Ethan Plett had three goals and an assist as the Steinbach Huskies defeated the Red River Mudbugs 5-1 Thursday night in St. Jean. Kailen Penner and Ian Friesen also scored for the defending Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League champions. Gavin Wiens had the lone goal for the Mudbugs. Huskies netminder William Macdonald made 27 saves while Red River's Ryan Geirnaert faced 37 shots. The Mudbugs meet the Macdonald Swarm tonight in Sanford while the Landmark Blues host the Lorette Comets. 


The defending South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League champion Aces face the Portage Islanders tonight in Ste. Anne. The Aces (10-1) share top spot with the Warren Mercs. The Islanders, who have won five of their last six games after starting the season with four straight losses, are in a five-way tie for fourth place with the Ile des Chenes Northstars, Morden Bombers, Winkler Royals and Notre Dame Hawks. 


First place in Group A is on the line today when Canada meets host Sweden at the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg. The opening face-off is at 12:30 p.m. Both teams have 2-0 preliminary round records. Canada defeated Finland 5-2 and Latvia 10-0 while Sweden shutout Latvia 6-0 and Germany 5-0.


Canada will take on KalPa Kupio in the quarterfinals at the Spengler Cup hockey tournament in Davos, Switzerland. Team Canada gave up three third period goals and lost 4-3 to host HC Davos on Thursday. Calle Andersson scored the go-ahead goal with 3:45 remaining in regulation. Josh Jooris, Michael Joly and John Quenneville did the goal scoring for the Canadians. 


Shai Gilgeous Alexander is the Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year. The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard blossomed on the NBA hardwood and the international stage. The 25-year-old Hamilton native had a breakout 2022-23 season for the Oklahoma City Thunder that saw him finish fourth in scoring at 31.4 points per game and become only the second Canadian beside Hall of Famer Steve Nash to make the all-NBA first team. Gilgeous Alexander then helped Canada win its first-ever FIBA World Cup medal, earning bronze.