Local Sports

Members of the B.C. Community Safety Unit raiding the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club on March 23. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria cannabis club prepares to sue B.C. government following raid

The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club is already facing almost $6.5 million in fines

Members of the B.C. Community Safety Unit raiding the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club on March 23. (Black Press Media file photo)
Langley Rivermen players Nick Messina, left, and Nicklas Hoogendoorn crash the front of the net as Nanaimo Clippers player Michael Craig defends on the play in front of goalie Aidan Campbell. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
Langley Rivermen players Nick Messina, left, and Nicklas Hoogendoorn crash the front of the net as Nanaimo Clippers player Michael Craig defends on the play in front of goalie Aidan Campbell. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
Victoria Grizzlies goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton makes a save on Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Dakota MacIntosh during Game 2 of the BCHL playoffs on April 1, 2023. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)
Victoria Grizzlies goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton makes a save on Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Dakota MacIntosh during Game 2 of the BCHL playoffs on April 1, 2023. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)
Gareth Rees, commercial and program relations for Rugby Canada speaking at the announcement alongside Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson and Rugby Canada men’s team member Jake Thiel. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Langford hosting Olympic rugby sevens qualifier in August

Rugby Canada successfully bid to host the men’s and women’s event at Starlight Stadium

Gareth Rees, commercial and program relations for Rugby Canada speaking at the announcement alongside Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson and Rugby Canada men’s team member Jake Thiel. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Keaton Mastrodonato joins the AHL’s Texas Stars for a practice session. (TWITTER PHOTO COURTESY TEXAS STARS)

Former Alberni Valley Bulldog signs contract with AHL’s Texas Stars

Keaton Mastrodonato just completed a four-year NCAA career at Canisius College

Keaton Mastrodonato joins the AHL’s Texas Stars for a practice session. (TWITTER PHOTO COURTESY TEXAS STARS)
Kimberly Chen, 16, and Isla Rendle, 15, are two of the four athletes from the Greater Victoria Velodrome Association heading to the Canadian Track Cycling Championships in Quebec next weekend. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Four West Shore track cyclists heading to nationals

The Greater Victoria Velodrome Association continues its record of producing top talent

Kimberly Chen, 16, and Isla Rendle, 15, are two of the four athletes from the Greater Victoria Velodrome Association heading to the Canadian Track Cycling Championships in Quebec next weekend. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Audrey Bestwick, left, and Yashita Kaku both came home with a medal haul, including gold for Bestwick and bronze for Kaku in individual competition as well as a silver in team kumite. (Courtesy Kraig Devlin)

South Island karate kids score high medal count in BC Games

Greater Victoria athletes contribute to team podium finishes

Audrey Bestwick, left, and Yashita Kaku both came home with a medal haul, including gold for Bestwick and bronze for Kaku in individual competition as well as a silver in team kumite. (Courtesy Kraig Devlin)
With Nanaimo Clippers’ head coach Colin Birkas suspended, the BCHL team has appointed Dave Liffiton as interim coach. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo Clippers appoint new coach a week before BCHL playoffs

Dave Liffiton takes over from suspended coach and general manager Colin Birkas

With Nanaimo Clippers’ head coach Colin Birkas suspended, the BCHL team has appointed Dave Liffiton as interim coach. (News Bulletin file photo)
Ron Schwartz, left, and Bob Larson practise last week at the Nanaimo Curling Centre ahead of the Canadian Stick Curling Championships, which start this week. (Bailey Seymour/News Bulletin)

Canadian Stick Curling Championships start this week in Nanaimo

72 teams from across Canada are set to compete at the Nanaimo Curling Centre starting March 29

Ron Schwartz, left, and Bob Larson practise last week at the Nanaimo Curling Centre ahead of the Canadian Stick Curling Championships, which start this week. (Bailey Seymour/News Bulletin)
Daniel Gilfillan racing in Schuchinsk, Kazakhstan. Photo supplied

Comox Valley biathlete faced stiff competition, conditions at world championships

Daniel Gilfillan travelled to Kazakhstan for the Youth/Junior World Biathlon Championships

  • Mar 27, 2023
Daniel Gilfillan racing in Schuchinsk, Kazakhstan. Photo supplied
Greater Victoria Velodrome Association president Matt Powell said the club is aiming to increase awareness in the cycling community of what it has to offer, and is hosting an open house at their track in Colwood April 9. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

