Barry Stewart

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Arthur Davidson of Balls Deep lobs a pitch. (Barry Stewart Photo)

Slo-pitch making a return in Hope

Organizers confident the new league will be a hit

Arthur Davidson of Balls Deep lobs a pitch. (Barry Stewart Photo)
Hope’s Nordiques outlasted the Wasted Knights of Abbotsford in the championship match of the 16-team St. Patrick’s Day tournament, the final event of the hockey season.

‘Don’t eat the green snow’

Sixteen teams rang out the hockey season on St. Patrick's Day.

Hope’s Nordiques outlasted the Wasted Knights of Abbotsford in the championship match of the 16-team St. Patrick’s Day tournament, the final event of the hockey season.
Hope volunteer firefighter Rebecca Arrowsmith receives her awards for fastest female and highest fundraiser at the BC Lung Association’s Climb the Wall event at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel in Vancouver. Presenting the awards were Marcel Syens (centre) from MSA – The Safety Company and Dan Eklund from the Vancouver Fire Department.

Arrowsmith sets new stair-climb records

Hope volunteer firefighter Rebecca Arrowsmith set three impressive marks in her climb on Feb. 26.

Hope volunteer firefighter Rebecca Arrowsmith receives her awards for fastest female and highest fundraiser at the BC Lung Association’s Climb the Wall event at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel in Vancouver. Presenting the awards were Marcel Syens (centre) from MSA – The Safety Company and Dan Eklund from the Vancouver Fire Department.
Hope Mustang Maritza Botha drives to the basket, versus Surrey Christian on Feb. 23 at Abbotsford Christian School. Surrey Christian, went on to win 57-31, eliminating Hope Secondary School from the tournament.

Girls finish eighth in the Fraser Valley, but they’ll be back

The senior Mustang girls now know what they’ll be up against next basketball season, after playing in the FV single-A championships.

Hope Mustang Maritza Botha drives to the basket, versus Surrey Christian on Feb. 23 at Abbotsford Christian School. Surrey Christian, went on to win 57-31, eliminating Hope Secondary School from the tournament.
Hope Venturer Jacob Medlock strains against the bungee rope, to place his marker far down the track. He ended up one step short of the eventual winner at the annual RoVent winter camp in Manning Park, Feb. 10-13.

Dancing the night away, at minus 15

It’s a bad sign when you’re planning to go winter camping and the highways are closed due to snow.

Hope Venturer Jacob Medlock strains against the bungee rope, to place his marker far down the track. He ended up one step short of the eventual winner at the annual RoVent winter camp in Manning Park, Feb. 10-13.
Hope volunteer firefighter Rebecca Arrowsmith (shown with District of Hope fire chief, Tom DeSorcy) will be attempting to beat her record of 10 minutes and 37 seconds for 48 flights of stairs — in full gear — at the annual Stairclimb for Clean Air event in Vancouver Feb. 26.

Lungs of fire, so others can breathe easier

Firefighter Rebecca Arrowsmith will head off for her third race on the fire escape stairs at Sheraton Vancouver’s Wall Centre Hotel Feb. 26.

Hope volunteer firefighter Rebecca Arrowsmith (shown with District of Hope fire chief, Tom DeSorcy) will be attempting to beat her record of 10 minutes and 37 seconds for 48 flights of stairs — in full gear — at the annual Stairclimb for Clean Air event in Vancouver Feb. 26.
Hope Minor Hockey Association Wildcat Josiah Tiessen chases after the puck on Kawkawa Lake. Hundreds visited the lake during the cold spell for various activities.

Frozen Kawkawa Lake becomes winter activity central

When it was just ice, there were hockey players and skaters. When it had snow, skiers and snowshoers came out.

Hope Minor Hockey Association Wildcat Josiah Tiessen chases after the puck on Kawkawa Lake. Hundreds visited the lake during the cold spell for various activities.
Barry Stewart selects his six favourite stories from 2016.

Barry’s Best: sports reporter’s six favourite stories, and why.

Stewart selects six 2016 stories still sticking saliently.

Barry Stewart selects his six favourite stories from 2016.
Nine-year-old Violette Freimark polishes her form at the RiverMonsters’ winter fit practice. Eight young swimmers are staying in tune through the off-season, under the direction of winter coach, Mike Freimark. The club will host a swim meet in the summer of 2017, making it the first meet since 2005 at the Dan Sharrers Aquatic Centre.

Swim meet returns to Hope in 2017

The RiverMonsters is planning to organize a swim meet in summer this year.

Nine-year-old Violette Freimark polishes her form at the RiverMonsters’ winter fit practice. Eight young swimmers are staying in tune through the off-season, under the direction of winter coach, Mike Freimark. The club will host a swim meet in the summer of 2017, making it the first meet since 2005 at the Dan Sharrers Aquatic Centre.
A lone kokanee salmon plies the waters along Stephens Road, last Friday. The annual spawning run has passed its peak but a few kokanee can still be spotted in the streams on the east side of Kawkawa Lake. Keep an eye out for coho salmon, which will be in local streams this winter.

Annual rite of passage in local streams

Keep an eye out for coho salmon, which will be in local streams this winter.

A lone kokanee salmon plies the waters along Stephens Road, last Friday. The annual spawning run has passed its peak but a few kokanee can still be spotted in the streams on the east side of Kawkawa Lake. Keep an eye out for coho salmon, which will be in local streams this winter.
Hope resident Aaron Poulin poses with his daughter Lily at July’s Women’s World Softball Championship in Surrey. Poulin has been chosen from a group of seven nominees, as Canada’s Home Run Sports Umpire of the Year.

