News briefs for Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Zhilkin recalled by Jets, Fleury placed on IR

1:50 PM

Danny Zhilkin could be on the verge of making his NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets.

With a roster spot opening up as Haydn Fleury was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday afternoon, Zhilkin was recalled from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

Zhilkin, who was chosen in the third round (77th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, is a smart, two-way centre with good speed and has seven goals and 14 points in 30 AHL games this season.

The news on Fleury was positive, as the Jets defenceman was released from hospital on Tuesday night after a scary incident saw him stretchered off the ice with 6:44 to go in the first period of the game with the Vegas Golden Knights.

“He’s got the broken nose, he’s got a bruised back. I’m not sure what that exactly means, but it’s not obviously at first what we thought, it’s not (as) serious,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “We were seeing him going off on a stretcher. So he’s banged up pretty good. He felt it. But, (it was) great seeing him here today and seeing him around the room.”

Fleury recently missed time with a concussion and his situation will continue to be monitored before the full extent of his injuries are known.

“You’ve got to kind of wait and see on it,” said Arniel. “I mean, bang your head like that, that hard, and him having some history with it – I’m not saying it’s a concussion yet. He still has to go through the next few days here, see how he feels. He may wake up three days from now and feel great. He may wake up three days from now and have some issues.”

The Jets, who have lost 10 consecutive games (0-6-4), are back in action on Thursday against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

Terry Sawchuk Arena reopens after six-week closure

1:37 PM

Terry Sawchuk Arena reopened Wednesday after the city abruptly closed the East Kildonan facility Nov. 26 to repair structural problems that were discovered during restoration work.

The closure was originally estimated to last until Dec. 31. Hockey teams and others arena users had to look for vacant ice times elsewhere.

“We repaired a deteriorated glulam beam in the facility and attached steel bracing for additional support,” city spokesman Adam Campbell wrote in an email.

“We’ll be completing some additional finishing work in the next few weeks, but that’s not expected to impact any public use.”

Teens arrested, fake gun seized

1:11 PM

Police seized an imitation pistol after stopping two teens on Regent Avenue West on Tuesday night.

Officers stopped two youths on the 1500 block shortly before 9 p.m. after recognizing them. The officers confirmed both were wanted on outstanding arrest warrants and were breaching court-ordered conditions, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Wednesday.

Police seized an imitation Glock.

A boy and a girl, both 15, are facing charges for failing to comply with conditions of an undertaking or release order. The boy is also charged with possession of a weapon.

Both youths were detained in custody.

Maple Leaf workers vote in favour of deal

12:55 PM

Workers at the Maple Leaf Consumer Foods plant on Lagimodiere Boulevard have ratified a new five-year contract.

The members of United Food and Commercial Workers Canada voted 97 per cent in favour of the collective bargaining agreement, Local 832 said in a news release Wednesday.

Workers voted 98 per cent in favour of strike authorization in November after more than six months of contract talks about pay, benefits and working conditions.

The two parties started bargaining on April 30, Local 832 president Jeff Traeger said previously. The contract expired Dec. 31.

Maple Leaf is headquartered in Mississauga, Ont. The Lagimodiere plant is labelled by the company as its Bacon Centre of Excellence.

The local represents more than 1,800 workers at the plant.