Northwest Winnipeg’s 2021 sports year in review

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This article was published 22/12/2021 (1002 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sports in Manitoba were on hold when 2021 arrived. Some sports had tried to get started in the previous fall, but as COVID-19 numbers rose, leagues eventually cancelled their seasons.

Return to play

In September, high school sports made their long-awaited return, but with modified policies to try to limit the spread of COVID-19.

​​Chad Falk, executive director of the Manitoba High School Athletics Association, explained how his organization has provided guidance to Manitoba school divisions this fall.

“Basically (it) provide(s) the pathway forward to greenlighting school sports for this fall, with the caveat that it’s a very current and fluid plan that can change at any time,” Falk said.

The MHSAA released its guidelines Sept. 7 and Falk noted that responsibility to implement the guidelines will fall to each school division.

“One big caveat is the final say comes with approval from each school’s school division or their school’s administration, if it’s an independent school,”  he said.

Most school divisions disallowed spectators, and when volleyball provincials were eventually held, the association condensed the tournament schedule and reduced the games.

High school football shifts into gear

One of the first sports back was football. Players dusted off their cleats and returned to the gridiron.

“I’m very excited,” said Garden City Fighting Gophers star wide receiver Ryan Bruneau the day before the season’s kickoff. “I can’t wait to actually get onto the field and play football. I haven’t done it in such a long time. It’s an awesome feeling.”

Gophers head coach Riley Francey said he could sense the energy from his team.

“They are definitely excited to be back,” he said. “They’re coming back for the community that they’ve missed.”

For other teams, the long layoff led to uncertainty about how the season would unfold. Maples Marauders football head coach Peter Serrette wasn’t sure the high school would be able to field a team.

“We had six returning players from 2019, so we weren’t sure what was going to happen,” said Serrette.

The team was able to recruit the players it needed in the end.

Puck drops on high school hockey

Hockey players laced up their skates for their school teams once more this fall. West Kildonan Collegiate got off to a middling 2-2-0-0 start but have since risen to the top of their division with a 12-3-0-1 record at press time in the Winnipeg Free Press West Division. In November, centre and now WHSHL leading scorer Zach Gallinger said he could feel the team starting to gel.

“We kind of found our chemistry,” he said. “Me and my linemates have been producing lots.”

Gallinger said he views himself as a sort of 50/50 split between goal scorer and playmaker. At press time, he had 15 goals and 24 assists in 17 games. Over two points per game is an impressive feat at most levels.

This year, the women’s varsity team at Garden City Collegiate has emerged as a powerhouse in the Winnipeg Women’s High School Hockey League. At press time, the team had an astounding 12-0-0-1 record and were riding an 11-game win streak.

“It’s been a really great start. Being on a heater with girls that you really enjoy spending time with and you’ve created such a strong bond with is just really great. We’ve worked really hard as a team,” said Fighting Gophers assistant captain and winger Sammie Carvalho.

That closeness has helped to boost the team to the top of Winnipeg Free Press Division 2, said team captain Emma Duncan, who plays defence.

“When you’re closer, you just know each other better and you’re more comfortable play with each other on the ice,” she said.

Curling siblings lead West Kildonan teams

Luke and Ella Robins, boosted by their mother’s enthusiasm for the game and her devotion to watching all the top briers, have played at curling clubs for many years. They brought that experience to their respective boys and girls curling teams at West Kildonan Collegiate, albeit with slightly different endgames.

“When I was little, I always watched the Briers and Scotties on TV with (my mom),” Luke said. “And I remember when I started actually wanting to get more competitive. I always wanted to be like, ‘that’s the spot I want to be in one day.’ What keeps me coming back is that that’s where I want to be one day. And if I want to get there, then I have to strive to put my best out there.”

For younger sibling Ella, the challenge she sets to herself was more internal.

“Honestly, for me, I don’t enjoy competition,” the 14-year-old said. Ella clarified that she does like friendly competition, but the sort of high-pressure, high-stakes bonspiels Luke enters are not for her.

“I’m not interested in the aspect of, ‘I have to win this game; this means everything,’” she said. “I do this more like, ‘OK, how can I improve so that I can play the best for my own enjoyment rather than the enjoyment of others?’”

The two do have a few things in common. First, they both credit their mother for their involvement in the sport. Second, they both said they love the strategy involved in the game. That’s something they tried to bring to the rest of their team, most of whom curled their first ever rocks this year.

                           —with files from Joseph Bernacki