Local Sports

Victoria Eagles player Oliver Mabee takes batting practice at the Pacific FC indoor facility in Langford. He and teammate Tyrus Hall head to Arizona this March as part of a high-level exhibition tour organized by the Langley Blaze. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Victoria Eagles baseball duo gear up for high-level Arizona road trip

Tyrus Hall, Oliver Mabee look to impress recruiters during 12-day, 22-game stretch

Victoria Eagles player Oliver Mabee takes batting practice at the Pacific FC indoor facility in Langford. He and teammate Tyrus Hall head to Arizona this March as part of a high-level exhibition tour organized by the Langley Blaze. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Kale’a Molia dives on the ball during training at the Westshore Rugby Club during the Girls Can Rugby event on March 6. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Westshore Rugby aiming to get more girls playing

Player numbers were hurt by the pandemic, but have recovered recently

Kale’a Molia dives on the ball during training at the Westshore Rugby Club during the Girls Can Rugby event on March 6. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Adam Kingsmill, far right, celebrates the opening of the 2022 Paralympic Games with Canadian teammates in Beijing, China. (Facebook photo)

Northwest B.C. Paralympic hockey player takes to the ice in Beijing tonight

The opening hockey game of the 2022 Paralympics features rematch of 2018 gold medal final with USA

Adam Kingsmill, far right, celebrates the opening of the 2022 Paralympic Games with Canadian teammates in Beijing, China. (Facebook photo)
Ava Ference, a current student at Shawnigan Lake School, has earned RBC Future Olympian funding and multiple-year commitments from Rugby Canada as a result of the talent she displayed in basic testing. (Submitted by RBC Training Ground)

Vancouver Island athletes unearthed by RBC Training Ground

Rugby players now on the national program fast track

Ava Ference, a current student at Shawnigan Lake School, has earned RBC Future Olympian funding and multiple-year commitments from Rugby Canada as a result of the talent she displayed in basic testing. (Submitted by RBC Training Ground)
The Peninsula Panthers, here celebrating a double overtime 3-2 win on home ice in Game 5 at Panorama Recreation Centre, clinched the series win over Westshore Wolves on Wednesday with a 4-2 victory in Colwood. (Christian J. Stewart Photography/submitted)

Peninsula Panthers scratch way into next round of playoffs, beat Westshore 4-2

Riley Braun powers attack with 4 points in Wednesday VIJHL playoff clincher in Colwood

The Peninsula Panthers, here celebrating a double overtime 3-2 win on home ice in Game 5 at Panorama Recreation Centre, clinched the series win over Westshore Wolves on Wednesday with a 4-2 victory in Colwood. (Christian J. Stewart Photography/submitted)
Oak Bay’s Finn Lillis pushes through during the final game of provincials, a loss to Vancouver College, on Monday night. (Photos courtesy of Gary Ahuja Langley Events Centre)

Oak Bay junior boys finish fourth after double OT at provincials

Senior boys from Oak Bay, Claremont earn berth at provincials in Langley

Oak Bay’s Finn Lillis pushes through during the final game of provincials, a loss to Vancouver College, on Monday night. (Photos courtesy of Gary Ahuja Langley Events Centre)
Victoria Royals’ Tyler Palmer has earned the WHL’s goalie of the week honours. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)

Victoria Royals rookie earns WHL’s goalie of the week honours

Tyler Palmer had a shutout, .969 save percentage in two starts last week

Victoria Royals’ Tyler Palmer has earned the WHL’s goalie of the week honours. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)
Victoria Royals’ Tarun Fizer slips one past the Vancouver netminder during Saturday action in Victoria. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)

Victoria Royals, winners of 3 of last 5, look to gain ground on tough Interior road trip

4-2 home win over Vancouver Giants was third in past four games vs. division, conference rival

Victoria Royals’ Tarun Fizer slips one past the Vancouver netminder during Saturday action in Victoria. (Simon Fearn/Black Press Media)
Mount Douglas hosted the 4A senior boys basketball tournament last weekend. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Oak Bay senior boys top Island 4A division hoops

Bays down Claremont 78-69 in Saturday final at Mount Doug

Mount Douglas hosted the 4A senior boys basketball tournament last weekend. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
The Camosun Chargers men’s volleyball team celebrates victory during Saturday’s gold medal match at the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) tournament in Abbotsford. The Chargers came from behind to beat the VIU Mariners and earn a spot in the national championship tournament in March in Quebec City. (flickr/CBC Bearcats)

Golden performance sends Camosun Chargers to national men’s volleyball championships

Women’s Chargers spiked in PACWEST semifinal, but rebound to win bronze

The Camosun Chargers men’s volleyball team celebrates victory during Saturday’s gold medal match at the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) tournament in Abbotsford. The Chargers came from behind to beat the VIU Mariners and earn a spot in the national championship tournament in March in Quebec City. (flickr/CBC Bearcats)
Charity Williams pats Breanne Nicholas on the back as she walks over for a conversion after Williams lands a try during play in Langford during the 2019 series stop. (Black Press Media file photo)

