frankly, is not just a violation of their human rights, but also inhibits our capacity as a country to grow. When we do not have women fully participating in our society, culture, and economy due to fear that is stemming from unsafe and uncertain circumstances, it is bad for all of us. Changing this is a very high priority for the federal government.
Global concerns
M: What can Canada do to become a global leader when it comes to combating gender-based inequality and violence in regions of the world where women are oppressed and living in fear for their safety? Our previous government was less active on this issue, so what will this government’s role be, and your role as minister for the status of women, in promoting gender equality internationally?
PH: One of the things that I was very fortunate to be able to do early on in my mandate was to travel to New York to the United Nations and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW): an annual conference and group that works for gender equality all over the world. There, we received a lot of enthusiasm from our fellow countries that had noticed Canada’s absence in the last 10 years and were excited to see that we were taking this issue seriously, not just for our own country but globally as well. We also regained our seat on the UNCSW, which allows us to interact with the world in a way that we previously had not on this file of gender equality.
As well, in our foreign aid work, we have reasserted the right for women to choose. Quite frankly, the previous government had defunded work that allowed for the full choice of reproductive rights for women. Programs that offered abortion as one of the options for women in developing countries were not eligible for funding through the previous government. We have re-established that funding and asserted that all women have the right to choose, regardless of what country they live in.
Pay equity
M: The gender wage gap has been a serious issue for years internationally as well as in Canada. What more will you do as minister to promote the principles of equal pay for equal work?
PH: The government is very committed to pay equity. Part of my mandate is to reduce the gender wage gap that is quite significant. It’s about a 27 per cent gap between men and women. So Status of Women Canada has been working very closely to look at mechanisms that we
can use [to change this] and we will be responding to the special committee on pay equity that was struck last year in the House of Commons. As a result, we will have strategies in place that will address pay equity within federally regulated companies. However, we also need to work on areas that we do not have direct control over. Even if pay equity were to be fully established throughout all industries, there would still be an unexplainable gap, somewhere in the range of 15 per cent. That is, quite frankly, a horrifying statistic. What that means is that the systemic biases and prejudices that we carry as a society around what qualifies women’s work and men’s work and who can actually succeed and who we sponsor to positions of leadership, still exist. So the work that status of women does on women in leadership is a critically important component in reaching pay equity across all sectors.
I met yesterday in Thunder Bay with a group of women that were discussing innovation and there were a number of women there from the mining industry. Among that group, there was a professor from the mining industry and she told me that the numbers [of men and women] are almost equal in the geology and mining sector at Lakehead University. However, when they leave school, women drop out of that field at astronomical rates to the point where we see only about five per cent female participation in that sector professionally.
To me, those are not just equal pay issues; those are issues surrounding a work environment that is not hospitable to women. This can be due to limited childcare access, as a lot of it is remote work, or long-held biases and hostile environments for women to work in. We have to change those things if we want to achieve true pay equity in this country.
M: On the political leadership level, when it comes to equal representation federally, provincial, and municipally, women are far less represented. As minister, do you feel that you need to work to get more women involved in politics, not just business?
PH: Some of the things that we have done that we haven’t really spoken about as loudly are going to bring dramatic changes for women in
this country. One of those things is our commitment to diversity and gender equality in orders-of-council appointments. Those are appointments across Canada on tribunals and administrative boards, as well as things like port authorities and boards like CBC and others.
When we look at the legacy of that decision, we may not see any immediate impacts in the next two or three years, but there will be long-term impacts when we start to see the true Canada reflected on those decision-making bodies.
As well, Status of Women Canada has a funding arm that provides grants to organizations that are working on all kinds of gender equality issues and one of them is focused on increasing women’s participation in political life. That also includes at the municipal level, which is important, as we see even less women at municipal levels of politics. [Status of Women Canada] also supports things like Equal Voice and those types of organizations that work to increase awareness for the need for women at the federal level of politics. We undertake, in partnership with a number of organizations across the country, a lot of work to try and improve women’s capacity to seek and gain office.
photo by robert thivierge
Bill Nye’s new show and other sources of nostalgia
Miss the 90s? Here’s the science behind it
Bill Nye is back.
