2018 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro release rosters, announce flag bearers

(Winnipeg, MB February 28, 2018) – Sport Manitoba announced the official rosters for the 2018 Manitoba Winter Games powered by Manitoba Hydro in Thompson, Manitoba.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to see Thompson hosting the 2018 Manitoba Winter Games. It’s a wonderful opportunity for athletes, coaches and spectators to experience firsthand the true beauty of northern Manitoba. I also want to thank all of the volunteers for their hard work in organizing what I’m sure will be a spectacular event,” said the Honourable Cathy Cox, Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage.

Up to 1,500 of Manitoba’s best young male and female athletes and coaches will to compete in 12 different sports over the coming week. The first phase of teams gather in Thompson this Sunday for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2018 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro. Official rosters released today are searchable by athlete’s name, team name, sport, or region.

“Manitoba Hydro is proud to support the best of amateur sport and a thriving volunteer spirit through our partnership with the Games. Thank you to the organizers and volunteers who are working tirelessly to make these Games a success for both the athletes and the many spectators who will cheer them on,” said Scott Powell, Director of Corporate Communications for Manitoba Hydro.

Some of these athletes will advance to represent Manitoba at the 2019 Canada Games next winter in Red Deer, Alberta. A few will go on to Team Canada. 2018 Olympian Brigette Lacquette competed in the Manitoba Games in softball in 2004 and female hockey in 2006. Sporting events in the 2018 Games include archery, badminton, alpine ski, curling, figure skating, gymnastics, hockey, ringette, speed skating, swimming, wrestling, and table tennis.

“The Manitoba Games continue to inspire our young athletes and create our next generation of national, international, and Olympic champions. We are thrilled to have over 1,300 athletes participating in the 2018 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro in Thompson and know our six regional flag bearers will do us proud,” said Jeff Hnatiuk, President and CEO, Sport Manitoba.

Visit the Games website to search and view rosters:  https://mg2018.gems.pro/Result/ShowPerson_List.aspx?&Gems_ScreenWidth=1920&Gems_ScreenHeight=1080&Gems_ScreenAvailWidth=1920&Gems_ScreenAvailHeight=1040

To view results: https://mg2018.gems.pro/Result/Sport_List.aspx?SiteMapTreeExpanded=c16da14e-d6d9-4141-82c1-f508c62c0eb3&SetLanguage=en-CA

The flag bearers for each of the six regional teams are nominated by their peers and selected by their Regional Sport Development Officer. Each flag bearer will represent their region and lead their team into the Opening Ceremonies of the 2018 Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro, Sunday, March 4, at the C.A. Nesbitt Arena in Thompson, Manitoba. The ceremonies will be live-streamed on the Manitoba Games Facebook page.

EAST
Ella Fleury – Artistic Gymnastics, Dugald, MB

While Ella is competing in gymnastics at these Games, she also curls, plays volleyball, and competes in track and field. She is taking her Bronze Medallion in swimming this summer and is a very hard worker. She is extremely dedicated to her sport, and spends time at home to work through any mental blocks.  She cheers hard for her teammates and is always excited for class. Ella enjoys volunteering with the Girl Guides in her community.

NORTH
Grace Dubinak – Artistic Gymnastics, Flin Flon, MB

Grace Dubinak is a proud member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. She is 12 years old and attends grade 7 French Immersion in Flin Flon. Grace will compete in gymnastics these games, and also competed in soccer at the 2016 Manitoba Games where her team captured the bronze medal.  She loves to play basketball and volleyball, hang out with friends and family, is on the student council, and participates in the school music program. 

SOUTH
Jayden Rutter – Curling, Carman, MB

Jayden is the skip for the junior curling team. He was named the 2017 Sportsperson of the Year in the Asham Manitoba Junior Super League. He is also a provincial champion volleyball player and participated in the 2018 U21 Junior Curling Provincials. Jayden plays baseball in the summer as a catcher and won a silver medal with his team at the 2016 Manitoba Games.  He also plays badminton and volleyball in high school. In the summer Jayden regularly volunteers as a baseball umpire for minor baseball. In the winter, he helps coach junior curling and also volunteered at the 2018 Provincial Men’s curling championships.

WEST
Carter Williamson – Curling, Dauphin, MB

Carter has been curling for 11 years and he also participates in baseball.  He competed in baseball at the 2016 Manitoba Summer Games in Steinbach. He is a three-time curling champion of the Dauphin Junior Bonspiel and the 2016 Regional Curling Champion in his school division.  He was presented with the 2017 Top Curler Award in high school. He is also a baseball umpire and was named the 2017 Manitoba Junior Umpire of the Year and is known as one of the most reliable umpires in Dauphin. Carter is ready to take on the Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro when they come to Dauphin in the summer of 2020!

WINNIPEG BLUE
Roman Boyechko – Archery, Winnipeg, MB

Roman has dedicated himself to archery since he started competing 4 years ago.  He is the Manitoba Indoor and Outdoor Recurve Cub Division Champion and continually strives to improve himself through format training and self-practice. Roman also plays tennis and pursues his hobbies of designing and building remote control vehicles and stop motion animation. Roman is an honours student and volunteers in the Makerspace program mentoring kids designing and building technology. 

WINNIPEG GOLD
Terron Baker – Archery, Winnipeg, MB

Terron is a dedicated athlete competing in archery at the Games.  He spends most of his spare time at the range practicing and improving his skills. His dedication has earned him an assistant teaching position at the archery ranges. He also participates in track and field. Terron maintains a 90% academic average, was awarded a citizenship award, and volunteers with the Winnipeg Optimist Athletics and the Best Buddies program in his school. He participates in Air Cadets where he has been recognized as a Top Level One Cadet.

Flag bearers for the Closing Ceremonies will be nominated and selected during the week of the Games.

City of Steinbach sees $1.2 Million Economic Impact after Hosting 2016 Games

The community of Steinbach hosted the Manitoba Games in August of 2016. More than 1,300 athletes competed in 11 different sports, with 450 coaches, managers and officials, and nearly 4,000 family supporters joining them. 

With more than 5,400 out of town visitors in the host community during the Games, along with considerable expenditures made by the event organizers, the Games had a significant economic impact in Steinbach.  The economic impact study performed by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance calculated the amount of new money spent in the host community as a direct result of holding the event, and the impact these new dollars had on the regional, provincial, and national economy as a whole.

The total net economic activity (GDP) generated by the 2016 Manitoba Games was $1.7 million for Canada as a whole; $1.5 million for Manitoba and $1.2 million for Steinbach.

“The Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro consistently foster the development of and participation in sport across the province and cultivate community spirit, and we’re pleased to have worked with the 2016 Games Host Society and City of Steinbach on another successful milestone event,” remarked Jeff Hnatiuk, President and CEO of Sport Manitoba.

About
Sport Manitoba is a not for profit organization and the lead planning, programming and funding agency for the development of amateur sport in Manitoba. Located in the Canada Games Sport for Life Centre, Sport Manitoba partners with over 100 organizations to deliver sport in our province and is responsible for programs including the Manitoba Games powered by Manitoba Hydro, Coaching Manitoba, Team Manitoba, Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, Fit Kids Healthy Kids and KidSport. Services provided include the Sport Medicine Clinic, Sport Performance Centre, and Paul Robson Resource Centre for Leadership and Coaching.

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sarah.tone@sportmanitoba.ca
manitobagames.ca