April van Wieren of the Columbia Bible College Bearcats has been named the PacWest women’s volleyball athlete of the week.
The fourth-year middle was dominant as the Bearcats swept a pair of games vs. the Douglas College Royals last weekend. She had nine kills, three stuff blocks and four aces on Friday, and followed that up with 11 kills, two blocks and two aces on Saturday.
“April has started this season right where she left off last year,” CBC coach Duncan Harrison said. “She is not only the statistical leader on offence, but she has become the mental and emotional leader of her team, able to provide a word of encouragement or an equally important kick in the butt to her teammates when needed.”
HEAT BRINGING COURNOYER, SITTLER
The Abbotsford Heat announced that Hockey Hall of Famers Yvon Cournoyer and Darryl Sittler will be the guests of honour for their two remaining Legends of Hockey promotions this season.
Cournoyer, a 10-time Stanley Cup winner with the Montreal Canadiens and a member of Canada’s legendary 1972 Summit Series team, will be at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre on Friday, Nov. 30 when the Hamilton Bulldogs (the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate) visit for the first of a two-game set.
Sittler, an iconic member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, will visit the AESC on Friday, April 12, when the Toronto Marlies (the Leafs’ affiliate) visit Abbotsford for the final home weekend of the regular season. Sittler’s 10-point outburst against the Boston Bruins on Feb. 7, 1976 still stands as an NHL record, and he finished his 15-season NHL career with 1,121 points in 1,096 games.
Vancouver Canucks alumni Cliff Ronning and Geoff Courtnall highlighted the Heat’s first Legends of Hockey night of the season on Oct. 19.
OLYMPIANS EXCEL
The Abbotsford Olympians swim club posted a series of terrific performances at the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club Fall Invitational at UBC last week.
Fifteen local swimmers participated, and Alina Blakely, Katie Charest, Iliya Taranenko and Jayme Reitsma all qualified multiple A standards, while Tobyn Smith qualifed her AA standard.
A slew of club records fell at the event, courtesy Sophia MacDonald (age 15-17 girls), Hannah Weinkauf (13-14 girls), Smith (10-and-under girls) and James Lee (13-14 boys). Smith finished second in her division’s aggregate standings, while Maddie Charest was fifth in the nine-and-under girls aggregate.
For more information on the Olympians, visit abbotsfordolympians.com.
UKO, MADIGAN LEAD HUSKIES
The Abbotsford Middle School Huskies beat the Howe Bulldogs 36-14 in Grade 8 football action last week, taking over first place in the local AA league in the process.
Tailback Samwel Uko and quarterback John Madigan had two touchdowns apiece as the Huskies improved to 5-0 on the season. Madigan also scored a pair of two-point converts, and hit Jordan Townrow on a 40-yard pass-and-run play. Dion Kelly also found the end zone in the victory.
MASTERS SWIM PROGRAM
Abbotsford Recreation Centre is hosting a masters swimming program on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
Sessions run from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., and coach Sandra Arthur has designed the program to meet a wide variety of needs. It’s suitable for adults who are trying to get in shape, as well as those who are training for a triathlon. For more information, call ARC at 604-853-4221.
INDOOR BMX SEASON BEGINS
Abbotsford BMX’s 10th year of indoor racing opens on Nov. 6 at the Agrifair Arena at Exhibition Park.
The first race of an 18-race series runs Nov. 10, and the series wraps up Feb. 24, 2013. Races begin at 7 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. on Sundays, and are licensed and sanctioned by Cycling BC. Riders can sign up at any point during the season, and can participate in the races or just practice.
For more information, visit abbotsfordbmx.ca or cyclingbc.net, or call the race hotline at 604-308-2291.
MOUNTAIN BIKERS HEAD INDOORS
The Fraser Valley Mountainbikers Association presents its 4X Indoor Series, beginning Nov. 13 at the Agrifair Arena.
The seven-race BC Cup series runs at 8 p.m. on Tuesday nights. Race dates are Nov. 13/20/27, Jan. 29, and Feb. 5/12, with the finals set for Feb. 19.
For more information, visit fvmba.com, and licensing information can be found at cyclingbc.net.
HALL CALLS FOR NOMINATIONS
The Abbotsford Sports Hall of Fame is soliciting nominations for its class of 2013.
The deadline for submissions is Nov. 15. Nomination criteria and forms are available at abbysportshalloffame.ca, or by contacting the Sports Hall of Fame Society at Box 10, Abbotsford B.C., V2T 6Z4. In addition, nomination forms for the Wall of Fame (a one-year recognition of an individual or team performance in 2012) are available on the website.
The Abbotsford Sports Hall of Fame, located on the main floor of the Legacy Sport Centre at Exhibition Park, contains memorabilia displays honouring athletes, teams and builders who have been inducted since 2003.
