Local Sports

Sandy Shore Skating Club new head coach Kristen Avis gives Payton Hebb instructions prior to performing in the Star 4 Girls U13 competition at the BC/YT Super Series Fall Competition, held at Oceanside Place Sept. 22 to Sept. 24. Hebb finished in first place. (Michael Briones photo)

Parksville skating club turns to an old friend to help regain past glory

Sandy Shores Skating Club welcomes new head coach Avis

Cowichan Valley Capitals goalie Emerik Despatie makes a save on Nanaimo Clippers player Joel Plante during B.C. Hockey League action Friday, Sept. 22, at Frank Crane Arena. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo Clippers start BCHL season with back-to-back wins

Clippers defeat Cowichan Valley Capitals by scores of 6-3 and 3-2

The Vancouver Canucks held an intrasquad scrimmage at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre during day three of their Victoria training camp on Sept. 23. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Canucks players face off in scrimmage at Victoria training camp

Greater Victoria NHLer takes the ice in front of Vancouver Island fans

Nanaimo Clippers players scrimmage during training camp earlier this month at Frank Crane Arena. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo Clippers set to start season in new-look BCHL

Clippers face Cowichan Valley Capitals in home opener Sept. 22

Nanaimo Clippers players scrimmage during training camp earlier this month at Frank Crane Arena. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Gannon Laroque is one of several Victoria Royals competing in NHL rookie camps and prospect tournaments this month. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Royals)

Victoria Royals players showcasing skills at NHL rookie camps

Current and former players set to play in prospect competitions this month

Gannon Laroque is one of several Victoria Royals competing in NHL rookie camps and prospect tournaments this month. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Royals)
The Nanaimo Clippers locker room at Frank Crane Arena. (News Bulletin file photo)

Former Buccaneers coach named interim Clippers coach

Curtis Toneff will be bench boss to start 2023-24 B.C. Hockey League season

The Nanaimo Clippers locker room at Frank Crane Arena. (News Bulletin file photo)
Micah Zandee-Hart, who played minor hockey on the Saanich Peninsula before winning gold at the 2022 Bejing Winter Olympics in women’s hockey playing for Team Canada, addresses the crowd during a 2022 Peninsula Panthers game. (Christian J. Stewart Photography file photo)

Peninsula hockey product signs pro contract with New York PWHL team

Micah Zandee-Hart of Saanichton dubbed a ‘cornerstone player’

Micah Zandee-Hart, who played minor hockey on the Saanich Peninsula before winning gold at the 2022 Bejing Winter Olympics in women’s hockey playing for Team Canada, addresses the crowd during a 2022 Peninsula Panthers game. (Christian J. Stewart Photography file photo)
Joe Martino, left, and Jim Lynch of the Ballenas Whalers Football Society introduces the book ‘It Takes a Posse’ at the Canada Day Parade. Martino and his son Chris authored the book about the history of football in Parksville Qualicum Beach and also recently published their second book, ‘Down By Six’. (Michael Briones photo)

Father-son duo produce second book about history of PQB football scene

‘Down by Six’ written by Joe and Chris Martino

Joe Martino, left, and Jim Lynch of the Ballenas Whalers Football Society introduces the book ‘It Takes a Posse’ at the Canada Day Parade. Martino and his son Chris authored the book about the history of football in Parksville Qualicum Beach and also recently published their second book, ‘Down By Six’. (Michael Briones photo)
Victoria Pros, with Lester Patrick, back row, second from the left, in the Patrick Arena in Oak Bay, circa 1913. (Craig Bowlsby Collection - Black Press file)

B.C.’s last Stanley Cup win among 5 defining moments in sports history

Hall highlights Island athletes Silken Laumann, Simon Whitfield, Steve Nash and Michelle Stilwell

Victoria Pros, with Lester Patrick, back row, second from the left, in the Patrick Arena in Oak Bay, circa 1913. (Craig Bowlsby Collection - Black Press file)
Alexanne Lepage on top of the podium after winning gold in the 100 metre breaststroke race at the 2023 World Junior Swimming Championships, held in Netanya, Israel. (Contributed)

Vernon swimmer roars to gold at World Juniors in Israel

Alexanne Lepage beat championship record holder Eneli Jefimova for gold in the 100 m breaststroke

Alexanne Lepage on top of the podium after winning gold in the 100 metre breaststroke race at the 2023 World Junior Swimming Championships, held in Netanya, Israel. (Contributed)
Izabella Marshall, with her dad Jody, after winning on June 17 the junior dragsters Division Six competition at the Mission Speedway in the Fraser Valley. (Contributed)

