The Saanich Junior Braves travel to Panorama Rec Centre to open regular-season Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League play against the Peninsula Panthers Friday at 7:30 p.m. Following Friday’s game, the Braves host the Panthers for a return game at Pearkes Recreation Centre on Saturday. Puck drops at 6:30 p.m. Come Wednesday, the team travels to the West Shore to take on the Wolves at the Q Centre.
For those looking to score tickets for the Kraft Hockeyville pre-season NHL game between the Vancouver Canucks and the San Jose Sharks at the Q Centre Sept. 21, this is the weekend. Tickets will be distributed by way of a supervised public lottery at Panorama Recreation Centre. Come in person to place your ballot for a chance to win two tickets to the game from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday or noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. You must be 19 years of age or older and provide photo ID proof of age.
While the University of Victoria men’s soccer team is on the road this Saturday at the University of British Columbia, the women’s team is in action at Centennial Stadium, welcoming the UBC Thunderbirds. Kick-off is at 5 p.m.
The Braefoot Community Association invites families to donate gently used sporting goods for a sports swap Sept. 12. Held in memory of Elliott 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 Elliott’s name, and to the RED Fund, whose mission is to support youth in education and sport in our community.
Baseball players have enjoyed a short break but it’s back to the field for those wanting to join Fall Ball with the Victoria Mariners, which has also launched its Bantam Premier Team to join the already established Junior Premier and Premier Teams. A Fall Ball introduction for Bantam- and Junior Premier-age players is scheduled for this Saturday at Layritz Park. Bantams begin at 9:45 a.m. while the JP players take to the field at 11:45 a.m. Games at all levels are scheduled to start next weekend. For more information or registration details, visit victoriamariners.pointstreaksites.com.
The Victoria Eagles fall instructional league is also underway with both registered and drop-in sessions available at Layritz and Lambrick parks. Weekend games begin this Saturday, with the Juniors’ opening pitch at noon and the Seniors taking the field at 2:30 p.m.
Devon Gall is a local athlete, avid sports fan and Mount Douglas secondary grad.