News briefs for Wednesday, November 30, 2022

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service is involved in fighting a house fire on Manitoba Avenue, the city announced on Twitter around 6:40 a.m.

Street closures are in effect and expected to remain so through the morning rush hour. Areas affected include Salter Street from Pritchard to Magnus avenues, and Manitoba Avenue from Aikins to Powers streets. The city advises drivers to avoid the area.

The Canadian Elite Basketball League announced the name of Winnipeg’s new franchise Wednesday afternoon.

The Winnipeg Sea Bears are set to begin play in the 2023 season. Winnipeg businessman and lawyer David Asper will be the owner.

The nickname was chosen because of Manitoba’s connection with polar bears, whose Latin name — ursus maritimus — means “sea bear.”

The team’s colours will be teal, white and black.

The Sea Bears will be the first CEBL club to play in a National Hockey League arena. Canada Life Centre is also home to the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.

A driver was killed when the man behind the wheel of an oncoming SUV veered into the opposite lane near Anola on Tuesday night.

The collision took place in the Rural Municipality of Springfield, about two kilometres west of Anola, at about 6 p.m.

RCMP said a westbound SUV driven by an 84-year-old Winnipeg man veered into the opposite lane and collided with an eastbound driven by a 32-year-old Steinbach man.

The younger man, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene. The older man was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, RCMP said.