The Belmont senior girls basketball team hits the court at Claremont secondary this weekend in the hunt for a berth to provincials. The top four South Island teams square off against the top four from the North Island in the tournament that started yesterday (Thursday, Feb. 18) and continues through Saturday.
The Victoria Grizzlies return to the ice in a busy finish to their regular season and a run for the final Island playoff berth. The Grizzlies play road games in Wenatchee, Penticton and Langley before returning home on Friday, Feb. 26. The puck drops at 7 p.m. in The Q Centre for their last home game of the regular season.
After finishing second in Island round-robin play, the Juan de Fuca Grizzlies Tier 1 midget hockey team heads into the Island finals in a three-game series against the Saanich Braves. Game 1 goes at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20 at Pearkes Rec Centre, with Game 2 back at The Q Centre at 5:30 p.m. this Sunday. Game 3, if necessary, would be played the following weekend. The top team from the Island earns a berth into the provincial championships, hosted this year in the Comox Valley.
In B.C. Premier Women’s Rugby, the Westshore RFC Valkyries take on the University of British Columbia at the Westshore Velodrome tomorrow (Feb. 20), with kickoff at 11:30 a.m.
In soccer, the men’s Juan de Fuca U21 team faces the Bays United Gunners on Sunday, Feb. 21 at noon at Henderson Park.
In Lower Island Women’s play, the Juan de Fuca Division 1 team also plays at noon Sunday, against Nanaimo United. The venue was unavailable at press time, but watch liwsa.com for updates on location.
Fresh off last weekend’s inaugural Diamond Dash, 5K and 1.5K family fun run, Bear Mountain Resort is accepting registration for the St. Paddy’s 5K and 1.5K happening March 13. Visit bearmountain.ca to sign up or find more information. Also coming up there is the 2016 Bear Mountain Canada Cup XC March 5, sanctioned by the International Cycling Union and hosted in partnership with Cycling Canada, Cycling BC and Bear Mountain Resort. The series is designed to provide competitive opportunities to the next generation of cyclists. The day also includes the inaugural “Road to Rio” fundraising event with a gourmet dinner, live and silent auctions and opportunities to engage and interact with Canada’s national team and development-level mountain bike athletes. Visit bearmountain.ca for information and registration.
Colin Gall is a local athlete, sports fan and Grade 11 student at Mt. Douglas secondary. Send your coming sports events to jocktalk@telus.net.