Close-knit, electric crowd makes Langford a favourite stop for international rugby players

Olympian Breanne Nicholas says other teams, not just Canada, look forward to playing in Langford

Charity Williams pats Breanne Nicholas on the back as she walks over for a conversion after Williams lands a try during play in Langford during the 2019 series stop. (Black Press Media file photo)
Joynson said his opponents in the heavyweight class are consistently bigger than him, meaning he prides himself on his cardio. He added while his opponents may train at bigger gyms with world-class trainers, the trainers can’t help them when they’re in the ring. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Saanich MMA underdog has world title in his sights

Dustin Joynson fights in One Championship, based in Asia

Joynson said his opponents in the heavyweight class are consistently bigger than him, meaning he prides himself on his cardio. He added while his opponents may train at bigger gyms with world-class trainers, the trainers can’t help them when they’re in the ring. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Saanich auto racer Bill Okell (car 7) leads a line of cars through a downward curve in the Sports Car Club of America racing at Buttonwillow Raceway near Bakersfield, Calif. Okell won both the F Production class sprint race Feb. 19 and the 25-lap race on Feb. 20. (Photo by Cali Photography)

Saanich driver muscles his way to second win of weekend in California

Wrecked gearbox on second day doesn’t prevent Bill Okell from sweeping national tour races

Saanich auto racer Bill Okell (car 7) leads a line of cars through a downward curve in the Sports Car Club of America racing at Buttonwillow Raceway near Bakersfield, Calif. Okell won both the F Production class sprint race Feb. 19 and the 25-lap race on Feb. 20. (Photo by Cali Photography)
Beatrice Carnell (red shoes) wrestling in a competition. Carnell only started wrestling in November of last year. (Courtesy of Steve Rennalls)

Greater Victoria wrestling program rebuilding after quiet years

Starting in November two students won 1st place at the Island Championships in February

Beatrice Carnell (red shoes) wrestling in a competition. Carnell only started wrestling in November of last year. (Courtesy of Steve Rennalls)
Oak Bay High ski and snowboard team hits the slopes at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden for provincial competition Feb. 28 to March 2. (Courtesy Colleen McKee)

Captains lead Oak Bay High contingent to ski, snowboard provincials

Young athletes cite coaches, diversity as learning opportunity

Oak Bay High ski and snowboard team hits the slopes at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden for provincial competition Feb. 28 to March 2. (Courtesy Colleen McKee)
Tia Nunn spars during a practice Feb. 23 at the Sooke Boxing Club’s new location. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke Boxing Club back in ring despite recent blows

A new home means the club will be in better shape when it sends a team to Mexico in March

Tia Nunn spars during a practice Feb. 23 at the Sooke Boxing Club’s new location. (Justin Samanski-Langille - Sooke News Mirror)
Team Canada’s Brittany Benn drives to the end zone in the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series 2019 stop in Langford. Team Canada went on to take 5th place in the tournament with a 31-7 victory over England. (Black Press Media file photo)

HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens event returns to Langford after two-year hiatus

Tickets go on sale Thursday morning

Team Canada’s Brittany Benn drives to the end zone in the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series 2019 stop in Langford. Team Canada went on to take 5th place in the tournament with a 31-7 victory over England. (Black Press Media file photo)
Peninsula Panthers captain and winger Riley Braun and centre Logan Speirs finished one-two in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League scoring while winger Payton Braun finished fifth. (Courtesy Christian J. Stewart Photography)

VIJHL’s top scorers celebrate success on and off the ice

Peninsula Panthers captain Riley Braun, brother Payton and Logan Speirs among elite of VIJHL

Peninsula Panthers captain and winger Riley Braun and centre Logan Speirs finished one-two in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League scoring while winger Payton Braun finished fifth. (Courtesy Christian J. Stewart Photography)
Peninsula Panthers Captain Riley Braun (left) used Friday's 5-3 victory over the Kerry Park Islanders to set a new league record for a single season. He first tied, then broke the previous record of 118 points a season to finish on top of Vancouver Jsland Junior Hockey League scoring with 120 points. (Christian J. Stewart Photography/Submitted)

Peninsula Panther captain Riley Braun sets new league scoring record

Riley sets new record with 120 points in regular season play

Peninsula Panthers Captain Riley Braun (left) used Friday's 5-3 victory over the Kerry Park Islanders to set a new league record for a single season. He first tied, then broke the previous record of 118 points a season to finish on top of Vancouver Jsland Junior Hockey League scoring with 120 points. (Christian J. Stewart Photography/Submitted)
The Victoria Royals defeated the Vancouver Giants 5-2 Friday night. (Photo Courtesy of Vancouver Giants/Twitter)

Victoria Royals defeat Vancouver Giants in Friday night matchup

With a score of 5-2, the Royals earn their first win of 2022

The Victoria Royals defeated the Vancouver Giants 5-2 Friday night. (Photo Courtesy of Vancouver Giants/Twitter)