WHL

Manitoba Moose

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS FILES Manitoba Moose netminder Domenic Divincentiis is off to a blazing start, earning a 36-save shutout on Saturday to kick off the club’s regular season.

Moose goalie tandem off to hot start

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026

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The Winnipeg Jets have taken a bit of an “out with the old, in with the new” approach this year, with recent draft picks such as Viggo Bjorck, Tyrel Bauer, Brad Lambert and Elias Salomonsson all on the current roster.

And there may be more where that came from.

Winnipeg has another dozen drafted and developing prospects getting valuable experience down on the farm with the Manitoba Moose right now, and 15 others skating in various junior, college and pro leagues around the globe.

The Free Press will check in on the kids on the second Tuesday of every month. Now, without further ado, here’s the first installment.

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NHL

DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS Everett Silvertips’ Brek Liske (42) and Chicoutimi Sagueneens’ Liam Lefebvre (39) collide during the first period of the Memorial Cup semifinal hockey game, in Kelowna, B.C., on May 29, 2026.

Four Manitobans find NHL homes in latest draft

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Preview

Four Manitobans find NHL homes in latest draft

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Saturday, Jun. 27, 2026

Brek Liske figures it was meant to be.

“So my Dad was always a Flyers fan throughout his whole life, and he kind of brainwashed me into it,” the Beausejour product told reporters on Saturday — mere moments after Philadelphia had selected him in the second round, 53rd overall, of the NHL draft.

He learned of his selection while at the family cottage, surrounded by dozens of family members and friends, including many in Flyers jerseys.

Liske was one of four Manitobans to hear their name called over the weekend.

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Saturday, Jun. 27, 2026

NHL

Matthew Merkel / FREE PRESS Nervous moments gave way to joy for Carson Carels, on the family farm near Cypress River, when the Calgary Flames called his name and the champagne started flowing.

Pride of Cypress River drafted sixth overall by Calgary Flames

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Pride of Cypress River drafted sixth overall by Calgary Flames

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

CYPRESS RIVER — It began like any other day for Carson Carels: Up at the crack of dawn, feeding his baby goats, driving a herd of hungry cattle and then heading to the rink for a quick workout.

But by the time Friday was over, it was one he would never forget.

Carels was drafted sixth-overall by the Calgary Flames, sharing the experience with more than 100 family members and close friends in an outdoor viewing party held on the family farm here in southwestern Manitoba.

“Just awesome. I’m still shaking right now,” the 18-year-old defenceman told the Free Press moments after hearing his name announced during the television broadcast by Flames legend Lanny McDonald.

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Friday, Jun. 26, 2026

NHL

Tim Smith / BRANDON SUN FILES Cypress River’s Carson Carels

Five Manitobans that could have their name called in this year’s NHL draft

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Five Manitobans that could have their name called in this year’s NHL draft

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

It likely won’t take long for a Manitoban to hear his name called in the upcoming NHL Draft.

But Carson Carels, the pride of Cypress River who is expected to go early in the first round, won’t be the only local product picked when the annual showcase of teenage hockey talent begins on June 26 and concludes a day later.

Five Manitoba-born players cracked the final rankings recently released by NHL Central Scouting, further evidence the province continues to produce its share of promising puck prospects.

Seven Buffalo Boys were selected in last year’s draft — one shy of the all-time record of eight set in 2017, 2018 and 2022. That strong showing came on the heels of a surprisingly lean 2024 draft, when just one Manitoban was selected, and not until the fifth round.

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Friday, Jun. 12, 2026

NHL

Carson Carels says his hockey work ethic that has NHL general managers taking notice is owed to working on his family’s farm. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press)

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

Mike McIntyre 11 minute read Preview

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

Mike McIntyre 11 minute read Friday, May. 1, 2026

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.

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Friday, May. 1, 2026

Books

THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES

We Breed Lions exposes system of uncomfortable truths

Reviewed by Jeff Hamilton 5 minute read Preview

We Breed Lions exposes system of uncomfortable truths

Reviewed by Jeff Hamilton 5 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025

When I sat down to read the latest examination of Canadian hockey culture, I did so with a renewed purpose.

Because this was Rick Westhead — a veteran TSN journalist who has become the leading voice for exposing miscarriages of justice in Canada’s game — I knew I was in for a ride.

Westhead has dedicated a large part of his personal and professional career to hockey, lending his voice as a game analyst while also coaching his son in minor hockey. Like many Canadian fathers, he’s spent countless hours driving to and from arenas.

But what truly intrigues me about Westhead is that he is an investigative journalist in the truest sense, possessing a passion to dig deep and the courage to put forth the tough questions so few covering the game are comfortable asking. Prior to reporting for TSN, Westhead was a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star, covering assignments in Afghanistan, China and Saudi Arabia.