One of the most exciting Netflix releases slated for 2017 is a new show hosted by Bill Nye himself, called Bill Nye Saves The World
In a statement released by Netflix, the release date has been set for the spring of 2017 and adds that every episode will “tackle a topic from a scientific point of view, dispelling myths, and refuting anti-scientific claims that may be espoused by politicians, religious leaders, or titans of industry.”
“Today, I’m excited to be working with Netflix on a new show, where we’ll discuss the complex scientific issues facing us today, with episodes on vaccinations, genetically modified foods, and climate change,” Nye was quoted as saying in the release.
“With the right science and good writing, we’ll do our best to enlighten and entertain our audience. And per-
haps we’ll change the world a little.”
Bill Nye is perhaps best known as an icon of the 90s. His Emmywinning hit PBS show Bill Nye the Science Guy was an enormous success during its 1993-1998 run, and many people who were of school age at that time (and long after) have fond memories of the show. The show’s hyperaccessible approach to the pursuit of science, mixed with its charismatic host, created a piece of pop culture that remains relevant even today. Nye himself remains culturally relevant as well. He continues to reach people of all ages through his activist work and celebrity appearances. Earlier this year, he made headlines when former governor of Alaska Sarah Palin lambasted his appearance in a documentary on climate change. In 2013, he was eliminated from the popular show Dancing
With The Stars after an injury. His collaborations with popular forums such as Big Think and AsapSCIENCE receive millions of views.
His original claim to fame, however, is never far behind. Today, Bill Nye the Science Guy lives on in the form of kitschy merchandise (the popular Etsy account “Saints of Science” offers a Saint Bill Nye prayer candle, for example) and sometimesclever memes.
Interestingly enough, a lot of the merch and memes are consumed not by the age demographic the show once was for, but by young adults, many of whom are fueled by feelings of nostalgia towards the show. The Internet is filled with young adults praising the show and its positive effect on their childhood, and Gizmodo even said Netflix “panders to nostalgic millennials” in regards to their new show.
Nostalgia and its effect on current media
Nostalgia, particularly 90s nostalgia, has proven itself to be a powerful rallying emotion for young adults, and a market for content creators. Along with Bill Nye’s new show, Netflix also recently announced that a second season to Fuller House, a sequel to the original 1987-1995 series Full House, had been ordered, despite negative reviews from critics. The popular Nickelodeon show Hey Arnold! is returning. Crystal Pepsi is apparently making a comeback. Today, you can walk into any Urban Outfitters and find 90s iconography in varying levels of tastefulness, ranging from Alanis Morissette vinyl
Space station for sale
Who will buy the International Space Station?
Cha N telle Dubois
In August, it was announced that NASA has plans to eventually hand over the International Space Station (ISS) to a commercial entity in the mid-2020s.
The hope is that with the ISS in the hands of a private entity, it will continue to be funded so that research may be conducted in low Earth orbit for many more years to come.
This could also mean that the ISS
could generate revenue to help continue expansion and maintenance.
Canada, Russia, Japan, and the United States have all pledged to continue funding the ISS until 2024. However, it has been reported that Russia is considering separating its modules from the ISS to begin building an independent space station. Over US$150 billion has been spent on building and maintaining the ISS. These costs include sending modules, supplies, and astronauts.
Mircorp
This won’t be the first time a space station was sold to a private company. After soliciting interest to various potential buyers, Russia sold commercial rights to the Mir space
station to MirCorp – a commercial space company – in 1999.
Over US$150 billion has been spent on building and maintaining the ISS
The company planned to use the space station as a platform for various commercial and tourism initiatives, including a reality television show. NBC was set to air the show, called Destination Mir MirCorp made many firsts in the commercial space industry, including
records to mass-reproduced journals of Kurt Cobain. Almost half of all Pokémon Go players are older than 18 but younger than 30.
Nostalgia is all about psychology, according to Dr. Clay Routledge, a social psychologist and associate professor of psychology at North Dakota State University. Routledge, who also authored the book Nostalgia: A Psychological Resource, believes that nostalgia serves as a remedy to feelings of emptiness.
