The SVRSS Tigers Football team travelled to Dauphin this past Saturday (Oct. 18) for their final regular season game of the season against the Clippers. The Tigers were able to send their grade 12 players off with an upset win over the Clippers - by a score of 30-14. Here, Ryder Kushniryk breaks a tackle.

The Dauphin Clippers football team scored a 22-8 win over the Moosomin Generals, Saturday in Dauphin.

The first half was a defensive battle, with neither team able to do much until late.

The Clippers defence came up with a big goalline stand in the first quarter and thought they had done it again with under a minute to go in the second quarter. But the referees ruled the Generals crossed the line to open the scoring with 37 seconds left on the clock.

Dauphin answered right back.

On the first play after the kickoff, Julien Lopez scored a touchdown on a pass-and-run covering 60 yards to tie the game. Lopez then ran the ball in for the two-point convert to put the Clippers up 8-6 at halftime.

Clippers coach Gerald Lopez said scoring right after Moosomin took the lead was a huge momentum shift.

“I think that final score was an uplifting boost to our whole team. Right after that, all the kids were firing on all cylinders,” he said.

The Clippers held Moosomin off the scoresheet on another goalline stand in the second half.

“It was all building up until where our defence was clicking on all cylinders. That huge defensive goalline stand proves where we are at this point,” Lopez said, crediting defensive co-ordinator Robbie Tomkins for his guidance of the team’s defence.

Lopez was impressed with the team’s discipline on both sides of the ball, noting players walked away rather than reacting.

Lopez added high praise for offensive co-ordinator Nathan Thacker’s new offensive scheme, which coach Jason Pike executed brilliantly.

“The ball was spread around really evenly. There was no real big numbers on one person. Everyone as a whole contributed to the win,” he said.

Defensively, Blake Thacker had 13 tackles, while Sly Fedorkiw and Kingston Stirling had nine each. Julien Lopez had seven tackles and one interception. He also had a 101-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Offensively, Cody Zurba was 14 for 20 in passing for 129 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Owen Gonty had three catches for 29 yards, one touchdown and one two-point convert. Cole O’Connor had three catches for 40 yards.

The win improves Dauphin’s record to 4-2.

The Clippers will end the season at home, Oct. 18, when they host the Swan Valley Stampeders, which will determine the rankings for playoffs.

“Hopefully we can ride this momentum all the way,” Lopez said.

For the fourth year in a row, the Dauphin Clippers varsity girls rugby team are Westman High School Rugby 7s champions.

The Clippers clinched the title by going 4-0 at the final jamboree of the season, Oct. 7, in Brandon.

Dauphin defeated Souris, 19-14, Crocus M, 48-0, Steinbach, 33-26, and Massey 2, 46-0.

Clippers coach Shawn Sarkonak said the Clippers had a couple of close calls against Souris and Steinbach.

“Souris made it a one-score game and same with Steinbach. Both sides have heavily improved over the years and it’s actually nice to see, instead of us blanking other teams or having such a wide spread score,” he said.

“To tell you the truth, we’re not used to it. But it was good to see. And the girls actually said they enjoyed those two close games.”

Dauphin last played Steinbach two years ago at 7s provincials, where they won, 48-0.

“But they have definitely heavily improved. They are known as the top 7s side in the Winnipeg area. So it was nice to actually have them out and see how improved they have gotten,” Sarkonak said.

Sarkonak was especially impressed with the Clippers ball movement and support for each other.

“Working on keeping the ball moving instead of trying to get into a rucking competition, because it takes more players out of your regular play. If you can keep popping it up and keep the ball moving, it spreads the defence out a lot more and creates a lot more space,” he said.

Now the Clippers will shift their focus to repeating as 15s champions in the spring.

“It’s a huge harvest year as we’re graduating 10 players,” Sarkonak said.

The JV Clippers showed vast improvement, splitting their four games, opening with a 34-5 loss to Massey 1, before beating Massey 2 27-10. The JVs then picked up their second straight victory, 25-5 over Crocus G, before losing to Steinbach 53-5.

Overall, the JVs finished in fifth place with a 3-9 record.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.

The Rural Municipality of Dauphin council held its regular meeting, Oct. 7.

Accounts and finances

Council approved 19 cheques, as well as payroll and online payments in the amount of $176,615.57.

Transportation

Assistant public works foreman Charlie Mosionier reported the gravel program is complete, as is roadside mowing. The mowers will be starting to cut main drainage ditches in the south.

