2006 October news archive

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2006 Manitoba football champions

October 29, 2006
WINNIPEG - The 2006 minor football season came to a close this weekend, with league championship games being played at the Canad Inns Stadium on October 28 & 29. At the end of it all, here are your 2006 Manitoba minor football champions:

● Midget champion: North Winnipeg Nomads (defeated St Vital Mustangs, 17-14)
● Bantam Champion: Crescentwood Grizzlies (defeated North Winnipeg Nomads, 15-6)
● Minor Bantam Champion: Fort Garry Lions (defeated Charleswood Broncos, 43-8)
● Peewee Champion: St Vital Mustangs Red (defeated Fort Garry Lions, 22-6)
● Atom Champion: St Vital Mustangs White (defeated North Winnipeg Nomads East, 27-7)

EastmanRaiders.com would like to congratulate all of the new champions. We also look forward to the 2007 season. Hopefully, a year from now, we might see an Eastman Raiders team making a run for the title!

Championship match-ups have been set

October 26, 2006
It has been an exciting season around the league, and now the 2006 Championship Weekend has finally arrived (Saturday, October 28, and Sunday, October 29.) Here are the match-ups which will determine the champion in each of the minor football leagues:

● Midget: North Winnipeg Nomads (7-1) vs St Vital Mustangs (6-2)
● Bantam: North Winnipeg Nomads (7-0-1) vs Crescentwood Grizzlies (7-1)
● Minor Bantam: Charleswood Broncos (8-0) vs Fort Garry Lions (7-1)
● Peewee: St Vital Mustangs Red (8-0) vs Fort Garry Lions (7-1)
● Atom: St Vital Mustangs White (7-1) vs North Winnipeg Nomads East (7-0-1)

Both of our two Eastman Raiders Terminator teams will be taking part in the non-competitive round-robin tournament on Saturday morning. For more information about Championship Weekend, including the daily game schedule, please see the Football Manitoba website.

Letter of thanks

October 22, 2006
STEINBACH - Here is an open letter, received from the parents of a Raiders player who was injured yesturday during the Peewee playoff game verses the St Vital Mustangs:

On Saturday, October 21, 2006, our son Brandon Watchorn, quarterback for the PeeWee Raiders, went down in the 2nd quarter, with what looked to be a serious neck or back injury. (He was face down and did not move.)

We just want to say a big thank you to: Raider coaching staff and trainers for their quick actions and care, the Mustangs trainers for their concern and offers to help, the trained nurse (sorry we did not get your name) who happened to be at the game -- you went out of your way to help, the entire ambulance and first responders staff for reassuring us and taking all necessary precautions, the entire staff at the Children’s Hospital, all other parents, friends and family for their support and prayers, and the entire PeeWee team who showed patience and concern.

Brandon suffered severe whiplash and is in a soft brace but thankfully should fully recover. Sometimes it takes a scare like this to realize how we sometimes take life and health for granted. An accident can happen anywhere, on the field, off the field, or anywhere else so remember always be thankful and live everyday to the fullest.

Sincerely,
Kevin and Lisa Peters

Peewee Raiders battle injuries in playoff loss

October 21, 2006
ST VITAL - The Peewee Raiders were knocked out of the playoffs today, with a 32-0 loss to the St Vital Mustangs Red team. It was a game that may be remembered for all the wrong reasons. The Mustangs were on the scoreboard, leading 12-0, with just seven minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter. The Raiders had the ball and ran a quarterback sweep to the left. During the play, two Raiders players received serious injuries which resulted in a lengthy game delay while paramedics attended to the players at the side of the field. Two ambulances arrived on scene and both injured players were taken to the hospital for further treatment. When play resumed, our team did the best they could, in spite of the trauma of the sirens, but they couldn't keep pace with the stronger Mustangs team. EastmanRaiders.com would like to wish a speedy recovery to the injured players, and would also like to thank the entire Peewee team for entertaining the fans with some great football action this past season.

