It was a game that students of Niverville High School won’t soon forget, with their beloved Panthers hockey team taking on the RCMP Muskrats. The friendly challenge, held at the CRRC on March 26, ended in an 8–5 win for the Muskrats.

The game concluded a full day of interactive activities between NHS students and their local RCMP members.

“During the season, the Panthers’ focus and attention had been put towards the regular season, playoffs, and provincials,” says Panthers coach Brandon Lockerby. “But since the season has been over, there was more of a buzz and excitement from the players leading up to this game.”

It wasn’t just players who were pumped up. On game day afternoon, NHS peers, family, and friends filled the bleachers to near-capacity to cheer on the home team.

RCMP Corporal Mèlanie Roussel was in the stands in full red serge, proud to support this collaborative connection between fellow RCMP members and the community.

As for the team’s name, the Muskrats, she says it’s relatively new, as are the powder blue jerseys worn by the RCMP players that day.

The Muskrats team was comprised of officers from Niverville, St. Pierre-Jolys, and other detachments in the region. At least one player was himself a former Niverville student.

“The goal is to show the kids that we are [regular] people,” Roussel says. “They can approach us and talk to us. We’re not just the bad guys arresting people. It’s about developing a relationship with the school and students.”

Hockey wasn’t the only avenue for making connections. Beginning in the morning, RCMP members attended the school, along with police dog companions, for a presentation to the student body.

Students were put through their paces throughout the morning by RCMP members running boot-camp-style training exercises.

“The Phys. Ed. teachers were joking that they need the RCMP to come do Phys. Ed. more often because the kids were fully engaged,” says NHS principal Paul Grosskopf. “It blew the kids’ minds just how fit these guys are. They were showing them skills that the kids couldn’t do at all.”

Grosskopf views this kind of one-on-one interaction between local law authorities and students as a win-win. For the past year, members of the Niverville RCMP detachment have been attending the high school on a monthly basis, walking the halls and getting to know students on a first-name basis.

Lockerby is quick to endorse the relationship.

“Developing this partnership with the local law enforcement has been very beneficial to our school and our students,” he says. “Law enforcement plays a vital role in fostering safe, stable, and well-functioning communities… Their presence not only deters unlawful behaviour but also builds public confidence and a sense of security. We, as a school, are hopeful this partnership continues for many years to come.”

Just one day earlier, local officers were invited to Ms. Happychuk’s Grade 12 law class to provide students with a deep dive into the realities of modern policing. Students were guided through real-world scenarios and encouraged to think on their feet.

“The class didn’t hold back,” reads a statement on a social media page for the St. Pierre-Jolys and Niverville RCMP. “They challenged the officers with insightful questions regarding policing policy, legal frameworks, and the ‘why’ behind every action. This annual visit has become a fantastic way to bridge the gap between local law enforcement and the next generation of legal professionals.”

As for the Muskrats, there’s a good chance they’ll be back next year at this time for another faceoff with the Panthers.

Grosskopf is proud of his school team, now in their second year. Fellow students, he says, have been filling the stands for Panthers home games to show off school spirit.

“The fact that we can literally walk next door and play in an arena that’s tied to our school, not many schools [have that advantage],” Grosskopf says.

Panthers hockey is made up of students from Grades 10, 11, and 12. The team is also one of the few Winnipeg High School Hockey League squads boasting a female goalie.

They finished the regular season this year with a 21–2–1 record. After a series of winning streaks, they lost the last two regular season games to Lorette. Still, they clinched first overall and got the home ice advantage in the playoffs.

The team played in the MHSAAA/AA Hockey Provincials in Carberry where they finished first in their pool.

“The Panthers defeated Glenboro/Carberry/Baldur 4–3 in a shootout in the semifinals, then lost in the final to Carman 6–5,” says Lockerby. “Three days after provincials, we took on West Kildonan in the league semifinals and lost the series 2–0 in the best of three series.”