Kelsey Serwa
Ski cross racer Kelsey Serwa’s year in 2013 was a combination of the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
One of the best ski cross racers in the world and with an Olympic competition already under her belt (fifth place 2010 Olympics) Serwa began 2013 coming off a knee injury that took her out of competition for most of 2012. After a year long rehab Serwa jumped right back into action and right back into the upper echelon of her sport, winning races in Russia and Italy early in the 2013 season.
But in March of this year she was injured again, in a training run while preparing for the World Championships. The same knee was injured. Surgery was needed again the Kelowna Secondary School grad was back on the sidelines and back on the road to recovery.
Five months into her rehab, with the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia less than a year away, the Capital News checked in on the status of her rehab.
“It’s going great, it’s the same knee but there was way less trauma,” she said at the time. “I’m stronger than I was last year. I learned a lot from last time and I feel good.”
After competing ion the 2010 Olympics and narrowly missing a shot at the final and a spot on the podium, Serwa’s ski cross career took off. She won five World Cup races and claimed top spot at the X Games. But then the knee injuries and another rehab. But once again she has returned to the slopes with the start of the 2013-14 ski cross season.
Serwa, now 24, was fifth at the season opening race on Canadian soil at Nakiska and didn’t make the finals at another World Cup in France. But with Christmas looming Serwa was back on the podium last weekend in Italy, placing second and fifth and serving notice that she is indeed back to form and an Olympic threat.
“My knee feels way better than it did at this time last year and I’m really starting to figure things out,” Serwa said.
Kelowna Rockets
The Kelowna Rockets didn’t win a Western Hockey League banner or Memorial Cup title, but 2013 will still go down as one of the most memorable years in franchise history.
Among the many highlights was the establishment of two Rockets’ franchise records—consecutive home-ice victories and most regular season wins.
Kelowna went 31-5 at Prospera Place, which included a team-record, 23-game home-ice winning streak.
“The best thing we did this year was regain home-ice advantage,” said Rockets’ general manager Bruce Hamilton. “We wanted to establish that again and make sure it’s not a very good place to play for other teams. The guys did a good job of that this year and we want to continue that.”
When all was said and done at the end of the 2012-13 regular season, the Rockets had won 52 games, breaking the former standard (51) set during the 2002-03 campaign.
“It’s a feather in our caps, a great accomplishment for the guys,” Rockets’ captain Colton Sissons said of the record. “It’s something that this team will be able to look back on and be very proud of.”
While the Rockets failed to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs, they did provide some post-season drama for their fans.
After losing the first three games of their first round series against Seattle, Kelowna rallied for four straight wins to become only the second team in WHL history to recover from a 3-0 deficit.
“The guys never did lose their belief,” said Rockets’ head coach Ryan Huska. “They showed a lot of character.”
Among other highlights, Kelowna centre Rourke Chartier won gold with Canada at the U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial hockey championship in the Czech Republic, while defenceman Madison Bowey was the first of four Rockets chosen in the NHL entry draft.
UBC Okanagan Heat
As the sports scene out at UBC Okanagan continued to move forward in leaps and bounds, 2013 brought the first ever Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) home playoff games to the UBCO campus as well as word that the institution would be granted full member status in the CIS.
Both men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball programs had been playing in the CIS’ Canada West conference on a trial basis for the past two years but the official word came down in May that the Canada West Universities Athletic Association had voted to accept UBCO as a full member.
“It is wonderful news for our institution and our athletics program and I would like to thank everyone who contributed to our application—and that’s a big group of people,” said director of athletics and recreation Rob Johnson. “Back in 2007, full membership in Canada West and the Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) was one of a number of institutional goals that were set, and it is very gratifying to see it achieved.”
The positive membership vote meant that UBC Okanagan men’s and women’s soccer teams will start competing in Canada West in 2014, joining the volleyball and basketball programs in the CIS. It also seemed to pave the way for the Okanagan Sun junior football program to eventually join the CIS as well.
In the midst of the application process, one UBCO sports team had already established itself as a competitive part of the CIS and made some history in the process.
In just its second season in the Canada West, the UBCO Heat women’s volleyball team finished the season at 15-7, winning nine more times than in their debut season and securing the first ever CIS home playoff games in UBCO’s history.
