WHL – Winnipeg Free Press

We Breed Lions exposes system of uncomfortable truths

Reviewed by Jeff Hamilton 5 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025

When I sat down to read the latest examination of Canadian hockey culture, I did so with a renewed purpose.

Because this was Rick Westhead — a veteran TSN journalist who has become the leading voice for exposing miscarriages of justice in Canada’s game — I knew I was in for a ride.

Westhead has dedicated a large part of his personal and professional career to hockey, lending his voice as a game analyst while also coaching his son in minor hockey. Like many Canadian fathers, he’s spent countless hours driving to and from arenas.

But what truly intrigues me about Westhead is that he is an investigative journalist in the truest sense, possessing a passion to dig deep and the courage to put forth the tough questions so few covering the game are comfortable asking. Prior to reporting for TSN, Westhead was a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star, covering assignments in Afghanistan, China and Saudi Arabia.

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Manitoba’s own hitting the hometown ice in PWHL Takeover Tour

Ken Wiebe 4 minute read Preview

Manitoba’s own hitting the hometown ice in PWHL Takeover Tour

Ken Wiebe 4 minute read Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025

TORONTO – Caroline Ouellette has a pretty good idea of what the Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge can expect when the PWHL Takeover Tour arrives in Winnipeg in March.

The longtime Canadian national team player and Hockey Hall of Famer will be behind the bench at Canada Life Centre on Mar. 22 as an assistant coach with the Victoire, but she’s got first-hand knowledge of how great the fan support can be when the top female players hit the ice in Manitoba.

“That was one of my favourite world championships in Winnipeg in 2007,” Ouellette said earlier this week before attending the Hockey Hall of Fame induction that included her longtime linemate Jennifer Botterill. “I’ll never forget the crowd and playing in pink, winning the gold medal there. Just the atmosphere, it was incredible and I’m really excited to go back there.”

The enthusiasm for women’s hockey that was shown by those Manitoba crowds was one of the reasons Winnipeg was chosen to be among the 11 cities that will showcase the PWHL over 16 neutral-site games.

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Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025

Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Winnipegger and Montreal Victoire defender Kati Tabin is just one of the Manitoba faces that will hit the ice in March as the Montreal Victoire clash against the Ottawa Charge as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour stop in Winnipeg.

Jets prospects: first look into future after start of new season

Mike McIntyre 9 minute read Preview

Jets prospects: first look into future after start of new season

Mike McIntyre 9 minute read Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025

The Winnipeg Jets are off to another hot start this season, proving that life in the present is pretty good. But as a “draft and develop” organization, there’s always an eye on the future.

Right now, 23 prospects are skating in various leagues at various levels — players who could one day work their way into the NHL or, in a few cases, make their way back to the big club.

To help you keep tabs, we’ll be checking in on the kids each month throughout the season.

Let’s start with 11 players who are, at least in theory, closest to “The Show.” The Manitoba Moose are off to a 3-4-2 start, although they do have points in four straight games (2-0-2) after a 2-1 overtime loss on Sunday to the Texas Stars at Canada Life Centre.

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Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Files
David Gustafsson (41) and Ville Heinola (34) fight for the puck during training camp in September.

Brandon looks to be Kings of WHL

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Brandon looks to be Kings of WHL

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025

Marty Murray intentionally used the words “cautiously optimistic.”

Now into his fourth season as the head coach and general manager of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Murray is eager for the Western Hockey League season to get going after building a foundation for his team during training camp but recognizes it’s going to take some time for things to fully come into focus.

“Obviously, it’s a new look with the league with a bunch of players that would have been here every other year, but aren’t,” Murray said in a telephone interview from Brandon on Wednesday morning.

“Everybody is trying to figure out what we have and what the opposing teams have moving forward here. We feel pretty good about where we’re at.”

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Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025

Perry Bergson / The Brandon Sun Files
Brandon Wheat Kings forward Luke Mistelbacher was acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Swift Current Broncos. The Steinbach native had previously attended Winnipeg Jets development camp as a free agent invitee in 2024.

Winnipegger to meet his heroes after being drafted by Penguins

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Winnipegger to meet his heroes after being drafted by Penguins

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Sunday, Jun. 29, 2025

Peyton Kettles remembers the Evgeni Malkin jersey he rocked as a youngster.

So you can imagine his delight when the Winnipegger pulled on a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey on Saturday after being chosen in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft with the 39th overall pick.

“It was definitely a huge relief and I’m definitely happy to hear my name called by the Penguins. To have their history, with me growing up around that time, is really cool and really special,” Kettles said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles, where he attended the event at Peacock Theater with his parents and his brother. “I owned a Malkin jersey and all of the stuff like that. It’s a full circle moment for me.”

Kettles, listed at 6-5 and 194 pounds, is a hard-hitting defenceman who had five goals and 14 points in 53 games in the Western Hockey League with the Swift Current Broncos.

