Sports

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins (90), of Latvia, stops Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser (6) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Horvat scores 2, streaking Canucks post gritty 4-3 comeback win over Blue Jackets

Vancouver has won 5 straight since hiring Bruce Boudreau as coach

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins (90), of Latvia, stops Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser (6) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Boston Bruins’ Charlie Coyle (13) chases Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) during second period NHL hockey action in Edmonton, Alta., on December 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken

McDavid calls potential five-week Olympic quarantine for COVID-19 ‘unsettling’

NHL still has to make a final call on whether to go ahead with Olympic participation

Boston Bruins’ Charlie Coyle (13) chases Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) during second period NHL hockey action in Edmonton, Alta., on December 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken
BCHL

Forty BCHL stars to skate in Top Prospects Game

The all-star showcase will be part of the junior A league’s 60th anniversary weekend in January

BCHL
Calgary Flames left wing Milan Lucic, second from right, celebrates his goal with teammates left wing Andrew Mangiapane, left, defenceman Noah Hanifin, second from left, and centre Mikael Backlund during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. Three more Calgary Flames have entered the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Mark J. Terrill

Three more Calgary Flames enter COVID-19 protocol, Canucks cancel practice

Flames cancel games as COVID-19 count reaches 19, 2 Vancouver players test positive

Calgary Flames left wing Milan Lucic, second from right, celebrates his goal with teammates left wing Andrew Mangiapane, left, defenceman Noah Hanifin, second from left, and centre Mikael Backlund during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. Three more Calgary Flames have entered the NHL's COVID-19 protocol.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Mark J. Terrill
Kraken forward Richard Bergman keeps an eye on a Nanaimo Buccaneers forward during a home game earlier this season. (Gazette file)

6 points for Bergman, 3 points for Lake Cowichan Kraken

Fan favourite comes up big in pair of road games

Kraken forward Richard Bergman keeps an eye on a Nanaimo Buccaneers forward during a home game earlier this season. (Gazette file)
New Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations and Interim General Manager Jim Rutherford, right, responds to questions during his first news conference since being hired by the NHL hockey team, as owner Francesco Aquilini sits with him in Vancouver, on Monday, December 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

New president Jim Rutherford embracing challenge of revamping Vancouver Canucks

‘His job is to bring a winning team, bring in a winning culture’

New Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations and Interim General Manager Jim Rutherford, right, responds to questions during his first news conference since being hired by the NHL hockey team, as owner Francesco Aquilini sits with him in Vancouver, on Monday, December 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Islanders forward Logan Walker strains to keep control of the puck during his team’s win over the Saanich Predators at Kerry Park Arena last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Kerry Park Islanders snap streak with wins over Westshore and Saanich

Isles climb back to .500 in tough South Division

Islanders forward Logan Walker strains to keep control of the puck during his team’s win over the Saanich Predators at Kerry Park Arena last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
The Cowichan Piggies celebrate after beating Castaway Wanderers 16-13 in the Times Cup final last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Cowichan Piggies top Castaways in Times Cup final

Wood scores all 16 points, but win was a team effort

The Cowichan Piggies celebrate after beating Castaway Wanderers 16-13 in the Times Cup final last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko (35) stops Carolina Hurricanes’ Andrei Svechnikov (37), of Russia, during first period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canucks extend win streak to 4 under new coach Boudreau with 2-1 victory over Carolina

Pettersson, Boeser score for Vancouver in triumph over Hurricanes

Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko (35) stops Carolina Hurricanes’ Andrei Svechnikov (37), of Russia, during first period NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers celebrate their victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 108th CFL Grey Cup in Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday, December 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Blue Bombers defeat Tiger-Cats 33-25 in OT thriller to win 108th Grey Cup

Winnipeg repeats as Canadian Football League champs

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers celebrate their victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 108th CFL Grey Cup in Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday, December 12, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Winnipeggers crowd downtown streets in Winnipeg on Nov. 26, 2019, to celebrate with quarterback Chris Streveler as he raises the Grey Cup with other players after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won their 11th Grey Cup with a 33-12 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Calgary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

‘Feeling really good’: Fans say COVID-19 not stopping them from enjoying Grey Cup