“Hosting is just another really big step for our program and another indication that we are well ahead of schedule with what we are doing,” said Heat coach Steve Manuel.
And even after the Heat lost two tough matches to Mount Royal and their season had ended, the accolades kept pouring in. Manuel was named the Canada West and the CIS coach of the year and player Emily Oxland was named to the CIS all-rookie team.
Kelowna Christian athletics
When it comes to high school sports, winning the blue banner as provincial champions is the top of the mountain.
And here in Kelowna, high school sports success is a common theme as teams from schools across the Central Okanagan are routine fixtures in top 10 rankings and at provincial championship tournaments.
But one smaller Kelowna school has taken its athletics to the next level, both in terms of the number of students taking part in sports of one kind or another, and in claiming that sought-after banner to hang in the rafters.
In 2013 Kelowna Christian School was named the B.C. School Sports outstanding school of the year in voting against every other school in the province, close to 400 schools of all sizes.
By student population KCS ranks as a single-A school. But in terms of per capita athletes, the school, to put it plainly, kicks butt.
“About 65 per cent of the student body is involved in athletics at our school,” said Rob Smith, KCS athletic director. “We’re not a big school but we had 20 teams this year and we have kids playing from Grades 7 to 12. Kids are participating at a high level. There is a culture of involvement in athletics at the school. It’s a big part of our school. You have all of these kids involved in all of these sports and whether your team won a championship, it recognizes our entire school and our program.”
In the 2012-13 school season, Kelowna Christian School, pulled off the rare feat of winning three senior provincial championships, claiming single-A senior boys and girls volleyball championships. More impressive was the KCS senior boys who opted to play in the provincial AA league and then won the provincials. Already this year they are at it again as the senior girls volleyball team claimed its third straight provincial championship to kick off the 2013-14 high school sporting year.
“I just think there is so much that comes from athletics for kids, participating with their friends at school and leaning and growing together,” he said. “It’s part of the school life and when you play with school-mates and are involved with those kids on so many different levels, lots of good stuff can come of it.”
Okanagan Sun
While the season didn’t culminate with a B.C. title or a Canadian championship, the Okanagan Sun enjoyed a return to respectability on the football field in 2013.
Under new head coach Shane Beatty and with a young, largely revamped roster, the Sun posted an 8-2 record in the BCFC and hosted a playoff game at Apple Bowl.
It was a significant turnaround for a team that stumbled to its worst ever record just a year earlier at 3-7.
“Shane did a great job with the team, not just with the performance on the field but with the whole structure as well,” said Sun president Paul Carson. “With the recruiting he did, working with the assistant coaches, Shane did a lot of good things from the day he arrived here.”
Beatty, who played with the Sun in 1990, brought NCAA coaching experience with him, along with a tough, but fair approach that rubbed off on the players.
Beatty admits even he was surprised at how quickly the Sun came together on the field.
“Honestly, when I got here I didn’t know how we were going to do,” said Beatty. “I thought we had some decent athletes, but I was a little skeptical about the level we’d be able to compete at. But the guys gelled really fast and they believed in each other.”
A diligent recruiter, Beatty went back to work just hours after the 2013 season ended and is optimistic about what lies ahead for the Sun.
“I’m excited and I think the kids coming back are excited, too,” said Beatty, whose club saw its season end with a 24-13 home playoff loss to Langley on Oct. 13. “This year ended on a bit of a sour note, so we have some unfinished business to take care of.”
Among other highlights for the Sun, three players—Jack Rush, Brennan Van Nistelrooy and Devon Kozar—were named CJFL all-Canadians.
KCS Knights volleyball
Not until 2013 had a school ever won three consecutive B.C. high school girls A volleyball titles.
Make way for the Kelowna Christian Knights.
KCS engineered a provincial three-peat in late November in Duncan, defeating the rival Immaculata Mustangs in four sets in the gold medal match.
“They came in ready to play,” head coach Rob Smith said of his Knights. “You could see when they walked in Saturday night, their faces, their body language…they were hungry. It’s awesome to win three in a row.”
Knights’ 6-foot-3 outside hitter Micaylee Pucilowski was a dominant force and was named the tournament’s MVP.
Three players—Pucilowski, Shaylin Jost and Emma Padgin—were on all three winning teams dating back to the 2011 season.
