joey Daccord finished with 32 saves.

David Pastrnak scored two goals, Viktor Arvidsson had a goal and an assist, and Mason Lohrei also scored for the Bruins. Jeremy Swayman had 20 saves.

Meyers scored with 1:37 left in the second period to put Seattle ahead 3-2, and McCann made it 4-2 with a power-play goal a half-second before the end of the period.

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12:30 AM CST

Seattle Kraken center Berkly Catton flicks the puck while facing the Boston Bruins during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Kraken center Berkly Catton flicks the puck while facing the Boston Bruins during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Wennberg has goal and assist against former team as Sharks beat Blue Jackets 5-2

Michael Wagaman, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Wennberg has goal and assist against former team as Sharks beat Blue Jackets 5-2

Michael Wagaman, The Associated Press 3 minute read 12:09 AM CST

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Alex Wennberg had a goal and an assist against his former team, and the San Jose Sharks bounced back from a frustrating loss three days earlier and beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Zack Ostapchuk also had a goal while Macklin Celebrini and Mario Ferraro added empty-netters to help the Sharks win their fourth in five games. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 34 shots for San Jose, which was coming off a 7-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday night.

Wennberg, the Blue Jackets’ first-round pick in 2013, assisted on Pavol Regenda’s goal in the first period then scored on a power play early in the second for his eighth goal of the season. That moved the 31-year-old within two points of reaching 400 for his career.

Celebrini’s goal was his 23rd of the season and extended the 19-year-old’s career-high point streak to 11 games.

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12:09 AM CST

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini celebrates after scoring in the shoot-out of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini celebrates after scoring in the shoot-out of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

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