The 3,531 fans who were at Shaw Park last night were not disappointed. Even though the game only took two and a half hours to play, The Winnipeg Goldeyes bounced back from dropping their home opener to beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 8-4 in game two of their seven game home stand.

Southpaw Kevin McGovern got his third start of the year for the Goldeyes while picking up his second win. The Philadelphia, PA native pitched eight solid innings, striking out seven while allowing four earned runs on four hits. All four runs were scored in the ninth inning. McGovern has pitched in 17 of 18 innings in his last two starts and leads the American Association with 21.2 innings pitched.

Andrew Sohn lead the way for the Winnipeg offence, going three for four on the evening with a double and a home run for four RBI's. Josh Romanski, David Bergin, Mason Katz and Wes Darvill drove in the other four runs for the Goldeyes.

Both the Goldeyes and Canaries maintained their positions in the North Division of the American Association with the decision. Winnipeg sits in second in the North Division, and third overall in the American Association, with a record of 8-4. They're one game back of the league-leading Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and Sioux City Explorers. Sioux Falls sits last in the North Division and second last in the American Association with a 4-7 record.

Game three of the four game series between the divisional rivals goes this morning at 11:00 at Shaw Park.

Photo courtesy of Goldeyes.com

The Stanley Cup Finals started with a bang last night as the Penguins beat the Predators 5-3 to open up the best-of-seven final.

After a PK Subban goal was called back following a coaches’ challenge for offside, Pittsburgh stormed back with three unanswered goals from Evgeni Malkin, Conor Sheary and Nick Bonino.

The second period was a complete turn-around, as Pittsburgh was held without a shot (the first time that has happened in a playoff game for the Penguins), and defenceman Ryan Ellis scored on the powerplay from Subban and Fisher to bring the Predators to within two.

Colton Sissions and Frederick Gaudreau added goals for Nashville to tie the game in the third, before Jake Guentzel scored his 10^th of the playoffs and Nick Bonino scored his second of the night to push Pittsburgh over the top.

Pekka Rinne stopped seven of the 11 shots he faced for the Predators.

Matt Murray picked up his fourth win of the playoffs, stopping 23 of 26.

Game two goes tomorrow night in Pittsburgh before the series shifts to Nashville for games three and four.

(Photo courtesy of NHL.com)

The Goldeyes lost their home opener last night as the Sioux Falls Canaries doubled up on Winnipeg 10-5. The night got underway before first pitch with a ceremony honouring last seasons’ American Association Championship in front of a crowd of 6,357 people.

 The Canaries got the ball rolling in the second inning, when catcher Cody Coffman singled to centre to score Patrick Fiala. Scoring was a team effort by Sioux Falls in the game, with six different players driving in runs.

Right hander Mikey O’Brien got the start for Winnipeg, going three and a third innings in a start he’d like to soon forget. He gave up seven runs on 12 hits while walking two and striking out only one. The loss was O’Brien’s first of the season with a record of two and one. His ERA shot up to 5.87.

Tampa, FL native David Bergin was the lone bright spot for the Goldeyes in the game, going two for five with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth.

Winnipeg sits at seven and four after the loss and sit second in the American Association North Division, two games back of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Sioux Falls improved to four and six on the year with the win, four and a half games back of the RedHawks.

Winnipeg and Sioux Falls will play this evening at Shaw Park for game two of their four game set. First pitch is scheduled for just after seven.

(Photo courtesy of Goldeyes.com)

The Manitoba Games have a new logo and title sponsor.

The games were previously known as the Power Smart Manitoba Games, but are now the Manitoba Games Powered by Manitoba Hydro.

In addition to unveiling the new name, a new logo for the games was also introduced.

The new logo features Manitoba Hydro's blue, with the gold symbol from the previous games' logo.

The announcements were made at a press conference Friday at the Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre in front of a large crowd, made up of representatives from Sport Manitoba, the City of Thompson, and members of the 2018 Host Society.

The delegations from Sport Manitoba were in Thompson for the first host tour in preparation for the 2018 Winter Games, which will start in March.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes have moved up to second in the American Association North Division after completing a three-game sweep of the Salina Stockade.

The Goldeyes came out swinging in the series finale, thumping the Stockade 16-0 yesterday afternoon.

Josh Romanski and Reggie Abercrombie each hit a homerun and drove in four runs apiece to lead the way offensively. David Rohm went three for six while adding three RBI's.

Wes Darvill, Mason Katz, Shawn Pleffner and David Bergin drove in the other runs for the Goldeyes.

Philadelphia, PA native Kevin McGovern got the start for Winnipeg, and pitched a complete game. He struck out five while walking one and allowing four hits.

24-year-old Sam Agnew-Wieland picked up the loss for Salina, his second of the season. Agnew-Wieland went just three innings, surrendering eight earned runs on nine hits. His ERA for the season sits at a whopping 18.89.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes play today as they open up a three game set with the Wichita Wingnuts at Lawrence Dumont Stadium, before traveling back north for their home opener on Monday at Shaw Park against the Sioux Falls Canaries.  

