The Victoria Grizzlies start the week with a three-game B.C. Hockey League road trip through Vernon, West Kelowna and Penticton, tonight (Feb. 17) through Sunday before returning to the Island. The Grizz wind up their regular season with a home-and-home against the Clippers next Friday in Nanaimo and Saturday at The Q Centre (7 p.m. puck drop).
In Vancouver Island Junior B hockey, the Westshore Wolves play their final game of the regular season tonight (Feb. 17) when they face the Peninsula Panthers at Panorama Rec Centre at 7:30 p.m. Stay tuned to westshorewolves.ca for playoff information.
In city league AAA senior boys high school basketball playoffs, Royal Bay was scheduled to face Vic High in semi-final play last night (Thursday) after the Gazette went to press, while Mt. Douglas was taking on Reynolds. The finals tip off tonight (Feb.17) at Vic High with the bronze-medal game at 5:45 p.m. and the gold medal game at 7:30 p.m.
Belmont is gearing up to host the Island AAAA senior boys championship Feb. 23-25.
Registration is open for the Greater Victoria Minor Football spring season with a gear-up session this Saturday, Feb. 18 at Copley Park in Saanich. West Shore players suit up for the Westshore Warriors.
The season’s running events ramp up locally this weekend with the Hatley Castle 8K on Sunday (Feb. 19). Part of the VIRA Frontrunners Island Race Series, the trail event gets underway at 11 a.m. at Royal Roads University.
The Hatley Castle 8k is the fourth race on the series and follows a course through the beautiful Hatley Castle historic park grounds at RRU. Visit islandseries.org to register and learn more.
Turning to the soccer pitch, Div. 1 Lower Island women’s play has Juan de Fuca United playing Vic West FC at Finlayson Turf tonight at 8 p.m. On Sunday, Juan de Fuca FC plays Gorge FC at noon at Hampton Field. Also Sunday, Juan de Fuca United plays the Vic West FC at 2 p.m. at Victor Brodeur school in Esquimalt.
In VISL men’s Div. 2 play, Westcastle United had its Saturday game cancelled and so next welcomes Powell River Villa for a 5 p.m. match next Saturday (Feb. 25) at Westhills Stadium.
And on the rugby turf, the Westshore 2 Island Div. 2 men’s team heads across town on Saturday to take on Castaway Wanderers 3. Come cheer on your local boys at 1 p.m. at Windsor Park.
Looking ahead, the Victoria Shamrocks have released their 2017 schedule, featuring nine Friday night home games. The ’Rocks’ 68th season, which includes a family-friendly game start of 7:30 p.m. for regular season home games, begins at home Friday, May 19 when they host the Langley Thunder at The Q Centre. Shamrocks season tickets start at $45 for kids – learn more, and see the entire schedule at victoriashamrocks.com.
Still with the Shamrocks, the annual spring break lacrosse camp hosted by Rhys Duch, Corey Small, Cody Hagedorn and others is coming up March 20 to 22. Youth players age seven to 14 are welcome for the three-day camp at Eagle Ridge arena in Langford. Call 250-478-7625 or visit victoriashamrocks.com.
Colin Gall is a local athlete and Grade12 student at Mt. Doug secondary. Send your coming sports news to jocktalk@telus.net.
