Local Sports

Victoria Royals dress for Pink in the Rink as they play the Kelowna Rockets 4–3 in a shootout on Feb. 22, 2020. (James Mackenzie/News Staff)

Victoria Royals netminder Adam Evanoff joins AHL’s Heat on amateur tryout

Evanoff has split his 101 WHL games between Victoria and Moose Jaw

Victoria Shamrocks head coach Bob Heyes (centre) speaks to his players during practice at The Q Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria Shamrocks make coaching change ahead of 2021 season

Bob Heyes steps down after ‘unprecedented and very successful’ eight-year term

Members of the Victoria Admirals U-13 hockey team are vying to earn $100,000 for the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island in the 2021 Chevrolet Good Deeds Cup. (YouTube/Gord Rufh-Victoria Admirals)

Victoria-Esquimalt minor hockey team named finalist for B.C. for Good Deeds Cup

Public can now vote for U-13 Admirals; video pitch for charity one of11 Canadian finalists

  • Feb 15, 2021
Kerry Park forward Dawson Elzinga slides the puck past a Westshore defender during a VIJHL game last October. (Black Press Media photo)

Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League remains hopeful about 2020-21 season

Annual awards are cancelled, but league wants to resume season if possible

Kerry Park forward Dawson Elzinga slides the puck past a Westshore defender during a VIJHL game last October. (Black Press Media photo)
Head coach John Tait talks to his team during women’s sevens rugby action against Japan at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. A complaint from members of the Canadian women’s sevens team has prompted Rugby Canada to call in an independent investigator and revamp the team coaching staff. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Rugby Canada launches probe, revamps women’s 7s coaching staff after players complain

The sevens side is coached by John Tait, Rugby Canada’s director of women’s high performance

Head coach John Tait talks to his team during women’s sevens rugby action against Japan at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. A complaint from members of the Canadian women’s sevens team has prompted Rugby Canada to call in an independent investigator and revamp the team coaching staff. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Victoria curler Steph Jackson-Baier will compete in two national curling championship events in Calgary in February. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria curlers ready to roll in Calgary competition

National competition was swept aside by the pandemic last year

Victoria curler Steph Jackson-Baier will compete in two national curling championship events in Calgary in February. (Black Press Media file photo)
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Dave Koo has started an online tennis community that is free and which locals can use to find others of the same skill level in their area. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

New app finds perfect match for Victoria tennis players

Software engineer brings expertise to the courts

Dave Koo has started an online tennis community that is free and which locals can use to find others of the same skill level in their area. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)
BCHL

BCHL season delayed once more, but league still hopes to play

The junior A league isn’t ready to sink the season, which is now pushed back into March

BCHL
The Westshore Wolves, along with eight other Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League teams, have been off the ice since last November due to pandemic-related restrictions. The league is awaiting the next round of public health orders, due this week, to plan its next moves. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League awaits next public health order

Junior B league on pause since November due to COVID restrictions

  • Feb 1, 2021
The Westshore Wolves, along with eight other Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League teams, have been off the ice since last November due to pandemic-related restrictions. The league is awaiting the next round of public health orders, due this week, to plan its next moves. (Black Press Media file photo)
Everett’s Matt Fonteyne controls the puck with Victoria’s Matthew Phillips giving chase at Angels of The Winds Arena Sunday night on January 7, 2018. championship. Silvertips won 9-4. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

With Royals hockey on hold, here’s a peek at some former Victoria stars

The 2020-21 Western Hockey League season still sits in COVID-19 limbo

Everett’s Matt Fonteyne controls the puck with Victoria’s Matthew Phillips giving chase at Angels of The Winds Arena Sunday night on January 7, 2018. championship. Silvertips won 9-4. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)
Coaches with the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey association have had to get creative during their weekly practices to keep players interested and improving their skills without physical contact. (Damian Kowalewich photo)

West Shore minor hockey coach shares what it’s like on the ice without parents, fans

Most practices consist of relay races, goalie shots and passing drills

Coaches with the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey association have had to get creative during their weekly practices to keep players interested and improving their skills without physical contact. (Damian Kowalewich photo)
Seattle Mariners field coordinator Carson Vitale before a game at T-Mobile Park during the 2020 season. Vitale, who grew up in Victoria, has pledged to run 10 miles a day for 2021 and to donate 50 cents per mile to the United Way of King County. (Ben Van Houten/Seattle Mariners)

Mariners coach running 10 miles a day for United Way

Saanich-raised Carson Vitale, Seattle Mariners field coordinator, plans to run 3,650 miles in 2021

Seattle Mariners field coordinator Carson Vitale before a game at T-Mobile Park during the 2020 season. Vitale, who grew up in Victoria, has pledged to run 10 miles a day for 2021 and to donate 50 cents per mile to the United Way of King County. (Ben Van Houten/Seattle Mariners)
The Kerry Park Islanders and Peninsula Panthers battle during a Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League game in November 2020. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League hasn’t given up on season

Games can’t resume until at least February, but league brass still hopeful

The Kerry Park Islanders and Peninsula Panthers battle during a Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League game in November 2020. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Brett McLean of Comox played for the Colorado Avalanche in the 2005/06 and 2006/07 NHL seasons. He is now an assistant coach of the Minnesota Wild. Photo supplied

Vancouver Islander making NHL assistant coaching debut

Brett McLean of the Comox Valley opens coming NHL season behind the bench of the Minnesota Wild

Brett McLean of Comox played for the Colorado Avalanche in the 2005/06 and 2006/07 NHL seasons. He is now an assistant coach of the Minnesota Wild. Photo supplied
BCHL

BCHL delays start of the season as provincial health orders remain in place

The junior A league has been forced to abandon a plan to start in mid-January

BCHL
Rob Britton in the rain at the red gates of the Sooke Wilderness Trail turnoff from Niagara Main. (Rob Britton Photo)

Victoria pro cyclist keeps busy with big rides and sneaky coffee stashes

At 36, Rob Britton has a theory as to why he can still race at an elite world level

Rob Britton in the rain at the red gates of the Sooke Wilderness Trail turnoff from Niagara Main. (Rob Britton Photo)
Zosia Adamek, shown here in action with the Shawnigan Lake U 18 team, is heading to Long Island University on a scholarship next season. (Photo contributed by Adamek family)

Former West Shore teammates to unite again on Long Island

Shawnigan Lake School producing scores of scholarships

Zosia Adamek, shown here in action with the Shawnigan Lake U 18 team, is heading to Long Island University on a scholarship next season. (Photo contributed by Adamek family)
Madison Thomas manoeuvres the ball in the midfield for Cowichan United during a LIWSA match last fall. (Citizen file)

Vancouver Island soccer leagues make plans to move forward

Schedules and cup draws are set in case adult soccer gets go-ahead

Madison Thomas manoeuvres the ball in the midfield for Cowichan United during a LIWSA match last fall. (Citizen file)
Trevor Coey atop Mount Work in September. Coey longs to run the roads and trails like he did before he lost his leg in an accident three years ago. (Photo courtesy of Trevor Coey)

Island long-distance runner looks to regain his stride after losing leg

Running on a blade, a puzzle not easily solved

Trevor Coey atop Mount Work in September. Coey longs to run the roads and trails like he did before he lost his leg in an accident three years ago. (Photo courtesy of Trevor Coey)
Victoria Royals winger Keanu Derungs will suit up for team Switzerland at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships in Edmonton this holiday season. (Kevin Light/Courtesy Victoria Royals)

Victoria Royals winger wearing the red and white of Switzerland at world juniors

Keanu Derungs looks to help his country medal for just the second time in seasonal hockey favourite

Victoria Royals winger Keanu Derungs will suit up for team Switzerland at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championships in Edmonton this holiday season. (Kevin Light/Courtesy Victoria Royals)