“I think the school has really developed a culture for girls volleyball, where so many girls seem to want to be involved,” added Smith. “We also have a bunch of really good athletes, so that doesn’t hurt either.”
January
• Kelowna golfer Kyla Inaba kicks off her first season as a professional golfer beginning with a Cactus Tour event. A developmental tour, Inaba begins the Cactus Tour season with an event in Phoenix.
• Sharp-shooter Jake Lutz is named one of the top trapshooters in the Pacific Northwest making the Pacific International Trapshooting Association all-star team.
• Once 18 points behind Kamloops in the race for first in the WHL, the Kelowna Rockets win 12 of 13 games to reel in the Blazers and tie them for top spot.
• The popular Kelowna International Elite Midget hockey tournament takes place for the 33rd time with Thunder Bay coming away the champion, beating Pursuit of Excellence in the final.
• Kelowna speed skater Nick Goplen skates two personal bests at the Canadian Long Track Speed Skating Championships and is named to Team Canada’s roster for an international event.
• Rockets veteran defenceman Mitchell Chapman sees his junior hockey season end due to an ankle injury that kept the 20-year-old from playing in any games last season.
• Kelowna’s Eric Neilson continues his solid sliding season, cracking the top 10 for the fourth time on the World Cup skeleton circuit.
• A year to the week after suffering a season ending knee injury, Kelsey Serwa wins silver at a World Cup ski cross race in France, her second podium finish of the season.
• The Kelowna Christian Knights dominate and win the Mustangs Classic senior boys basketball tournament in Kelowna.
• Big White racer Ryan Moffat wins three gold medals at a Giant Slalom event at Sun Peaks.
• Grade 10 student Emily Castor qualifies for the 2013 Cadet/Juvenile Wrestling Championships by winning her age class at the Western Canadian Wrestling Championships in Kamloops.
• During her fifth year at UBC Okanagan golfer Jen Woods is nominated by Sport BC as the female collegiate athlete of the year.
• Kelly Scott’s dominant ladies curling rink wins its fourth consecutive Scottie’s provincial women’s curling title, winning the event in Cloverdale.
• The Kelowna Rockets set a Kelowna-franchise record by winning its 19th straight home game, eclipsing the previous Kelowna franchise record for consecutive home wins.
• OKM student Julianne Delaurier wins a bronze medal in the novice women’s division at the National Figure Skating Championships in Ontario.
• Kelowna Rockets goaltender Jordon Cooke sets a Rockets record for consecutive wins after posting his 20th straight win in Kamloops.
February
• After five years with UBCO’s women’s basketball team, RSS grad Roz Huber’s collegiate hoops career comes to an end after three seasons of play in the BCCAA and two more in the CIS.
• The Okanagan Challenge board decides to pull the plug on its men’s team for the 2013 PCSL soccer campaign.
• Skeleton racer Eric Neilson finishes fourth at the World Skeleton Championships in Switzerland.
• Eighty-eight ringette teams converge on Kelowna for the annual Sweetheart Ringette Tournament, one of the largest events in Western Canada.
• Iron-woman Heather Wurtele wins the Ironman Panama, the sixth Ironman title of her career.
• OKM keeper Michael Sexton decides to attend UBCO, committing to the Heat soccer program.
• The Kelowna Rockets home ice winning streak is snapped at a Kelowna-record 23 when Portland defeats Kelowna twice at Prospera Place.
• Local volleyball player Alex Basso puts down a kill in her final university regular season volleyball game, ending a five year career at UBCO. UBCO would go on to host its first ever CIS playoff games in Kelowna, losing to Mount Royal College.
• Kelowna sends the second largest contingent to the International Children’s Games in Ufah, Russia.
• In danger of going under, the longstanding Ski2Sea race is saved as Remax signs on for five years as title sponsor for the grueling multi-sport race.
• Kelly Scott wins bronze at the Scottie’s Tournament of Hearts.
• UBCO volleyball player Emily Oxland is named a Canada West all star while Steve Manuel is named coach of the year.
March
• The West Kelowna Warriors open up the B.C. Hockey League playoffs against Merritt, a team they handled easily in the regular season.
• Kelowna’s Fripp Warehousing advances to the tier 1 hockey provincials after beating Kamloops in two straight games to claim the Okanagan Mainline championship.
