Sports

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard falls to the ice after being checked by New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith (2) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Vancouver’s Bedard suffers broken jaw; placed on Blackhawks’ injured reserve

Bedard and the Blackhawks play in his hometown of Vancouver on Jan. 22

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard falls to the ice after being checked by New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Smith (2) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Canada’s Caitlin Kraemer, foreground right celebrates scoring with teammates from left, Ava Murphy, Piper Grober, Emma Pais and Alex Law after scoring the opening goal during the Women’s U18 Ice Hockey World Championship match between Canada and Sweden at the Ostersund Arena, in Ostersund, Sweden, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-TT News Agency, Per Danielsson

Canada chases 3-peat at women’s world under-18 hockey championship

Canada last won three straight women’s world under-18 titles between 2012 and 2014

Canada’s Caitlin Kraemer, foreground right celebrates scoring with teammates from left, Ava Murphy, Piper Grober, Emma Pais and Alex Law after scoring the opening goal during the Women’s U18 Ice Hockey World Championship match between Canada and Sweden at the Ostersund Arena, in Ostersund, Sweden, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-TT News Agency, Per Danielsson
Luke Traverse attended a Canucks game on Jan. 2 and got to meet NHL officials (Revelstoke Minor Hockey Association/Facebook)

Young official from Revelstoke chosen to go to NHL game

Video: Young officials from B.C. got advice from NHL officials

Luke Traverse attended a Canucks game on Jan. 2 and got to meet NHL officials (Revelstoke Minor Hockey Association/Facebook)
Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy has been out of the lineup since Nov. 12 after suffering a left ankle injury in Montreal. NHL.com photo

THE MOJ: Soucy close and Canuck fans should expect to see him soon

Out since mid-November, big defender is itching to get back at it

Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy has been out of the lineup since Nov. 12 after suffering a left ankle injury in Montreal. NHL.com photo
Connie McCann, president of the Victoria Regional Pickleball Association, practises with a quieter OWL paddle at the city courts in Beacon Hill Park. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Pickleball blowing up in Greater Victoria – along with efforts to dampen noise

Players’ association president tests noise reducing paddle to start the year

Connie McCann, president of the Victoria Regional Pickleball Association, practises with a quieter OWL paddle at the city courts in Beacon Hill Park. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Team USA’s Isaac Howard (22) celebrates his second goal of the game on Sweden goaltender Hugo Havelid (not shown) with teammates during second period gold medal hockey action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Sweet revenge: U.S. beats host Sweden 6-2 for world junior gold

Isaac Howard nets 2 second-period goals to lead Americans

Team USA’s Isaac Howard (22) celebrates his second goal of the game on Sweden goaltender Hugo Havelid (not shown) with teammates during second period gold medal hockey action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Snowboarders make their way to the chairlift at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, B.C. Friday, April 9, 2010. The Vancouver ski destination has manufactured more than 81 acres of artificial snow for skiers and boarders to enjoy since opening for the season Dec. 7, but much of that was lost to rainfall and warm temperatures later in the month.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Manufactured snow increasingly needed as ski hills cope with climate change

Weather patterns due to climate change threaten to shorten average length of the ski season

Snowboarders make their way to the chairlift at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, B.C. Friday, April 9, 2010. The Vancouver ski destination has manufactured more than 81 acres of artificial snow for skiers and boarders to enjoy since opening for the season Dec. 7, but much of that was lost to rainfall and warm temperatures later in the month.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Canucks captain Quinn Hughes leads the NHL defenceman in scoring with 46 points and has been a big reason why the Canucks have got off to a great start. Courtesy NHL.com

Canuck captain, B.C.-born rookie phenom headline NHL all-star list

Quinn Hughes and Connor Bedard join names ike Matthews and McDavid as NHL unveils invite list

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes leads the NHL defenceman in scoring with 46 points and has been a big reason why the Canucks have got off to a great start. Courtesy NHL.com
St. Louis Blues’ Kasperi Kapanen (42) dives after a loose puck as Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson (40) watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Thomas scores third-period goal, lifting Blues to 2-1 win over Canucks

Conor Garland tallies lone marker for Vancouver

St. Louis Blues’ Kasperi Kapanen (42) dives after a loose puck as Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson (40) watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Bronze medallists Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier compete in the Ice Dance Final for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final held in Beijing, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. The 2024 Canadian figure skating championship will feel like a return to normal for the ice dance duo of Gilles and Poirier. The two-time world championship bronze medallists didn’t compete in last year’s nationals because Gilles underwent surgery for ovarian cancer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ng Han Guan

Nationals a homecoming for ice dancers Gilles and Poirier after cancer scare

Pair skating in a ‘normal’ national championships for first time since 2020

Bronze medallists Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier compete in the Ice Dance Final for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final held in Beijing, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. The 2024 Canadian figure skating championship will feel like a return to normal for the ice dance duo of Gilles and Poirier. The two-time world championship bronze medallists didn’t compete in last year’s nationals because Gilles underwent surgery for ovarian cancer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ng Han Guan
Sweden’s Otto Stenberg (25) celebrates a goal by teammate Sweden’s Theo Lindstein (not shown) in front of Czechia goaltender Michael Hrabal (30) and Marek Alscher (27) during first period semifinal hockey action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, Thursday Jan. 4, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Lekkerimaki has Canuck fans smiling as he leads Sweden to WJC final

Vancouver’s top prospect scores twice as host team moves on to face U.S.

