Sports

Team Canada players celebrate with their gold medals after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. Women’s hockey in 2022 was a firehose filled with change and advancement after the virtual desert of the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Women’s hockey roars back to life in 2022 after tough pandemic years

Women seeing a boost in wages, screen time and recognition

Team Canada players celebrate with their gold medals after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. Women’s hockey in 2022 was a firehose filled with change and advancement after the virtual desert of the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Hansel Enmanuel, a freshman guard from the Dominican Republic for Northwestern State, practices dunks during warm-ups before an NCAA college basketball game against Rice Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in Houston. Enmanuel lost his left arm in a childhood accident and has attained the talent and skill to play at the college level. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

VIDEO: Hansel Enmanuel, college player with 1 arm, becomes an inspiration

Viral videos of Enmanuel dunking makes it look easy, but he says it’s far from that

Hansel Enmanuel, a freshman guard from the Dominican Republic for Northwestern State, practices dunks during warm-ups before an NCAA college basketball game against Rice Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in Houston. Enmanuel lost his left arm in a childhood accident and has attained the talent and skill to play at the college level. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime celebrates after defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur during the final Davis Cup tennis match between Australia and Canada in Malaga, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. Auger-Aliassime is being rewarded for his breakthrough season by winning the Lionel Conacher Award as The Canadian Press male athlete of the year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Joan Monfort

Auger-Aliassime voted Canadian Press male athlete of the year

22-year-old Montreal star rose from 11th to 6th in world rankings this year

Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime celebrates after defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur during the final Davis Cup tennis match between Australia and Canada in Malaga, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. Auger-Aliassime is being rewarded for his breakthrough season by winning the Lionel Conacher Award as The Canadian Press male athlete of the year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Joan Monfort
Team Canada forward Marie-Philip Poulin (29) celebrates with her gold medal after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Marie-Philip Poulin voted The Canadian Press female athlete of the year for 2022

Poulin the only hockey player in the world to have scored goals in 4 consecutive Olympic finals

Team Canada forward Marie-Philip Poulin (29) celebrates with her gold medal after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
B.C. athletes shot for the stars in 2022. Clockwise from top left: Melanie Vogal, Rio Crystal, Teagan Dunnett, Kimberly Newell. (Photos submitted)

From cross-Arctic treks to Olympic dreams, B.C. athletes made 2022 one for the books

Athletes didn’t shy away from adventure this year

B.C. athletes shot for the stars in 2022. Clockwise from top left: Melanie Vogal, Rio Crystal, Teagan Dunnett, Kimberly Newell. (Photos submitted)
FILE - Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal during the Women’s Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Johan Cruyff stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort, File)

Women’s sports saw pivotal growth in deals, interest in 2022

Viewership, ratings and sponsorship deals up

FILE - Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal during the Women’s Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Johan Cruyff stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort, File)
FILE - Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner sits during the first half of Game 2 of basketball's WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Phoenix. Brittney Griner said she's “grateful” to be back in the United States and plans on playing basketball again next season for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury a week after she was released from a Russian prison and freed in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange. “It feels so good to be home!” Griner posted to Instagram on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, in her first public statement since her release. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

Brittney Griner says she’ll play basketball in Arizona again

Brittney Griner said she’s “grateful” to be back in the United States…

FILE - Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner sits during the first half of Game 2 of basketball's WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Phoenix. Brittney Griner said she's “grateful” to be back in the United States and plans on playing basketball again next season for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury a week after she was released from a Russian prison and freed in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange. “It feels so good to be home!” Griner posted to Instagram on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, in her first public statement since her release. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Canada’s Maggie Mac Neil in action during World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 21, 2021. On Dec. 18, 2022, she set a new world record at the FINA World Swimming Championships. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Canadian swimmer Maggie Mac Neil sets world record at short course worlds

Mac Neil trimmed over a half-second off the previous record

Canada’s Maggie Mac Neil in action during World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 21, 2021. On Dec. 18, 2022, she set a new world record at the FINA World Swimming Championships. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Jordan Pierre-Gilles, of Canada, skates during the men's 5,000 metre relay at a World Cup short track speedskating event Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Kearns, Utah. The national men's relay team won gold for the third straight competition to lead Canada to a three-medal performance Sunday at a short-track speedskating World Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Rick Bowmer

