B2 ■ SPORTS THE BRANDON SUN ■ TUESDAY JANUARY 5 2021 TODAY IN »Experience took time to soak in SPORTS ON TELEVISION Continued from Page B1 • HOCKEY — At the IIHF MATT OSTASH: “I still have World Junior Championship, people come up and ask me the bronze medal game takes about our win. In the mo- place at 4:30 p.m. (TSN1), ment, the team we did it with and the individuals we with the gold medal on the did it with, we probably had line at 8:30 p.m. (TSN1) no idea what we did. As you • NBA — Utah Jazz at become an adult and people Brooklyn Nets, 6:30 p.m. start telling you stories about (SNW); Los Angeles Lakers watching me at 18, 16 years at Memphis Grizzlies, 7 ago, you start to realize we p.m. (TSN2); Minnesota had something special and did something most teams Timberwolves at Denver can’t say they’ve done.” Nuggets, 8 p.m. (SN1); BRYAN KAUK: “At the time San Antonio Spurs at Los you’re obviously super excit- Angeles Clippers, 9 p.m. ed to win the championship (SNW) and be the fi rst •NCAA FOOTBALL team to ever win the national — 2020 Heisman Trophy championship. As you get 6 p.m. (TSN2) older, it’s something you presentation, appreciate more and more through the years, to realize IN LOCAL HISTORY how hard it was to actually • 30 YEARS AGO — win that and get through the William Daniels had six regional tournament and get to the national tournament goals to pace the Kenton and play all the top teams in Cougars to a 13-4 thrashing Canada.” of the Miniota Night Hawks KEN MOTT: “When it’s in the NorthCentral Hockey happening, it’s just game, League. Duane Kent added game, game and you know four goals for the Cougars. that it can just end at any • 40 YEARS AGO — moment so you’re just play- Lawrence Parson ing shift by shift and period scored by period and riding the wave three goals to lead the and all of a sudden it’s over. It Minnedosa 14- year-olds takes a day, a week, even a to a 9-6 NorthWest Minor couple of years to fi gure what Hockey League victory over you actually did.” the Brandon Manco Tier ANDREW CLARK: “I’ve al- Two 13-year-olds. ways said that was one of, if Ian not the best year of my hock- • 50 YEARS AGO — After a long and winding championship season, many hands pitched in as the hoisted the national MaKay scored two goals ey career. I had so much fun U18 championship trophy they earned with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Riverains du Collège Charles-Lemoyne on April 25, as the Molsons Canadians that year, it was unbelievable. 2004 in Kenora, Ont. (Courtesy of ) I can tell you what we were beat Circle Eight 6-2 in doing on the bus, I can tell some time to look back and town of 50,000 people where special accomplishment for I did.” Brandon senior broomball you the songs we were play- realize ‘Wow, that was spe- there’s a recruiting structure sure.” TYLER PLANTE: “Looking action. Dan Roscoe, Ray ing, the stuff that we were do- cial.’” in other provinces. When you RYAN HALLIDAY: “It’s way back on it, population-wise, Hurd, Mike Hill and Wayne ing a lot behind the scenes. JUSTIN WATTERS: “We look at it with the knowledge more meaningful now. I have how diffi cult it was and how German That year defi ned me and were all young and it was just you have now, you defi nitely a brother (Dylan) who’s play- many stars had to align for us scored once each made me into the person and one thing after another thing realize that the odds were re- ing in Virden now with the to be in that position and get for the winners. the hockey player I was and I and they all piled up into one ally stacked against us and Oil Capitals now and he just that championship, it’s like am. It gave me a lot of life les- big thing. It wasn’t until later it was pretty special we were played AAA U18. Him and the champion of the cham- sons.” that we refl ected on it.” able to accomplish some- his buddies would always ask pion of the champions. That’s IN OTHER NEWS JOEL MALCHUK: “It means JOEL MALCHUK: “That thing like that.” me what it was like. It made your third championship a lot. If I could relive one year whole year, if I think back on BRANDON LOCKERBY: me realize how special it was, that year, and it’s on a nation- of hockey, that’s the year. It it, it’s what I’m most proud “To be the fi rst Manitoba what we did. It’s still being al stage. I still can’t put it fully THOMAS RETURNS was so fun. Every moment of accomplishing. It was be- team is something to be talked about 16 years later, into words and express how TO BLUE BOMBERS was amazing. There’s not a cause of the guys in the room proud of. I know for a lot of and we still have writing in exciting of a ride it was.” negative moment I remem- who made it so special and guys and myself, if you ever the dressing room about the JOEL MALCHUK: “Hon- — The lon- ber from that whole year.” the coaching staff and how get talking hockey with peo- year we won it. It’s a surreal estly, even after the game sit- gest-serving member of the ALEX ARGYRIOU: “When amazing they were. That fi nal ple and they ask where you feeling when people bring it ting in the dressing room, it you’re in the moment, there’s game against the Thrashers played, they put two and two up 16 years later.” didn’t feel over. It seemed like has signed a one-year ex- still doubt, there are still in the Sportsplex, it felt like together and fi gure out you SHAUN EARL: “It means ‘What’s next week? What’s tension with the club. those question marks. Is the we had made it to the NHL. It were on that team that won. more to me to bring down after this? Is there another Canadian defensive tack- team good enough? Are we was so special.” There’s a bit of recognition to my sons. They’re both team to play?’ I don’t know if le Jake Thomas will return going to get the breaks? Is BRANDON LOCKERBY: “I and fame that comes from it playing hockey. It was a big it was that team mentality in for his ninth season with there a commitment here? don’t think I had really under- as well. You’re forever linked deal and hopefully I can give me but it was ‘OK, on to the Winnipeg. Thomas has re- Those questions go through stood what we had done until to it.” them that drive. One thing I next. What’s next? What’s in corded 114 defensive tack- your head through the pro- the weeks or months follow- GREG PHILLIPS: “When learned winning a champi- front of us now?’ When we got les, 18 sacks, three forced cess. Now you look back and ing that tournament. Parents you’re in it and in the mo- onship … when hard work back to Brandon and were in fumbles and one intercep- you realize, there shouldn’t and fans were waiting for us ment, you don’t really appre- pays off, it defi nitely goes the dressing room, Mark tion in 137 games with Win- have been those questions. If when we got back to the rink ciate it that much because into your life as an adult. See- Johnston said ‘No practice nipeg. you look at the team we had on the bus and congratulat- you’re so focused on the next ing those results then and me tomorrow because there’s no and the way it was built and ing us.” practice, the next game, the putting them into my every- one left to beat.’ That brought QUEBEC GIVES they were all together and so TAYLOR LANGFORD: next shift whatever. It’s right day life and my commitment things to a close.” NHL APPROVAL close to each other, there’s “You don’t realize the odds in front of you. Looking back to my kids, and now it’s going » pbergson@brandonsun. MONTREAL — Quebec no doubt in my mind we that were against us coming on it, we’re all very proud to grow on my sons. I hope com is the third province to shouldn’t have won. It takes from a pool of players from a and we should be. It’s a very they have a hockey career like » Twitter: @PerryBergson approve NHL games this season in Canada, leaving Manitoba and Ontario as the only jurisdictions not to Flyers’ Patrick ready to return announce a fi nal decision. In an email to The Ca- nadian Press on Monday, a spokesperson for the BY DAN GELSTON Quebec Health Depart- ment confi rmed that public VOORHEES, N.J. — Nolan Patrick health authorities approved skated toward Oskar Lindblom during the revised protocol sub- a routine drill. Hunched over, Patrick mitted by Canadian teams had a brief conversation with his Phil- to federal authorities. adelphia Flyers teammate who knows Meanwhile, Manitoba a little something about comebacks. chief provincial public Lindblom made an improbable re- health offi cer Brent Rous- turn last season when he played for sin said Monday the risk the Flyers during the NHL start fol- to the public is “quite low” lowing a December diagnosis with a under the NHL’s plan. He rare bone cancer. added that the next step is Patrick, a former Brandon Wheat to amend public health or- Kings forward, never made it to the ders. ice. Alberta and B.C. previ- The 22-year-old centre, the No. ously gave the green light to 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft, the Edmonton Oilers, Cal- was stricken with debilitating mi- gary Flames and Vancouver graines. The Winnipeg product hasn’t Canucks, respectively. played since April 2, 2019, and long- term concerns over his health lin- PITCHER PHIL HUGHES gered all season. Patrick skated Monday at the fi rst OFFICIALLY RETIRES day of Flyers’ training camp. He hopes Phil Hughes has retired can make the lineup for the Jan. 13 from baseball, more than opener against Pittsburgh. two years after throwing his “I’m not going to get into too much last pitch. detail on how my head feels,” Patrick The 34-year-old right- said. “I’m going to see how camp goes hander said on Twitter on and go from there.” Sunday he was announcing Patrick was cleared for contact and what’s been “fairly apparent showed no hesitation chasing the ... these last couple years.” puck during some light action that “Through many ups and included shootout drills. Coach Alain downs over 12 years, I look Vigneault, starting his second season, back and am incredibly said it was too early to decide if Patrick forward Nolan Patrick is shown during a game on March 11, 2019. The proud of what I was able would be ready for opening night. former Brandon Wheat King didn’t play a shift last season due to debilitating migraine issues but is now back on the ice to accomplish,” he said. “I see the excitement in him both with the Flyers at camp. (Associated Press) “While injuries have forced being back with his teammates, work- this chapter of my life to ing and having fun, and I see the ex- who has 26 goals and 61 points in two The Flyers said in September 2019 playing last season. come to a close, I’m very citement in his teammates with him seasons, to miss so much time. Gen- that Patrick had been diagnosed with “It’s obviously mentally tough excited to pursue other pas- being back,” Vigneault said. “In this eral manager Chuck Fletcher said last a migraine disorder. Fletcher said at whenever you’re injured, watching,” sions. As my job title shifts situation, probably very nervous January that Patrick was progressing the time that the condition was not he said. “You want to be out there. It’s from baseball player to dad today, anxious to get going, hasn’t and he hoped the forward to return believed to be related to hockey, and obviously a tough injury that affects I’ll always feel very con- played in a while. But I think for him for a playoff push. If healthy, Patrick Patrick has a family history of mi- you mentally more than other ones nected to this game and the and for our team, this was a very posi- would provide valuable depth as a graines. would. But hopefully I get back here relationships I have made.” tive day, a step forward.” third-line centre behind Sean Coutu- Patrick declined to open up much soon.” » Wire Services The Flyers never expected Patrick, rier and Kevin Hayes. on his health or if he was ever close to » The Associated Press