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Sunday, Jun. 29, 2025

DAMIAN DOVARGANES / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Carter Bear, left, stands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being drafted by Detroit Red Wings during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Manitoba First Nation jubilant after Carter Bear chosen 13th overall in NHL Draft

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Manitoba First Nation jubilant after Carter Bear chosen 13th overall in NHL Draft

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Friday, Jun. 27, 2025

Carter Bear couldn’t hear or see the eruption of cheers and happy tears from family and friends back in Manitoba on Friday night — including a large gathering in his home community of Peguis First Nation.

However, the 18-year-old could feel the love and support after he was selected 13th-overall by the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL draft in Los Angeles.

“That shows how proud they are. I’m proud of where I’m from — my community and my Indigenous background,” he told the Free Press via Zoom shortly after having his name called.

It takes a village, as the saying goes, and Bear was feeling especially thankful to everyone in his world who helped him get to this stage. He’s the first Manitoban hockey player to be drafted in the opening round since Strathclair’s Conor Geekie went 11th-overall to the Arizona Coyotes in 2022.

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Friday, Jun. 27, 2025

Damian Dovarganes / The Associated Press
Carter Bear (left) stands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman Friday at the NHL Draft in Los Angeles. ‘I’m proud of where I’m from — my community and my Indigenous background,’ Bear said after being drafted.

Fourteen Manitobans named NHL draft hopefuls

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Fourteen Manitobans named NHL draft hopefuls

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Thursday, Jun. 26, 2025

Manitoba’s reputation as a pro hockey factory took a bit of a hit during last year’s NHL draft when only one local prospect ultimately heard his name called. And even that didn’t happen until the fifth round, when Brandon’s Clarke Caswell was selected by the Seattle Kraken.

Was there something in the water? Had we lost our touch? Was it time to commission a summit?

No, no and absolutely not. Turns out that was likely the exception, rather than the rule, and we should be back to our regularly scheduled player development programming later this week.

When it comes to the potential Class of 2025, it would seem the local kids are all right. And a league that already includes the likes of homegrown talents such as Jonathan Toews, Seth Jarvis and Mark Stone — just to name a few — could eventually have some new faces from the Keystone province.

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Thursday, Jun. 26, 2025

Andy Glass photo Carter Bear - Everett Silvertips

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Two-way Bruins forward first-round material in WHL Bantam Draft

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Two-way Bruins forward first-round material in WHL Bantam Draft

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025

Crewe Schimnowski knows which parts of his game will impress talent evaluators.

He has a shot that most 14-year-olds can only dream about and the smooth puck-handling skills to go with it. Intangibles like elite vision and a high hockey IQ are evident, and at 5-9, 170 pounds, he isn’t afraid to throw his body around.

What’s more rare about the Winnipeg teen is a self-understanding of his weaknesses, and his determination to improve in those areas.

He doesn’t shy away from talking about what he needs to work on.

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Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025

ALLYSON MISHELL PHOTO
Bruins U15 AAA forward Crewe Schimnowski had an outstanding 2024-25 season, amassing 57 goals and 111 points.

Utah Hockey Club will open new practice facility in September

John Coon, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Utah Hockey Club will open new practice facility in September

John Coon, The Associated Press 2 minute read Monday, Apr. 7, 2025

SANDY, Utah (AP) — Utah Hockey Club will open a new practice and training facility for team use on September 1st, the club announced Monday.

The 115,780-square-foot facility, built on the southeastern end of a Sandy shopping mall, will house two NHL standard ice sheets. It will also include training, medical, and dining facilities as well as team locker rooms.

Building a practice facility quickly was one of the immediate challenges Utah owner Ryan Smith faced in bringing an NHL team to the Beehive State. The Utah Olympic Oval, which is primarily used for speedskating events, severed as the team’s practice facility this season, but it was intended to only be a temporary solution.

“We want to be competitive in the NHL and to do that you got to have a place where these guys can practice and they can recover and it’s home,” Smith said. “We did a miraculous job with the Oval, but at the same time that’s not this.”

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Monday, Apr. 7, 2025

Utah Hockey Club center Jack McBain (22) moves the puck on the ice against Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

WHL Playoffs: Ben Kindel’s hat trick helps Hitmen complete four-game sweep of Blades

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Thursday, Apr. 3, 2025

SASKATOON - Ben Kindel's hat trick helped the Calgary Hitmen rout the Saskatoon Blades 6-2 on Wednesday and complete a four-game sweep in their first-round Western Hockey League playoff series.

David Adaszynski, Carter Yakemchuk and Oliver Tulk rounded out the attack for Calgary.

Anders Miller made 27 saves for the win.

Zach Olsen and Hayden Harsanyi scored 44 seconds apart in the second period for Saskatoon, while Evan Gardner stopped 30 shots in net.

WHL playoffs: Hitmen knock off Blades 4-1, lead series 3-0

The Canadian Press 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 2, 2025

SASKATOON - Tanner Howe had a goal and assist, Hunter Aura chipped in with two assists, and the visiting Calgary Hitmen knocked off the Saskatoon Blades 4-1 in Western Hockey League playoff action on Tuesday at the SaskTel Centre.

David Adaszynski, Ben Kindel and Connor Hvidston also scored for the Hitmen who took a commanding 3-0 lead in the first-round, best-of-seven series.