The graders are busy preparing roads for winter.

Crews have to do some approach top repairs that were damaged in the spring flood, but not reported until now. One was at E-7-24-20 and the other in the Bloomfield Subdivision Plum Bay.

The shale hauling for dirt road maintenance is complete and the Stoney Point Beach campground has been winterized.

The berm at the riverbank stabilization at Skuter Crossing has been fixed, as it had settled over the season.

The brusher also cleaned the scrub at N-22-28-20, as well as E-17-17-19 for visibility and access issues.

Garbage being dumped on the roads and in ditches is an ongoing issue.

Crews have received approval from MTI for the installation of a new speed board sign in the Eclipse. The installation will be done soon.

Approach ID# 467 is also complete.

Drainage

Crews have done a few more surveys and the brusher scrubbed out the ditch at E-3-24-20 for drainage and snow issues.

Delegations

Dauphin fire chief Cam Abrey presented his fire report to council.

Recreation funding

Council unanimously approved the Recreation Funding Agreement between the City of Dauphin and the RM of Dauphin, which includes details regarding capital and operating funding, governance structure and membership and term.

June District host

Council will offer to host the 2026 June District Meeting.

Working group

meetings

Council wishes to proceed with future Parkland Regional Working Group meetings.

Resolution

Council approved an application of Maksym Davydiuk to move a previously lived-in home in the RM to NW 18-27-19 wpm, under certain requirements.

Minister meetings

The municipality will put in a request to meet with Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Minister of Municipal and Northern Relations at the AMM convention minister meetings. They will also put in a request for a meeting with Dauphin MLA and Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn outside of the conference.

Support

Council offered its full support for an immediate annual increase to the Manitoba Water Services Board’s capital budget, beginning in 2026, to $100 million from its current $24 million.

The Dauphin Clippers varsity girls rugby 7s team is undefeated after three jamborees, including winning both games at its home jamboree, Sunday.

The Clippers beat their JV counterparts, 41-0, to open the tournament. They then defeated Vincent Massey 1, 48-0.

The wins improve Dauphin’s record to 7-0. They will look to win the fall 7s season at the final jamboree, today in Brandon, hosted by Crocus Plains.

Clippers coach Shawn Sarkonak felt the girls had a bit of a rough start against the Clippers JVs.

“I think they were underestimating our JV team and the JVs came out strong. We were able to come out of that with the win, like we should,” he said.

Overall, Sarkonak was much more pleased with the second game, with the way the team was moving the ball, offloading it and keeping the flow of the game.

Sarkonak noted the team has been working hard in practice.

“They just work on the structure and the flow and just moving from sideline to sideline. And communication. And just the different scenarios and what you can find yourself in. They’re using it today,” he said.

“When there isn’t a ruck formed, they’re releasing the ball and getting to their feet. They’re waiting for support to get there. They’re counter-rucking. They’re doing everything we’ve asked them to do.”

When the 15s season gets underway in the spring, the varsity squad will definitely be leading that team, Sarkonak said.

“But overall, with the experience that the JV players are getting, they’ll definitely be putting their hands up for starters spots, for sure,” he added.

After the opening loss to the varsity squad, the JVs lost to Souris, 25-5.

No score was reported from the game against Crocus M.

Noting all of the players on the JV team are first-year players having never played before, JV coach Codi Harrigan has seen improvement in the team’s play.

“I’ve seen a really good, positive increase in performance from these girls. They came out first practice not knowing anything,” he said.

“We’re definitely advancing game after game after game. And we’re shocking some people, other coaches have told me.”

The team continues to learn and improve with every practice and game.

“They enjoy being out here with each other. They’re building a good team with one another. Their skills are improving, for sure,” Harrigan said.

Competing in the fall 7s season will give the JV players a head start when the 15s season begins in the spring.

“They’ve got a head start on the 15s here. They’ve faced three of the toughest teams here today and they’re getting a taste of the game,” Harrigan said.

“They’re getting to see what the competition is like and they’re going to go against the same girls in the spring. It’s good for them to come out and play these girls now and they know what they have to work on in the winter.”

After dropping their season opener, the Parkland Rangers have won two games in a row, in convincing fashion.

The Rangers scored a 7-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings, Sept. 28, and hammered the Kenora Thistles, 11-1, Oct. 4.

Rangers head coach Rick Freese is seeing the hard work and consistent effort he was hoping for.

