News briefs for Thursday, December 12, 2024

Golden Knights rally to beat Jets in OT

9:46 PM

The Vegas Golden Knights got a goal from Ivan Barbashev at 3:47 of overtime to earn a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday at Canada Life Centre.

The Jets got goals from Nikita Chibrikov and Josh Morrissey and held a 2-1 lead before the Golden Knights tied the game on a power-play goal from Victor Olofsson.

The Golden Knights were on a lengthy two-man advantage after consecutive tripping minors to Gabe Vilardi and Dylan DeMelo.

Vegas’ roster features four Manitobans and two of them figured prominently as Keegan Kolesar scored in the third period to tie the game 1-1 and Winnipegger Mark Stone set up Olofsson for the goal that evened the score 2-2.

Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck finished with 33 saves in a game where the Golden Knights had a decisive edge in high-danger chances (16-4, according to Natural Stat Trick).

Vegas has won eight consecutive regular season matchups between the two teams and 12 of 13 overall, including the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Jets slip to 21-9-1 for the season and will close out this four-game homestand on Saturday against Patrik Laine and the Montreal Canadiens.

Zebra mussel larvae found at Brandon Generating Station

3:33 PM

Zebra mussel larvae have been found in the Assiniboine River at the Brandon Generating Station, the province announced Thursday.

The dead larva, called ​​veligers, were found during routine monitoring for zebra mussels by Manitoba Hydro.

The provincial government announced earlier Thursday that it is increasing outflow from the Shellmouth Reservoir to decrease its levels in preparation for spring runoff from the upper Assiniboine.

The outflow was set to be increased from 240 cubic feet per second to 500 Thursday, and then to 700 on Friday.

This increase in outflow will result in levels on the Assiniboine increasing from about 1.5 to two feet from the reservoir to Russell and one to 1.5 feet from Russell to Brandon.

The increase will diminish as the river reaches Winnipeg, the province’s hydrologic forecast centre said in a news release.

Gimli Mountie shot with air pistol

3:10 PM

A Gimli RCMP officer was not injured when he was hit in the chest by a shot from an air pistol Tuesday.

Mounties were sent to a home on 4th Avenue at about 4:40 p.m. When they went into a back room, one of two males was pointing a black pistol “with the laser pointer activated,” RCMP said in an news release Thursday.

Officers told the man to drop the weapon, and a scuffle between the two suspects began over the firearm. One of the men fired at an officer when he tried to intervene, police said. The officer was able to get the man who fired at him under control and arrest him.

The CO2-powered pistol was loaded with .43-calibre ball bearings.

A 23-year-old Gimli man is charged with several offences and was remanded into custody.

Valour captain, Raphael Ohin to return in 2025

11:41 AM

Raphael Ohin, the captain and longest-serving member of Valour FC, will return for his seventh season with the club in 2025.

Winnipeg’s pro soccer team exercised its club option on the Ghana-born, Winnipeg-raised midfielder Thursday.

Ohin, 29, is the only player remaining from Valour’s inaugural season in the Canadian Premier League in 2019. He missed nearly two full years from 2021-23 as he suffered devastating knee injuries in consecutive seasons, but returned as a mainstay in the club’s midfield in 2024, logging 1,228 minutes and scoring once across 21 appearances.

“We all know what Raph means for this club” said head coach and GM Phillip Dos Santos.

“Raph is resilient, passionate and represents what this club is all about. We are happy to see what 2025 holds for him after seeing him come off a 2-year injury recovery in 2024. The best is yet to come for him.”

Valour now has eight players under contract for next season.

Feedback on preliminary budget sought

10:54 AM

The City of Winnipeg is seeking feedback from residents on the preliminary 2025 update to its multi-year budget.

The update, which would impose a 5.95 per cent property tax increase, was presented at a special meeting of the executive policy committee Wednesday.

Residents can complete an online survey available until Jan. 5, provide written feedback for the public record and register to appear as a delegation before committees or council.

Public meetings to hear delegations and consider changes to the preliminary budget begin Jan. 13. Council will vote on the preliminary budget on Jan. 29.

More information is available at winnipeg.ca/budget2025.

Nominations for historical awards open

10:43 AM

The lieutenant-governor is encouraging the public to nominate Manitobans for an annual historical award.

The Manitoba Historical Society will recommend up to five recipients of the Lieutenant Governor’s Awards for Historical Preservation and Promotion.

Paid professionals in the field of history and heritage will not be considered for the awards, which began in 2011. Lt.-Gov. Anita Neville will present the awards at Government House this spring.

Nominations must be received by Feb. 28. Nomination forms and more details about the awards are available at mhs.ca and manitobalg.ca.