“In particular, we believed that negative mood, loneliness, and feelings of meaninglessness would be potent triggers of nostalgia,” Routledge said for the Scientific American.
“We reasoned this be cause of the psychological functions that nostalgia serves. That is, as previously discussed, nostalgia increases positive mood, perceptions of meaning, and a sense of connectedness to others.”
Memories make money
So what’s the deal? Why has 90s nostalgia become so popular? The important thing to remember is that nostalgia in general is massively profitable. In a 2014 study by the Journal of Consumer Research, several experiments were conducted to observe how strict people were with their money before and after having nostalgic memories.
The study found that people appeared to be more willing to part with their money after being asked to think about their past, compared to thinking about the future. The study notes that this more relaxed approach to spending could be caused
by a feeling of “social connectedness.” In its press release for the study, the University of Chicago Press writes that this information is “useful to brands looking to elicit feelings of nostalgia in their promotions and product lines as well as charitable and political organizations looking to raise funds for others.”
So all nostalgia is profitable, but 90s nostalgia particularly seems to be everywhere recently. This is just a product of the time we’re living in. By 2020, millennials – meaning people who are between 18 and 30 today –will make up one out of every three adults in the U.S. People who were young in the 90s are of working age now, and many of them have money to spend. Many people within this age group have been raised with some kind of digital influence, and many seek out social connections online. This, mixed with the fact that millennials are being diagnosed with depression and anxiety – both of which include negative moods that could trigger the need to feel nostalgic – more than any other age group , appears to create the sort of perfect storm that could explain why websites that cater to this age group, like Buzzfeed, feature pages, and pages of content under the “90s” tag.
If the thought of a Netflix series with Bill Nye explaining the world to you fills you with fond memories of a happier time, it might be a psychological response to a changing world. Or you could just be a big fan of bow ties. Either way, there are worse aspects of the 90s that could be returning – at least it’s not wallet chains.
the first manned mission that was privately funded to a space station, the first cargo resupply mission that was privately funded to a space station, and the first space walk to be privately funded. The manned mission, which was funded by MirCorp, was the last mission to the Mir space station and involved repairs and maintenance. However, politics ultimately doomed the fate of MirCorp and the Mir space station. During various obstacles, the space station was being boosted into higher orbit to slow down the deorbit time while the company tried to sort things out. The biggest advocate against MirCorp’s commercial plans was NASA, which at the time saw the company’s efforts as a roadblock to the eventual con-
struction of the International Space Station.
In the end, Mir was put into a controlled deorbit and re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere on March 23, 2011. How to sell a space station It is not certain which company will take over the International Space Station, but with private space enterprises becoming much more commonplace, the ISS may see more success than the Mir space station. It is possible that groups of companies may decide to invest in the space station together, to turn it into a research facility, a tourism destination, or a multi-use facility.
photo by bill hrybryk
graphic by kelly campbell
On Monday, September
5, thousands of people marched down Main St. from the Forks to Thunderbird House to protest the construction of pipelines and to welcome a sacred totem pole, which had most recently been in Standing Rock, North Dakota, where it was used in ongoing protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Upcoming documentary to highlight cultural significance of moccasins
tobi Nifesi, staff
Cultural attires showcase and preserve values, traditions, and history. It is easy for the essence of these garments to be lost on people in multicultural and diverse societies like Manitoba’s. With this in mind, University of Manitoba student Andrew George started a project to illustrate the power of Aboriginal culture and educate people on the significance of moccasins to Aboriginal history in Canada.
George, who is currently enrolled in the university’s bachelors of education program, was first approached by Manitobah Mukluks, an Aboriginalowned footwear company, to teach people how to make moccasins.
“They were looking for someone to conduct video tutorials on making moccasins. They said they can’t find enough instructors to keep up with the demand,” George told the Manitoban
“The project never went through but I immediately started to wonder why there was an interest. This led me to wonder about the cultural significance of moccasins to Aboriginal people.”
