Jeff Michiels had three goals and two assists as the Notre Dame Hawks defeated the Altona Maroons 7-5. Marc Vigier, Brian Michiels, Karl Conrad and Eli Carels also scored for the hometown Hawks who lead 6-0 by the three minute mark of the second period. Justin Augert had a hat trick for the Maroons. Mitchell Doell had the other two Altona goals. The Portage Islanders and Warren Mercs are tied for top spot in the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League heading into the Christmas break. Both teams have 14 points. The Carman Beavers are in third place with 13 points; the Morden Bombers have 12; Notre Dame and Winkler are tied for fifth place with nine points each while the Maroons are in the cellar with three points. The first game of 2022 will be in Winkler on Tuesday, January 4th as the Royals host Carman.

 

Winkler Flyers captain Jayden McCarthy is a Manitoba Junior Hockey League Star of the Week. The Morris native had a goal and five assists in the Flyers pair of wins over the OCN Blizzard this past weekend.

 

Following the announcement that the Province of Alberta will be implementing capacity limits for indoor sporting events, the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship will be reducing capacity to 50% for all games, effective immediately. Canada's lone pre-tournament game is Thursday night against Russia.

 

The 2022 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Trials will run December 28th - January 2nd at Stride Place in Portage after consultation between Curling Canada and the Manitoba government to align with current public health orders. Attendance at Stride Place will be capped at 50%, and athletes, Curling Canada staff and officials will be restricted to a bubble-like atmosphere, limiting them to their hotel rooms, the arena and the vehicles they will use to get back and forth. As well, athletes and Curling Canada staff and officials will be subject to regular testing throughout the event to ensure the safety of everyone in the building. Sixteen teams will be playing in Portage, with the winning team earning the right to play at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.