Terminator round-robin tournament

October 20, 2006
WINNIPEG - The Terminator Non-Competitive Round-Robin schedule was posted on the Football Manitoba website earlier today. The tournament will be held at the Canad Inns Stadium on Saturday, October 28, as part of the 2006 Championship Weekend. Both Eastman Raiders Terminator teams will take part in the event. Raiders Grey will play games against Crescentwood Grizzlies Black and Fort Garry Lions Blue. Raiders Teal will take on the Eastside Eagles Blue and Charleswood Broncos Gold. Please see the schedule page for more detailed game information. There will be an admission fee to attend this event.

3,000 visitors to Raiders website

October 19, 2006
STEINBACH - This site was viewed by its 3,000th visitor today. During the month of October, we've been hosting an average of 65 visitors every day! Thank you for making the Eastman Raiders Fooball website a huge success.

New downloads

October 17, 2006
More desktop wallpaper images (and a few other goodies) have recently been posted on the downloads page. Enjoy!

Peewee playoff schedule

October 15, 2006
STEINBACH - The next round of the Peewee playoff schedule has been posted. As predicted, the Eastman Raiders (6-2-0) will take on the undefeated St Vital Mustangs Red (8-0-0). The game will be played in St Vital on Saturday, October 21 at 12:30pm. (See the locations page for a map to their field.) The winner of this game will go on to play in the Peewee Saturday division final on October 24 or 25 at the Canad Inns Stadium. The Peewee overall championship will be held on October 29 at the same venue. Back on August 27, in their only previous meeting this season, the Mustangs Red shut-out the Raiders by a score of 29-0.

Midget Raiders lose playoff game in Canad Inns Stadium

October 15, 2006
WINNIPEG - The Midget Raiders faced the 1st place North Winnipeg Nomads in playoff action at the Canad Inns Stadium today. It was a festive atmosphere in the seats, with fans determined to enjoy the spectacle. Some people brought home-made signs, while others had horns, bells, or other types of noise-makers. The stadium had music playing during the pre-game warm-ups and there was a special announce crew on hand to broadcast the play over the public address system. The players seemed really excited as they stepped onto the field, perhaps entertaining thoughts of one day playing in the the CFL. Unfortunately, the game got off to a rocky start for the Raiders. Their opening kick-off was returned for a Nomads touchdown. A few minutes later, the Raiders first punt was also returned for another Nomads major, placing the Raiders into a 13-0 deficit with the Nomads offense yet to run a single play. With the game quickly slipping out of reach, the Raiders did manage a few impressive drives, however they were always shut down before reaching paydirt. In the end, the Nomads won by a final score of 42-0 to move on to the Midget Football League of Manitoba (MFLM) finals on October 28. For the Raiders, the loss marks the end of their 2006 season. Congratulations Raiders, you provided plenty of exciting football action for the fans this season! To say "thanks" the editor of EastmanRaiders.com has put together a feature photo gallery of todays playoff action at the stadium...

>>> Click here for feature photo gallery <<<

Atom Grey Raiders eliminated by Nomads

October 15, 2006 - by Jacqueline Letkeman
NORTH WINNIPEG - The Nomads North Atom team has defeated Raiders Grey by a score of 46-26 in their Atom playoff game this afternoon. The Raiders played a very hard game against the Nomads but couldn't quite pull off a win. One thing is certain, the team never gave up! In spite of a number of injuries, they hobbled out onto the field to finish the game. Great job Atom Grey! Brock Letkeman (6) scored two touchdowns, while Patrick Bissonnette (21) and Thomas Lenchyshyn (14) scored one touchdown each.