Through his findings and revelations, George realized what moccasins represent to the Aboriginal
culture and decided to work on a documentary, titled Moccasin Stories
The stylishly comfortable footwear has been in existence for a long time and is known be part and parcel of the cultural history of the indigenous people of North America.
“Moccasins represent so much to Aboriginal culture: resilience and patience. Think about the culture surviving through years of genocidal tactics and assimilation.”
“Patience is a key component in making moccasins. The craft [of making moccasins] is passed down from generation to generation, but so are the materials. There’s a cyclical nature to moccasins. They connect us to the Earth.”
George reached out to Charlene Moore, who is studying in the indigenous governance masters program at the University of Winnipeg, to direct Moccasin Stories and received funding and support from MTS TV’s Stories from Home program.
With the right pieces in place, production of the Moccasin Stories have commenced with a release date scheduled for early 2017. The documentary, which will include interviews with several Manitobans, will focus on educating viewers on the
cultural significance of and craft of making moccasins.
“Moccasins represent so much to Aboriginal culture: resilience and patience” – Andrew George, Moccasin Stories producer
“Expect this documentary to give you a clear idea on how engaging with the act of making moccasins can impact your life on a personal level and in your family and community. We hope [...] you’ll truly appreciate it and its significance to Aboriginal culture.”
George hopes the documentary becomes a transmedia resource guide for educators and enthusiasts. He hopes to continue to push for greater awareness of the significance of moccasins through information provided on the documentary’s website, moccasinstories.ca.
“This will likely be my last major
project for a while. I’m focusing on a career in education,” George said. “I hope to take this project, house it online, and continue the discussion on the significance of moccasins through media and lesson plans.”
That being said, more support is needed to ensure the project continues and the documentary comes to life. George has opened a crowdfunding campaign through Indiegogo that will help in staging a premiere gala event and continuing conversations about Aboriginal culture and history.
Finding refuge in theatre
“If people can’t contribute to the project financially, like our stuff through social media, join our email list, share it. The more people we have backing the project, the stronger it will be,” said George
To learn more about the upcoming documentary, visit moccasinstories. com. If you would like to contribute to bringing the project to life, visit www. indiegogo.com/projects/moccasin-stories
Theatre program inspires self-expression and creativity among young Syrian refugees
tobi Nifesi, staff
Agroup of university students and artists have teamed up to develop a program that aims to foster creativity, solidarity, and personal development amongst young Syrian refugees. Together, these young minds hope to tackle global issues by providing a creative and encouraging outlet for these youths.
The collaborative project is called the Sawa Theatre program and is being produced by Asha Nelson, Shaden Abusaleh, and Kamillah El-Giadaa. As a team, they share a passion for theatre and believe it is one of the most expressive art forms.
One of the producers, Shaden Abusaleh, has previously actively engaged in programs to help Syrian refugees and First Nation communities and fight for women’s rights. For her, Sawa Theatre is just as important as it promotes self-expression and inclusivity amongst individuals who struggle with such themes.
“Sawa is all about providing a safe creative space for these youths, a place where they can express themselves,” Abusaleh told the Manitoban. “Our programs challenge them to try new
things and new ways of reaching out to others.”
“One of the first things we ask them is to tell us what they don’t like about the program and they actually tell us how they feel. For them, to be able express themselves like that to people around them – that’s the goal.”
The Sawa Theatre program features workshops, content creation sessions, team building exercises, and theatre games that are geared towards empowering and encouraging youths.
“The response has been great. I have been particularly impressed with how interested and committed these youths has been in the activities. You can see the impact it is having on their lives,” said Abusaleh.
Abusaleh believes the participants are particularly impacted by what she calls “step out of your comfort zone” moments that occur every now and then. For her, these moments capture the essence of the program.
The theatre program has partnered with Gas Station Arts Centre and the Manitoba Theatre for Young People to present a theatrical performance that is will be staged at Gas Station
Arts Centre, located at 445 River Avenue, on Sept. 9 and 10 starting at 7 p.m.
The theatre performance, titled JUNUN, is a bilingual piece to be performed in English and Arabic by the participants of the Sawa Theatre program. The play follows a series of interwoven stories of loss, betrayal, hope, love, and trust.