• Immaculata’s Grade 9 girls basketball team wins its second straight provincial championship.
• Kelowna female hockey players Christi Capozzi, Sarah Casorso and Stephanie Schaupmeyer help UBC to the CIS Canada West female hockey title.
• Josh Zakala sets a new B.C. record for 14–year-old boys in the 400 metre Individual Medley, set at the provincial swim cahmpionships.
• Kelowna’s bantam tier 1 hockey team wins a silver medal at the International Children’s Games in Russia.
• The Kelowna Rockets beat Kamloops twice on the final weekend of the WHL season to claim the WHL BC Division title.
• After playing the season in the AA league, the single-A KCS Knights wins the AA basketball boys provincial championships with Drew Schulz named tournament MVP.
• Immaculata pulls off a provincial double, winning as the Mustangs senior boys and girls’ teams win the single-A basketball provincials.
• Former Kelowna Rockets player Lucas Bloodoff is named the CIS men’s hockey player of the year after his third season at St. Mary’s University in Halifax.
• Kelowna Minor Hockey product and Calgary Hitmen forward Cody Sylvester posts a seven point game for the Hitmen.
• Rockets captain Colton Sissons suffers a broken collarbone on the last weekend of regular season play in the WHL, ending his run as Rockets captain.
• Kelsey Serwa suffers a knee injury for the second time in just over a year, putting her on the sidelines for the 2013 ski cross season.
• Kelowna’s Wendy Jansen is named the B.C. Wheelchair Basketball’s Athlete of the Year.
• The midget tier 1 and tier 4 teams from Kelowna Minor Hockey claim provincial championship titles.
• The Okanagan Sun hire Shane Beatty as the junior football team’s fifth head coach since 2008.
• The Okanagan Rockets lose 1-0 to the Vancouver NW Giants in the third and deciding game of the BCMML championship series.
• Connie Kapak wins five gold medals at the Canada West Short Track Speed Skating Championships.
April
•West Kelowna minor hockey product Max French plays his final games as Warriors captain as the Warriors are ousted from the BCHL playoffs by rival Penticton in the Interior Division final.
• Mount Boucherie’s Curtis Urlacher signs a scholarship deal to attend CIS school Concordia.
• UBCO names Roslyn Huber, Jen Woods and Brett Uniat as its student-athletes of the year.
• Big White plays host to the Canadian Snowbaord Cross championships and Tess Critchlow wins gold in junior women and silver in the senior women’s events.
• Without seven regulars in the line-up, the Kelowna Rockets become just the second WHL team to comeback from down 3-0 in a playoff series, beating Seattle 4-3 in the first round of the WHL playoffs.
• The Rockets WHL season comes to an end after losing four straight to Kamloops in the second round of the WHL playoffs.
• The Kelowna Rockets loss is UBCO’s gain as athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn leaves the WHL team to become the head therapist at UBCO.
• Immaculata Mustangs basketball player Alex Hart accepts a full-ride scholarship to the University California-Santa Barbara.
• Future Kelowna Rockets captain Madison Bowey and his team wins gold at the World Under-18 hockey championships.
• Rutland volleyball player Erin Drew decides to keep her talents at home commiting to attend UBCO.
May
• Golfer Haley Cameron finishes second as an individual, helping UBC’s women’s golf program advance to the national collegiate golf championships.
• Among the picks by the Rockets in the annual WHL bantam draft is Cal Foote, the son of former NHLer Adam Foote.
• Former Kevin Martin third John Morris joins the Jim Cotter rink, strengthening the Central Okanagan’s top men’s curling rink.
• The Immaculata Mustangs girls soccer team finishes first at the B.C. Catholic schools soccer championships.
• The West Kelowna Warriors name Matt Anholt as its next captain, taking over from the departed Max French.
• THe UBCO Heat receive approval to join the Canada West Universities Athletic Association, paving the way for the highest level of university sports in Canada to played at UBCO.
• The resurrection of the Okanagan Sun junior football program begins with 90 players attending the Sun’s spring camp with new coach Shane Beatty.
• UBCO golfer Jen Woods heads to the Royal Canadian Golf Association’s university championships to close a decorated university career.
• Samantha Richdale claims the first CN Canadian Women’s Golf Tour event of the season, setting a course record on the way to the win in Tsawwassen.