Peewee Raiders win first playoff game

October 14, 2006
STEINBACH - The Peewee Raiders hosted the St James Rods on Saturday afternoon, for their first playoff game of the 2006 post-season. The opening half was mostly played near mid-field, as the two teams battled for position. The Raiders finally hit the scoreboard late in the second quarter, when Eastman quarterback Brandon Watchorn (23) connected on a touchdown strike to receiver Hayden Hiebert (15). In the second half, the Raiders defense did a great job of shutting down the Rods offense. Highlights included an interception by Waldie Penner (19), and strong pressure by Jaylen Plett (98) who forced a Rods fumble which was recovered in the end-zone by Taylor Fast (44) for a Raiders touchdown. Derrick Plett (12) also played a great game, using his agility to maneuver quickly all over the field. In the fourth quarter, receiver Alex Gagnon (4) caught a beautiful pass from Watchorn, for the Raiders third touchdown of the game. The final score was Eastman 20, St James 0. The Raiders will advance to the next round of the playoffs, possibly a matchup against the St Vital Mustangs Red. Check back for schedule information, which will be posted as it becomes available.

Post-season play for both Raiders Terminator teams

October 12, 2006
STEINBACH - Although the Terminator league does not officially track game standings, there will be post-season games for both of our Raiders Terminator teams. Our Terminator Teal Raiders team will visit the St Vital Mustangs on Saturday, October 14, at 9:00am, while the Terminator Grey Raiders will visit the St Vital Mustangs on Sunday, October 15, at 9:00am.

Midget Raiders to play Nomads at Canad Inns Stadium

October 10, 2006
STEINBACH - The Eastman Raiders Midget football team finished the regular season ranked 4th out of 6 teams in the Midget league. The Raiders (3-5-0) will take on the 1st place North Winnipeg Nomads (7-1-0) in a semi-final playoff game to be held at the Canad Inns Stadium (Blue Bombers Stadium) on Sunday, October 15, at 11:00am. Due to the cost of the venue, there will be an admission fee to attend this game. Tickets will be $3, available at the gate.

Playoff update

October 9, 2006
STEINBACH - As the teams anxiously await their first playoff matchups, early indications are that the Peewee Raiders (6-2-0) will host the St James Rods (4-4-0) on Saturday, October 14. The game would be the second in a row between the two teams. It is also likely that the Atom Grey Raiders (3-4-1) will visit the North Winnipeg Nomads North (6-2-0) for their first playoff game on Sunday, October 15. The final midget standings have not yet been posted, however it looks like the Midget Raiders (3-5-0) have qualified for the playoffs. The Bantam Raiders and the Atom Teal Raiders failed to qualify for post season play. (This information is tentative and subject to change. Please check this site for the latest playoff information.)

Midget Raiders win big on Thanksgiving Day

October 9, 2006
STEINBACH - For the second week in a row, the Midget Raiders squared off against the Transcona Nationals. In the first half, the two teams alternated scoring, until the Nationals took the lead, 15-13, when the Raiders gave up a safety with less than a minute remaining before half-time. The Raiders defense came alive in the second half, and completely shut down the Nationals offense, holding them scoreless for the remainder of the game. Meanwhile, quarterback Braeden Martens (19) had no trouble finding his receivers, connecting on numerous long passing plays as he picked apart the Nationals secondary. Receiver Nick Watchorn (28) had another strong performance, scoring three touchdowns for the Raiders. Luke Ducharme (31) and Stephane Pilloud (30) also contributed majors for the Raiders. Final score was 39-15 for Eastman. The Raiders now await the outcome of today's game between St Vital Mustangs and the St James Rods. A loss by the Rods would guarantee a playoff berth for the Raiders.

Season over for Bantam Raiders

October 8, 2006 - by Jacqueline Letkeman
ST JAMES - The Bantam Raiders were on the road for their final game of the season, a matchup against the St James Rods. The Raiders defense played hard, but the offense just couldn't move the ball into the St James end-zone. The final score was 24-1 for the Rods. The Bantam Raiders are eliminated from playoff contention and finish the 2006 season with a record of 1 win and 7 losses.

