News briefs for Monday, April 21, 2025

Jets grab 2-0 series lead over Blues

9:11 PM

The Winnipeg Jets are halfway home in their first round playoff series.

A 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Monday night gives them a 2-0 lead in the best of seven series.

Mark Scheifele scored the opening goal, then helped set up linemate Kyle Connor for the game-winner early in the third period.

Jimmy Snuggerud had the lone goal for the visitors.

Connor Hellebuyck stopped 21 of 22 shots for the victory.

The series now shifts to Missouri for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday night and Sunday afternoon.

Teacher charged worked at St. Maurice School

8:39 PM

A former teacher charged with sex crimes after he allegedly began a relationship with a student worked at St. Maurice School, its executive director confirmed.

Police began investigating an incident involving the luring of a girl in her mid-teens last month.

Ketan Badiani, 58, was arrested on April 11 and has been charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation and luring a person under 18 by means of telecommunication. He was released on a court order prohibiting contact with minors.

“He inappropriately communicated with a student through private messaging on a social-media platform. The accused gained the victim’s trust and forged an inappropriate relationship with her,” a Thursday news release said.

St. Maurice states on its website that it is the largest Catholic school in Manitoba. Executive director Bryan Doiron said Badiani was employed as a high school math teacher there starting in November 2019.

Doiron said the school was alerted to the incident on March 17. Badiani was placed on administrative leave, and his contract was terminated on March 20.

The teacher’s registry states Badiani is a member in good standing whose certificate was issued in 2006.

Busy long weekend for fire crews

4:34 PM

Fire crews in Winnipeg faced a demanding night Sunday and early Monday, responding to multiple fires that broke out across the city within hours of each other.

The first incident occurred at a three-storey apartment building on the 300 block of Blake Street shortly before 9 p.m. Crews managed to bring the blaze under control by 9:40 p.m.

Shortly before 10 p.m., firefighters were sent to a second fire, this time at a home on the 400 block of Alfred Avenue. That blaze was knocked down by 10:20 p.m.

At about 3:35 a.m. Monday, crews were sent to a fire at an industrial building on the 1000 block of Logan Avenue. The fire was declared under control shortly after 4:30 a.m.

All three fires remain under investigation.

Police searching for two suspects after armed robbery at St. Vital business

12:33 PM

Police are looking for a pair of suspects after an armed robbery in St. Vital on Saturday night.

Police were sent to a store on the 600 block of St. Anne’s Road at about 9:45 p.m. after receiving reports of a robbery.

Officers learned from employees that a man and a woman went into the store, one brandishing a gun and the other a hammer. They stole an undisclosed amount of goods before fleeing on foot before officers arrived.

The Winnipeg Police Service asked anyone with information about the robbery to contact its major crimes unit at 204-986-6219, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS) or online.