Former Bison offensive lineman in the running to go first overall at 2026 CFL Draft

When the Canadian Football League Draft begins later this month, the first selection could very well be one of Winnipeg’s own.

With team draft boards coming into focus, there is a growing belief that Gio Vaccaro, the former Manitoba Bisons standout who transferred to Purdue for his final season of college eligibility, will be the first name called on April 28.

“To me, I think that he is certainly one of the first offensive linemen off the board, and it’s not unreasonable that he would be a guy that would get some consideration as the top pick. In terms of what he is physically and athletically, he fits the bill,” TSN draft analyst Duane Forde told the Free Press.

The 6-2, 307-pound guard was a two-time first-team All-Canadian selection and 2024 winner of the J.P. Metras Trophy (awarded to the nation’s top offensive lineman) with the Bisons. Although Vaccaro’s move to the NCAA Power 4 ranks didn’t yield a starting job, he saw time on the Boilermakers’ special teams units and played valuable snaps in the team’s regular-season finale against Indiana — the eventual national champions.

Reigning world champ Furber continues to dominate blind golf

During the 1995 Manitoba Amateur Championship, Darcy Furber came to a stunning realization as he surveyed his options for an 85-yard approach shot into the 12th green at Bel Acres Country Club.

Furber had seen this shot more times than he could count, but not like this. This afternoon, he couldn’t figure out where to aim.

A hereditary eye condition had slowly eaten away at Furber’s vision in the months and years leading up to then. He was already unable to drive at night, and now it was severely affecting an environment in which he had thrived his entire life.

A future in the sport that was once clear had appeared to dim.

Cool Runnings-inspired curling series set in Winnipeg years in the making

When you think of the island country of Jamaica, curling isn’t what comes to mind.

But when Chris Sharpe’s high school gym class at Vincent Massey Collegiate crossed the street to try the sport at the Pembina Curling Club, it gave the Jamaican Canadian an idea.

You’ve heard of Cool Runnings — the hit movie inspired by the Jamaican bobsled team at the 1988 Winter Olympics. And while the country has yet to make its “ice chess” debut on the world’s biggest stage, that hasn’t stopped Sharpe from coming up with Cool Sweepings.

Sharpe, founder and creative producer of Black Film Space Manitoba, and his team filmed four episodes of the fictional series inside the Fort Rouge Curling Club in November. The show is scheduled to air this spring or summer on Bell Fibe TV’s streaming service.

Canadian men’s rugby squad returns to the ‘Peg for first time in 33 years

The last time Winnipeg hosted an international rugby match, Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You topped the music charts and Harrison Ford ruled the box office in The Fugitive.

The Canadian men’s national team was also a pesky squad that punched well above its weight on the pitch, finding ways to contend with European powerhouses like Wales and England.

Gareth Rees remembers those days fondly. The former fullback helped make up the backbone of that Canadian team, which also took it to the United States at Maple Grove Rugby Park in 1993.

The Americans were dominated 20-9 that day.

Ice win west to reach U18 nationals

History wasn’t on their side, and yet, the Winnipeg Ice AAA U18 female hockey team sensed they were hours away from punching their ticket to nationals.

Young swimmers set record pace in pool

The Winnipeg pre-teens Avielle Toews and Arthur Godoy have combined to set 14 new 12-and-under provincial records in the pool so far this season, and both have their sights on more.

Binscarth’s Peake claims NCAA golf title for Northwest Missouri State

Clara Peake picked a great time to have the best round of her life.

The Binscarth golfer added to her college trophy case on Tuesday after rallying from three shots down to capture the Spring Region Preview (NCAA Division II) at Shangri-La Country Club in Monkey Island, Okla.

Peake, who attends Northwest Missouri State, found her A-game and produced a three-under 69 in the final round.

“Honestly, that was the best tournament I’ve ever played, score-wise,” said Peake, who won the 2021 Manitoba junior women’s championship. “I’ve never shot in the 60s in a tournament before. I think I’ve been under par once in another tournament. But it was kind of crazy, honestly.”

Winnipeg-based firefighter first Canadian to capture World’s Strongest title

Carrying a 300-pound fire hydrant and pulling a 60,000-pound fire truck aren’t in Evan Yaworski’s job description, but his employer might find it nice to know that they could be and he wouldn’t bat an eye.

Five Manitoba bowlers named to Team Canada, including back-to-back Marinelli champ Naylor-McCall

In the final frame of her semifinal match, bowler Marissa Naylor-McCall needed to strike and mark to advance and defend her title as Winnipeg’s tenpin champion.

Brandon’s Bell boasts title-winning goal

Allow Taylor Bell to set the scene.

“I’m looking around the bench, everybody’s gassed, like we’re trying to figure out who we’re taking off next,” began the co-captain of Midland University’s women’s hockey team. “I take off Ashlyn (Kuffler), and I hop the boards, (Liberty University) almost had a scoring chance in our end, so I’m coming back, Callie (Maguire) sees me, gives me a little chip off the wall. I see Darbi (Poole) coming with me; she falls down, so I’m like, ‘Well, I gotta shoot it now.’ So I just put the puck on net and got my own rebound, and it went in.

“So, nothing special there.”

To the contrary. While the goal might not have been the flashiest Bell — a fourth-year forward from Brandon — scored all season, it was undoubtedly the most important, as it delivered Midland its first American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1 national championship on Sunday.

Gilles, Poirier second after rhythm dance at figure skating world championships

PRAGUE - Olympic bronze medallists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier finished second in Friday's rhythm dance at the world figure skating championships.

Gilles, from Toronto, and Poirier, from Unionville, Ont., scored a season's best 86.45 points for their routine to RuPaul's "Supermodel" and "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred.

“It was a really fun performance,” Poirier said. “We really enjoyed it. I think it was nice to have that little bit less pressure compared to the Olympic Games, and so we were really able to just enjoy the performance and be present in it, and the crowd was really awesome, so we had a great time.”

Olympic champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry, a Montreal native representing France, and partner Guillaume Cizeron held a commanding lead heading into Saturday's free dance with a score of 92.74.

Kaori Sakamoto signs off with a 4th world figure skating title before retirement

PRAGUE (AP) — Kaori Sakamoto bid farewell to figure skating with a fourth world championship title before retirement as one of the most decorated skaters in decades.

Sakamoto took to the ice to cheers from a packed arena in Prague and delivered a typically artistic and consistent final free skate to stay ahead of her Japanese teammate Mone Chiba.

After signing off to Edith Piaf's “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien,” Sakamoto made a double fist pump as her coaches hugged rink-side and Chiba stood to applaud.

Minutes later, Sakamoto jumped up and danced in celebration at leaving on a personal-best total 238.28 points and embraced Chiba, who scored 228.47. “I'm so happy,” Sakamoto said to whoops from the crowd. “I'm grateful that I get to skate here."

Winnipeg’s world junior figure skating champs Kemp, Elizarov feeling pretty cool

Yes, it is pretty cool being world junior champions.

That’s the consensus opinion of Winnipeg’s Ava Kemp and Yohnatan Elizarov whose hard work these last five years elevated them from pairs figure skating newbies to best-on-the-planet status among the world’s elite junior competitors.

“It’s kind of funny that just because we have this title, a lot more opportunities will come up. Even in the past few weeks (since winning the ISU championship in Estonia), eyes kind of turn and we have more attention, so it’s a bit weird because we didn’t change as people or a team just because we have that title,” Kemp said this week at the start of a much-needed, two-week break from training.

“But it’s cool. We’re going to keep working. We’re super excited to step into senior (competition) this season.”

London Marathon organizers looking at creating a two-day event for 2027

LONDON (AP) — The London Marathon could become a two-day event in 2027 so more people can take part.

Organizers say they are “continually exploring innovative ways” to make the event bigger “while delivering positive benefits for London.”

“We are looking at the intention for the London Marathon to take place across two days,” organizers said. “No approval has been given at this stage.”

British newspaper The Guardian reported the men’s and women’s elite races could be held across the weekend, and a total of 100,000 runners taking part.

Dakota, Maples come out on top at provincials

This time, the Dakota Lancers got the last laugh.

One year after being denied a historic four-peat at the hands of the Vincent Massey Trojans, a revamped Lancers squad returned with another chance to win it all, against the same opponent at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Monday, and made good on their opportunity, earning a 78-73 triumph over the Trojans to capture the AAAA girls’ provincial basketball championship.

Later in the evening, the Maples Marauders defeated the Dakota Lancers 115-106 in overtime to win the boys’ provincial title.

The Dakota girls finished with a 30-2 record overall to capture their fourth title in the last five seasons.