Schoolteacher chosen as Umpire of the Year

It’s a big deal to be chosen as Canada’s “Umpire of the Year.”

Hope resident Aaron Poulin poses with his daughter Lily at July’s Women’s World Softball Championship in Surrey. Poulin has been chosen from a group of seven nominees, as Canada’s Home Run Sports Umpire of the Year.
Team Pink had winning smiles after edging Team Burgundy 7-5 in the final match Hope Friendship Hockey Tournament. Clockwise from the front: goalie Ryan Stewart, Mitchell Peters, TJ Smith, Zane MacDonald, Dusty Smith, Terry McColl, Mike Talarico, Derek Hoffer, Chris Barnard, Joban Gill. Missing: Blake Deschenes.

Hope Friendship Hockey Tournament organizer reflects on event

The tournament is back after a five-year absence after a group of organizers decided to revive it.

Team Pink had winning smiles after edging Team Burgundy 7-5 in the final match Hope Friendship Hockey Tournament. Clockwise from the front: goalie Ryan Stewart, Mitchell Peters, TJ Smith, Zane MacDonald, Dusty Smith, Terry McColl, Mike Talarico, Derek Hoffer, Chris Barnard, Joban Gill. Missing: Blake Deschenes.
Local rider, Steven Patterson takes a leap off a hiboy trailer, part of the endurocross track he helped build in the Hope Motor Sports Bowl. Brigade Days will be hosting its first-ever endurocross event, with over 80 riders expected to take part.

One-wheel-drive event comes to Brigade Days

Motorsports fans will have even more reasons to head to the Hope Sports Bowl at Sixth Avenue Park this weekend.

Local rider, Steven Patterson takes a leap off a hiboy trailer, part of the endurocross track he helped build in the Hope Motor Sports Bowl. Brigade Days will be hosting its first-ever endurocross event, with over 80 riders expected to take part.
Lordco manager Scott Medlock at the Daytona Speedway in Florida. He recently won a trip there for selling the most brake parts.

Lordco manager wins trip to Daytona Speedway

Scott Medlock won an all-expenses paid from Lordco and Raybestos for selling the most brake parts.

Lordco manager Scott Medlock at the Daytona Speedway in Florida. He recently won a trip there for selling the most brake parts.
The Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning is renovating the access road and trails leading to the summits of Mount Hope and Wells Peak. Hikers can now drive eight kilometres up the forest service road, taking six km off their hikes. Program director Kelly Pearce advises that it is not suitable for two-wheel-drive vehicles.

Mountain Centre clears the road for easier hikes

Hope Mountain Centre volunteers make it easier for all to go hiking.

The Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning is renovating the access road and trails leading to the summits of Mount Hope and Wells Peak. Hikers can now drive eight kilometres up the forest service road, taking six km off their hikes. Program director Kelly Pearce advises that it is not suitable for two-wheel-drive vehicles.
Katie Fry with her rig after a 4X4 mud drag race. The 18-year old will be driving in the 4X4 races at Hope Summer Smash, July 16 and 17.

Mud racing is in Katie Fry’s blood and she’s fearless about the sport

Racing shows that gender doesn't define greatness in the sport

Katie Fry with her rig after a 4X4 mud drag race. The 18-year old will be driving in the 4X4 races at Hope Summer Smash, July 16 and 17.
Laidlaw-based mud racer, Cody Leach drove his 1986 Chev K-10 4X4 races – and NWMRA mud drags at Chilliwack, August 13 and 14.

Cody Leach and ‘Mudd Butt’ are a force to be reckoned with

An inside peek at 4X4 mud racing at its finest in the
Fraser Valley

Laidlaw-based mud racer, Cody Leach drove his 1986 Chev K-10 4X4 races – and NWMRA mud drags at Chilliwack, August 13 and 14.
Australian visitor, John Wetemans putts a shadowy blessing on his ball before attempting a long putt on the ninth hole, Monday afternoon. Wetemans and his four Aussie partners had the Hope golf course all to themselves, despite excellent conditions.

Aussies had their hands full at the Hope golf course

The Australian Open took place at the Hope golf course on Monday

Australian visitor, John Wetemans putts a shadowy blessing on his ball before attempting a long putt on the ninth hole, Monday afternoon. Wetemans and his four Aussie partners had the Hope golf course all to themselves, despite excellent conditions.
Stationary cyclists spun their way to healthy hearts during the Heart & Stroke Foundation's 'Fit for Heart' campaign Spinathon at the McDonald's parking lot on Saturday.

Spin your heart out baby

Spinathon participants battle heat during a two hour fundraiser for the Heart & Stroke Foundation

Stationary cyclists spun their way to healthy hearts during the Heart & Stroke Foundation's 'Fit for Heart' campaign Spinathon at the McDonald's parking lot on Saturday.
Hope Secondary athlete Maritza Botha competes in Long Jump at the grade 9 to 10 level during the District #33 secondary track and field meet at Sardis Secondary on Wednesday Apr. 20.

HSS athletes bring the heat at track and field meet

Hope Secondary athletes compete at the District #33 Secondary track and field meet at Sardis Secondary

Hope Secondary athlete Maritza Botha competes in Long Jump at the grade 9 to 10 level during the District #33 secondary track and field meet at Sardis Secondary on Wednesday Apr. 20.