Canadian men’s relay team wins gold at short-track speedskating World Cup

Latest gold marks third in a series of wins

Jordan Pierre-Gilles, of Canada, skates during the men's 5,000 metre relay at a World Cup short track speedskating event Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, in Kearns, Utah. The national men's relay team won gold for the third straight competition to lead Canada to a three-medal performance Sunday at a short-track speedskating World Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Rick Bowmer
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, right on the pitch, celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal on a penalty kick during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Hassan Ammar

Argentina fans delighted over thrilling World Cup win against France

Canadians packed bars early Sunday morning

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, right on the pitch, celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal on a penalty kick during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Hassan Ammar
Argentina’s Lionel Messi reacts after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Messi wins World Cup, Argentina beats France on penalties

Final score was 4-2

Argentina’s Lionel Messi reacts after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Bill Rotheisler, head coach and general manager of the Castlegar Rebels in 2018. (Chelsea Novak - Castlegar News File)

Former B.C. junior hockey coach charged for voyeurism in Penticton

William Frank Rotheisler was charged and had his first appearance on Dec. 8

Bill Rotheisler, head coach and general manager of the Castlegar Rebels in 2018. (Chelsea Novak - Castlegar News File)
Connor Bedard skates during the Canadian World Junior Hockey Championships selection camp in Moncton, N.B., Friday, December 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ron Ward

‘He’s incredible’: B.C.’s Bedard once again turning heads at Canada’s world junior camp

17-year-old from North Vancouver is the presumptive first pick for the 2023 NHL draft

Connor Bedard skates during the Canadian World Junior Hockey Championships selection camp in Moncton, N.B., Friday, December 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ron Ward
Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier compete during the Ice Dance Free Dance at the figure skating Grand Prix finals at the Palavela ice arena, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Antonio Calanni

Canada’s Gilles and Poirier win ice dance gold at Grand Prix Final

The two performed to Madonna’s ‘Evita’

Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier compete during the Ice Dance Free Dance at the figure skating Grand Prix finals at the Palavela ice arena, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Antonio Calanni
The Abbotsford 55-Plus Games are scheduled to run from Aug. 22 to 26, 2023.

Sports announced for Abbotsford 55-Plus BC Games

Games run from Aug. 22 to 26, 2023 in locations in and around Abbotsford

The Abbotsford 55-Plus Games are scheduled to run from Aug. 22 to 26, 2023.
Germany’s Kim Kalicki, front, celebrates after she and Anabel Galander raced to a first-place finish during the two-woman bobsleigh competition at the IBSF BOB world cup event, in Whistler, B.C., on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘This is just the beginning’: Canadian bobsledders confident heading into season

International teams competing in Whistler, B.C. this weekend

Germany’s Kim Kalicki, front, celebrates after she and Anabel Galander raced to a first-place finish during the two-woman bobsleigh competition at the IBSF BOB world cup event, in Whistler, B.C., on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
TEASER PHOTO ONLY

‘Pleasant Good Evening’ memoir documents Dan Russell’s hall-of-fame sports broadcasting career

He took 200,000 calls from ‘Sportstalk’ listeners, interviewed 25,000 people (including some greats)

TEASER PHOTO ONLY
The Canadian Women’s National Softball Team finished in second place in the XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Americas Qualifier tournament. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press photo)

B.C. softball athletes help Canada’s national team advance to world cup group stage

Canada finished the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Americas Qualifier with an 8-3 record

The Canadian Women’s National Softball Team finished in second place in the XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Americas Qualifier tournament. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press photo)
Ski hills, including Apex Ski Resort near Penticton, are preparing for the coming downhill ski season. (Contributed)

QUIZ: How much do you know about winter sports?

It’s time for hockey, curling and all sorts of other cold-weather sports

Ski hills, including Apex Ski Resort near Penticton, are preparing for the coming downhill ski season. (Contributed)
Dr. Shelina Babul says more education is needed for both coaches and players in high-contact sports like football, hockey, and soccer. Photo by Rachel Ciampi/Auburn Reporter

‘We have a long way to go’: 90% of British Columbians can’t recognize a concussion

Dr. Shelina Babul with BC Children’s Hospital says quick action integral to recovery

Dr. Shelina Babul says more education is needed for both coaches and players in high-contact sports like football, hockey, and soccer. Photo by Rachel Ciampi/Auburn Reporter