• B.C. School Sports names Kelowna Christian School its school of the year after KCS won three provincial championships.
• Former Capital News sales manager Jason Tansem is hired by the Kelowna Chiefs as an assistant coach.
• Kelowna native Mack O’Rourke is named head coach of the Okanagan Rockets B.C. Major Midget League team, taking over from James Eccles.
• Immaculata’s senior boys win the provincial high school boys A golf championships.
• The West Kelowna Warriors host former players at its inaugural alumni weekend, headlined by local product and Edmonton Oilers defenceman Justin Schultz.
June
• The KSS senior boys rugby team equals its best ever finish with a sixth place showing at the high school provincials.
• Immaculata’s senior girls soccer team add the A provincials to a long list of accomplishments.
• The Rockets hire Scott Hoyer to replace the departed Jeff Thorburn as its athletic therapist, his second stint with the Rockets.
• Aaron Stroda and Rostam Turner are the top performers at the high school track and field provincials, winning multiple medals in their events.
• Rockets assistant coach Dan Lambert is named head coach of Team West for the World Under-17 Challenge
• The Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame announces its 2013 inductees are the Julie Sutton rink, Brock Aynsley, Blair Chapman and Wayne North.
• Kelowna baseball player Morgan Lofsrom is selected by the Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball’s annual draft.
• MMA fighter Matt Dwyer defends his Battlefield Fight League welterweight title at an event in Penticton.
• The final round of the B.C. Senior women’s golf championship is rained out, giving leader Linda Palahniuk of Kelowna the title.
• James Turner wins a bronze medal in decathlon at the Canadian senior track and field championships in Moncton, NB.
• Rockets president and GM Bruce Hamilton is named to the management group that will help choose Team Canada’s entry at the World Junior Hockey Championships.
July
• Four members of the Kelowna Rockets are selected in the National Hockey League entry draft. Defenceman Madison Bowey is chosen in the second round by the Washington Capitals, Tyrell Goulbourne in the third round by Philadelphia, Mitchell Wheaton goes in the fifth round to Detroit, while Myles Bell is taken in the sixth by New Jersey.
David Pope of the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors went in the fourth round to Detroit.
• West Kelowna’s Hans Aabye wins the Kelowna Running Club’s Midsummer 8 km Classic.
• Kathy Hubble wins Canadian women’s masters judo championship in Richmond.
• The Kelowna United U16 boys win a silver medal at the Provincial BC Cup soccer championship in Prince George, while the KU U16 girls win bronze in North Vancouver.
• The Kamloops Venom defeat the Kelowna Raiders in their Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League semifinal series.
• The Rutland Rockies win the bantam AA title at the Valley of Champions baseball tournament in Kelowna.
• Top WHL bantam draft pick Tyler Benson commits to Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy for 2013-14 season.
• Dr. Knox Middle School student Hailey Wright earns trip to Hershey North American Track and Field Games in Penssylvania.
• Kelowna’s Kierra Smith wins gold in breaststroke at the Canadian summer national swimming championships in Quebec.
• Kelowna Raiders win the Thompson Okanagan Senior Lacrosse League title for the third year in a row.
• Kelowna’s Aaron Stroda wins four medals at B.C. track and field championships in Calgary.
• Calgary’s John Bird wins the Across the Lake Swim in 23 minutes 36 seconds, while Jeanne Carlsen wins women’s title.
• Kelowna’s Malindi Elmore wins the Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon.
• The Kelowna Heat wins gold at the B.C. U16 bantam B fastball championship in Port Alberni.
• The Kelowna Jays lose the B.C. junior baseball final to the Burnaby Bulldogs for the second year in a row.
• Quest Martial Arts members Carson Benedict and Jon Zaleski win gold medals at the Open Tae Kwon-do International World Champinships in England.
• Shane Beatty wins his first game as head coach of the Okanagan Sun, 65-10 over the Chilliwack Huskers. The win is later overturned by the BCFC due to an ineligible player.
• Kelowna AquaJets swimmer Josh Zakala qualifies for national age group championships.
• Kelowna Rockets head coach and former Kamloops Blazers player Ryan Huska is inducted into B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame.
• Keefer Joyce wins the (18-19) 100 metre sprint at the B.C. Track and Field Championships in Kamloops.