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Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025

Olympics

Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Winnipegger and Montreal Victoire defender Kati Tabin is just one of the Manitoba faces that will hit the ice in March as the Montreal Victoire clash against the Ottawa Charge as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour stop in Winnipeg.

Manitoba’s own hitting the hometown ice in PWHL Takeover Tour

Ken Wiebe 5 minute read Preview

Manitoba’s own hitting the hometown ice in PWHL Takeover Tour

Ken Wiebe 5 minute read Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025

TORONTO – Caroline Ouellette has a pretty good idea of what the Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge can expect when the PWHL Takeover Tour arrives in Winnipeg in March.

The longtime Canadian national team player and Hockey Hall of Famer will be behind the bench at Canada Life Centre on Mar. 22 as an assistant coach with the Victoire, but she’s got first-hand knowledge of how great the fan support can be when the top female players hit the ice in Manitoba.

“That was one of my favourite world championships in Winnipeg in 2007,” Ouellette said earlier this week before attending the Hockey Hall of Fame induction that included her longtime linemate Jennifer Botterill. “I’ll never forget the crowd and playing in pink, winning the gold medal there. Just the atmosphere, it was incredible and I’m really excited to go back there.”

The enthusiasm for women’s hockey that was shown by those Manitoba crowds was one of the reasons Winnipeg was chosen to be among the 11 cities that will showcase the PWHL over 16 neutral-site games.

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Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025

Junior Hockey

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Files David Gustafsson (41) and Ville Heinola (34) fight for the puck during training camp in September.

Jets prospects: first look into future after start of new season

Mike McIntyre 9 minute read Preview

Jets prospects: first look into future after start of new season

Mike McIntyre 9 minute read Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025

The Winnipeg Jets are off to another hot start this season, proving that life in the present is pretty good. But as a “draft and develop” organization, there’s always an eye on the future.

Right now, 23 prospects are skating in various leagues at various levels — players who could one day work their way into the NHL or, in a few cases, make their way back to the big club.

To help you keep tabs, we’ll be checking in on the kids each month throughout the season.

Let’s start with 11 players who are, at least in theory, closest to “The Show.” The Manitoba Moose are off to a 3-4-2 start, although they do have points in four straight games (2-0-2) after a 2-1 overtime loss on Sunday to the Texas Stars at Canada Life Centre.

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Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025

WHL

Perry Bergson / The Brandon Sun Files Brandon Wheat Kings forward Luke Mistelbacher was acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Swift Current Broncos. The Steinbach native had previously attended Winnipeg Jets development camp as a free agent invitee in 2024.

Brandon looks to be Kings of WHL

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

Brandon looks to be Kings of WHL

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025

Marty Murray intentionally used the words “cautiously optimistic.”

Now into his fourth season as the head coach and general manager of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Murray is eager for the Western Hockey League season to get going after building a foundation for his team during training camp but recognizes it’s going to take some time for things to fully come into focus.

“Obviously, it’s a new look with the league with a bunch of players that would have been here every other year, but aren’t,” Murray said in a telephone interview from Brandon on Wednesday morning.

“Everybody is trying to figure out what we have and what the opposing teams have moving forward here. We feel pretty good about where we’re at.”

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Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025

NHL

DAMIAN DOVARGANES / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Carter Bear, left, stands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being drafted by Detroit Red Wings during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Winnipegger to meet his heroes after being drafted by Penguins

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Winnipegger to meet his heroes after being drafted by Penguins

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Sunday, Jun. 29, 2025

Peyton Kettles remembers the Evgeni Malkin jersey he rocked as a youngster.

So you can imagine his delight when the Winnipegger pulled on a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey on Saturday after being chosen in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft with the 39th overall pick.

“It was definitely a huge relief and I’m definitely happy to hear my name called by the Penguins. To have their history, with me growing up around that time, is really cool and really special,” Kettles said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles, where he attended the event at Peacock Theater with his parents and his brother. “I owned a Malkin jersey and all of the stuff like that. It’s a full circle moment for me.”

Kettles, listed at 6-5 and 194 pounds, is a hard-hitting defenceman who had five goals and 14 points in 53 games in the Western Hockey League with the Swift Current Broncos.

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Sunday, Jun. 29, 2025

Junior Hockey

Damian Dovarganes / The Associated Press Carter Bear (left) stands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman Friday at the NHL Draft in Los Angeles. ‘I’m proud of where I’m from — my community and my Indigenous background,’ Bear said after being drafted.

Manitoba First Nation jubilant after Carter Bear chosen 13th overall in NHL Draft

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Manitoba First Nation jubilant after Carter Bear chosen 13th overall in NHL Draft

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 27, 2025

Carter Bear couldn’t hear or see the eruption of cheers and happy tears from family and friends back in Manitoba on Friday night — including a large gathering in his home community of Peguis First Nation.