Peewee Raiders finish 3rd in league standings

October 8, 2006
ST JAMES - The Peewee Raiders closed out their regular season with a 24-1 victory over the St James Rods. This was the 4th win in a row by the Raiders, earning them 3rd place in the Peewee Saturday league. Raider touchdowns were scored by Dillon Konrad (14), Foster Martens (21), and Alex Paquette (52). Other highlights included a saftey by Jared Botham (73), and 2 converts earned by Micheal Harder (92). The team will now await confirmation of their first playoff opponent, however it seems likely to be a rematch against the St James Rods, who finished 6th in the league standings.

Atom Teal Raiders fall short of playoff contention

October 8, 2006 - by Bridget Riley
ST JAMES - On October 8, the Raiders paid a visit to the St James Rods. It was a really cold morning, but the team still played well despite the temperature. Marc Kirouac had a couple of long runs, and scored 2 touchdowns. Cody Erickson had 4 touchdowns. But it wasn't quite enough, as the Raiders lost 56-37 to the Rods. The Atom Teal Raiders are now eliminated from playoff contention and finish the 2006 season with a record of 2 wins and 6 losses.

Atom Grey Raiders playoff bound, despite loss to Broncos

October 8, 2006 - by Jacqueline Letkeman
CHARLESWOOD - The Raiders Atom Grey team played at the Charleswood Broncos field for their final regular season game. The Raiders opened the scoring with a touchdown in the beginning of the game by Patrick Bissonnette (21). Unfortunately, the Broncos did the rest of the scoring, and won the game by a final tally of 47-7. Even with the loss, the Raiders Atom Grey make it into the playoffs, but they will have to wait to find out who they will play next.

Raiders are on the road again

October 7, 2006
STEINBACH - For their last week of the regular season, six of the seven Eastman Raiders teams will play their games on the road again, this Sunday. (The lone exception is the Midget team, which will play in Steinbach on Monday.) The Bantam, Peewee, and Atom Teal Raiders will play at St James. Atom Grey and Terminator Grey will play in Charleswood, and the Terminator Teal Raiders will play in Greendell. For some teams, a victory this weekend will launch them into the playoffs, while other teams may be playing their last game of the season. During a recent road game, a player (on the Peewee team) was asked if he could hear the crowd cheering them on after the Raiders had just made a huge play. He smiled and said, "oh yeah... that was awesome!" Hey, let's keep giving the kids our support. Come on out to the games and let them hear you cheer loudly this weekend. (Field locations on our locations page.) Admission is free, the food is cheap, and the football action is priceless.

Midget Raiders playoff picture

October 3, 2006
STEINBACH - With only one game remaining in the regular season, here are the standings for the Midget Football League of Manitoba (MFLM):

1. North Winnipeg Nomads (6-1-0)
2. St Vital Mustangs (5-2-0)
3. Fort Garry Lions (5-2-0)
4. (tie) St James Rods (2-5-0)
4. (tie) Eastman Raiders (2-5-0)
6. Transcona Nationals (1-6-0)

On Thanksgiving Monday, the Midget Raiders will face the Nationals for the third time this season. On the same day, the Mustangs will play host to the Rods. This sets the stage with some huge playoff implications. If the Rods lose to the Mustangs, the Raiders can vault into sole possession of 4th place (and a guaranteed playoff berth) if they defeat the Nationals. Please come out to A. D. Penner Park (Monday, Oct. 9th at 3:00pm), and help cheer the Raiders into the MFLM playoffs!

Atom Grey Raiders win over Falcons

October 1, 2006 - by Jacqueline Letkeman
GREENDELL - Today the Eastman Raiders Atom Grey team secured a spot for the playoffs, winning over the Greendell Falcons by a score of 46-12. Brock Letkeman (6) had 4 interceptions with one of those run in for a touchdown. The other touchdowns were run in by Patrick Bissonnette (21) who ran in 2 and Sebastien Lachance (74) ran in 4. The victory takes the Raiders Atom Grey to a standing of 3-3-1. Great job to the team.