“Especially from the young kids. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve got some veteran players up front that are scoring goals and they’re doing their thing, especially on the power play,” he said.

“And we’ve got some veterans on the backend like Ryder Gardner. And I know (Owen) Sigvaldason hasn’t played here, I know this is his first season, but he’s played real well.”

Freese said the line of Alex Campbell, Dayson Martin and Noah Smigelsky has played well in the early going, combining for seven goals and 16 points.

“We’ve been lucky here these last couple of games. Our young kids are working hard. They’re forechecking hard. They’re killing penalties. We’ve been successful here as of late,” Freese said.

One bright spot is the balanced scoring. The 11 goals on Saturday came from nine different players.

“That means everybody is contributing. Everybody is getting involved. And it means I can play everybody against anybody in the league up to date,” Freese said.

“Sure, we have our power-play units and our PK units. But it’s nice to see everybody getting involved. And another indication that everybody is starting to work. And they’re starting to play the system we want, especially in the neutral zone. When we do what we need to do in the neutral zone and they do what they’ve been taught in the neutral zone, we keep those guys wide and we seal the zone and we just move. So yeah, I’m happy with everything so far, for sure.”

The Rangers will now prepare for the annual trip north to Thompson, where they will play the Norman North Stars, Saturday and Sunday.

“That’s the life of a hockey team. Ten or 15 minutes after you enjoy your win, it’s time to move on. The bigger prize is at the end. That’s just how it is,” Freese said.

After playing Norman, the Rangers will face some stiffer competition as they play the Winnipeg Wild, Eastman Selects, Winnipeg Bruins twice and Winnipeg Thrashers before their next home game, Oct. 31.

“We’re going to be in Winnipeg for three weekends in a row. This month on the road is going to be a tough test, for sure. Better to get it out of the way now, though, than later on,” Freese said.

It wasn’t the start the Parkland Rangers were hoping for.

The Rangers opened the 2025-26 Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League season with a 5-3 loss to the visiting Southwest Cougars, Friday in Dauphin.

Southwest opened the scoring, but the Rangers responded with goals from Alex Campbell and Dayson Martin on a power play.

The Cougars responded with two of their own to carry a 3-2 lead into the second period, where they increased the advantage to 5-2.

Jordan Height pulled Parkland to within two late in the second, but that was as close as Parkland would get.

Rangers head coach Rick Freese feels some of the veterans need to lead the way as the rookies learn to adapt to a higher level of hockey.

“But those young kids are working and giving it all they’ve got. It’s early in the season. We’ve just got to make sure we follow the process and make sure that guys are buying into our systems and buying into where we want them, to be out there,” he said.

One thing Freese would like to see from the younger players is a consistent work ethic.

“The biggest thing for us is it’s not a spectator sport and you can’t watch, especially away from the puck. If your feet aren’t moving, you’re probably not where you should be. We’ll get there,” he said.

Every coach, Freese said, wants as short of a learning curve as they can.

“But at the end of the day, you just have to go through things with those guys until they understand what you’re asking for and what you expect. And if it takes a little bit longer, you just continue the same thing until they pick it up and it becomes second nature,” he said.

Freese felt the young players getting their first taste of U18 hockey know how to work hard, singling out Noah Hanneson.

“I thought Hanneson worked real hard. I thought he played a pretty good game for the pace of it and the way it was. I thought he played real well. And we’ve got some other guys that are right up there,” he said.

“So do I think it’s a process. I do and it’s going to take some time.”

The Rangers had chances to score in the third period, but were stymied by Cougars netminder Brady Shields.

Southwest, Freese noted, had two power-play goals and took advantage of some miscommunication by the Rangers.

“They didn’t get anything we didn’t give them and all those things are completely fixable. You just have to be engage and be prepared to play. I think that comes with maturity a little bit, too, as guys get into things,” he said.

The Rangers hosted the Brandon Wheat Kings, Sunday.

After allowing six goals against in the season opener to the Swan Valley Stampeders, Sept. 19, the Dauphin Kings have given up just two goals against in winning their next three games.

The Kings shutout the Stampeders, Sept. 20, before sweeping a home-and-home with the Neepawa Titans, scoring a 4-1 victory, Friday in Neepawa, and completing the sweep with a 2-1 win in Dauphin, Saturday.

Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said other than the third period of the season opener, the Kings’ goaltenders have played well, noting Justin Perreault picked up his first Manitoba Junior Hockey League win, Saturday.