David Lewandowski scored for the Blades, who were outshot 30-21. The Blades trailed 1-0 after the first period and 3-1 heading into the third.

The Blades went 1-for-4 on the power play while the Hitmen were 0-for-1.

Victoire focus on positives after 1-0 loss to lowly Sirens

Jared Book, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Victoire focus on positives after 1-0 loss to lowly Sirens

Jared Book, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 1, 2025

MONTREAL - Montreal Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie sat in front of a microphone at her post-game press conference and used it to send a message to her team after a 1-0 loss to the New York Sirens on Tuesday night.

Only it wasn’t the message you would expect.

“I celebrated so many positive things,” Cheverie said. “And I think that’s what we need to focus on a little bit instead of being negative all the time. It’s constant."

In their first game after clinching a Professional Women's Hockey League playoff berth, the first-place Victoire were outshot 31-16 by the last-place Sirens fighting for their playoff lives. Corinne Schroeder earned her third shutout of the season.

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Tuesday, Apr. 1, 2025

Montreal Victoire's Lina Ljungblom (25) gets in the face of New York Sirens goalie Corinne Schroeder (30) as she tries to score during second period PWHL hockey action in Laval, Que., Tuesday, April 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe

Last-place Sirens upset front-running Victoire 1-0

Jared Book, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Last-place Sirens upset front-running Victoire 1-0

Jared Book, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 1, 2025

MONTREAL - The New York Sirens put a boost into their faint Professional Women's Hockey League playoff hopes with a 1-0 win over the first-place Montreal Victoire on Tuesday night in front of 8,798 at Place Bell.

Jade Downie-Landry opened the scoring with 11.7 seconds left in the first period with a shot off the post and in after a Gabbie Rosenthal faceoff win. The goal came three seconds after a five-minute power play was killed by Montreal.

Corinne Schroeder made 16 saves, and was not tested much by the Victoire (11-6-3-7). It was her third shutout of the season, and the fewest shots she faced in a full game this season. Elaine Chuli made 30 saves in her third start since the injury to Victoire starting goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens.

New York had the game’s first power play, after Kati Tabin was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for a check to the head of Sirens forward Jessie Eldridge. New York went 0-for-3 with the advantage.

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Tuesday, Apr. 1, 2025

New York Sirens' Jade Downie-Landry (27) celebrates with teammates after scoring on Montreal Victoire during first period PWHL hockey action in Laval, Que., Tuesday, April 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe

Sirens star Sarah Fillier playing her ‘best hockey’ in first pro season

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Sirens star Sarah Fillier playing her ‘best hockey’ in first pro season

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 1, 2025

MONTREAL - Sarah Fillier has long stood out as one of the best players in hockey.

The list of accolades includes an Olympic gold medal and three world championship crowns.

Despite all that international success, the New York Sirens rookie forward believes her game has reached new heights in the Professional Women's Hockey League.

"The best hockey of my career," the 24-year-old from Georgetown, Ont., said of this season's output after practice earlier this week. "I've had a ton of experience to grow with so far."

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Tuesday, Apr. 1, 2025

New York Sirens' Sarah Fillier (10) celebrates her goal with the bench while taking on the Ottawa Charge during third period PWHL hockey action in Ottawa on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Jets prospects: Yager an exciting piece of the club’s future

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Jets prospects: Yager an exciting piece of the club’s future

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Monday, Mar. 31, 2025

The Winnipeg Jets currently have 21 drafted and developing skaters in various leagues and levels who could one day work their way up to the big club. Ten of them are currently with the Manitoba Moose while 11 are scattered around the Canadian Hockey League, college and European clubs.

To help you keep tabs, we are checking in on the kids each month over the course of the season.

The playoffs have arrived for several of the organization’s top prospects, which provides a chance to see how they perform under increased pressure. Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and his staff will be pleased by the early returns.

Let’s start in the Western Hockey League with the top forward in the system, Brayden Yager, who has led his Lethbridge Hurricanes to a 2-0 first-round series lead over the Brandon Wheat Kings.

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Monday, Mar. 31, 2025

Erica Perreaux / Lethbridge Hurricanes
Lethbridge Hurricanes star, and top-rated Jets prospect, Brayden Yager celebrates one of his two goals in a 4-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday.

Stacey, Vanisova, Watts named PWHL’s three stars of the week

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Stacey, Vanisova, Watts named PWHL’s three stars of the week

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Monday, Mar. 31, 2025

TORONTO - Montreal Victoire forward Laura Stacey, Ottawa Charge forward Tereza Vanisova and Toronto Sceptres forward Daryl Watts have been named the Professional Women’s Hockey League's three stars of the week.

Stacey earned first-star honours after totalling two goals and two assists in Montreal’s 4-1 victory at Minnesota on Wednesday.

Stacey had her fourth power-play goal of the season, tied with five others for the league lead, and her third game-winning goal as she became just the fifth player in PWHL history to record four points in a game.

Vanisova scored twice in 32 seconds — the fastest two goals by the same player in PWHL history — in Ottawa's 2-1 win over Boston on Saturday in St. Louis.

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Monday, Mar. 31, 2025

December 7, 2025

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