Sports

Vancouver Canucks’ Luke Schenn (2) checks Florida Panthers’ Ryan Lomberg (94) in front of Vancouver goalie Spencer Martin (30) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Friday, January 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Barkov nets winner as Florida Panthers edge Canucks 2-1 in a shootout

Goalie Spencer Martin makes 33 saves in Vancouver debut

Campbell Riverite Tyler Turner won gold at the para snow sports world championships event in Lillehammer, Norway on Jan. 21. Photo Samuel Andersen / Lillehammer 2021

Vancouver Islander rides local board to world championship in Para Snowboarding

Snowboarder partnered with hometown board manufacturer for winning run

Meliah Motchman has a snack while completing a five-kilometre swim at Thetis Lake. The Victoria Special Olympics open water swimmer is nominated for an international award. (Photo courtesy of Susan Simmons)

Victoria Special Olympics swimmer nominated for international open water award

Distance swimming specialist Meliah Motchman has broken new ground

Victoria’s Pacific FC has promoted James Merriman as head coach of the Canadian Premier League club. (Photo courtesy Pacific FC)

Vancouver Island soccer coach promoted to lead Victoria’s Pacific FC

James Merriman named as head coach of defending Canadian Premier League champions

Victoria’s Pacific FC has promoted James Merriman as head coach of the Canadian Premier League club. (Photo courtesy Pacific FC)
Aaron Trotter said his parents never pressured him into hockey, which kept his love for the game going. (Courtesy of Michael Trotter)

Langford goalie working toward NCAA, NHL dreams

Aaron Trotter overcame a number of challenges to earn Division I scholarship

Aaron Trotter said his parents never pressured him into hockey, which kept his love for the game going. (Courtesy of Michael Trotter)
The Victoria Royals kept it close for much of the game but lost 4-1 to the Prince George Cougars on Jan. 19. (Photo courtesy of the Victoria Royals)

Ziemmer’s two-goal games give Prince George doubleheader sweep of Victoria Royals

Royals gear up for home games against Vancouver and Everett this Friday and Saturday night

The Victoria Royals kept it close for much of the game but lost 4-1 to the Prince George Cougars on Jan. 19. (Photo courtesy of the Victoria Royals)
Maple Ridge’s Brandon Yip will captain Team China at the Olympics. (Kunlun Red Star Facebook/Special to The News)

Maple Ridge man, former NHL player, to captain China’s Olympic hockey team

Brandon Yip has carried his career to Europe and Asia

Maple Ridge’s Brandon Yip will captain Team China at the Olympics. (Kunlun Red Star Facebook/Special to The News)
Justin Kripps of Summerland will compete in bobsleigh in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. (Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton)

Summerland bobsleigh athlete to compete in Winter Olympics

Justin Kripps previously tied for gold in two-man event in 2018 Winter Olympics

Justin Kripps of Summerland will compete in bobsleigh in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. (Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton)
Justin Geddie, 20, made it National Lacrosse League debut with the San Diego Seals Jan. 14. (Courtesy of San Diego Seals)

Greater Victoria goalie helps seal win for San Diego in National Lacrosse League debut

Justin Geddie, 20, promoted to active roster after 2 others placed on COVID protocol list

Justin Geddie, 20, made it National Lacrosse League debut with the San Diego Seals Jan. 14. (Courtesy of San Diego Seals)
The Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators in a nearly empty Scotiabank Arena during NHL hockey action in Toronto, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

NHL reschedules 98 postponed games, moves 23 more after COVID-19 disruptions

NHL also announced date changes for 23 other games as it filled former Olympic break

The Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators in a nearly empty Scotiabank Arena during NHL hockey action in Toronto, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Victoria Royals defenceman Luke Shipley scored a highlight-reel goal seconds after being tripped late in a game against the Prince George Cougars on Jan. 18. (Photo courtesy of the Western Hockey League)

Highlight-worthy goal in final seconds not enough for Victoria Royals to top Prince George

Royals remain winless in 2022 after 5-3 loss in Prince George

Victoria Royals defenceman Luke Shipley scored a highlight-reel goal seconds after being tripped late in a game against the Prince George Cougars on Jan. 18. (Photo courtesy of the Western Hockey League)
Toronto Maple Leafs' Timothy Liljegren (37) and Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) battle for the puck during second period NHL action in Edmonton on Tuesday, December 14, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Struggling, frustrated Edmonton Oilers continue searching for answers

