It’s a full week for West Shore hockey! The Victoria Grizzlies start a week full of games Saturday (Dec. 12) when they host the Wenatchee Wild at 7 p.m. at The Q Centre.
And on Sunday, cheer on the local boys when they host West Kelowna in an afternoon matchup starting at 2 p.m. The Grizzlies finish their week up Island Thursday, Dec. 17, playing in Port Alberni at 7 p.m.
For more Westshore hockey action, the Junior B Westshore Wolves host the Peninsula Panthers on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at The Q at 7 p.m. With a record of 15-10-0-3, the Wolves sit in second place in the South Division with 33 points, behind the Victoria Cougars.
In the competitive Midget Tier 1 hockey division, the Juan de Fuca Grizzlies host Port Alberni Sunday, Dec. 13. Puck drops at Naden Arena at 11 a.m.
The Grizzlies’ Midget tier 2 team invites fans to join them on the road when they take on cross-town rivals the Saanich Braves on Saturday, Dec. 12. The game starts at 6:45 at Pearkes Rec Centre.
West Shore rugby fans will want to mark their calendars: Americas Rugby Championship has announced the dates and cities for the 2016 competition featuring six of North and South America’s top-ranked international rugby union teams. Canada – and the West Shore – will host Uruguay on Feb. 6 and Brazil on Feb. 20. Both games will be played at Westhills Stadium in Langford at the home of Rugby Canada’s Centre of Excellence. Canada will travel to the US, Chile and Argentina for their remaining three fixtures.
While high school sports is winding down for the holidays, the basketball schedule is starting to heat up.
The senior girls’ AAA schedule opens Tuesday, Dec. 15, when Belmont travels to Spectrum at 5:45 p.m. In AA play Royal Bay were scheduled for an exhibition at Pacific Christian School on Tuesday (Dec. 8) and are off until the new year.
In senior boys’ Div. 1 play, Belmont hosts St. Michaels University School at 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday. In Div. 2 action, Royal Bay travels to Sooke today (Dec. 10) to play Edward Milne, and hosts Esquimalt next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, Belmont’s junior boys and girls squads also play, with the boys set to host Spectrum at 5:45 p.m. and the girls travelling to Oak Bay to play at 4:15 p.m.
In Vancouver Island Men’s Soccer League play, the Division 1 Westcastle United take to the pitch tomorrow (Dec. 12), hosting Bays United Liquor Plus 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Westhills Stadium on Langford Parkway.
In Div. 3B play, Juan de Fuca plays Prospect Lake Cap City at Layritz Field on Sunday at 2:15 p.m., the same time that Div. 4A JdF hosts Penelakut United at Westhills Stadium. The Juan de Fuca U21 graduate team hosts Saanich Fusion FC at noon on Sunday.
Lower Island Women’s Soccer Association Div. 1 action this Sunday, Dec. 13 sees Juan De Fuca facing Castaways FC, while in Div. 2, Juan de Fuca FC faces the Lakehill Heat. Both games are at noon, but the locations were still being determined at press time. Visit liwsa.com for more details.
This Saturday also brings the 12th annual Stewart Mountain 10/5 Mile X-Country Challenge at Thetis Lake. The start and finish are both at the main beach. Start time is 12 noon; 11:30 a.m. for runners over two hours. Racers and volunteers are also invited to the Six Mile Pub. For more details, visit pih.bc.ca/stewartmountain.
Colin Gall is an athlete, avid sports fan and Grade 11 student at Mt. Doug secondary. Send your coming sports events to jocktalk@telus.net.