“Justin Perreault looks like he can play. So I’ll be happy with a 19 and 18 year old and we’re doing well,” he said.

“But we’re moving pucks well in the D-zone. Guys are working hard. We kept them to the outside. This wasn’t our best game tonight, but we found a way to get it done. A win is a win.”

Forwards Ethan Stewart and Cam Jansa missed Saturday’s game due to injuries, resulting in Hedley mixing up the lines. In the third period he reunited the line of Luke Myhre, Quentin Fisk and Kale Pratte, which paid dividends when Fisk scored the game winner with six minutes left.

“We had to do some things with Stewie out and Jansa and Simmer (Havryil Simchuk) is not back yet. We just had to shuffle the lines around with the other guys to give us some balance,” he said.

“But when we put Fisk, Pratte and Myhre back together again, they have chemistry. They work hard together, they communicate, they talk, they’re good friends. They were the best line on the ice in the last two periods.”

Neepawa pulled their goaltender with just over two minutes to go, but never really had any scoring chances due to Dauphin’s pressure on the puck. In fact, the Kings had more scoring chances than the Titans.

That is something the Kings work on in practice, both offensively and defensively.

“When we practice special teams, we do six-on-five faceoffs when we’re down and we do that six-on-five for our point with different offensive faceoffs,” Hedley said.

“But in the D-zone, we like to bring our D back, to have a two-man D and the forward goes on the wall. And we try to just block out and just  to get loose pucks, get there first. And it worked good tonight. The biggest thing for us is that we want pressure on the puck by one guy only. One guy goes hard and the other two guys are still high.”

Nicholas Zaharias, Hedley said, was unbelievable with his forecheck, keeping Neepawa hemmed in their own end for 10 to 15 seconds before getting help from his linemates.

“We have to make sure we have full control of the puck when that happens,” he said.

Hedley feels the Kings have done well at locking games down since the championship season in 2022.

“In our one-goal leads or two-goal leads, we’ve really played well. There’s a learning curve there and our guys are starting to buy in,” he said.

The Kings now have a 10-day break between games with the next contest taking place, Oct. 7, when they visit the Stampeders in Swan River at 7 p.m.

In between, the team plans to take part in some team-bonding events. Last week, they took part in some paint ball games at Dauphin Bible Camp and this week, they plan to hit the golf course for a round of golf.

The Kings have been waiting for a release from Hockey Canada for Simchuk. He and Luc Sedawey, a player from Rosemère, Que., who has been practicing with the team for a couple of weeks, should be ready to go when the Kings next hit the ice, as should Stewart and defenceman Brett Magarrell. Jansa is day-to-day with a knee injury.

Hedley still has some decisions to make with 27 players still with the team.

It was a good start to the season for the Dauphin Clippers senior boys volleyball team.

Competing in the Brandon University Varsity Boys Tournament, the Clippers finished fourth out of 31 teams.

Dauphin opened the tournament with a 25-16 and 26-24 win over Oxbow in their first match, then split with Ebb and Flow, 25-18 and 22-25.

A 25-17 and 25-23 win over Glenboro put the Clippers in first place, earning the team a playoff match against Elmwood, which Dauphin won, 25-14 and 25-8.

In the quarterfinals, the Clippers beat Weyburn, 20-25, 26-24 and 15-12, advancing to the semifinals where they lost to Estevan, 10-25 and 22-25.

In the bronze medal game, Dauphin fell to Yorkton, 16-25 and 23-25.

Gabriel Beaudin was named to the tournament all-star team for his stellar play throughout the weekend.

Clippers coach Taylor Schmidt felt it was a good start to the season.

“It was our first competition of the year and we have a fairly new group this year, with only four returning players. So we went into the tournament looking to improve throughout the whole tournament, both as individuals and as a team and take it from there,” he said.

“It was a great tournament, in that the team continued to improve each match and some of our best volleyball we played in the quarterfinals against Weyburn. We went down one set and we were able to come back and win in three to give us a spot in the semis.”

With this being their first tournament, the Clippers learned what they have to work on and where the players are best suited to play.

“It’s a great place to start and still lots of room to grow. And we’re looking forward to getting back into the gym for the next couple of weeks to continue to improve,” Schmidt said.

Beaudin was a big part of the team’s success, leading the team on and off the court. With so many new and inexperienced players, Beaudin did what Schmidt called “a wonderful job leading our group,” which the tournament organizer recognized in naming him to the all-star team.