“The play is an original creation and is performed by a cast of young people whose characters are a reflection of their identity. People who come to see it will be captivated by that authenticity and with its themes of love, loss, and self-expression.”
With this play, Sawa’s cast and crew hope to harness the power of theatre – one that can be used to inspire imagination, creativity, selfexpression and change.
For more information, find Sawa Theatre on Facebook and Instagram @ sawatheatre. Tickets are available at http://m.bpt.me/event/2597902 or for pickup at the Gas Station Arts Centre.
photo provided by jadyn klassen
photo provided by andrew george
Summer Lights music festival to stimulate Brandon’s musical economy
s ha N ae b laquie R e
On Sept. 10, the city of Brandon will play host to the first-ever Summer Lights music festival. From 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Keystone Centre Grounds, festival attendees will be presented with a showcase of local indie music.
The impressive lineup includes renowned Canadian acts Said the Whale and Joel Plaskett but will also feature local Brandon and Winnipeg acts with prominence.
Festival director Dylan
MacDonald says that the festival is an extension of the city’s Summer Lights concert series. The series, usually a once-a-month free concert with accompanying music workshops, had been in existence for several years before the expansion into a fullblown festival.
Though Brandon has an annual folk festival, MacDonald says that the Summer Lights festival still explores uncharted territory in the city.
’Toban turntable
tobi Nifesi, staff
Once an underground sound, indie rock has become a commercial force to reckon with. This may be due to the evolution of indie rock music in the past few years as bands like the Black Keys, the Arctic Monkeys, and the Killers broke through commercial barriers. The result of this so-called evolution is in fact a euphoric-sounding music – one that is simply too happy to ignore – and that is the best way to describe TUNS’ self-titled debut album
The Canadian indie rock supergroup is an exciting new band of musicians – namely Chris Murphy
“I do think that it is the first of its kind in that it is a little more indie rock. We’re trying to cater a little more to a younger demographic. I think it’s cool to introduce smaller communities to indie music – and I mean that in a sense of the true, independent, and up-and-coming music.”
MacDonald is dedicated to establishing Brandon’s musical reputation. As a musician himself and as a member of Brandon band the Middle Coast, he feels that a festival of this
scale will only improve the city’s music scene.
“A lot of touring acts that are coming through just aren’t stopping in Brandon for various reasons, but I think that this will help with that –having more music coming through Brandon all the time,” he said.
Tyler Bancroft, guitarist and vocalist for headlining act Said the Whale, can speak to the Brandon skip-over.
“Young
people in Brandon must feel a little starved for cool music to see” – Tyler Bancroft, Said the Whale
“We’ve toured Canada maybe like 25 or 30 times across the country, and we’ve never played in Brandon. That is to say, we’ve never hit Brandon as a stop on our tour [because] maybe there isn’t a go-to indie venue there. Maybe there’s not much of a scene,” he says.
Bancroft, like MacDonald, sees the festival as a good opportunity for Brandon to assert themselves as a spot for touring musicians to play.
“Obviously there’s a population in Brandon and there’s young people in that population, and young people generally want to see live music. Young people in Brandon must feel a little starved for cool music to see. A summer festival like Summer Lights is of course nurturing that. A music festival is going to stimulate our musical economy,” said Bancroft.
Bobby Desjarlais of Winnipeg’s Attica Riots, who were recently nominated for a 2016 CASBY Award for best new artist, says that stimulating the music scene in small cities is only going to improve the overall music scene.
“If every small town has a thriving music scene, it’s only going to make the cities even more so. That’s what feeds a city. I mean, I’m from Beausejour. It’s not like everyone’s born inside a city and that’s who makes the music,” said Desjarlais.
Desjarlais pointed to the Tragically Hip’s emergence from Kingston, Ontario as an example of what smaller cities and towns have to offer.
Bancroft, who is thousands of kilometers away in Vancouver, about to record vocals for the upcoming Said the Whale record, agrees with Desjarlais.
He noted that the Canadian music scene is “very inclusive” with a “uniquely Canadian” sense of camaraderie.