Sweden’s Otto Stenberg (25) celebrates a goal by teammate Sweden’s Theo Lindstein (not shown) in front of Czechia goaltender Michael Hrabal (30) and Marek Alscher (27) during first period semifinal hockey action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, Thursday Jan. 4, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
B.C. Lions wide receiver Terry Williams (87) runs with the ball during first half of CFL football action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. The Lions have signed returner and wide receiver Terry Williams to a two-year extension through the 2025 CFL season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Lions sign CFL-leading kick returner Terry Williams to 2-year extension

Returner was eligible to become a free agent in February

B.C. Lions wide receiver Terry Williams (87) runs with the ball during first half of CFL football action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. The Lions have signed returner and wide receiver Terry Williams to a two-year extension through the 2025 CFL season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Vancouver's Pius Suter celebrates a goal during the Canucks 6-3 win against the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night at Rogers Arena. NHL.com photo

THE MOJ: Demanding even wins happen ‘the right way’ shows Canuck culture shift

Taking the foot of the gas against Ottawa unacceptable to this version of the team

Vancouver's Pius Suter celebrates a goal during the Canucks 6-3 win against the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night at Rogers Arena. NHL.com photo
“We are playing a lot of good teams on this road trip – a lot of teams that have been in the playoffs – so I think it’s going to show a lot about our team and how hard we worked in these practices (after Christmas) to prepare for this road trip,” Brock Boeser on the Canucks upcoming seven-game road trip. Vancouver Canucks photo

THE MOJ: Canucks looking forward to the test of a lengthy road trip

Seven games, many of them in tough rinks, should be a good measuring stick

“We are playing a lot of good teams on this road trip – a lot of teams that have been in the playoffs – so I think it’s going to show a lot about our team and how hard we worked in these practices (after Christmas) to prepare for this road trip,” Brock Boeser on the Canucks upcoming seven-game road trip. Vancouver Canucks photo
Vancouver Canucks Sam Lafferty (18) skates with the puck in front of Ottawa Senators goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (70) as Jake Sanderson (85) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Vancouver Canucks jump on Senators early, finish off 6-3 win

Elias Pettersson and Pius Suter each score twice for winners

Vancouver Canucks Sam Lafferty (18) skates with the puck in front of Ottawa Senators goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (70) as Jake Sanderson (85) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
FILE - Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper speaks during an NFL football news conference Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. Tepper now finds himself embroiled in a public relations nightmare after a video surfaced of the billionaire allegedly throwing the contents of a drink at a fan from his club suite following a 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.(AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)

NFL owner tosses drink at opposing fans, fined $300,000

Carolina’s David Tepper apologizes, league calls conduct ‘unacceptable’

FILE - Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper speaks during an NFL football news conference Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. Tepper now finds himself embroiled in a public relations nightmare after a video surfaced of the billionaire allegedly throwing the contents of a drink at a fan from his club suite following a 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023.(AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
Canada’s Conor Geekie (28) checks Czechia’s Sebastian Redlich (17) during second period quarterfinal hockey action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Czechia scores late 3-2 winner to eliminate Canada from world juniors

Jakub Stancl scores with 11.7 left in third period

Canada’s Conor Geekie (28) checks Czechia’s Sebastian Redlich (17) during second period quarterfinal hockey action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (2) makes the catch for a touchdown against Texas during the first half of the Sugar Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Penix Jr. leads Huskies to 37-31 win over Texas and spot in national title game

Washington will meet Michigan in championship contest

Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (2) makes the catch for a touchdown against Texas during the first half of the Sugar Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Canada’s Macklin Celebrini (17) scores on Germany goaltender Matthias Bittner (1) during first period hockey action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Celebrini scores 2 as Canada pushes past Germany 6-3 at world juniors

Canadians face Czechia in quarter-finals on Tuesday

Canada’s Macklin Celebrini (17) scores on Germany goaltender Matthias Bittner (1) during first period hockey action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
FILE - United States’ Kendall Coyne Schofield skates with the puck against Canada during the first period of a Rivalry Series hockey game Nov. 17, 2022, in Kamloops, British Columbia. Coyne Schofield, a three-time Olympian and former U.S. captain, will suit up for Minnesota’s Professional Women’s Hockey League opener at Boston on Jan. 3. The game will underline Coyne Schofield’s determination in returning to competitive play, after the birth of her son, now 6 months old. (Jesse Johnston/The Canadian Press via AP, File, File)

New women’s professional hockey league ready to drop the puck

The first of the 72-game season will kick off on Monday

FILE - United States’ Kendall Coyne Schofield skates with the puck against Canada during the first period of a Rivalry Series hockey game Nov. 17, 2022, in Kamloops, British Columbia. Coyne Schofield, a three-time Olympian and former U.S. captain, will suit up for Minnesota’s Professional Women’s Hockey League opener at Boston on Jan. 3. The game will underline Coyne Schofield’s determination in returning to competitive play, after the birth of her son, now 6 months old. (Jesse Johnston/The Canadian Press via AP, File, File)