August
• Kelowna Rockets defenceman Damon Severson earns invite to Canadian junior team tryout camp in Quebec.
• Head coach and GM Rylan Ferster signs a contract extension with the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors.
• Kelowna AquaJets’ Josh Zakala wins open water swim at national age group championships in Montreal.
• Kelowna Rockets centre Rourke Chartier is named to Canada’s national under-18 hockey team.
• Kelowna Fusion win the Canadian ladies B slo-pitch championship in Kelowna.
• Kelowna siblings, Liam and Quinci Birker, win separate gold medals at the B.C. beach volleyball championships in Vancouver.
• Kelowna’s George Sanders wins a silver medal at the World Ringside Boxing Championships.
• Kelowna’s Will Dean is named to Canada’s men’s fours team in rowing.
• Dane Martin wins a gold medal at the Hershey North American Track and Field Games.
• Kelowna’s Keely Watts-Watling wins gold in youth heptathlon at the Canadian Legion track and field championships.
• Kelowna’s Rostam Turner wins a bronze medal in decathlon at the Canada Summer Games in Quebec.
• Vernon’s Nathan Champness wins the 2013 Apple Triathlon, while Kelowna’s Malindi Elmore is a close second to Sarah MacArthur in the women’s event.
• Five members of the Okanagan Masters Swim Club—Mike Stamhuis, Phred Martin, Denise Cesselli, Tracey Sutton and Leora Dahl—swim the English Channel in 13 hours 41 minutes.
• Okanagan Sun have season-opening win over Chilliwack forfeited due to an ineligible player.
• Kelowna’s Samantha Richdale finished 62nd at CN Canadian Open women’s golf championship.
• The WHL’s Kelowna Rockets extend head coach Ryan Huska’s contract for three seasons.
• Kelowna’s Jeremy Finn and Tanner March, and Kelowna’s Quinci Birker and Thana Fayad of Victoria, win gold medals at the Canadian Beach Volleyball Championships in Vancouver.
September
• More than 1,000 runners take to the roads of Kelowna for the inaugural Kelowna Wine Country Half Marathon.
• UBCO Heat’s Will Deck wins first PACWEST golf tourney of the season
• Kelowna Nikki Reiter and Pat Sima-Ledding each receive ACE Awards for contributions to athletics
• The Okanagan Sun loses its appeal to have their win over Chilliwack restored due to an ineligible player.
• Nine members of Kelowna Rockets attend NHL training camps.
• Kelowna’s Trevor Haaheim and Dannica Wade win the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, at the 31st annual Peak to Beak Run.
• Kelowna Skating Club member Julianne Delaurier competes at the International Skating Union’s Junior Grand Prix Baltic Cup in Poland.
October
• Kelowna field hockey players Abigail Raye, Danielle Hennig and Natalie Sourisseau help Team Canada to a third-place showing at the Pan Am Cup in Argentina.
• The Kelowna Rockets trade over-age defenceman MacKenzie Johnston to the Prince Albert Raiders.
• The West Coast League’s Kelowna Falcons name Billy Clontz as their 10th head coach, Geoff White remains on as assistant GM.
• Tommy Howes and Jack Rush are named team co-MVPs for the Okanagan Sun
• Mom-and-son duo Conny and Mike Stamhuis of the Okanagan Masters Swim Club win gold medals at the World Masters Games in Torino.
• UBCO’s Will Deck named PACWEST golf’s player of the year and a CCAA all-Canadian.
• Brendan Lunty from Camrose and Calgary’s Allison Blackmore are first-time winners at the BMO Okanagan Marathon in Kelowna.
• Okanagan Sun’s Brennan Van Nistelrooy is named the BCFC’s outstanding defensive back, while Robbie Yochim is named conference’s top special teams player.
• Kevin MacKenzie throws fourth rocks for Maple Ridge’s Grant Dezura as the rink wins the Crown of Curling in Kamloops.
• Okanagan Rockets forward Liam Finley commits to the University of Denver for the 2016-17 season.
• UBC Okanagan soccer players Jennifer Kidd, Michelle Smith, Hayley Carlson, Christine Tallon, Austin Jones and Donald Straith are named PACWEST all-stars.
• UBCO Heat women win the bronze medal at the PACWEST soccer championship in Nanaimo with a 3-2 win over Langara. The Heat’s Kristin Dodds is named the tournament’s top forward.