“I think it probably just comes from an understanding that a success for one Canadian band is beneficial to the success of all Canadian bands. Everyone’s trying to build a good reputation for the country, and we’re lucky that everyone realizes that working together is the best way to achieve that,” said Bancroft.
The carefully-curated lineup reflects the support for Canadian music.
“I think [Summer Lights] did it right; they’re leveraging everyone’s opportunities properly. It’s still going to be a great show for Said the Whale, but obviously it’s going to be a great day for a young Brandon band to get up onstage with them and see that level of professionalism,” Desjarlais noted.
“We’ve been lucky to be able to boast a good lineup for year one. We’ve been working pretty hard to make it awesome,” said MacDonald.
Tickets for the Summer Lights music festival are $15 for students, $20 for general audience and can be picked up at Little Sister Coffee Maker and Music Trader. For more information, visit summerlightsmusicfestival.com
(Sloan) Matt Murphy (Super Friendz, Flashing Lights) and Mike O’Neill (Inbreds) – who are experienced collaborators and songwriters. Together, they have produced a collection of exuberant melodies as their first album.
The album begins with the gleeful Back Among Friends and doesn’t struggle to maintain that vibe all the way to the outro I Can’t Wait Forever, which sounds like the perfect song to close out a party.
This half-hour-long album will keep your head bopping, even while listening to the empty-sounding To Your Satisfaction, a track that seems to
drag on with too many repeated lyrics. The acoustic guitars and drums reign supreme in this album as they are well utilized to produce melodious riffs. That being said, at some point each song starts to sound like the last.
The songwriting is as optimistic as the music. All through the album, the musicians speak of a later time –one that is sure to come and will be better than the last – and of how even if the summer gets cold, good times and bad times never end.”
In any case, the lyrics sit well with the instrumentation and that makes for some good music. The short nature of the tracks and album
fit the tone of the music as a longer version may have sounded worn out or repetitive.
The indie rock group, who named themselves after the Technical University of Nova Scotia, have plenty to be optimistic and happy about with this first body of work and they have gone ahead of themselves to make their listeners happy too, by making an album that will surely brighten up their days.
Check out TUNS’ debut album or learn more about the band on http:// tunsband.com
Changing of the guard for Winnipeg
Jets
name new captain, although alternates are more interesting
Rya N s telte R , staff
L
ast week the Winnipeg Jets announced their captains and alternate captains for the upcoming 2016-17 season. Blake Wheeler was –to no one’s surprise – named captain of the team, with Mark Scheifele and Dustin Byfuglien named as alternates.
Everyone had anticipated that Wheeler was going to be named captain after the departure of Andrew Ladd at the trade deadline last season. Ladd had donned the C since the Jets returned to Winnipeg.
Cheveldayoff said in a press conference that he felt Wheeler was the right choice.
“Blake has been involved in the community the whole time he has been in Winnipeg,” he said. “Over the past five years I have gotten to know Blake off the ice, and it is there that you can see what a true professional he is.”
Perhaps the most interesting choice was to make Scheifele an assistant captain. The young centre man is coming off his best season as
a Jet, potting 29 goals and 32 assists in 71 games, earning him a nice payday coming out of his entry level contract.
With Wheeler entering the twilight of his career in a few years, Jets management are currently grooming Scheifele to one day lead the young core that they have drafted over the past few years.
Being given an A should be a sign to Scheifele that one day this will be his team. The Jets have a bright future ahead with players like Patrik Laine, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Jacob Trouba (if they ever re-sign the kid).
Kevin Cheveldayoff has decided that Scheifele is his future and that should excite Jets fans, as Scheifele has shown flashes of brilliance and if the Hockey News’ infamous prediction has any merit, Scheifele could be a key leadership cog in a Stanley Cupwinning team.
Taken 7th overall in the 2011 NHL entry draft, many scouts and critics raised their eyebrows at the selection, as many saw Scheifele as a late first
or early second round selection. The Jets liked him enough to take him as early as they did and Scheifele should be proud in being named an alternate captain. Although his numbers have not been fantastic, Scheifele clearly has leadership qualities and seems to be in the long-term plans of the Jets.
