Team Kurz caps off undefeated week by capturing provincial mixed curling crown

Nearly seven years after their world championship run, Colin Kurz wanted to get the band back together.

“I laughed… I think we all thought he was joking at first,” admitted Meghan Walter.

Kurz, Walter, Brendan Bilawka and Sara Krym (née Oliver) wore the Maple Leaf at the 2019 World Mixed Curling Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland, and ran the table en route to a gold medal finish.

“We still talk about that and tell stories about that to this day when we see each other,” said Kurz.

Sweeting lands on her feet

Not even the reigning Scotties champions are immune to change at the end of a quadrennial cycle.

Days after returning home with a silver medal from the world women’s curling championship in Calgary, Gimli’s Kerri Einarson announced she was parting ways with third Val Sweeting — a teammate since 2018.

“It wasn’t a complete surprise. I had a sense there would be changes to the team moving forward,” Sweeting told the Free Press.

“It’s always tough when those chapters close, but I’m looking forward to what’s next.”

FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour brings dreams to our doorstep

Max de Oliveira was a long way from home, and yet he had never been closer to the prize that represents the dream of every young Brazilian.

The grand prize of men’s soccer arrived in Winnipeg on Monday as a part of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, and de Oliveria, who moved from Brazil to Winnipeg earlier this year, was one of hundreds of local fútbol fans who gathered at Memorial Park for a look.

Perhaps no one wore their emotions like de Oliveira. A large, toothy smile never left his face, while his bright yellow jersey left no doubt about where his loyalties lay.

“It’s big emotion, because when you’re a kid in Brazil, you grow up watching soccer on the TV and seeing the World Cup. Seeing it in person here is very emotional for him,” said de Oliveira’s wife, Taisa, who translated from Portuguese.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju used to swing a club inside Winnipeg’s Golf Dome — now he's a big deal on the PGA Tour

Sudarshan Yellamaraju has gone from the little kid swinging a club inside Winnipeg’s Golf Dome to a big deal on the PGA Tour.

In the process, he’s become an inspiration to supporters young and old thanks to a unique personal journey to the highest level of his sport, while giving golf fans around here their first true local product to cheer for since Selkirk’s Glen Hnatiuk was a regular more than a quarter-century ago.

“I feel like I’m so focused on what I’m doing that I maybe don’t realize the impact,” the 24-year-old told the Free Press in a telephone interview.

“But I’ve got a lot of messages from people and kids and it kind of brought a different perspective of what I do. The idea that you could be inspiring others, it gives a different perspective for sure. It’s very cool.”

Canadian men’s rugby squad returns to the ‘Peg for first time in 33 years

The last time Winnipeg hosted an international rugby match, Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You topped the music charts and Harrison Ford ruled the box office in The Fugitive.

The Canadian men’s national team was also a pesky squad that punched well above its weight on the pitch, finding ways to contend with European powerhouses like Wales and England.

Gareth Rees remembers those days fondly. The former fullback helped make up the backbone of that Canadian team, which also took it to the United States at Maple Grove Rugby Park in 1993.

The Americans were dominated 20-9 that day.

Accolades pour in for Scott Oake ahead of impending sendoff

Truth be told, Scott Oake wanted what is commonly known as an Irish goodbye.

The veteran Winnipeg broadcaster had hoped to keep his retirement to himself until sometime this summer, then casually let it slip he wouldn’t be returning in the fall for another season on Hockey Night in Canada.

No fuss. No muss. A quick fade to black.

“I had hoped to go out quietly, but I’m to blame for what’s going on,” Oake told the Free Press with a laugh. “You know, I told a few people, word got around and here we are.”

Lawes talks pause, and possible retirement, from curling

It was a decision Kaitlyn Lawes wrestled with all season.

Curling has been the only constant in the 37-year-old’s life, but with two daughters — Myla and Ella — under the age of three at home, the Winnipeg skip ultimately decided she needed to take a step back and focus on her young family.

“It just felt like the right time if I were to ever take a break,” Lawes told the Free Press on Monday. “I didn’t take maternity leave with either of my girls. It was just kind of feeling like I needed to be home and needed some time to rest and recover from these last four years.”

It was two weeks after this year’s Scotties — an event Lawes went undefeated at before dropping the final to Kerri Einarson on Feb. 1 — when she officially made up her mind. She had several curlers reach out before and after nationals about potential new teams for the upcoming quadrennial, and while there were some intriguing conversations, Lawes knew what she had to do.

Winkler-product records first career major league hit, walk-off RBI single

Have yourself a week, Tristan Peters.

Nearly two decades after Corey Koskie recorded the final hit of his big-league career, another Manitoban is beginning to write his own story at the highest level.

If the past seven days are any indication, it’s going to be a real page-turner.

Peters, the pride of Winkler, started this MLB season with a bang, belting his first career hit last Saturday in Milwaukee — a line-drive double to left field off Brewers right-hander Chad Patrick.

Five Manitoba bowlers named to Team Canada, including back-to-back Marinelli champ Naylor-McCall

In the final frame of her semifinal match, bowler Marissa Naylor-McCall needed to strike and mark to advance and defend her title as Winnipeg’s tenpin champion.