Bernd Franke

Niagara

Sports Editor at Welland Tribune

Regional Sports Editor at St. Catharines Standard

Regional sports editor for St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Falls Review, Welland Tribune

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Articles

Caution flag on racing: Merrittville test and tune postponed two days

2 weeks ago | stcatharinesstandard.ca | Bernd Franke

Racers teams competing at Merrittville Speedway must wait two more days before they can go on the Thorold track for the first time this year. The annual test and tune inspection, originally set for Saturday, is now taking place on Monday. Inspections will begin at 2 p.m. in the Turn 2 scale area. Practice runs will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.A forecast calling for two days of rain prompted the postponement. “The forecast isn’t the greatest.
Welland Sports Wall of Fame: Sports history heading into the future

2 weeks ago | wellandtribune.ca | Bernd Franke

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Tigers earn their stripes: Five Welland teams compete for OMHA championships

2 weeks ago | stcatharinesstandard.ca | Bernd Franke

Welland was in contention for provincial titles last weekend in Whitby, where Ontario Minor Hockey Association single-A championship tournaments were played. The Tigers advanced to the semifinals in the under-12, under-16, and under-18 divisions before being eliminated. Welland went 2-1 and finished second in Group 2 at the single-A under-12 championships. Welland rebounded from a 2-1 loss to the LaSalle Sabres by tripling the Colts 3-1 and the Quinte West Golden Hawks by the same score.
Junior-B playoffs: St. Catharines Falcons hoping to complete sweep

2 weeks ago | stcatharinesstandard.ca | Bernd Franke

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Coming and going: IceDogs have holes to fill heading into draft

2 weeks ago | stcatharinesstandard.ca | Bernd Franke

Say so long to the 2024-25 Niagara IceDogs. There’s no way the team that ended the Ontario Hockey League playoffs will be the same as one that will open the new season in the fall. For starters, three starters — goaltender Owen Flories, forward Andrei Loshko and defenceman Noah Van Vliet — can’t return after playing out their eligibility as overagers. Loshko, newly signed with the National Hockey League’s Seattle Kraken, finished third for Niagara in goals in the regular season, with 34.
Junior-B playoffs: Falcons hoping to complete sweep

2 weeks ago | stcatharinesstandard.ca | Bernd Franke

The St. Catharines Falcons are one win away from advancing to a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League conference final for the first time since capturing the provincial junior-B championship in 2022. And that victory could come as soon as Thursday when top-seeded St. Catharines visits No. 7 seed Brantford Titans with a chance to sweep the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal.
Welland sports awards: Wrestler, martial arts athlete earn top honours

2 weeks ago | wellandtribune.ca | Bernd Franke

Martial arts were in the spotlight when the Welland Sports Promotion Committee held its annual awards night Friday at Casa Dante Lodge. Myrna Romero, a member of both the Brock Jr. Badgers Wrestling Club and Notre Dame College School wrestling, was honoured as female athlete of the year for 2024 while Kevin Mans, who went undefeated at 11 tournaments in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, was recognized as the top male athlete.
Comeback falls short: IceDogs eliminated from playoffs

2 weeks ago | stcatharinesstandard.ca | Bernd Franke

The higher seed lived up to its billing on Saturday night when the Barrie Colts doubled the Niagara IceDogs 6-3 to win a best-of-seven Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference quarterfinal in five games. Central Division champion Barrie finished the regular season 22 points ahead of fourth-place Niagara and the Colts dominated the IceDogs in head-to-head play and won five of six meetings. However, major junior hockey’s second season didn’t turn out to be a carbon hockey of its first.
Mark LaForest, 1962-2025: ‘Trees’ remained true to his Welland roots

2 weeks ago | wellandtribune.ca | Bernd Franke

A goaltender known as “Trees” to his teammates in a 14-year pro career that included stints in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators also lived up to that nickname when it came to his adopted hometown. Though Mark Andrew LaForest was born in Sault Ste.
Mark LaForest, 1962-2025: ‘Trees’ remained true to his Welland roots

2 weeks ago | stcatharinesstandard.ca | Bernd Franke

A goaltender known as “Trees” to his teammates in a 14-year pro career that included stints in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ottawa Senators also lived up to that nickname when it came to his adopted hometown. Though Mark Andrew LaForest was born in Sault Ste.