The art of drag racing, with 12-year-old Vernon phenom

Izabella Marshall has already sped to accolades on the junior dragster circuit

Izabella Marshall, with her dad Jody, after winning on June 17 the junior dragsters Division Six competition at the Mission Speedway in the Fraser Valley. (Contributed)
Oceanside Generals goalie Marc Samyn made 39 saves for his first Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League win, leading the Gens to a 4-1 victory over the host Westshore Wolves on Sept. 7, 2023. (Oceanside Generals Facebook photo)

Generals open VIJHL season with 4-1 victory over Westshore Wolves

Samyn makes 39 saves, Thomas has 4 points for Oceanside

Oceanside Generals goalie Marc Samyn made 39 saves for his first Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League win, leading the Gens to a 4-1 victory over the host Westshore Wolves on Sept. 7, 2023. (Oceanside Generals Facebook photo)
NHL players Tyson Barrie and Tyler Ennis were all smiles as they played ball hockey with local kids in Ty-Histanis on Aug. 17. (Andrew Bailey photo)

NHL players promote potential multiplex in Tofino-Ucluelet region

Tyson Barrie, Mike Smith, Tyler Ennis and more join West Coast Multiplex Society push in Ty-Histanis

NHL players Tyson Barrie and Tyler Ennis were all smiles as they played ball hockey with local kids in Ty-Histanis on Aug. 17. (Andrew Bailey photo)
The North Cowichan/Duncan Sports Wall of Fame also includes a Walk of Fame outside the Cowichan Aquatic Centre that honours athletes, builders and coaches from the Cowichan Valley. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Five more inductees named for 2023 North Cowichan/Duncan Sports Wall of Fame

Two teams, a builder and two athletes to be honoured Nov. 18

The North Cowichan/Duncan Sports Wall of Fame also includes a Walk of Fame outside the Cowichan Aquatic Centre that honours athletes, builders and coaches from the Cowichan Valley. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Six-month-old Marcelina had her picture taken, seated in the Stanley Cup, with her mom, Hailey Reid, from Abbotsford, and Aldergrove’s Shea Theodore, who had brought the trophy to his hometown on Tuesday, Aug. 29. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: A visit from the Stanley Cup draws a crowd

B.C.’s Shea Theodore brings it home

Six-month-old Marcelina had her picture taken, seated in the Stanley Cup, with her mom, Hailey Reid, from Abbotsford, and Aldergrove’s Shea Theodore, who had brought the trophy to his hometown on Tuesday, Aug. 29. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Oceanside Generals goalie Matthew Hutchison, the VIJHL’s top netminder last season, will join the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League this hockey season. (PQB News file photo)

Oceanside Generals building team for 2023-24 VIJHL season

Squad will have several key veterans coming back

Oceanside Generals goalie Matthew Hutchison, the VIJHL’s top netminder last season, will join the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League this hockey season. (PQB News file photo)
Paddlers set off in a dragon boat Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Dragon boats return to Victoria waters

The Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival returned for its second year Aug. 26 and 27.

Paddlers set off in a dragon boat Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Cowichan’s Declan Forcier, 11, has crushed his track and field goals with quadruple gold at the eighth annual World Dwarf Games in Cologne, Germany. (Tammy Isaachsen photo)

Forcier returns from WDG in Germany with 7 medals

11-year-old already planning for the World Dwarf Games in 2027

Cowichan’s Declan Forcier, 11, has crushed his track and field goals with quadruple gold at the eighth annual World Dwarf Games in Cologne, Germany. (Tammy Isaachsen photo)
Krissy Scurfield (left) kisses a coaching staff member’s baby as the Canadian women’s sevens team celebrates their Olympic qualification after winning the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens in Langford on Sunday (Aug. 20). (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Canadian sevens back in Langford: Women qualify for Olympics, men miss out

Canada’s men’s team has another chance after losing to the USA in the final

Krissy Scurfield (left) kisses a coaching staff member’s baby as the Canadian women’s sevens team celebrates their Olympic qualification after winning the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens in Langford on Sunday (Aug. 20). (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Ryder Hesjedal (left), who the Tour de Victoria is named after, at the start line alongside five-year-old Michael Greenway for the 60-kilometre race on Saturday (Aug. 19). (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Racers young and old line up for Tour de Victoria

Cyclists taking part in various lengths of races

Ryder Hesjedal (left), who the Tour de Victoria is named after, at the start line alongside five-year-old Michael Greenway for the 60-kilometre race on Saturday (Aug. 19). (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)