News briefs for Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Bombers to host 2025 Grey Cup

11:14 AM

The city’s worst-kept secret has finally been revealed, as Winnipeg will play hosts of the 2025 Grey Cup.

The news was made official in a joint press conference between the CFL and Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Tuesday, with league commissioner Randy Ambrosie making it official to dozens in attendance at The Pinnacle Club at IG Field.

The Grey Cup will be played in Hamilton in 2023 and B.C. in 2024. Winnipeg had made a bid for the 2024 game but lost out to the Lions.

Injured Morrissey a game-time decision tonight for Jets

11:50 AM

RALEIGH — The Winnipeg Jets could be getting their All-Star defenceman back as early as tonight.

Josh Morrissey was a full participant at morning skate and will be a game-time decision as the Jets close out a three-game road trip against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

Morrissey suffered a lower-body injury in the second period of Saturday’s 5-4 overtime win in Florida. He missed Sunday’s 3-2 victory in Tampa Bay.

Kyle Capobianco will play if Morrissey can’t go, taking the spot of Logan Stanley, who dressed against the Lightning.

There are no changes to the forward group, meaning Karson Kuhlman, Sam Gagner and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby will be healthy scratches. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cole Perfetti remain sidelined with injuries, but Dubois could be ready as early as Thursday’s home game against Boston, according to Jets coach Rick Bowness.

Backup goalie David Rittich will start in net for Winnipeg, giving Connor Hellebuyck some extra rest after he played both weekend games in Florida and stopped 77 of 83 shots.

Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. tonight.

Tory MLA Brad Michaleski not seeking re-election

12:10 PM

Dauphin MLA Brad Michaleski will not seek re-election this fall.

“After 15 years of public service, I have decided not to run in the next Manitoba general election,” Michaleski said in a statement on Tuesday. “This was not an easy decision, but it’s the best decision for me and my family at this time.”

The Tory backbencher was first elected in April 2016. He is one of 13 Progressive Conservative MLAs who have decided to retire or move on from public office after the general election, scheduled for Oct. 3.

Michaleski congratulated Premier Heather Stefanson on the 2023-24 budget and said he remains confident in her leadership. However, after 15 years in public office, including eight as a municipal councillor, Michaleski said it’s the right time to step back and focus on his family.

“The PC Party of Manitoba continues to attract top-notch, talented candidates, and I know that whoever succeeds me will bring fresh ideas and a new face to Dauphin. I will do everything I can to ensure they are successful in the next election,” he said.

Suspect charged in carjacking, attempted carjacking

1:18 PM

A man is facing charges after attempting to steal a pair of running vehicles from a residential street in the Mandalay West neighbourhood.

Police received reports of a carjacking attempt in the 100 block of Foxwarren Drive on Monday around 7:20 a.m., the Winnipeg Police Service said in a Tuesday release.

According to the release, a male suspect attempted to steal a vehicle left running and unattended in a driveway. The female victim confronted the suspect, resulting in a fight. The suspect fled.

Minutes later, the suspect approached two other people who were with their vehicle as it ran inside their open garage. The suspect threatened the pair with bear spray and stole the vehicle, police said.

Roughly an hour later, police spotted the vehicle near Artillery and College avenues. Officers followed the vehicle until it stopped in a parking lot and arrested the suspect.

A 33-year-old Winnipeg man is facing numerous charges, including theft of a vehicle and possession of a weapon.

Teen charged in shooting death of 15-year-old boy

3:35 PM

Winnipeg police homicide detectives have charged a 17-year-old male with manslaughter in the shooting death of a 15-year-old in St. James earlier this month.

The dead boy, identified by family as Phoenix Thompson, was rushed to hospital in critical condition after he was shot on the 200 block of Amherst Street, between Portage and Bruce avenues on March 6. His 17-year-old brother was transported in unstable condition and later upgraded to stable condition.

Homicide police determined the victim and his brother were involved in an altercation with a group of males on the 300 block of Sackville Street, when they were shot a first time. The brothers then made their way to a home on Amherst, when they saw a 17-year-old they knew who had a gun, police said on Tuesday. He shot them a subsequent time and Thompson was critically injured.

The accused, who was arrested Sunday, remains in custody and police are still investigating, asking anyone with information on either incident to call detectives at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

Woman accosted at knifepoint in The Maples: police

3:36 PM

A woman in her 20s was injured last Friday when a man she didn’t know threatened her at knifepoint, Winnipeg police say.

The victim reported the incident to city police at about 10 p.m., after she was accosted while walking near Mandalay Drive and Rolmount Road in The Maples.

She reported that a man approached her asking for directions, when he pulled out a knife and “uttered sexually explicit language,” police say. She pushed away and got a minor injury from the blade.

Police say the suspect was a man in his 20s who appeared Indigenous. He was wearing dark clothing and a black surgical mask. Sex crimes investigators ask anyone with information, including home surveillance, to call the unit at 204-986-6245.

Morrissey won’t play tonight for Jets

5:41 PM

RALEIGH — The Winnipeg Jets will not be getting All-Star defenceman back in the lineup tonight.

Josh Morrissey was a full participant at morning skate but was ruled out for game action as the Jets close out a three-game road trip against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

Morrissey suffered a lower-body injury in the second period of Saturday’s 5-4 overtime win in Florida. He missed Sunday’s 3-2 victory in Tampa Bay.

Defenceman Kyle Capobianco will play, taking the spot of Logan Stanley, who dressed against the Lightning.

There are no changes to the forward group, meaning Karson Kuhlman, Sam Gagner and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby will be healthy scratches. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cole Perfetti remain sidelined with injuries, but Dubois could be ready as early as Thursday’s home game against Boston, according to Jets coach Rick Bowness.

Backup goalie David Rittich will start in net for Winnipeg, giving Connor Hellebuyck some extra rest after he played both weekend games in Florida and stopped 77 of 83 shots.

Puck drop is set for 6 pm. tonight.

Bulldogs force fateful rubber match

6:20 PM

The Churchill Bulldogs staved off elimination, beating the Centre scolaire Leo-Remillard (CSLR) Renards 5-3 to force a fateful Game 3 in the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League Division 1 championship at Dakota Community Centre.

Selene Wozney scored twice in her series debut while Kadence Cress, Sydney Stibbard and Lindsay Hamilton also bulged the twine.

Bulldogs’ goaltender Lexus Remillard made 29 saves to secure the victory.

Game 3 is Wednesday at Dakota Community Centre, 4:20 p.m. puck drop.

Jets trail Hurricanes 1-0 after first period

6:41 PM

RALEIGH — The Winnipeg Jets are down 1-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes through one period at PNC Arena in Raleigh.

Jaccob Slavin opened the scoring 4:37 into the game when a puck deflected off the Carolina defenceman and past Winnipeg goaltender David Rittich.

Shots were 10-6 for the home team through 20 minutes.

The Jets are trying to finish off a perfect road trip after beating the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning on back-to-back nights this past weekend