Local Sports

Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League has halted all games until further notice based on B.C. public health officer orders and information from B.C. Hockey. Pictured here, action between Nanaimo and Campbell River from last March. (News Bulletin file)

VIJHL hits pause on season due to COVID-19 orders

All games postponed beginning Nov. 21, says hockey league

Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey executive has announced all games are cancelled until Dec. 1. (VIAHA logo)

COVID-19: Vancouver Island minor hockey cancels all games until December

“We have had an increasing number of teams who are reluctant to travel…”

The Pacwest announced that all winter sports competition has been cancelled.

B.C.’s Pacwest college sports conference cancels winter competition

Pacwest cancels all winter sports competition after cancelling fall sports back in June

Pacific FC continues to stock its roster for the 2021 Canadian Premier League soccer season. The four player signings announced last week brings the total to 10 under contract. (Black Press Media file photo)

Pacific FC adds four more players to 2021 roster

Midfielder Marco Bustos, finalist for CPL MVP, has yet to confirm return

Pacific FC continues to stock its roster for the 2021 Canadian Premier League soccer season. The four player signings announced last week brings the total to 10 under contract. (Black Press Media file photo)
Riley Scheffer has earned a scholarship to play with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. (Photo contributed)

Belmont Bulldog lineman wraps up scholarship

Langford’s Riley Scheffer will study kinesiology at the University of B.C.

Riley Scheffer has earned a scholarship to play with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. (Photo contributed)
Amanda Chambers, 17, of Oak Bay High has signed to San Diego State to play water polo. (Photo from Amanda Chambers)

Oak Bay water polo player NCAA-bound

Amanda Chambers signs with San Diego State

Amanda Chambers, 17, of Oak Bay High has signed to San Diego State to play water polo. (Photo from Amanda Chambers)
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Former Highlands resident Josh Reaume was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR following a social media post that breached members’ code of conduct. (Black Press Media file photo)

NASCAR suspends former Vancouver Island resident for insensitive social media post

Josh Reaume ‘sorry’ if food photo ‘taken out of context’ offended anyone

Former Highlands resident Josh Reaume was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR following a social media post that breached members’ code of conduct. (Black Press Media file photo)
Bayne Pettinger on the ice at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics in Korea during his time as Hockey Canada manager. (Courtesy of Bayne Pettinger)

Oak Bay’s Bayne Pettinger on ‘opening doors’ in hockey

NHL player agent comes out as gay at 33

Bayne Pettinger on the ice at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics in Korea during his time as Hockey Canada manager. (Courtesy of Bayne Pettinger)
Cohen Lacey hoists the trophy he earned for a first-place finish in a junior tournament on Oct. 3 at Royal Colwood Golf Club. (Photo contributed by Kristen McMartin)

Young Colwood golfer looking ahead after first win

Cohen Lacey hooked on golf when he was a toddler

Cohen Lacey hoists the trophy he earned for a first-place finish in a junior tournament on Oct. 3 at Royal Colwood Golf Club. (Photo contributed by Kristen McMartin)
Panthers’ goalie Brayden Evans looks for the puck during Friday’s 3-1 loss against the Victoria Cougars at Panorama Recreation Centre. Evans stopped 34 out of 37 shots during what was the final of 10 games against the Cougars. (Gordon Lee/Submitted)

Peninsula Panthers finish cohort series against Victoria Cougars with sixth straight loss

Panthers hockey club now faces Kerry Park Islanders for 14 games in 31 days

Panthers’ goalie Brayden Evans looks for the puck during Friday’s 3-1 loss against the Victoria Cougars at Panorama Recreation Centre. Evans stopped 34 out of 37 shots during what was the final of 10 games against the Cougars. (Gordon Lee/Submitted)
Victoria Grizzlies president Lance Black is feeling confident about the upcoming regular season in December, as the team has been leading in the pre-season Island Cup so far. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Disappointing season was ‘blessing in disguise’ for Victoria Grizzlies

Minor hockey club playing in Island Cup, regular season set for December

Victoria Grizzlies president Lance Black is feeling confident about the upcoming regular season in December, as the team has been leading in the pre-season Island Cup so far. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Panthers’ Captain Tanner Wort faces Tory McClintick of the Victoria Cougars during Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League action Friday night at Panorama Recreation Centre. The Panthers lost 3-0, then lost 7-2 Sunday. (Gordon Lee/Submitted)

Peninsula Panthers’ losing streak reaches four games as injuries mount

Injuries have especially hurt the team’s backline with only four defenders available

