News briefs for Sunday, April 30, 2023

Crews respond to fire on Agnes Street

1:32 PM

A fire broke out in a two-storey house in the 600 block of Agnes Street Saturday evening.

At 9:39 p.m., the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was called to the location where they found smoke inside the house. The fire was tackled from outside and brought under control at 9:56 p.m.

The residents self-evacuated. One person received a check up from paramedics but did not require to go to hospital.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

$30M Grace Hospital ICU renos announced

1:59 PM

A $30-million upgrade to Grace Hospital’s intensive care unit could triple the number of ICU beds and replace an outdated design, Premier Heather Stefanson announced Sunday.

The project’s operational budget and plans to staff up the expanded ICU still have to be determined as part of the project. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2024 and is set to provide an additional 33,000 square feet of space for the ICU.

The provincial government’s $30 million contribution is happening alongside the Grace Hospital Foundation’s capital campaign for the project. The foundation has pledged $5 million toward capital costs.

Jets GM Cheveldayoff coy about potential changes for club

2:17 PM

Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff says he’s “proud” of his players and coaches for a season that ultimately fell short of expectations.

But he wouldn’t tip his hand on Sunday about what the summer might have in store for his squad.

Cheveldayoff met with the media for nearly 45 minutes following Winnipeg’s first-round playoff exit to the Vegas Golden Knights. He confirmed he will be back for a 13th season, and coach Rick Bowness and his staff will return for a second year.

“Standing here at training camp, everyone asked if we were going to be a playoff team, I firmly believed that we had what it took to be a playoff team and I’m proud of the group that they battled through that gauntlet and got to the point of making the playoffs,” said Cheveldayoff.

Less clear is the future of players such as Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler, who could all become unrestricted free agents after next season.

Cheveldayoff said talks about potential extensions have not started with any of those core members or their agents.

Man robbed, shot on Burrows Avenue

4:46 PM

A man was robbed and shot in the 1600 block of Burrows Avenue Saturday evening.

Police was called to the scene at approximately 7:00 p.m. regarding a shooting incident in the area where they found a man who had been shot. He was taken to hospital and is in stable condition.

Investigation revealed that the victim was robbed and one of the suspects pulled out a gun.

The Major Crimes Unit is investigating. Police are asking anyone with information to contact investigators at 204-986-6219 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

Harkins scores OT winner for Moose

5:10 PM

Jansen Harkins scored the game-winning goal just 1:32 into overtime as the Manitoba Moose nipped the visting Milwaukee Admirals 3-2 in American Hockey League playoff action this afternoon in downtown Winnipeg.

The Moose tied the best-of-five series 1-1. Milwaukee dumped Winnipeg 6-2 Saturday in Game 1 of the opening-round series.

Games 3 and 4 are set for the Wisconsin city Wednesday and Friday, respectively.

The Moose were in danger of suffering a second straight defeat, however, Cole Maier evened the game 2-2 with just 57 seconds left in regulation and goalie Oskari Salminen pulled for an extra attacker.

Salminen was particularly sharp, stopping 30 shots. Across the ice, Admirals netminder Yaroslav Askarov was equal to the task, blocking 31 drives.

Nicholas Jones had given the Moose a 1-0 first-period lead.