The Victoria Shamrocks continue the celebration of their Mann Cup championship with their fans tomorrow (Jan. 23).
Fan Appreciation Day offers an opportunity for fans to take pictures with the Cup and meet players, coaches and alumni from the Western Lacrosse Association club, all at the McCormick Meadows community show home at 3451 Ambrosia Crescent in Langford.
Exclusive Mann Cup merchandise and game-worn jerseys from previous seasons will be available, as well as 2016 season tickets. Current season pass holders and those from 2015 will enjoy special access from 10 to 11 a.m., with everyone welcome from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free but the Shamrocks request a non-perishable food item donation for local food banks.
Turning to the B.C. Hockey League, the Victoria Grizzlies are home to Salmon Arm on Saturday night, welcoming the Interior Division team to The Q Centre for a 7 p.m. start. You can support your local boys with a trip over the Malahat next Friday, Jan. 29, when the Grizz take on the Nanaimo Clippers in Frank Crane Arena. Game time is also 7 p.m.
Fresh from hosting the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s all-star game at The Q Centre on Sunday, the Westshore Wolves kick off their three-game week tonight (Jan. 22) as they head north to face the Campbell River Storm. In a home and home, the Wolves return to Colwood to host the Storm next Tuesday, Jan. 26, when the puck drops at 7 p.m. Finally, the Wolves host the Kerry Park Islanders at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28.
It’s a light week in high school basketball, with Belmont’s senior boys hosting Lambrick Park on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. The Royal Bay Ravens are off league play until Feb. 3, when they play Reynolds. The Royal Bay and Belmont senior girls wrapped up their regular seasons this week, hoping to gain a good spot for the upcoming playoffs.
The boys and girls of summer will soon be back and for West Shore families eying the coming Little League Baseball season, registration is now open for Layritz and Hampton Little League clubs. West Shore catchment and registration information is available online (layritz.ca or hamptonll.pointstreaksites.com).
Registration for both parks runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 23 and Jan. 24, and again Jan. 30 and 31. Find the Layritz Clubhouse at Layritz Park, near Wilkinson Road, and the Hampton Clubhouse on Tillicum Road near Burnside.
Hit the floor with the Greater Victoria Minor Ball Hockey Association this spring. The registration deadline has been extended to Jan. 31 for players ranging in age from five to 18. Also coming up for the Junior division (1997 to 1999-born) is an opportunity to try the sport for free, 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 at Eagle Ridge arena. For more information, visit vmbh.ca or RSVP to om@vmbh.ca.
Looking forward to the HSBC Canada Women’s Sevens rugby tournament coming to Langford’s Westhills Stadium April 16 and 17. Tickets are currently available to early bird registrants, with tickets for the general public available as of Jan. 25. Tournament passes start at just $40 while single-day tickets can be purchased for $25.
Tickets are also available for the Americas Rugby Championship at Westhills, for Canada’s Feb. 6 match versus Uruguay and Feb. 20 versus Brazil. General admission tickets are $21 in advance. For more information, visit events.rugbycanada.ca.
In Vancouver Island Soccer League Division 1 men’s league, Westcastle United 1 hosts Lakehill FC 1 tomorrow night, with kick-off at 7:30 p.m. at Westhills Stadium. In Div. 3B, Juan de Fuca hosts Cordova Bay Red Bar Bobcats at 7 p.m. tonight (Jan. 22) on the Royal Bay turf.
In Lower Island Women’s Soccer Association Div. 1 play, Juan de Fuca hosts the Cowichan Cubs on Sunday, Jan. 24 at noon, on a field still to be determined at press time (see liwsa.com for details). In Div. 2 women’s action, Juan de Fuca FC faces Salish Celosen at noon Sunday at the Tsartlip Tribal School.
Colin Gall is an athlete and Grade 11 student at Mt. Doug secondary school. Send your coming sports events to wjocktalk@telus.net