Sports

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Greenslade
Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele celebrates his game-winning goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with Cole Perfetti during the overtime period in Winnipeg, Tuesday.

Jets open homestand with comeback OT win over Hawks

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Yesterday at 10:57 PM CST

It wasn’t quite another Manitoba Miracle, but go figure that Cole Perfetti found a way to score another big, buzzer-beating goal for the Winnipeg Jets.

With their playoff hopes already hanging by a thread, a regulation loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night to kick off a season-long eight-game homestand would have all but buried them for good. And it sure looked like that was about to happen as the clock ticked down and the home team was on the wrong end of 2-1 deficit.

Cue Perfetti, who clearly has a sense of occasion and a flair for the dramatic. The 24-year-old took a pass from Mark Scheifele, spun around and fired a perfect wrist shot that beat Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight with 38.6 seconds left in regulation.

Just like they drew it up, right?

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Bisons set to host track and field U Sports Championships

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Bisons set to host track and field U Sports Championships

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Yesterday at 4:37 PM CST

Two years ago, Daxx Turner was searching for his big leap.

The Neepawa product had already made a lasting imprint on Canada West, being crowned the top triple-jumper in the conference for the third year in a row, but was still trying to land his signature moment.

That would come on home turf, as the Manitoba Bisons hopped, skipped and jumped to gold at the 2024 U Sports national championships.

It was a storybook moment for Turner, who still holds a vivid memory of standing on top of the podium at the James Daly Fieldhouse. Although Turner was already considered one of the best triple-jumpers in the country, that triumph was the validation he needed to feel like he truly belonged among Canada’s elite.

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Yesterday at 4:37 PM CST

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
Manitoba Bisons’ Daxx Turner hopes to author a storybook ending to an outstanding university career at the U Sports track and field championships this week (March 5-7).

Jets’ Schenn doesn’t want to hang up skates on career yet

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Jets’ Schenn doesn’t want to hang up skates on career yet

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Yesterday at 7:16 PM CST

Luke Schenn isn’t going to be taken by surprise this time around.

The veteran Winnipeg Jets defenceman — traded twice in a matter of days ahead of last year’s NHL deadline — knows a similar phone call could arrive at any moment this week.

“Last year definitely caught me off guard. I had a year left on my contract and wasn’t really expecting anything. This year, different situation,” Schenn told the Free Press during a one-on-one chat Tuesday morning.

“Obviously our team’s not in the position we’d like to be in. But I haven’t heard a single thing. It’s been so quiet. Every time I think I got things figured out and know which way my future’s going, that’s typically when things go the other way on me.”

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Yesterday at 7:16 PM CST

Godofredo A. Vásquez / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Winnipeg Jets defenceman Luke Schenn (left) said Tuesday, in the looming shadow of the NHL trade deadline, that he still has another playoff run in him.

Welterweight bout a full circle moment for Mallott

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Welterweight bout a full circle moment for Mallott

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Yesterday at 7:03 PM CST

It’s almost a guarantee that Mike Malott’s phone will ring whenever the Ultimate Fighting Championship plans a trip north of the border.

The 34-year-old from Burlington, Ont., has already stepped inside the octagon in Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton and Montreal. On April 18, he’ll add Winnipeg to that list.

It was announced two weeks ago that Malott will headline the promotions return to the city at the upcoming UFC Fight Night against Gilbert Burns of Brazil in a welterweight bout.

“I love it. I want to do a whole Canadian tour and fight everywhere I can in this country,” said Malott in an interview with the Free Press.

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Yesterday at 7:03 PM CST

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
UFC fighter Mike Malott is set to fight Gilbert Burns in the headlining bout April 18 at Canada Life Centre — the same building his brother, Jeff Malott, spent time in playing for the Manitoba Moose and made his Winnipeg Jets debut in.

Winter Paralympics 50th anniversary: Chinese dominance expected amid boycotts over Russian flag

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Winter Paralympics 50th anniversary: Chinese dominance expected amid boycotts over Russian flag

Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press 5 minute read 8:40 AM CST

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The Winter Paralympics come to Milan Cortina to celebrate their 50th anniversary, with China looking to extend its dominance as a Paralympic powerhouse and Ukraine and other nations boycotting the opening ceremony over the return of the Russian flag and anthem.

The Games will officially kick off on Friday amid the tensions of the war in the Middle East, which prompted travel difficulties for some of the nations coming to Italy because of a widespread flight disruptions.

Iran was due to have one skier at Milan Cortina. Wheelchair curling kickstarted the competition schedule on Wednesday.

The Paralympic Games are back in Italy 20 years after Torino 2006. It will be the 14th edition of the Winter Paralympics since the inaugural edition in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, in 1976. Nearly 200 athletes competed in two sports at the time. Some 660 athletes will participate across the six sports in Italy from Friday through March 15.

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8:40 AM CST