Latest news with #EmmanuelAkot
Winnipeg Free Press
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘He's one of the guys that I have a lot of trust in'
Imagine playing pickup hoops inside your local YMCA and then a six-foot-eight professional basketball player steps onto the court and calls next. You better hope you end up on his team. This was the reality this spring at the Fermor Avenue location as Winnipeg Sea Bears forward Emmanuel Akot was a frequent visitor as he worked his way back into game shape after an ankle injury. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Files Winnipegger and Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Emmanuel Akot has started seven of the team's 11 games and is averaging 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 28 minutes per game. It should go without saying, but yes, he did dominate. 'Oh yeah, yeah, yeah,' confirmed Akot after the Sea Bears concluded practice on Tuesday at the Canada Life Centre. 'That helped my confidence a lot.' So did last summer when he joined his hometown Sea Bears in late May. There aren't many players who call Winnipeg home that have his size and athleticism, so at the very least, it was worth Sea Bears head coach and general manager Mike Taylor giving him a shot even though there wasn't an obvious spot for him in the rotation. Akot hadn't yet made a name for himself in the CEBL as he only played two games with the Ottawa Blackjacks the year before. Suiting up for his city seemed to be the perfect fit as Akot managed to hit the ground running and ended up being one of the few bright spots on a team with constant roster turnover as he closed out the campaign averaging 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists. His best performance came against the Saskatchewan Rattlers last June when he exploded for 23 points while shooting 82 per cent from the field and hit the Target Score Time winner to lead the Sea Bears to a 103-101 victory at home. 'That was really my first time getting significant minutes as a pro. It gave myself confidence knowing that the work I'm putting in is paying off and I can play with a lot of these really good pros in this league,' said Akot, 26. 'It was a summer that built a lot of confidence within myself.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't able to build off it when he went overseas this past winter. Akot signed with KK Wloclawek in Poland's top league and was expected to have a big role, but his season was over before it started as he tore ligaments in his ankle in an exhibition game and had to return to Winnipeg for surgery and treatment. It was the first serious injury Akot, who played five NCAA seasons between Arizona, Boise State and Western Kentucky, has ever had. 'It was tough because, at that point, I was rolling pretty good in the pre-season, and then I had to go eight or nine months without basketball,' said Akot. 'I came back home, had the surgery, and I couldn't do anything. I couldn't walk.' It forced him to put everything into this summer's CEBL season. Instead of hooping across Europe, he was bouncing back and forth between the Sport for Life Centre and YMCA to treat his ankle and work on his craft. He was the first player the Sea Bears signed for 2025. 'Last year, when we signed him, we signed him because he's a talented Winnipeg guy and we want the best Winnipeg guys playing in Winnipeg,' said Taylor. 'But the way Emman came in, he shot the ball so well from three, he played so well at both positions, the three and the four, that he was a guy that we really relied on. This year, we planned a bigger role for him. Unfortunately, he got hurt (in Poland), but he recovered, got his foot right, and has really helped our team this season as well. I love his energy; I love his versatility. 'Last year, when we signed him, we signed him because he's a talented Winnipeg guy and we want the best Winnipeg guys playing in Winnipeg.'–Mike Taylor, Sea Bears head coach and general manager 'He's one of the guys that I have a lot of trust in.' Even with a star duo on the roster in guard Jalen Harris and centre Simi Shittu, Akot is still one of the most important players on the floor. The former Kildonan East product has started seven of the team's 11 games and is averaging 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 28 minutes per game. As for where he goes next, Akot said he's leaving that up to his agent to handle, but he is eager to get a full season under his belt somewhere. A return to Europe, or a spot in the NBA G League could be on the horizon. 'I think he'll have opportunities overseas, but you know, I coached over there for 20 years, to me, it's about finding the right place. And if he can find the right place with the right coach, that's going to put him in the right situation, that's gold,' said Taylor. 