Kerri Einarson’s four-year reign as Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion came to an end Friday night in Calgary. Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard and Krysten Karwacki lost 9-4 to Kate Cameron. Kaitlyn Lawes fell 8-5 to Selena Sturmay of Alberta in the other 3 vs 4 qualifier. Cameron will take on Sturmay in the 3 vs 4 page playoff game today at 1 p.m. Jennifer Jones will meet Rachel Homan of Ontario in the 1 vs 2 page playoff game. The winner advances to Sundays final. The loser will meet either Cameron or Sturmay in the semifinals. Jones defeated Sturmay 8-4 and Homan downed Einarson 8-4 in the 1 vs 2 qualifiers Friday afternoon.


Jordon McDonald of Assiniboine Memorial and Shaela Hayward of Carman won A event qualifying games Friday at the Provincial Junior Curling Championships in Carman. McDonald downed Jace Freeman of Virden 11-4 while Hayward beat Bethany Allan of the Heather 8-3.


The Steinbach Huskies and Springfield Xtreme were winners in the Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League playoffs Friday night. Rylan Penner, Ethan Plett and Brandon Thiessen scored two goals each as the Huskies downed Niverville 6-2 in game one of their best-of-seven semifinal. Erik Anderson and Dylan Peters replied for the Clippers. Braeden Rebeck had a goal and two assists and Dylan Kizlik made 16 saves as Springfield blanked the Lorette Comets 6-0. The Xtreme lead that series two games to none.


Nikolas Bear scored his second goal of the game in overtime to lift the Beausejour Comets past the Arborg Ice Dawgs 6-5 in game one of their Capital Region Junior Hockey League best-of-five opening round series.


The Eastman Selects are one win away from advancing to round two of the Manitoba Female U18 AAA Hockey League playoffs. Addison Tomes made 27 saves and Ginger Fast scored the only goal of the game as Eastman blanked the Interlake Lightning 1-0 in Warren. The Selects lead the best-of-five quarterfinal two games to none.


Carson Bjarnason made 35 saves as the Brandon Wheat Kings beat the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference leading Blades 4-1 in Saskatoon. Luke Shipley, Matteo Michels, Dominik Petr and Carter Klippenstein did the goal scoring for the visitors.


Kyle Connor scored 25 seconds into overtime to lift the Winnipeg Jets past the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2. Nikolaj Ehlers had both Winnipeg goals in regulation. Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves in net for the Jets who have won five of their last six games.


The Manitoba Moose lost 5-2 to the Calgary Wranglers at Canada Life Centre. Jeff Mallot had both goals for the Moose who trailed 1-0 and 4-0 at the period breaks.


Natalie Spooner scored the shootout winner as Toronto slipped past New York 2-1 in the lone PWHL game. Ste. Anne’s Jocelyne Larocque drew an assist on Emma Maltais’ third period goal which gave Toronto a 1-0 lead. Brandon’s Kristen Campbell stopped 27 of 28 shots she faced in regulation and overtime as well as all four New York shootout attempts. Elm Creek’s Corinne Schroeder made 28 saves in net for New York.


The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed kicker Sergio Castillo to a one-year contract. Castillo’s 2023 season was record-breaking, as he connected on 46 of 51 field goal attempts, with his 90.2 percentage establishing a new Blue Bombers standard. Castillo was a perfect 31 of 31 inside the 40-yard line; 15 of 20 in 40-plus attempts and 4 of 6 from 50 yards-plus, including a season-long of 53 yards.