Byfuglien, the other assistant captain, is a fan favourite and one of the league’s best defensemen, not to mention his experience winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. Even though he may not be the most open with the media like his now-captain Wheeler, Byfuglien has been cited as a leader in the Jets’ dressing room.
While Big Buff has had his issues off the ice, there is no denying what he can do on the ice. Byfuglien has an uncanny ability to flip the momentum in his team’s favour with one big hit or a rush up the ice.
photo
Jets take flight at the World Cup of hockey
Seven Jets players hope to build momentum heading into the NHL season
Kelle
The NHL regular season does not begin until October, but hockey season begins for some on Sept. 17, as the World Cup of Hockey gets underway in Toronto.
For seven Winnipeg Jets players –and head coach Paul Maurice, who will be an assistant coach for team Europe – hockey season will start early. Making the trip to Toronto with the coach are forwards Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and rookie Patrik Laine, along with defensemen Jacob Trouba and Dustin Byfuglien. Also starting their hockey seasons early are goaltender Ondrej Pavelec and sophomore goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
Team USA
Byfuglien and Wheeler have the honour of wearing red, white, and blue when the puck drops on Sept. 17.
Byfuglien is coming off a good statistical year, posting 19 goals and
53 points for the Jets over 81 games last season, Being the force he is on the ice, he unsurprisingly tallied 119 penalty minutes in the 2015-16 season as well. Another good season from Big Buff, which landed him in another All-Star game this season. Byfuglien has never represented his country before, so this will be an important first for him.
Wheeler just posted the best numbers of his career in 2015-16, scoring 26 goals and a total of 78 points through 82 games. He became a leader for the Jets this year, and was rewarded by being named the new captain of the team on Aug. 31, succeeding Andrew Ladd. The last time the 30-year-old veteran represented his country was at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and he should be equally as excited for this opportunity. Wheeler did not have a major role at the 2014 Games, but he will hope to continue his hot streak into the World Cup and into the
2016-17 NHL season.
Team Czech Republic
The lone Jet playing for the Czech Republic is veteran goaltender Ondrej Pavelec, who has represented his country on numerous occasions in international play.
The goalie played 33 games and started in 31 of them this past season, putting up a 13-13-4 record as well as a .904 save percentage. Pavelec struggled this past season with consistency and staying healthy and it showed in his statistics for the season. A collision in late November with Arizona Coyotes forward Shane Doan sidelined him for quite some time. Ideally, Pavelec will get a chance to show some consistency and bring it with him to the 2016-17 NHL season.
Team Finland
The Jets had things go their way at the 2016 NHL draft lottery, as they
moved up to pick two and grabbed Finnish sensation Patrik Laine.
Laine is a star in Finland and was their go-to man at the last World Junior Hockey Championship (WJHC) as well as at the World Championships this past year. Along with fellow Finish teammate Jesse Puljujarvi, he led his team to a gold medal at the WJHC in front of their home fans in Helsinki. At the Worlds in Russia, he steered his team to a silver medal and was named the tournament’s most valuable player with 12 points in ten games.
Laine hopes to continue his international play success in Toronto, and the Jets fans are hoping he brings that success to Winnipeg. Do we have a Finnish flash 2.0 in the making?
Team North America
Team North America is made up of under 23-year olds from Canada and the United States. The Jets are
most represented within this team with centre Scheifele, defenseman Trouba, and goalie Hellebuyck. If you are going to cheer for any team besides Canada, this is the one team you can reasonably pick, with the three Jets and the other young Canadians on the team like Connor McDavid.
Mark Scheifele has represented Canada in international play, so it will be different for him being on the opposing team when he sees the red and white on the ice. He ended last season on a 10-game point streak and had his best season in Winnipeg yet, posting 61 points in 71 games. Scheifele will look to ride that hot streak into Toronto and help his team give Canada a run for that gold medal.
American Jacob Trouba will be playing with teammate Scheifele in international play instead of against him for once. Trouba struggled in the Jets’ 2015-16 campaign, as he only tallied 21 points in 81 games, a drop off from his 22 points in 65 games in the 2014-15 season.