(Photo courtesy of Goldeyes.com)

The Winnipeg Goldeyes picked up their fourth win of the season yesterday, beating the Salina Stockade 7-4 at the Lawrence Dumont Stadium in Wichita, Kansas.

Right hander Mikey O'Brien fanned five over six innings while giving up only two runs on four hits to earn his second win of the season. Amarillo, Texas native TJ Looney pitched six innings for the Stockade, giving up four earned runs on four hits while fanning two.

The 'W' ties O'Brien with St Paul's Mark Hamburger and Ryan Fritze of the Gary SouthShore RailCats for the league lead in wins.

Josh Romanski hit two homeruns to drive in four to help lift the Goldeyes to victory, while Mason Katz and David Bergin each had one RBI. Romanski's two homers tied him for the league-lead in homers with three.

Winnipeg still sit in third in the American Association North Division, four games back of the St Paul Saints and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

The Goldeyes will be looking to improve on their 4-2 record this afternoon as they take on the Stockade in the finale of their three game series.

(Photo courtesy of Goldeyes.com)

The Winnipeg Goldeyes are starting their 2017 campaign with a 10-game road trip, and after five games sit third in the American Association North Division with a record of 3-2.

The Goldeyes opened up the season Thursday by winning 5-3 decision over the Cleburne Railroaders. Mikey O'Brien got the win for Winnipeg, striking out four over six solid innings while giving up two runs. Jupiter, Florida native Ryan Chaffee struck out one in the ninth to pick up the save. Josh Romanski lead the way up front for the Goldeyes, going two for five with a double and a home run, picking up three RBI's.  

Friday saw another Winnipeg win over Cleburne, this time 6-4. Southpaw Kenny Matthews picked up the win after coming in in relief in the fifth inning for starter Kevin McGovern. Chaffee picked up the save. Reggie Abercrombie picked up four RBI's in the game, going two for four at the plate with a home run.

Games three and four of the season-opening series didn't go as well for the Goldeyes, who dropped both games 4-3. Kenny Matthews picked up the loss on Saturday while Victor Capellan picked up the L on Sunday in a game that went 10 innings. Shawn Pleffner, the American Association batter of the week, went four for seven in the pair of losses.

Monday saw the Winnipeg pick up their third win of the season to bring their early season record to above .500 with a 12-10 win over the Salina Stockade. Joeanthony Rivera picked up the win after coming in in relief in the seventh inning, while Ryan Chaffee picked up his third save of the young season. Wes Darvill lead the offence for the Goldeyes in this one, going three for five while picking up four RBI's. Alixon Suarez and David Rohm picked up two RBI's apiece.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes play the Stockade again today, then wrap up the three game set tomorrow. The Goldeyes will play their first game at Shaw Park next Monday against the Sioux Falls Canaries.

The 50^th Canada Games are taking place in Winnipeg this summer, and the Manitoba Hydro Torch Relay will be making its way through Thompson on July 6^th.

Late last week, Manitoba Hydro unveiled the ten Thompsonites who will be carrying the Roly McLenehan Torch when it comes through town.

Conroy Halcrow, Megan Szabo, Caroline Winship, Madison Humby, Taylor Kristjanson, Tyson Mosiondz, Eve Spence, Jennifer Montgomery, Sandra Ross-Hitch and 102.9 CHTM's Stuart Walter were all selected as torch bearers for their dedication to the community and local sport.

The torch will travel here in Thompson on a route that will see it go from the Manitoba Hydro office on Station Road to MacLean Park.

The torch will be lit in Ottawa, with the relay starting in Steinbach on June 23^rd. The torch will then make its way through Kenora and Morden, Gillam and Fox Lake Cree Nation, Thompson, The Pas/OCN, Dauphin, Brandon, Sagkeeng First Nation and Great Falls before arriving in Winnipeg two days before the games begin.

The games will start in Winnipeg on July 28^th.

(Photo courtesy of Ian Graham, Thompson Citizen)

Up to 45 youth and community members from First Nations communities will be attending every Bombers home game during the upcoming 2017 season.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in partnership with Perimeter Aviation and Exchange Income, will be flying in their guests on a private chartered plane, giving them tickets to a game, food and hotel as well as a meet and greet with players afterwards.

14 different communities will be taking part this year; St. Theresa Point, Garden Hill, Red Sucker Lake, Wasagamack, Oxford House, God's Lake Narrows, Gods River, Shamattawa, Norway House, Cross Lake, Sandy Lake, Lac Brochet, Tadoule Lake and Brochet

All communities will attend a draft dinner later this month, to determine the schedule of games and distribution of the tickets.

In addition, Bombers players will be visiting one of the communities next spring to deliver the Blue Bombers Care school program.

The visit will be modeled after the visit earlier in the year to Thompson and Wabowden.

(Pictured: Matthias Goossen of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers hanging out with the Boys and Girls Club of Thompson at Juniper School earlier this year)