News briefs for Monday, April 13, 2026

Jets eliminated from playoff contention

11:28 PM

In the end, the uphill climb was just too steep to overcome.

Despite a mostly valiant effort after the Olympic break that saw the Winnipeg Jets put together a solid stretch of play, a 5-3 victory by the Los Angeles Kings over the Seattle Kraken Monday officially eliminated the Jets from playoff contention.

It’s the first time the Jets, who captured the Presidents’ Trophy last season, have missed out on the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2021-22.

The Jets didn’t help their cause by losing Monday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights 6-2 to fall to 35-33-12 on the season. One of the lone highlights in the loss was Jets centre Mark Scheifele chipping in a goal and an assist to become the second player in franchise history to reach 100 points (joining Marian Hossa in 2006-07).

The Jets close out the road portion against the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday before returning home to face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

David Yeo named interim commissioner on teacher discipline

4:53 PM

The Manitoba Government has named long-time bureaucrat David Yeo as the interim Commissioner of Teacher Professional Conduct.

Yeo, who brings more than three decades of experience within the Department of Education, takes over the role after the Free Press revealed former commissioner Bobbi Taillefer was fired last week for working from Florida over the winter.

Education Minister Tracy Schmidt said in a statement that the temporary appointment will ensure the office continues to process complaints without interruption while the province searches for a full-time replacement.

Nichols joining Team Dunstone

10:46 AM

Mark Nichols is returning to Manitoba.

Brad Gushue’s longtime third has signed on to play second for Winnipeg’s Matt Dunstone next season.

With Gushue retiring after the Brier, the 46-year-old Nichols was available for hire. Team Dunstone, who won this year’s Brier and finished second at the men’s curling world championship in Utah, had a spot to fill for next season as second E.J. Harnden has also retired.

Nichols spent the past 12 years with Gushue. Prior to that, he curled for three years out of Manitoba with Jeff Stoughton.

Nichols is a six-time Brier champion, a world champion (2017) and a four-time world finalist, and owns two Olympic medals (gold in 2006, bronze in 2022).

Bombers hire new receivers coach

8:02 AM

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have rounded out their coaching staff with the hiring of Lee Hull as the club’s new receivers coach.

Billy Jean held the role last season.

It’s a return to Winnipeg for Hull, who played receiver for the Bombers from 1990-92 and caught a touchdown in the 1990 Grey Cup.

The 60-year-old from New Jersey has been a head coach at the NCAA level with Morgan State (2014-15) and Delaware State (2023-24) and served as the offensive coordinator/receivers coach at Wagner College (2019) and the OC/quarterbacks coach at Howard University (2020-22).

He was named the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Coach of the Year in 2014 while at Morgan State.

He was also a receivers coach with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts (2016), the University of Maryland (2008-13), Oregon State (2003-07) and at his alma mater, Holy Cross (1998-2002). He began his coaching career at the high school level in 1992.

Hull played in 18 games over three years for the Blue Bombers as a receiver and kick returner. He enjoyed his best season with the club in his rookie season, 1990, when he finished with 33 receptions for 464 yards. He finished his CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts in 1992.