The Victoria Grizzlies may be out of town this weekend, but there’s no shortage of action-packed junior hockey on the local front.
After travelling north tomorrow (Jan. 16) for a Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League game in Courtenay against the Comox Valley Glacier Kings, the Westshore Wolves and The Q Centre host the VIJHL All Star Game this Sunday. The North vs. South format features players representing all nine junior B teams.
Puck drop is 5 p.m. and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for those age five to 18 years. In appreciation of the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association, all youth players wearing their jerseys will get in free with the purchase of one adult ticket.
The Wolves get back to business on Wednesday, Jan. 20 when they host the South-leading Victoria Cougars at 7 p.m. at The Q Centre. And finally, the Wolves take the long road trip north to Campbell River where they take on the Storm next Friday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies spend this weekend on the road, starting in Prince George today (Jan. 15) when they take on the Spruce Kings. They head south for a B.C. Hockey League game against the Chilliwack Chiefs on Saturday night, then bus it over to Surrey for a late afternoon contest Sunday against the Eagles.
The Juan de Fuca Midget Tier 1 Grizzlies come off a tough weekend loss to Saanich to play their final regular season game of the year, in Comox Valley tomorrow at 4:45 p.m. In exhibition play, the Midget Tier 2 Grizzlies take on Kerry Park at Shawnigan Lake School Arena on Saturday in a 1:30 p.m. start, and the following Saturday (Jan. 23), the Tier 2s head to Nanaimo for their final regular season league game. Start time is 4 p.m.
The high school basketball week of league play begins Monday, Jan. 18 when the Belmont junior boys host Oak Bay at 4:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 19 offers a full slate of games for West Shore teams. Belmont AAA senior girls host Stelly’s at 5:45 p.m., followed by the AAAA Bulldogs boys’ game against Claremont at 7:30 p.m. Also Tuesday, the Royal Bay Ravens senior boys host Stelly’s at 7:30 p.m. while the junior boys are at Vic High at 5:45 p.m. In an all-West Shore match-up, Royal Bay’s junior girls visit Belmont for a 4:15 p.m. tip-off.
Come Wednesday, the Belmont junior boys are at Esquimalt for a 4:15 p.m. start while the Ravens senior boys are at Mt. Douglas for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. The week finishes Thursday when the Royal Bay junior girls host Stelly’s at 5:45 p.m. while the senior girls visit St. Michaels University School at 5:45 p.m.
The Belmont senior girls face Reynolds at Claremont Jan. 21 with a 5:45 p.m. start. In junior basketball action, the Belmont boys host Mt. Doug at 4:15 p.m. while the Bulldogs girls host Claremont at 5:45 p.m.
Following the Vancouver Island Soccer League, Westcastle United travels to PISE in Saanich for a Div. 1 match this Sunday against the Vancouver Island Wave at 4 p.m. The following Saturday, Jan. 23, Westcastle takes on Lakehill FC at 7:30 p.m. at Westhills Stadium.
In Div. 3A play, the Westcastle Sagres host PLSC Lakers tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at Westhills Stadium.
Div. 3B action sees Juan de Fuca play SFFC Bandits tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Lochside Park, then host Cordova Bay Bobcats next Friday (Jan. 22) at Royal Bay secondary at 7. The Juan de Fuca 4A side meets Prospect Lake at Layritz Park tomorrow at 6 p.m., while the U-21 JdF squad travels to Reynolds Park to play Lakehill FC Sunday at noon.
In Lower Island Women’s Soccer Association play, the Juan de Fuca FC Div. 1 squad visits Vic West FC tonight (Jan. 15) at Finlayson Turf beginning at 8 p.m.
And on Sunday, Div. 2 Juan de Fuca hosts the SFFC Cascades at a field to be determined at press time.
Colin Gall is a local athlete and Grade 11 student at Mt. Douglas Secondary. Send your coming sports events schedule to him at jocktalk@telus.net.