Sports

Team Wild Card 3 skip Meghan Walter calls out to the sweepers while playing Manitoba at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, in Kamloops, B.C., on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Wild cards a wild ride to Canadian women’s curling championship

3 wild card spots offer a final way in for teams that don’t win provincially or territorially

Team Wild Card 3 skip Meghan Walter calls out to the sweepers while playing Manitoba at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, in Kamloops, B.C., on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Oak Bay athlete Ella Crowle and Saanich athlete Olivia Brodie join Team BC at the Canada Winter Games this month. Both athletes qualified in the kumite discipline of karate which makes its debut at the 2023 Games. (Courtesy Varsity Performance Karate)

‘Huge honour’: Greater Victoria athletes tackle inaugural Canada Games karate competition

Oak Bay, Reynolds student make up 2 of 9 members on Team BC

Oak Bay athlete Ella Crowle and Saanich athlete Olivia Brodie join Team BC at the Canada Winter Games this month. Both athletes qualified in the kumite discipline of karate which makes its debut at the 2023 Games. (Courtesy Varsity Performance Karate)
Canada’s Darcy Sharpe competes during the men’s World Cup slopestyle snowboard event in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

B.C. snowboarder Darcy Sharpe wins World Cup slopestyle gold in Calgary

Win is a first in slopestyle for the 27-year-old

Canada’s Darcy Sharpe competes during the men’s World Cup slopestyle snowboard event in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Canada’s Darcy Sharpe competes during the men’s World Cup slopestyle snowboard event in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Comox snowboarder Darcy Sharpe wins World Cup slopestyle gold in Calgary

Win is a first in slopestyle for the 27-year-old

Canada’s Darcy Sharpe competes during the men’s World Cup slopestyle snowboard event in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
The Canadian team players prepare for a women’s international friendly soccer match against Argentina in Sanlucar de Barrameda, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. As promised, the Canadian women’s soccer team return to training Sunday in Florida. But they did so reluctantly after Canada Soccer threatened legal action if they continued their job action. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Juan Carlos Toro del Rio

Canada women’s soccer team reluctantly returns to training under protest in Florida

Team says it was threatened with legal actions

The Canadian team players prepare for a women’s international friendly soccer match against Argentina in Sanlucar de Barrameda, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022. As promised, the Canadian women’s soccer team return to training Sunday in Florida. But they did so reluctantly after Canada Soccer threatened legal action if they continued their job action. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Juan Carlos Toro del Rio
Cardi B arrives at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Cardi B brings energy at pre-Super Bowl concert, joins crowd

Rihanna will take to the stage for the half-time show

Cardi B arrives at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Canada’s Cameron Alexander celebrates after clinching the bronze medal in the alpine ski, men’s World Championship downhill, in Courchevel, France, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023. Cameron Alexander’s impressive result in his first world championship race was no surprise to teammate James Crawford. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marco Trovati

B.C. skier Cam Alexander claims downhill bronze in impressive world championship debut

North Vancouver athlete finished 0.89 seconds behind the gold place winner

Canada’s Cameron Alexander celebrates after clinching the bronze medal in the alpine ski, men’s World Championship downhill, in Courchevel, France, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023. Cameron Alexander’s impressive result in his first world championship race was no surprise to teammate James Crawford. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marco Trovati
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures after passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

LeBron James makes NBA history on a star-filled night in LA

Bronny James stepped over to his dad’s locker and played the phone…

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures after passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Janet Pacey from Yellowknife poses with some of the Arctic Winter Games pins that she has collected over the years in this Friday, February 3, 2023 handout photo. New and seasoned pin traders, affectionately known as “pinheads” can often be found at the biennial sporting event swapping pins from across the circumpolar north or on the hunt for rare ones to add to their trove. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Janet Pacey *MANDATORY CREDIT*

‘Thrill of the chase’: Pin swapping a sport of its own at the Arctic Winter Games

‘I always say it’s the raven effect. Everything’s quite shiny’

Janet Pacey from Yellowknife poses with some of the Arctic Winter Games pins that she has collected over the years in this Friday, February 3, 2023 handout photo. New and seasoned pin traders, affectionately known as “pinheads” can often be found at the biennial sporting event swapping pins from across the circumpolar north or on the hunt for rare ones to add to their trove. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Janet Pacey *MANDATORY CREDIT*
A group of local men practice archery on a ridge overlooking the Laitlum Canyon about 20km (12 miles) from Shillong, India, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. In villages scattered across the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya an ancient tradition of archery still continues and regular competitions are held between different localities. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

