BY: JENNIFER LAVIOLETTE

A new youth sports team has been established in Roblin, giving youth a chance to play basketball. The Roblin Raptors is a club basketball team started by head coach Ryan Wiesner. Assistant coaches are Danny Andres and Brandin Beasley, and the team managers are Rita Collins and Tara Martin. This team started as a result of some strong interest coming from the elementary school.
“Rita Collins was coaching the boys’ elementary school team and I was helping out a bit, while also coaching the guys at GLH,” said Roblin Raptors Head Coach Ryan Wiesner. “There seemed to be some keen players at the elementary. I also knew a few homeschooled boys who were excited to play basketball on a club team, so I put out some feelers to see what the interest would be and to my surprise, 11 guys signed up.
“We are a 14U team, whereas it’s more common to have a 15U team, so we’re playing against older competition a bit this year. There are 15U programs in Yorkton and Dauphin, as well as larger centres like Brandon, Winnipeg, Regina, etc. Sometimes other surrounding communities have programs too, but none were able to do that this season.”
The Roblin Raptors just started their first season earlier this month made their first appearance this past weekend at a tournament in Dauphin.
“Our first practice was April 6, 2026, and we’ve had two a week since then,” said Wiesner. “The boys are improving so much.
“Our first tournament was in Dauphin this past weekend, on April 18 to 19, 2026, and due to this being our first season and playing older competition, it was a true growing experience. The boys showed a ton of grit and determination and by the fourth game, they played very well.
“We all were extremely proud of their effort and were able to see them put up 43 points, and their defence improved a lot too,” said Wiesner.
There is an opportunity for a home audience to cheer on and support this new local youth basketball team next month, when they host their first tournament.
“The club basketball season is relatively short compared to other sports,” said Wiesner. “It only goes from April until the beginning of June.
“We have a home tournament planned for May 10, 2026, and we’re also going to the Club Basketball Manitoba Championships from May 22 to 24, 2026. There is also the possibility of some exhibition games coming up too. The whole point of the program is to help the players have fun and to grow and develop their skills as basketball players.
“Come on out and cheer us on May 10 at the Goose Lake High Gymnasium,” said Wiesner. “The first game is at 2 p.m. and the last one at 6:30 p.m.”