Island High School Track and Field Championships at UVic Wednesday and Thursday

With Photos By Christian J. Stewart - ISN

Hurdle1 Victoria (ISN) - The Vancouver Island High School Track and Field Championships kicked off Wednesday at UVic, with Victoria's Oak Bay High looking to secure their 21st Island Championship in a row.

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Inaugural Langford 7's tournament kicks off Summer 7's Rugby Season.

Story and Photographs by Glenn Ivens with files from Mark Bryant/BC Rugby News

langford7s blueblack The Summer 7’s rugby season kicks off this Saturday (May 19^th) with the Langford 7’s tournament at Bear Mountain Stadium. Games go from 9am to 7pm with free admission. This is the inaugural event for the tournament which will hopefully become a May long weekend feature for many years to come.

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Rock Rolls Over U20 Rugby Squad 41-21

With Photos by Erich Eichhorn - ISN

Victoria (ISN) - Following their 39-29 win over the Canadian Maple Leafs on Sunday, the touring Atlantic Rock rugby squad defeated the Canadian U20 Development team 41-21 Monday evening at Bear Mountain Stadium in Langford.

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Highlanders Home Openers Are a Success

With Photos by Erich Eichhorn - ISN

highlanders 2 Victoria (ISN) - The Victoria Highlanders held their home openers this past weekend with the men earning a pair of 1-1 draws against the Seattle Sounders U23 Saturday and Vancover Whitecaps U23 Sunday and the women earning a stunning 3-2 upset of the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday.

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Season to Remember!

Story and Photographs by Glenn Ivens (www.javalon.smugmug.com)

Valkyries Logo The Velox Valkyries were on the verge of something very special Saturday, a perfect season and with that the title of Provincial Champion. All that stood in front of them were the Burnaby Lake RFC. The Valkyries would not be denied, downing Burnaby Lake 20-14 and hoisting the Gordon Harris Memorial Trophy high.

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Think You Have What it Takes to be an Olympian? Podium Search 2012 Goes May 27th

canadian sport_centre_pacific Victoria (ISN) - If you think you have what it takes to be an Olympic Athlete, then the Canadian Sport Centre Pacific (CSCP) wants you to come out and prove it at their 2012 Podium Search talent identification camp at PISE on May 27th.

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Weekend of Smooth Sailing for Mariners

Story and photographs by Glenn Ivens (www.javalon.smugmug.com)

victoriamariners (1) The Victoria Mariners Premier Baseball team had one of those weekends when everything comes together and you can't help but win. The pitching staff had strong outings, the bats came alive, the defence played well and it all lead to the Mariners sweeping double headers 10-0 and 2-0 against the Abbotsford Cardinals on Saturday and 5-1 and 4-2 against the White Rock Tritons on Sunday.

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Eagles and Cardinals Split Battle of the Birds

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart (ISN)

Victoria-Eagles-Head-on-Tra The Victoria Eagles salvaged their 4-game BCPBL weekend by defeating the Abbotsford Cardinals 7-3 Sunday after losing the first game of their doubleheader at Lambrick Park 5-0.

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Valkyries book ticket to Finals!

Story and photographs by Glenn Ivens (www.javalon.smugmug.com)

Valkyries Logo The story couldn’t have played out any better if it had been written in Hollywood. The Velox Valkyries suffer a shocking last minute defeat in the Provincial Championship finals, come back the next season to go undefeated in regular season play, win the Semi-final decisively and meet up with last year’s Champion in the Final.

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James Bay Advances, Wanderers not so Lucky in BC Rugby Premier League Semi-Finals

With Photos By Erich Eichorn (ISN)

BCrugby3sm Victoria (ISN) - James Bay Athletic Association used a late penalty kick to defeat Burnaby Lakes 23-21, while the Castaway Wanderers were upset 34-22 by Capilanos in BC Rugby Premier League semi-final action Saturday.

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Great Start to the Season for Victoria United FC

Written by Philip Watson, Photos by Erich Eichhorn (ISN)

Victoria (ISN) - Victoria United FC started off the 2012 PCSL season Saturday with a 3-0 victory over Khalsa Sporting Club at Royal Athletic Park.

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Eagles Drop Pair to Blaze Saturday

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart (ISN)

Victoria-Eagles-Head-on-Tra The Victoria Eagles dropped a pair of games to the Langley Blaze Saturday afternoon in BC Premier League Action at Lambrick Park.

