Want to be a Brave? Dream of carving the ice like Hayley Wickenheiser? The Saanich Minor Hockey Association is hosting a girls’ team in both Atom (10 years and younger) and Peewee (12 years and younger) divisions. For more information contact Ian Fleetwood at ian.g.fleetwood@gmail.com.
Speaking of the Braves, the Junior B Saanich Braves are back in action tonight, hosting the Westshore Wolves at 6:30 p.m. at Pearkes Arena. The Braves are on the road Saturday, facing the Campbell River Storm at 7:30 p.m. Following a five-day break, the Braves are back at home Friday, Sept. 18, welcoming the Comox Valley Glacier Kings at Pearkes Arena. Puck drops at 6:30 p.m.
The Braefoot Community Association invites families to donate lightly used sports gear for a sports swap and shop this Saturday.
Held in memory of Elliot Dagg, who lost his fight with leukemia early this year, Braefoot and the RED Fund aim to provide reasonably priced sporting goods for all ages, with proceeds contributing to a Braefoot Summer Camps bursary in Elliot’s name, and to the RED Fund, whose mission is to support youth in education and sport in our communities.
While a variety of men’s and women’s sports action opens next week at the University of Victoria, it’s the men’s and women’s soccer squads that are in action this weekend. The Vikes men’s team has two home games this week, hosting the University of Northern British Columbia Friday and Saturday. Both games start at 7:15 p.m. at Centennial Stadium.
The women’s team is on the road to the Mainland this weekend, playing Fraser Valley Friday and Trinity Western University Saturday. Come next Friday, Sept. 18, the women welcome UNBC at Centennial Stadium, with kick-off at 5 p.m.
Swinging over to baseball, the Victoria Mariners have a busy weekend ahead. The Premier team travels up Island to Parksville to play against the Royals at 1 p.m. on Saturday, before the Premier and Junior Premier teams play a split-squad game against the Whalley Chiefs Sunday. First pitch is at 1 p.m. at Layritz Field.
On Sept. 17 the Zach Downey Memorial Tournament begins, with the Bantam and Premier Mariners playing daily through Sept. 20, also at Layritz.
Looking ahead, the Victoria Eagles are holding free tryouts for the 2016 Premier Eagles, Midget AAA Eagles and Junior Premier Eagles at Lambrick Park over the next few weeks. The Premier Eagles open tryout runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 20, followed by a Premier Eagles Invitational Tryout Sunday, Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a Midget AAA/Junior Premier Open Tryout on Sunday, Oct. 11. For more information, visit www.victoriaeagles.com.
For Saanich runners wanting to join the fun of the Victoria Marathon, Sept. 15 is the deadline for regular-price registration, after which late registration fees will apply. Learn more at www.runvictoriamarathon.com.
Colin Gall is a Saanich athlete, avid sports fan and Grade 11 student at Mount Douglas secondary.