‘A great place to learn’: West Shore velodrome hosting spring open house

Greater Victoria Velodrome Association invites community to come learn about and try track cycling

Greater Victoria Velodrome Association president Matt Powell said the club is aiming to increase awareness in the cycling community of what it has to offer, and is hosting an open house at their track in Colwood April 9. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Breanne Nicholas looks out over Langford’s Starlight Stadium. The co-captain of Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team hopes to help end the stigma around mental health and its impact on high-performance athletes. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Canada rugby sevens members push for mental health literacy in sport

Co-captain, coach hope for more openness around mental health challenges facing athletes

Breanne Nicholas looks out over Langford’s Starlight Stadium. The co-captain of Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team hopes to help end the stigma around mental health and its impact on high-performance athletes. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Vikes track runner Jennifer Erickson stands atop the podium after her U SPORTS 3,000m win. (Courtesy of Electric Umbrella/Huskie Athletics)

Walk-on runner becomes track national champion in second lap at UVic

Jennifer Erickson the first Vikes runner to win U SPORTS gold medal since 2016

Vikes track runner Jennifer Erickson stands atop the podium after her U SPORTS 3,000m win. (Courtesy of Electric Umbrella/Huskie Athletics)
Kylie Acford crosses the finish line at the Comox Valley RV Half Marathon with a time of 1:20:21 to win the women’s division. Photo by JoeCrazyLegs

Comox Valley RV Half Marathon crowns two new champions

A total of 548 finishers crossed the final timing mat of the…

  • Mar 21, 2023
Kylie Acford crosses the finish line at the Comox Valley RV Half Marathon with a time of 1:20:21 to win the women’s division. Photo by JoeCrazyLegs
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jason Zucker (16) is checked to the ice by Ottawa Senators’ Jakob Chychrun (6) in front of goaltender Dylan Ferguson (34) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, March 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Goalie from Lantzville makes 48 saves to earn his first NHL win

Dylan Ferguson and his Ottawa Senators defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jason Zucker (16) is checked to the ice by Ottawa Senators’ Jakob Chychrun (6) in front of goaltender Dylan Ferguson (34) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, March 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
VIU Mariners player Chloe Scaber gets past a Géants de Saint-Jean defender during the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association gold-medal match Saturday, March 18, in Hamilton. (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association photo)

VIU Mariners women win national basketball championship

Program wins its first CCAA title since 1998

VIU Mariners player Chloe Scaber gets past a Géants de Saint-Jean defender during the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association gold-medal match Saturday, March 18, in Hamilton. (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association photo)
Colin Birkas, Nanaimo Clippers’ head coach and GM, has been temporarily suspended after a complaint under Hockey Canada’s discipline and complaints policy, said the BCHL club. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo Clippers coach suspended as hockey team nears playoffs

Allegations not made public, but Colin Birkas denies and BCHL team is co-operating, says statement

Colin Birkas, Nanaimo Clippers’ head coach and GM, has been temporarily suspended after a complaint under Hockey Canada’s discipline and complaints policy, said the BCHL club. (News Bulletin file photo)
Campbell Riverite Tyler Turner took home gold from the para-snowboarding world championships earlier this month. Photo courtesy Luc Percival

Campbell River para-snowboarder defends world championship title

Tyler Turner wins gold in only competition this year

Campbell Riverite Tyler Turner took home gold from the para-snowboarding world championships earlier this month. Photo courtesy Luc Percival
The origins of ringette date back to 1963 when Sam Jacks introduced the sport in North Bay, Ont. Photo by Ali Roddam

Ringing on the ice: hockey’s counterpart growing in population in the Comox Valley

The Comox Valley Ringette Association is in its 12th year of existence

The origins of ringette date back to 1963 when Sam Jacks introduced the sport in North Bay, Ont. Photo by Ali Roddam
Ladysmith athlete Mercedez Johnson is B.C. Baseball’s Rookie of the Year. (Photo submitted)

Ladysmith athlete chosen B.C. Baseball’s rookie of the year

15-year-old Mercedez Johnson described as a ‘hard-working’ player

Ladysmith athlete Mercedez Johnson is B.C. Baseball’s Rookie of the Year. (Photo submitted)