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Valkyries Begin Quest For Provincial Championship!

Story and photographs by Glenn Ivens (www.javalon.smugmug.com)

Valkyries Logo The Velox Valkyries were minutes from hoisting the Harris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the British Columbia Premier Women’s rugby Champions only to have Burnaby Lake snatch it from their hands in the dying seconds of the game.

That was last year and to say it left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Valkyries would be an understatement.

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Disabled Golfers Tee it Up at Cordova Bay Ridge Course

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart (ISN)

vdga Over 35 disabled golfers took to the links at Cordova Ridge Tuesday in the Victoria Disabled Golfers Association's first tournament of the 2012 season.

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Jr. Mariners split home and home with Jr. Tritons

Story by Glenn Ivens (www.javalon.smugmug.com)

victoriamariners (1) The Victoria Jr. Mariners split their home and home 4 game series with the White Rock Jr. Tritons over the weekend. The Mariners lost both games in White Rock on Saturday by scores of 7-5 and 8-0 but rallied back home at Henderson Park on Sunday winning 4-3 and 3-2.

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Kenyans Make it a One-Two Finish at Times Colonist 10K

Sports >> Local

By Louise Hodgson-Jones (Photos by Tony Austin)

TC10K 2012 12,483 runners and walkers took part in the 23rd annual TC10K with Kenyans Kip Kangogo and Willy Kimosop finishing first and second respectively in the men's elite field.

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Mariners Scorched by Blaze

Story and Photographs by Glenn Ivens (www.javalon.smugmug.com)

victoriamariners (1) The Langley Blaze used consistent hitting and aggressive base running to shut out the Victoria Mariners 7-0 and 3-0 in a British Columbia Premier Baseball League double header on Saturday at Henderson Park.

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Blaze Bats, Pitching Overpower Baby Eagles

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart (ISN)(http://christianjstewart.zenfolio.com)

Victoria-Eagles-Head-on-Tra The Victoria Eagles Junior Premier baseball team lost a pair of games, 8-1 and 16-1, to the top seated Langley Blaze Saturday afternoon in BC Junior Premier League action at Lambrick Park.

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Rebels Camp Heats Up

Story and Images by Erich Eichhorn (ISN)

Victoria (ISN) - Westshore Rebels Spring Camp began to heat up Saturday at Bear Mountain Stadium as Rebel veterans and hopefuls went into day two trying to prove they belong.

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Team BC News

Prospects and All-Stars Put on a Show at VIJHL All-Star Classic

Story and Photos by Christian J. Stewart (ISN)
(christianjstewart.zenfolio.com)

Some of the best young hockey talent on Vancouver Island was on display last Sunday as the VIJHL played it's annual Prospects Game and All-Star Game at Pearkes Arena in Saanich.

January 15, 2012, Saanich, BC - What a great day of hockey! Last Sunday the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) put it's best talent on display at their annual All-Star Classic at Pearkes Arena in Saanich and judging from some of the action on the ice, it would not be surprising to see a few of these players make their mark down the road in higher levels of hockey, perhaps even the NHL.

Former NHLer Geoff Courtnall was the Guest Speaker at the morning breakfast banquet.

The days festivities began with a morning breakfast banquet for the players and their families. Hosted by KOOL-FM's Robin Farrell, who was also a guest coach for the South Prospects later in the day, the banquet featured guest speaker and former NHLer Geoff Courtnall, who entertained all with his stories about his life in the NHL and in particular, some of the antics of the players during his days with the Vancouver Canucks.

KOOL-FM's Robin Farrell (left) and CTV's Mira Laurence (right) were the celebrity guest coaches for the Prospects Game.

The Prospects then took to the ice for the 4-on-4 "young-guns" game. The North, who were being guest coached by CTV2 Sports Anchor Mira Laurence and Nanaimo Clipper head coach Mike Van deKamp, quickly took a 3-0 lead ten minutes into the contest on the strength of goal by Comox's Adam Robertson, Oceanside's Taylor Grabowski and Comox's Keegan Fletcher.

Kerry Park's Dane Ellison carries the puck up ice during Prospect Game action.

The South, after a tongue-lashing from guest coach Robin Farrell of KOOL-FM and Victoria Grizzlies Assistant Coach Vic Gervais, finally responded with two goals, one from Saanich's own Shawn McBride, to pull within one, but the North would score again before the period was out to take a 4-2 lead into the break.