Once hot, team has gone 2-10-2 since Dec. 1

Toronto Maple Leafs' Timothy Liljegren (37) and Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl (29) battle for the puck during second period NHL action in Edmonton on Tuesday, December 14, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Canada’s goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe reacts in a penalty shootout during the women’s final soccer match against Sweden at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Canadian soccer keeper Stephanie Labbe surprises by announcing retirement plans

Gold-medal winning Olympian stepping away at the top of her game

Canada’s goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe reacts in a penalty shootout during the women’s final soccer match against Sweden at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers (57) fights with Nashville Predators right wing Michael McCarron (47) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

Demko makes 31 saves as Canucks earn 3-1 win over skidding Nashville Predators

Pettersson scores again for Vancouver in second straight victory

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers (57) fights with Nashville Predators right wing Michael McCarron (47) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
A participant takes part in para-rowing with Rowing Canada. It’s one of seven para-sports being offered in a new free program for Greater Victoria youth with disabilities. (Courtesy of Rowing Canada Aviron)

Free multi-sport para program launching for Greater Victoria youth with disabilities

Those aged 15 to 25 can try out 7 different para-sports beginning in February

A participant takes part in para-rowing with Rowing Canada. It’s one of seven para-sports being offered in a new free program for Greater Victoria youth with disabilities. (Courtesy of Rowing Canada Aviron)
Seattle Kraken left wing Jared McCann takes off from center ice to shoot a penalty shot against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Seattle. McCann did not score on this play but the Kraken won 3-2 after a shootout following overtime. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

NHL to stop testing asymptomatic players post-All-Star break

Testing of asymptomatic individuals still needed for crossing the U.S.-Canada border

Seattle Kraken left wing Jared McCann takes off from center ice to shoot a penalty shot against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Seattle. McCann did not score on this play but the Kraken won 3-2 after a shootout following overtime. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Captain Riley Braun weaves his way past multiple defenders as the Peninsula Panthers beat the Lake Cowichan Kraken 8-1 Friday night at North Saanich Panorama Recreation Centre. (Christian J. Stewart Photography/Submitted)

Lake Cowichan Kraken, Saanich Predators fall victim to Peninsula Panthers

The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey team won weekend games 8-1 and 4-2

Captain Riley Braun weaves his way past multiple defenders as the Peninsula Panthers beat the Lake Cowichan Kraken 8-1 Friday night at North Saanich Panorama Recreation Centre. (Christian J. Stewart Photography/Submitted)
This is a June 10, 2015, photo of Mylan Hicks, who was shot and killed outside a nightclub where he and his Calgary Stampeder teammates had been celebrating a CFL victory. The Alberta Court of Appeal has upheld the sentence of the man who was convicted in the death of Hicks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo

Alberta Court of Appeal upholds sentence for man who killed Calgary Stampeder

Mylan Hicks was shot twice in 2016 outside the Marquee Beer Market in Calgary in 2016

This is a June 10, 2015, photo of Mylan Hicks, who was shot and killed outside a nightclub where he and his Calgary Stampeder teammates had been celebrating a CFL victory. The Alberta Court of Appeal has upheld the sentence of the man who was convicted in the death of Hicks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo
Toronto Arrows and Canada scrum half Ross Braude spins a pass during Major League Rugby action in Georgia last season. The Arrows take on Los Angeles Giltinis on Feb. 11 at Starlight Stadium in Langford. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Toronto Arrows-Karl Moore)

BC’s first ever Major League Rugby Match coming to Langford

10 Canadian national teamers on Toronto squad; Arrows play reigning champ L.A. on Feb. 11

Toronto Arrows and Canada scrum half Ross Braude spins a pass during Major League Rugby action in Georgia last season. The Arrows take on Los Angeles Giltinis on Feb. 11 at Starlight Stadium in Langford. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Toronto Arrows-Karl Moore)
Fans take a selfie with a photo of defending champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia ahead of first round matches at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Djokovic was deported from Australia Sunday, Jan 16, after losing a bid to stay in the country to defend his Australian Open title despite not being vaccinated against COVID-19. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)

Djokovic lands in Serbia as questions arise over French Open eligibility

Tennis star could be barred under a new French law intended to exclude unvaccinated from stadiums

Fans take a selfie with a photo of defending champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia ahead of first round matches at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Djokovic was deported from Australia Sunday, Jan 16, after losing a bid to stay in the country to defend his Australian Open title despite not being vaccinated against COVID-19. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)