Panthers’ Captain Tanner Wort faces Tory McClintick of the Victoria Cougars during Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League action Friday night at Panorama Recreation Centre. The Panthers lost 3-0, then lost 7-2 Sunday. (Gordon Lee/Submitted)
The ‘new normal’ for hockey parents in Chilliwack and elsewhere in B.C., watching their kids from outside of the arena due to COVID-19 protocols. (Submitted photo)

Chilliwack hockey parents petition to be let back in the arena

Refused access due to pandemic protocols, parents are now applying pressure to loosen the rules

The ‘new normal’ for hockey parents in Chilliwack and elsewhere in B.C., watching their kids from outside of the arena due to COVID-19 protocols. (Submitted photo)
Lacrosse player Patrick Dodds, 19, got his start playing for the Saanich Tigers in Braefoot Park and has now been drafted to the Calgary Roughnecks for the upcoming National Lacrosse League season. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

Calgary Roughnecks draft young Saanich lacrosse star for coming NLL season

Going pro at 19 is ‘surreal,’ says Patrick Dodds

Lacrosse player Patrick Dodds, 19, got his start playing for the Saanich Tigers in Braefoot Park and has now been drafted to the Calgary Roughnecks for the upcoming National Lacrosse League season. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Patrick ‘Crazy P’ Thomas got into character in Glanford Park on Oct. 15 where he spent years he spent playing for the Saanich Hornets. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)

B.C. Lions, Canucks hype-man sidelined as sports move to fan-free play amid pandemic

Crazy P misses seeing fellow fans who’ve become family, pumping up players

Patrick ‘Crazy P’ Thomas got into character in Glanford Park on Oct. 15 where he spent years he spent playing for the Saanich Hornets. (Devon Bidal/News Staff)
Royal Bay students are among the list of SD62 schools that will be trained by Pacific FC coaches and staff in a new soccer academy partnership. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Pacific FC partners with Sooke School District soccer academies

Royal Bay, EMCS and Dunsmuir Middle students to receive professional training

Royal Bay students are among the list of SD62 schools that will be trained by Pacific FC coaches and staff in a new soccer academy partnership. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Bill Okell captured two first-place finishes and a second-place finish at the Confederation of Autosport Car Clubs Championships on Sept. 26 and 27. (Brent Martin/Martin’s Action Photography)

Saanich race car driver nabs GTU title, new hardware at Mission Raceway Park

‘Satisfying win’ on Canadian circuit after U.S. season cut short for Bill Okell

Bill Okell captured two first-place finishes and a second-place finish at the Confederation of Autosport Car Clubs Championships on Sept. 26 and 27. (Brent Martin/Martin’s Action Photography)
Captain Tanner Wort of the Peninsula Panthers battles for the puck against Braden Blace of the Victoria Cougars Thursday night in Esquimalt as the Panthers won 4-3 in overtime. They lost 6-1 against the same Cougars 24 hours later. (Gordon Lee/Submitted)

Peninsula Panthers continue their pattern by splitting two games against Cougars

The two best VIJHL teams from last season continue to neutralize each other this season

Captain Tanner Wort of the Peninsula Panthers battles for the puck against Braden Blace of the Victoria Cougars Thursday night in Esquimalt as the Panthers won 4-3 in overtime. They lost 6-1 against the same Cougars 24 hours later. (Gordon Lee/Submitted)
Crew members from AstroTurf work on a section of new turf being installed on the Gorge Soccer Club field this week at Hampton Park in Saanich. The project took place over a number of days and sees the old turf recycled and used as infill for the new one. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Saanich soccer turf replacement project close to wrapping up

Hampton Park a beehive of activity of late

Crew members from AstroTurf work on a section of new turf being installed on the Gorge Soccer Club field this week at Hampton Park in Saanich. The project took place over a number of days and sees the old turf recycled and used as infill for the new one. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Pickleball action during the 2019 55+ B.C. Games in Kelowna. While the 2020 Games in Richmond were cancelled due to COVID-19, the Greater Victoria organizing committee has begun planning for hosting the 2021 competition next September. (Rosemary Kean/55+ BC Games Society)

Greater Victoria’s 55+ BC Games committee planning for safe 2021 competition

Richmond cancelled 2020 Games due to COVID, but local organizers optimistic about next year

Pickleball action during the 2019 55+ B.C. Games in Kelowna. While the 2020 Games in Richmond were cancelled due to COVID-19, the Greater Victoria organizing committee has begun planning for hosting the 2021 competition next September. (Rosemary Kean/55+ BC Games Society)