Many pandemic measures have been loosened as majority of population vaccinated

Winnipeggers crowd downtown streets in Winnipeg on Nov. 26, 2019, to celebrate with quarterback Chris Streveler as he raises the Grey Cup with other players after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won their 11th Grey Cup with a 33-12 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Calgary. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
Cowichan United’s Norah O’Reilly-Ryan collects the ball in her team’s end during their 6-0 win over Lakehill at the Sherman Road turf last Sunday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Cowichan United rolls over Lakehill, Cougars start A division campaign with win

Klotz scores three for United, Waddy has hat trick for Cougars

Cowichan United’s Norah O’Reilly-Ryan collects the ball in her team’s end during their 6-0 win over Lakehill at the Sherman Road turf last Sunday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Cowichan back Lauryn Bons sprints down the sidelines during the Island women’s rugby final at Piggie Park last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Cowichan edged in Island women’s rugby final

Castaways take Xi’Sul Stomish Cup by two-point margin

Cowichan back Lauryn Bons sprints down the sidelines during the Island women’s rugby final at Piggie Park last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser (6) dives to swat the puck away from Winnipeg Jets’ Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Friday, December 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Goalie Demko stands tall with 34 saves as Canucks beat Jets 4-3 in shootout

Vancouver wins third straight game under new coach Bruce Boudreau

Vancouver Canucks’ Brock Boeser (6) dives to swat the puck away from Winnipeg Jets’ Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Friday, December 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Parkrunners brave the snow for the Dec. 4 event at Shawnigan Hills Park. (Claire Curtis photo)

Shawnigan Hills parkrun report for Dec. 4

Participants brave the snow in a memorable run

  • Dec 10, 2021
Parkrunners brave the snow for the Dec. 4 event at Shawnigan Hills Park. (Claire Curtis photo)
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks before an NHL hockey game between the Seattle Kraken and the Vancouver Canucks, in Seattle, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Bettman says concerns over “a whole host of issues” regarding the league’s participation at the Beijing Olympics remain with less than 60 days until the opening ceremony. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ted S. Warren

Bettman: NHL continues to have ‘real concerns’ regarding Olympic participation

League commissioner says ultimately if the players want to go, they will go, but issues remain

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks before an NHL hockey game between the Seattle Kraken and the Vancouver Canucks, in Seattle, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Bettman says concerns over “a whole host of issues” regarding the league’s participation at the Beijing Olympics remain with less than 60 days until the opening ceremony. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Ted S. Warren
Quinn Bond of Queen Margaret’s School (blue singlet) takes on a wrestler from Spectrum during last Saturday’s dual meet at QMS. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Cowichan wrestlers shake off the cobwebs with dual meet

Athletes excited by first competition in a year and a half

Quinn Bond of Queen Margaret’s School (blue singlet) takes on a wrestler from Spectrum during last Saturday’s dual meet at QMS. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Andrew Harris (33) runs for the first down against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during second half CFL Western final football action in Winnipeg, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Veteran Blue Bomber Andrew Harris more appreciative of Grey Cup experiences

Veteran running back will look to win his third title Sunday versus Hamilton

Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Andrew Harris (33) runs for the first down against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during second half CFL Western final football action in Winnipeg, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
The Olympic flame is displayed during an event at the Beijing University of Posts and Communications in Beijing, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Chinese Olympic organizers on Thursday held one of the first public events to display the Olympic flame since its arrival from Greece in October as part of the build up to the 2022 Winter Olympics in February. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

EXPLAINER: What does an Olympic diplomatic boycott achieve?

Aim of recently announced boycotts is calculated to hurt the pride of host nations

The Olympic flame is displayed during an event at the Beijing University of Posts and Communications in Beijing, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Chinese Olympic organizers on Thursday held one of the first public events to display the Olympic flame since its arrival from Greece in October as part of the build up to the 2022 Winter Olympics in February. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Duncan Stingrays swimmer Teddy James competes in the 50m butterfly during the club’s Orange & Black meet at the Cowichan Aquatic Centre on Dec. 1. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Young Duncan Stingrays dive into competition

First meet of the year for club’s youngest swimmers

Duncan Stingrays swimmer Teddy James competes in the 50m butterfly during the club’s Orange & Black meet at the Cowichan Aquatic Centre on Dec. 1. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)