“Well deserved and well earned by him,” Schmidt added.

Dauphin’s next tournament will be in Roblin, Oct. 3.

Dauphin’s JV girls volleyball team was in Niverville for the Southeast Spike Tournament, where they won the consolation final, placing fifth.

The Clippers began the event with a 25-8 and 25-19 win over Faith Academy, followed by a 25-8 and 25-9 win over St. Norbert.

Dauphin then split with the host Niverville squad, 22-25 and 25-14, to clinch first place in their pool.

In the quarterfinals, Dauphin lost to Gabrielle-Roy, 13-25 and 23-25, dropping the Clippers to the consolation side of the bracket.

In the consolation semifinals, the Clippers defeated Steinbach, 23-25, 25-15 and 16-14, advancing to the consolation final where they defeated Neelin, 18-25, 25-19 and 15-13, placing fifth.

After dropping the season opener to the Swan Valley Stampeders, Friday in Swan River, the Dauphin Kings had a nice bounce back effort in Saturday’s home opener.

The Kings had a 3-0 lead late in the second period of Friday’s game only to give up six straight goals, including five in the third period, settling for a 6-3 defeat.

On Saturday, in front of a crowd of 1,083 spectators, Bryson Yaschyshyn, who took the loss on Friday, had a good rebound game, stopping all 33 shots he faced in leading the Kings to a 7-0 shutout victory.

Kings head coach and general manager Doug Hedley said the Kings had chances to score, but didn’t bear down when they needed to.

“We had pressure all the time. We had so many chances, walked in and just not bearing down,” he said, crediting Stampeders goalie Easton Falls with making key saves.

“In Swan, the puck bounces everywhere, around the net steady. We lost a couple of assignments on the rush, they took advantage of it and we were trailing,” Hedley said.

“It’s a learning process. There’s some new guys in the lineup. We didn’t lock it down like we’re used to doing and it just comes from experience and getting better at it.”

It was a better effort on Saturday. Hedley said the Kings were using their speed and all four lines were working hard.

“I thought the young kids played really well. The 17-year-olds, (Quentin) Fisk and (Brody) Wytinck and (Brady) Bell. And then you put (Kale) Pratte and (Luke) Myhre in there, I think they were really good,” he said, adding when teams get a big lead, they can play their younger players more.

“Because they weren’t hurting us. They were playing very well, playing defensively and they were responsible coming back. And they contributed offensively.”

Myhre played one of his best games that Hedley has seen, finishing with two assists before he was ejected for a third period fight.

“He’s a talented kid. It’s just that consistency and the work ethic that’s got to be there. And tonight, that line was very good for us, Kale Pratte, Quentin Fisk was very good,” Hedley said.

Through the first two games, the Kings have goals from eight different players, with 14 skaters hitting the scoresheet.

Hedley was pleased with the balanced scoring, noting the Kings will have to score by committee. Getting Havryil Simchuk back from the British Columbia Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits will help.

The Kings currently have 29 players still in camp. At some point Hedley expects to let go two forwards and two defencemen.

Defencemen Brett Magarrell and Talon Hogg are currently on the  injured list.

Magarrell had shoulder surgery in June and is expected to be cleared by doctors at the end of the month.

Hedley said the decisions will be tough, because he feels every player still in camp can play at the junior level.

“So it’s going to come down to character and work ethic. It’s going to be tough,” he said.

Prior to the start of the season, the Kings acquired goaltender Justin Perreault from the Winkler Flyers for a player development fee.

Last season, playing with the Winnipeg Wild, Perreault was named the Manitoba U18 AAA Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player and Top Goaltender and was selected to the first all-star team after posting a 25-4-0-1 record with a 1.65 goals-against average and .934 save percentage, to go along with eight shutouts.

Piet Mierau, who had the inside track to be the backup this season, will instead play for Columbia Valley in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League on loan from the Kings.

Hedley said Perreault is a player he really couldn’t pass up on, adding goalie coach Dan Keeping will work with him and Yaschyshyn, who had a good game Saturday, following Friday’s loss.

“I think he’s got to keep control of some of his rebounds, but he had a good game and made some good saves at the right times. The games he played last year for us, he looked like he could be a starter for us. When he’s quiet and when pucks stick to him, he’s a good goaltender. So it was a great bounce back tonight,” he said.

The Kings have another home-and-home this weekend, facing the Titans in Neepawa, Friday at 7:30 p.m., before hosting the Titans, Saturday at 7 p.m.