There is a lot of drama surrounding Trouba entering this tournament as he is still without a new deal with the Winnipeg Jets, and his agent and the Jets management do not seem very close to inking one. Trouba will still participate at the World Cup of Hockey regardless of his contract negotiations with the Jets management. Trouba needs to play well to show GM Kevin Cheveldayoff what he is worth, as he will be paying close attention to how Trouba performs in Toronto.
Also cracking the team North America roster is young goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. He played for team USA at the 2015 World Championships, leading his team to a bronze medal. It is unlikely he will see that playing time this year with the crowded goalie crease of Stanley Cup Champion Matt Murray and Anaheim goalie John Gibson.
Hellebuyck had his first chance to play at the NHL level this past season when Pavelec got injured, and he took advantage. He posted a 13-11-1 record, along with two shutouts and a .918 save percentage. He led the goalie carousel of himself, Pavelec, and Michael Hutchinson in record, save percentage, goals against average, and shutouts.
Hellebuyck may not get the chance to show off at the World Cup of Hockey, but the fans in Winnipeg should not have to wait long to see him in the crease again.
There is a lot for Jets fans to be excited about while watching the World Cup of Hockey this year. From the new captain Wheeler to other players like Big Buff, Trouba, and a flashy Finnish rookie, there are plenty of storylines to watch.
Bison football fall in home opener
Mental errors main factor in opening game loss to Calgary
m i K e s till, volunteer staff
D
iscipline was the story in week one for the University of Manitoba Bison football team as they fell 23-14 at Investors Group Field against the Calgary Dinos.
The herd surrendered a total of 18 penalties for 193 yards – generated mainly off of illegal procedure, holding, and no yards calls – causing a lack of sustained momentum offensively which cost the Bisons, specifically in the latter stages of the fourth quarter.
“Our issue was focus, our issue was being tired or being too lazy on a repetition,” head coach Brian Dobie said postgame in reference to the near 200 yards in penalties taken, as well as the mental errors his squad made throughout the contest.
Summary
The home side moved the ball well on their opening drive – getting down to the Calgary 18-yard line thanks to a few key plays from slotback Jesse Walker – but were unable to fully capitalize, as kicker Ryan Jones missed from within the red zone, resulting in just a single point.
The remainder of the first half was a defensive slugfest.
Manitoba took a 4-0 lead after linebacker DJ Lalama forced a fumble which was recovered by fellow linebacker Bami Adewale. Unfortunately, the herd could only produce three points on the ensuing drive, despite starting at their own
50-yard line. This was again due in part to discipline, as Bisons quarterback Theo Deezar had trouble handling a second-down snap at the Calgary six-yard line and was forced to dive on the loose ball.
“Our
issue was focus, our issue was being tired or being too lazy on a repetition”
– Brian Dobie, head coach, Bison football
Calgary then moved the ball 66 yards on their next drive, before getting stuffed at the Manitoba nineyard line, forcing a field-goal.
The prehistorics’ defence held strong, however, causing the Bisons to concede a safety on their following possession to take a 5-4 lead into halftime.
Once again, the herd’s opening drive – this time in the second half –generated hope. Deezar was able to connect with Walker in the endzone to retake the lead 11-5, after starting at the Calgary 32-yard line thanks to a Donovan Gregoire forced fumble.
Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for Deezar and the troops, as the starting pivot threw three
second half interceptions. The last interception shifted the momentum permanently in the Dinos’ favour, as they drove 38 yards in six plays on the ensuing possession to take a 22-11 lead – one that Manitoba couldn’t recover from.
Despite a less-than-spectacular performance where Deezar went 23-of-39 for 278 yards, he still held high optimism for his team
post-game.
“I was a little off assignment-wise and through my read progression, but that’s something that we can work on with the coaching staff,” Deezar said.
“It’s the first game of the season. We have a long season ahead of us. If we quit now we’re not going to have a good end, but if we can learn from every single mistake then I think we have a phenomenal football team that
has a lot of heart.”
The
Bisons’ next task is Regina, as they head on the road to face the Rams at 8 p.m. CT on Thursday, Sept. 8.