VIDEO: The ancient skill of archery thrives in northeastern India

The skill is part of a traditional rite for Indigenous people in Meghalaya

A group of local men practice archery on a ridge overlooking the Laitlum Canyon about 20km (12 miles) from Shillong, India, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. In villages scattered across the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya an ancient tradition of archery still continues and regular competitions are held between different localities. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
Jade Berg was hired as part of a pilot project for the Canada Luge team. Photo by Brooke Apshkrum

How do you feed a world cup-level sports team? Vancouver Island man knows

Campbell River chef feeds national luge team as part of pilot project

Jade Berg was hired as part of a pilot project for the Canada Luge team. Photo by Brooke Apshkrum
Wrexham’s Tom O’Connor celebrates scoring against Sheffield United during the English FA Cup fourth round soccer match at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Ryan Reynolds goes through range of emotions in FA Cup match

‘I’m now so much in love with this sport that I actually hate it.’

Wrexham’s Tom O’Connor celebrates scoring against Sheffield United during the English FA Cup fourth round soccer match at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Canada’s Fancy Bermudez grabs the ball from an Australian player during the second half of rugby action at the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., on Saturday, April 30, 2022. Bermudez scored two tries in a losing cause against Brazil at the HSBC Sydney Sevens. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

New Zealand men and women dominate while Canada teams struggle at HSBC Sydney Sevens

Canadian women ended 9th, while men ended 15th

Canada’s Fancy Bermudez grabs the ball from an Australian player during the second half of rugby action at the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., on Saturday, April 30, 2022. Bermudez scored two tries in a losing cause against Brazil at the HSBC Sydney Sevens. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau responds to questions during a news conference after an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers, in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 21, 2023. The Vancouver Canucks have fired head coach Bruce Boudreau and hired Rick Tocchet as his replacement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Bruce, there he goes: Struggling Canucks fire head coach Boudreau, hire Tocchet

Assistant coach Trent Cull was also let go

Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau responds to questions during a news conference after an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers, in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 21, 2023. The Vancouver Canucks have fired head coach Bruce Boudreau and hired Rick Tocchet as his replacement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Rachael Karker of Canada competes during the women’s World Cup freestyle ski halfpipe event in Calgary, Alta., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Gu golden again in World Cup halfpipe, Canada’s Karker, Bowman finish on podium

Eileen Gu’s halfpipe is ready for the Winter X Games. The 19-year-old…

Rachael Karker of Canada competes during the women’s World Cup freestyle ski halfpipe event in Calgary, Alta., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Canada’s Brock Webster runs with the ball during a rugby union international match between Portugal and Canada in Oeiras, outside Lisbon, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Armando Franca

Canadian rugby women finish 11th while men place 14th at New Zealand Sevens

Women finished with huge win against Papua New Guinea, beating them 44-5

Canada’s Brock Webster runs with the ball during a rugby union international match between Portugal and Canada in Oeiras, outside Lisbon, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Armando Franca
Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaitl (29) plays the puck while sitting on the ice after falling in front of Vancouver Canucks Andrei Kuzmenko (96) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Oilers beat reeling Canucks 4-2 for 6th straight victory

Loss was 3rd in 4 nights for Canucks

Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaitl (29) plays the puck while sitting on the ice after falling in front of Vancouver Canucks Andrei Kuzmenko (96) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The B.C. Hockey League has announced its lineup for the 2023 Skills Competition this Saturday, Jan. 19. (Photo- BCHL)

Fastest skater? Hardest shot? Lineup for BCHL’s skills competition announced in Penticton

Hometown brothers Josh and Bradly Nadeau will represent the Vees on Saturday

The B.C. Hockey League has announced its lineup for the 2023 Skills Competition this Saturday, Jan. 19. (Photo- BCHL)
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 under-18 ice hockey world championship match between Canada and Sweden at the Ostersund Arena, in Ostersund, Sweden, on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Per Danielsson/TT News Agency via AP

Kraemer’s 4-goal effort leads Canada past Sweden 10-0 for women’s under-18 gold

Kraemer scored 2 goals within first 6 minutes of the game

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 under-18 ice hockey world championship match between Canada and Sweden at the Ostersund Arena, in Ostersund, Sweden, on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Per Danielsson/TT News Agency via AP
Madeline Schizas of Ontario performs during the senior women free program at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Oshawa, Ont., on Saturday, January 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Madeline Schizas holds off 16-year-old Ruiter to win Canadian figure skating title

‘The end of that program wasn’t easy but I pushed right to the end and I’m happy with that.’

Madeline Schizas of Ontario performs during the senior women free program at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Oshawa, Ont., on Saturday, January 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette