Team B.C. will meet Manitoba in Canada Winter Games quarterfinal hockey action today at the Dartmouth Sportsplex in Halifax.
B.C. was third place in Pool A at 1-2, while Manitoba was second in Pool B, also 1-2.
Vernon’s Curtis Lazar had the lone goal as the B.C. boys bowed 5-1 to Ontario in their final round-robin Monday.
Lazar led B.C. with two goals and two assists in an 8-3 win over Nova Scotia Sunday afternoon. Vernon’s Cole Sanford also scored once.
West Vancouver’s Sam Reinhart collected two 2+1 and Lazar netted 1+2 as B.C. fell 5-4 to Quebec in overtime to open the round-robin Saturday.
Lumby’s Dylan Bowen chipped in with an assist.
In ringette action, Team B.C. finished third in Pool A at 1-2. They will meet the second-place finisher in Pool B today at Cole Harbour Place.
Vernon’s Rylee English (formerly of Terrace) and Mallory Sissons skated with Team B.C.
In freestyle skiing action, Vernon’s Noah Morrison, a member of the Silver Star Freestyle Club, finished eighth in the men’s halfpipe.
The 16-year-old qualified with a best-of-two-runs 34.100.
He begins qualifiers for men’s aerials today.
As of Tuesday’s press time, Quebec led the medal standings with 26 (nine gold, 11 silver and six bronze). Alberta (7-5-6) and B.C. (2-4-6) were second and third respectively with 18 and 12 medals.
Team BC’s medal count Monday at the Winter Games was enhanced with two speed skating gold medals, one on the long track and one on the short track.
The first one came at the Canada Games Oval where Tori Spence (Kamloops) clocked in at 4:46.70 in the 3000m to take top spot.
It was a convincing win for Spence who set a new personal best on an outdoor oval when she skated across the finish line eight seconds ahead of the next skater.
The medal ceremony became a family affair when sister Josie won the bronze medal in 4:55.01.
“I’m super proud. I think I’m mostly just excited about being on the podium with my sister,” said Tori. “It’s a ‘Spence Sandwich!’”
Josie echoed her sister’s sentiments saying, “I really wanted to be on the podium with my sister so I’m glad that happened. I can’t describe how happy I am.”
Later in the day Courtney Shmyr (Langley) doubled the gold count for B.C. by winning the short track 500m event.
“I love this distance,” she said. “Everything went as planned, and winning the gold for my province was for sure the achievement I wanted.”