Peninsula Panther Wade Bartlett moves the puck up ice for the South team during Prospect Game action.

In the second half of the two-period game, Comox's Jed Martin would bump the North's lead to 5-2 seven minutes into the frame but the South would respond just two minutes later to make it 5-3. The teams would exchange goals in the last half of the period and the North would emerge with a 6-4 win on the scoresheet.

Saanich's Shawn McBride would have a goal for the South in their 6-4 loss to the North in the Prospects Game.

One surprise in the game was a fight that occurred in the second half of the game between the South's Liam Sproule of Saanich and the North's Dixon Wing of Campbell River. Sproule, who had an assist in the game, appeared to get the better of Wing in the dust-up and following the game, was awarded the South's MVP award for his efforts.

Saanich's Connor Krupa would also tally a goal for the South in their losing effort.

Saanich's Liam Sproule (facing camera) would get the upper hand on Campbell River's Dixon Wing in a rare scuffle that broke out during the Prospects Game.

For the North, Oceanside's Taylor Grabowski, with a goal and an assist on the day, was awarded the MVP.

Oceanside's Taylor Grabowski is presented with the North MVP award for his goal and assist by Guest Coach Mira Laurence.

The All-Stars then took to the ice prior to their game to compete in a fastest skater competition. When the dust had settled and various elimination rounds were completed, the final came down to a head-to-head competition between Peninsula Panther teammates Trevor Yee and Dane Gibson for the title, with Yee prevailing.

Peninsula's Trevor Yee would take home the fastest skater award from the Skills Competition.

The highlight of the day was the All-Star Classic and given the respective team's line-ups, with the South featuring six of the top-ten scorers in the league, one might be forgiven if they thought this would be an easy win for the South.

Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard conducts the opening face-off duties with North Captain Jackson Garrett (left) and South Captain Steve Axford.

The North were clearly not buying in to this however and outplayed the South for much of the first period, and led 2-1 at the break thanks to goals from Campbell River's Alex Benjestorf and Oceanside's Luciano Sommerville. Kerry Park's Cole Thomson responded for the South.

The South's Steve Axford tries to get around the check of the North's Brian Rideout during All-Star game action.

In the second, the North would again double up on the South as Campbell River's Alex Gruppe and Oceanside's Connor Enright would score to make it 4-1 before the South's Sam Rice (of the Cougars) would cut the lead in half before the period was out.

Victoria's Sam Rice would notch a pair of goals for the South in their 7-6 shoot-out win over the North.

In the third period the fans got their money's worth as the South would begin to find their scoring touch. The South's Steve Axford made it 4-3 just three minutes into the frame, however the North would respond as Comox's Jackson Garrett would restore the two goal lead with 14:58 remaining.

The North's Alex Benjestorf from the Campbell River Storm fights for the puck with the South's Trevor Yee of the Peninsula Panthers.

The teams would exchange quick goals just two minutes later as Victoria's Sam Rice would score his second for the South to make it 5-4, only to see Oceanside's Travis Briggs respond just 11 seconds later to put the North up 6-4.

The South would continue to pressure the North and they would eventually tie things up with a pair of goals at the mid-point of the period. Victoria's Trevor Chown would score with 11:12 remaining to make it 6-5 and then Saanich's Sam Johnston would get the tying goal just 40 seconds later to knot the score at 6-6.

The South's Rhys Williams skates ahead of pressure from the North's Jackson Garrett during All-Star game action.

The teams traded exciting chances after that to no avail and the game went to over-time, where again nothing was settled. This sent the game to a shoot-out and in a change from the standard three-man shoot-out format, to maximize the entertainment value for the fans, a ten-shooter format was utilized.

After some exciting moves and saves, it was the South goaltenders, Victoria's Evan Roch and Saanich's Tanner McGaw who saved the day, allowing only one North shoot-out goal in seven shots and the South took the shoot-out 4 goals to 1, and emerged then with a 7-6 victory in the game.

At the completion of the game, the MVP awards were given to Campbell River's Alex Gruppe for the North and to Kerry Park's Cole Thomson for the South.

Campbell River's Alex Gruppe (left) and Kerry Park's Cole Thomson (right) are presented with their game MVP awards by Saanich Brave owners Ed Geric (left-centre) and Norm Kelly (right-centre).

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