Michelle Sawatzky-Koop | Athlete – Volleyball Michelle Sawatzky-Koop was born in Steinbach, Manitoba in 1970. While attending Steinbach Regional Secondary School, she really started to excel as an athlete, winning the Athlete of the Year award in her senior year. After graduating in 1988, Michelle committed to playing volleyball for the University of Manitoba Bisons,…
Andrea Ferguson | Athlete – Ringette Andrea Ferguson was born in Winnipeg in 1983 and it didn’t take long before she found her calling in ringette. At the age of seven, she started playing and honing her craft. She worked continuously on her skating, passing, and shooting abilities with her two clubs, the River…
1990 Winnipeg Blue Bombers | Team – Football Call it a team of destiny. Going into the 1990 season, many sports pundits had predicted that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers would finish last in the east division, thanks to a poor record in 1989 and some uncertainty around the quarterback position. Just before the season…
September 13, 2022 – Winnipeg, MB – The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame announced the class of 2022 today, revealing the five individuals and one team who will be inducted into our hallowed halls this year. The individual inductees are: Don Baizley – Builder – Hockey Halldor Bjarnason – Athlete – Cerebral Palsy Tricycling…
And…they’re off! You’ve probably heard this phrase used on a regular basis if you have ever visited the Assiniboia Downs racetrack. If not, well, it’s used at the beginning of a race once the horses leave the starting gate and rumble down the track, horse and human, testing their might against one another to see…
Leading by example was one of many strong qualities Andy Bathgate had as a hockey player. Excelling at any level he played at, Bathgate eventually reached the pinnacle of hockey: the NHL. There, his impact was not just measured in points, but for what he did for the league – accidental or not. Early…
Hurry Hard! This is a familiar phrase that has rang through the Ursel household for decades. First, by Jim Ursel, then passed down to his two sons, Bob and Mike. You see, curling is not just a game to them – it is a part of who they are, and what they did…
“The ball is set to the middle, and smash… point for Canada!” “He’s at the 30, the 20, the 10… touchdown, Blue Bombers!” “The ball is thrown deep, and ohhh, what a sensational catch.” “Blink, and you will miss him at the finish line – that’s how fast he is, folks!” These are some of…
George Phillips’ contributions to amateur sports were felt by athletes, coaches, and organizers across North America for almost 60 years. Phillips founded, and was the Head Coach of the Legion Athletic Camp at the International Peace Garden. He gravitated there in the 1950s due to its 400-metre track from when the Highland Games were held…
See ya never, 2021! Many people would be happy to put the past year in the rearview mirror and never look back. It’s easy to see and focus on the negative impact the pandemic has had on many, including our organization, but I thought it would be better to look back at the incredible positive…