'So, we'll see how things develop for him. All I know is, for us right now in Winnipeg he's an excellent player and we really appreciate everything he does for our team.' The Sea Bears started this past weekend's road trip with a bang by beating the Vancouver Bandits (8-3) 92-85 on Friday. Canadian big Simi Shittu had a massive outing with 27 points and 14 boards. Two nights later in Edmonton, it was a different story as the Stingers prevailed 98-85 to drop Winnipeg to 5-6. Shittu had another impressive showing with 30 points and 12 rebounds. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Sea Bears. 'The Vancouver win showed our potential to be great is there. We just have to stay disciplined to do the same things all over again for 40 minutes, every game,' said rookie forward Nathan Bilamu. 'But you could see with the Vancouver game that our potential to go all the way is there.' The Sea Bears host the Scarborough Shooting Stars (6-5) Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Canada Life Centre. Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. 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Winnipeg Free Press
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
News briefs for Friday, June 6, 2025
A collection of breaking news briefs filed on Friday, June 6, 2025 9:45 PM The losing streak continues for the Winnipeg Sea Bears. The city's professional basketball team dropped its fifth consecutive game Friday in a 81-74 road loss to the Brampton Honey Badgers. It was the first win of the year for Brampton as they entered the contest at 0-6. The defeat drops Winnipeg to 1-5. The Sea Bears led 63-60 after three quarters but were outscored 21-11 in the final frame. Former Toronto Raptors guard Jalen Harris, who signed with the Sea Bears earlier this week, made his season debut and led Winnipeg in scoring with 17 points in 36 minutes. Forward Emmanuel Akot chipped in 13 points and point guard Terry Roberts had 12. The arrival of Harris gives the Sea Bears five imports and CEBL teams are only allowed to dress four. Backup big Solomon Young was scratched owing to the new addition. Brampton guard Koby Mcewen led all scorers with 23. The Honey Badgers outrebounded the Sea Bears 48-30. The Sea Bears are back in action today down the road in Scarborough to take on the Shooting Stars (3-1). Winnipeg returns home Wednesday to host the Montreal Alliance at the Canada Life Centre. — staff 3:34 PM A 12-year-old boy has gone missing from his 'temporary residence' in the Rural Municipality of West St. Paul. RCMP say Charlie Bird was reported missing at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night from the location on Masters Avenue. Bird was last seen headed east on Grassmere Road near Highway 8. Mounties think he might be in Winnipeg. He's 5-2 and 110 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. He was last wearing a black sweater and black pants and might have a large bruise on his neck. RCMP are asking anyone with information to call the Red River North detachment at 204-667-6519 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or online. 2:04 PM Provincial infrastructure officials are warning motorists to be extra cautious Saturday while crews of volunteers clean the roadsides of Manitoba highways. Manitoban 4-H clubs will send out young members in crews to roadsides across the province from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting. If it rains, crews will instead go out June 14. The volunteers will wear safety vests and the areas being cleaned up will be marked by signage. 'Motorists are reminded to be aware of the added foot traffic alongside Manitoba's highways and roads, keep a safe distance between their vehicles and any traffic barriers, trucks, equipment and volunteers, slow down in marked cleanup areas and remove all distractions to ensure they are paying attention to the road,' the province said in a news release Friday. 1:27 PM Following four days of feedback and debate, Winnipeg city council has approved sweeping changes to zoning bylaws that aim to attract more home construction. Council ultimately voted overnight in favour of the changes, which will allow up to four housing units to be built on a single lot in most residential areas, and permit fourplexes up to 12 metres tall within 800 metres of high-frequency transit stops. In a news release, the mayor's office said the changes will ensure more than $450 million of federal funding flows through to Winnipeg. The federal government made the significant zoning changes a requirement to claim housing, sewage and transit funding. 'These changes are about the future of our city,' said Mayor Scott Gillingham, in the release. 'We're growing fast, and we need to make sure there's room for everyone — young workers, families, and older adults alike. These updates will help ensure Winnipeg stays affordable and competitive while making the best use of our existing infrastructure.' Council will vote on a bylaw to implement the changes next week. 1:21 PM The province's police oversight agency says no charges are warranted against Winnipeg officers in a December incident in which a man fell on ice and broke his leg after police used a Taser on him. The Winnipeg Police Service notified the Independent Investigation Unit of the incident on Dec. 20 last year. City police said officers were called at about 2:40 a.m. on Dec. 19 about an intoxicated man armed with a knife trying to stab someone around the 400 block of Furby Street. Police found him brandishing the weapon and instead of dropping it as told, he walked toward them, the IIU said. An officer then used the Taser. The man was taken to hospital, where doctors found he had two broken bones in his right leg. The IIU said Friday no charges would be laid against any police, after conducting a number of interviews with witnesses and the man whose leg was broken. 12:58 PM A mother and her two children were threatened and assaulted at gunpoint in their McCreary home in the early morning hours on Thursday. Ste. Rose du Lac RCMP were called to the home on 4th Avenue in McCreary, which is about 140 kilometres northwest of Brandon, at about 2:45 a.m. Mounties were told by the homeowner that a woman she knew assaulted her and her kids inside the home and threatened them with a gun. The victim, 30, ran with her kids to a neighbour's home to call police, RCMP say. No one was seriously hurt. Local RCMP, along with the police dog and drone units, searched for the suspect and found her outside a home on Broderick Street. Officers on the ground then arrested the suspect, but did not find the gun. Lacey Campbell, 38 of McCreary, is charged with pointing a firearm, assault, uttering threats, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and a court order breach. 11:47 AM Snow Lake residents have been ordered to leave the northern Manitoba community by noon Saturday due to an out-of-control wildfire that is burning in the region. The town of about 1,100 residents announced a mandatory evacuation order Friday. 'You must leave because of the danger to your health and safety,' a notice published on the town's Facebook page said. A state of local emergency and a 48-hour evacuation notice were previously declared. Mayor Ron Scott previously said a mandatory evacuation would be ordered if the fire moved closer to town. 11:40 AM Manitoba public health officials are warning people may have been exposed to measles at two locations in the province late last month. Officials said anyone who was at Green Valley School at 212 Oak Ave. in Grunthal on May 20 between 8:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. should monitor for symptoms of the highly infectious disease until June 11. Anyone who was at the Manitoba Museum at 190 Rupert Ave. in Winnipeg on May 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. should also monitor for symptoms until June 11, officials said. The public health department has reached out to the Grunthal school to notify staff, volunteers and families of students to provide advice, including with letters, officials said. Anyone who was at either location should check their records and make sure they're up to date with the measles vaccine. 10:56 AM The Assiniboine Park Zoo is welcoming a new addition with the recent arrival of a pack of five grey wolves. The addition of Chinook (male, seven years), Gigi (female, seven years), Comet (male, three years), Stella (female, three years), and Virgo (female, three years) comes after the passing of Bear, the last member of the zoo's original wolf pack, in March. The wolves arrived from the Greater Vancouver Zoo on Thursday. 'Grey wolves are an iconic Canadian species that can be found across the country, including right here in Manitoba,' said Dr. Chris Enright, Senior Director of Zoological Operations, Assiniboine Park Zoo. 'Unfortunately, fear and misunderstanding have led to instances of human-wolf conflict and, in some cases, overhunting. Educating people about the critical role keystone species like wolves play in their ecosystems and why they should be protected is an important part of what we do here at the zoo.' The grey wolves are the latest in a long string of new animals to be introduced to zoo visitors since last fall, including three red pandas, a great horned owl and and scarlet ibis, among many others. The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 10:31 AM Drivers will need to find an alternate route around Portage Avenue East at the start of next week. A city press release notes a two-day closure to all traffic will begin at 7 a.m. on Monday, June 9 to allow for paving. The city expects to reopen the street, with some restrictions, after dusk on June 10.
