Virden’s MJHL team named ‘Oil Capitals’

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This article was published 17/05/2012 (5231 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VIRDEN’S Manitoba Junior Hockey League team has a new name.

The club formerly known as the Winnipeg Saints will be the Virden Oil Capitals, officials with the new operation announced Wednesday. The logo and jerseys were also revealed, featuring a black, red and white colour scheme, a slick look that pays homage to the palette of the former incarnation of the franchise.

The Saints were sold to a Virden group immediately following the fifth and deciding game to Portage in the MJHL final. That ended a 45-year run in Winnipeg for the franchise.

The Oil Capitals name is a reference to the southwestern town’s standing in the middle of the province’s oil industry.

While the ‘Oil Caps’ will begin play next season no decision has been made on which division they’ll skate in, league commissioner Kim Davis said Wednesday.

Given Virden’s location — 78 kilometres west of Brandon — the likely scenario has the Oil Capitals playing the Sher-wood Division, joining Dauphin, Swan Valley, Neepawa, Waywayseecappo and OCN.

Tobans crack v-ball team

FOUR Manitobans have cracked the national ‘B’ team roster, Volleyball Canada announced Wednesday.

Winnipeggers Chris Voth, Dane Pischke, and Jason DeRocco, along with Brandon’s Kevin Miller are on the final 21-man squad and will continue to train at the National Training Centre in Gatineau, Que. until the first week of July.

The club, chosen from a pool of 44 invitees to last weekend’s selection camp, was put together to represent Canada at the Pan Am Cup in the Dominican Republic (July 7-15).

Voth is one of six returnees to the squad. The Manitoba Bison hitter helped Canada capture a fourth place finish at the World University games last year.

Skillful 13 identified

THIRTEEN Manitoba players have been invited to Ringette Canada’s Team West identification camp in Calgary, which starts today and runs through the long weekend.

The local list includes: Amber Biebrick (Winnipeg), Melody Caron (La Salle), Jessica Friesen (Steinbach), Robyn Fossay (Starbuck), Ainsley Johnston (Winnipeg), Mikayla Pacholek (Winnipeg), Samantha Renooy (Winnipeg), Jessica Rex (Winnipeg), Karine Sabourin (Saint Jean), Britt Stojak (Oakbank), Kristyn Wotherspoon (Winnipeg), and Shannon and Erin Sarahs (Winnipeg).

The camp is being held in advance of the 2012 Under-19 World Ringette Championship in London, Ont.

Shaw, Madill standouts

VINCENT Massey’s Emilie Shaw and Jordan Madill of the Miami Marlins are the Manitoba High School Athletic Association athletes of the week.

Starring on the Trojans badminton team, Shaw finished second at the Collège Louis-Riel and Maples tournaments and won the West Winnipeg Athletic Conference Championship. At the MHSAA provincial badminton championships in Carman, Shaw and her doubles partner Helen Cheung claimed the gold medal, leading the Trojans to the aggregate team title.

Madill and his partner Josh McCharles closed out a successful season by winning silver at the provincial badminton championship in Carman. Earlier this season, the Grade 12 student and his partner won the Zone 4 championship. Madill also represents the Miami, Man. school in volleyball, soccer and hockey.