However, the 18-year-old could feel the love and support after he was selected 13th-overall by the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL draft in Los Angeles.

“That shows how proud they are. I’m proud of where I’m from — my community and my Indigenous background,” he told the Free Press via Zoom shortly after having his name called.

It takes a village, as the saying goes, and Bear was feeling especially thankful to everyone in his world who helped him get to this stage. He’s the first Manitoban hockey player to be drafted in the opening round since Strathclair’s Conor Geekie went 11th-overall to the Arizona Coyotes in 2022.

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Friday, Jun. 27, 2025

Junior Hockey

Andy Glass photo Carter Bear - Everett Silvertips

Fourteen Manitobans named NHL draft hopefuls

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Fourteen Manitobans named NHL draft hopefuls

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Thursday, Jun. 26, 2025

Manitoba’s reputation as a pro hockey factory took a bit of a hit during last year’s NHL draft when only one local prospect ultimately heard his name called. And even that didn’t happen until the fifth round, when Brandon’s Clarke Caswell was selected by the Seattle Kraken.

Was there something in the water? Had we lost our touch? Was it time to commission a summit?

No, no and absolutely not. Turns out that was likely the exception, rather than the rule, and we should be back to our regularly scheduled player development programming later this week.

When it comes to the potential Class of 2025, it would seem the local kids are all right. And a league that already includes the likes of homegrown talents such as Jonathan Toews, Seth Jarvis and Mark Stone — just to name a few — could eventually have some new faces from the Keystone province.

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Thursday, Jun. 26, 2025

Junior Hockey

ALLYSON MISHELL PHOTO Bruins U15 AAA forward Crewe Schimnowski had an outstanding 2024-25 season, amassing 57 goals and 111 points.

Two-way Bruins forward first-round material in WHL Bantam Draft

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Two-way Bruins forward first-round material in WHL Bantam Draft

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025

Crewe Schimnowski knows which parts of his game will impress talent evaluators.

He has a shot that most 14-year-olds can only dream about and the smooth puck-handling skills to go with it. Intangibles like elite vision and a high hockey IQ are evident, and at 5-9, 170 pounds, he isn’t afraid to throw his body around.

What’s more rare about the Winnipeg teen is a self-understanding of his weaknesses, and his determination to improve in those areas.

He doesn’t shy away from talking about what he needs to work on.

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Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025

WHL

Utah Hockey Club center Jack McBain (22) moves the puck on the ice against Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Utah Hockey Club will open new practice facility in September

John Coon, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Utah Hockey Club will open new practice facility in September

John Coon, The Associated Press 3 minute read Monday, Apr. 7, 2025

SANDY, Utah (AP) — Utah Hockey Club will open a new practice and training facility for team use on September 1st, the club announced Monday.

The 115,780-square-foot facility, built on the southeastern end of a Sandy shopping mall, will house two NHL standard ice sheets. It will also include training, medical, and dining facilities as well as team locker rooms.

Building a practice facility quickly was one of the immediate challenges Utah owner Ryan Smith faced in bringing an NHL team to the Beehive State. The Utah Olympic Oval, which is primarily used for speedskating events, severed as the team’s practice facility this season, but it was intended to only be a temporary solution.

“We want to be competitive in the NHL and to do that you got to have a place where these guys can practice and they can recover and it’s home,” Smith said. “We did a miraculous job with the Oval, but at the same time that’s not this.”

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Monday, Apr. 7, 2025

WHL

WHL Playoffs: Ben Kindel’s hat trick helps Hitmen complete four-game sweep of Blades

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Thursday, Apr. 3, 2025

SASKATOON - Ben Kindel's hat trick helped the Calgary Hitmen rout the Saskatoon Blades 6-2 on Wednesday and complete a four-game sweep in their first-round Western Hockey League playoff series.

David Adaszynski, Carter Yakemchuk and Oliver Tulk rounded out the attack for Calgary.

Anders Miller made 27 saves for the win.

Zach Olsen and Hayden Harsanyi scored 44 seconds apart in the second period for Saskatoon, while Evan Gardner stopped 30 shots in net.

WHL

WHL playoffs: Hitmen knock off Blades 4-1, lead series 3-0

The Canadian Press 5 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 2, 2025

SASKATOON - Tanner Howe had a goal and assist, Hunter Aura chipped in with two assists, and the visiting Calgary Hitmen knocked off the Saskatoon Blades 4-1 in Western Hockey League playoff action on Tuesday at the SaskTel Centre.

David Adaszynski, Ben Kindel and Connor Hvidston also scored for the Hitmen who took a commanding 3-0 lead in the first-round, best-of-seven series.

David Lewandowski scored for the Blades, who were outshot 30-21. The Blades trailed 1-0 after the first period and 3-1 heading into the third.

The Blades went 1-for-4 on the power play while the Hitmen were 0-for-1.

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