• Kelowna’s Jordon Cooke is named WHL goalie of the week.
• The Kelowna Christian Knights win the B.C. Christian Schools girls volleyball title.
• The Kelowna midget tier 2 Rockets go undefeated to win their home hockey tournament.
November
• Madison Bowey is named captain of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets.
• Kelowna products and POE teammates Lauren Spring and Sam Fieseler play with Team B.C. at the Canadian under-18 girls hockey championship.
• Kelowna’s Abigail Raye and Natalie Sourisseau help the UBC Thunderbirds to their straight CIS field hockey title.
Raye was named the championship MVP, while Sourisseau was named a tournament all-star.
• The OKM Huskies win the silver medal at both the Okanagan and B.C. AA boys soccer championships.
• Jake Van Allen edges Trevor Haaheim to win the Larry Nicholas 9k cross country run in Kelowna.
• Devon Kozar, Jack Rush and Brennan Van Nistelrooy of the Okanagan Sun are named Canadian Junior Football League all-Canadians.
• Okanagan Gymnastics Centre’s Jesse Jakins and Norihiko Horie win Gymnastics BC coaching awards.
• Kelowna’s Kelly Scott loses last two games at Canadian pre-trials in Kitchener to miss out on final trials for Olympics.
• UBC Okanagan Heat women run to CCAA cross country title in Etobicoke, Ont.
• The Kelowna Rockets extend assistant coach Dan Lambert’s contract through the 2015-16 season.
• Kelowna Skating Club’s Ajsha Gorman won gold at the B.C./Yukon Sectional Championships in Richmond.
• Kelowna’s Doug Deschner is inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
• OKM Huskies win the Okanagan boys AA volleyball title, KSS wins the girls AAAA crown, the Owls win the boys AAA title, and Immaculata captures the valley A girls title.
• Kelowna pitcher Mike Monster signs a free agent contract with the Anaheim Angels.
• The Central Okanagan Hall of Fame welcomes new inductees Wayne North, Brock Aynsley, the Julie Sutton rink and Blair Chapman.
• Dani Gruber and Rachel Stone win medals at the World Age Group Trampoline Championships in Bulgaria.
• Kelowna Rockets defencemen Madison Bowey and Damon Severson play with Team WHL against Russia in the Subway Super Series.
• Thistletown Boxing Club’s Austin Riggs wins a gold medal at the national youth and junior boxing championships in Quebec. Thistletown’s Curtis Anderson wins silver, while Ajay Bopari of the Kelowna Boxing Club wins bronze.
• The Kelowna Lions win the SIFC junior bantam football title, then fall to Abbotsford in the B.C. semifinal.
• UBC Okanagan Heat women finish first semester of Canada West volleyball season with six straight wins to move to 10-2 on the season.
December
• The Kelowna Christian Knights win theird third straight B.C. A girls high school volleyball title, defeating rival Immaculata in the final in Duncan.
• The host Kelowna Owls win the silver medal at the B.C. high school boys AAA volleyball championship after losing to Earl Marriot in the final. The Mt. Boucherie Bears beat Steveston-London to win bronze, while OKM finishes fourth in the B.C. AA tournament.
• Kelowna Rockets defence man Damon Severson is named to Team Canada’s final selection camp is advance of the world junior championship in Sweden.
• Kelowna’s Eric Neilson secures a berth on Canada’s skeleton team for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi after placing fifth at a World Cup race in Calgary.
• Kelowna’s Kathy Hubble wins the gold medal in the 52 kg class at the World Veterans Judo Championships in Abu Dhabi.
• The Vernon/Kelowna rink of John Morris, Jim Cotter, Tyrel Griffith and Rick Sawatsky lose the final of the Canadian Olympic curling trials to Ontario’s Brad Jacobs, as Jacobs rink qualifies for 2014 Olympics.
• Kelowna’s Kelsey Serwa returns to the World Cup ski cross circuit for the first time since re-injuring her knee in March and finishes a respectable fifth at Nakiska.
• Kelowna Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton is part of Hockey Canada’s management team for the world junior hockey championship which begins Boxing Day in Malmo, Sweden.
• Kelowna Skating Club’s Julianne Delaurier wins a gold medal at the Skate Canada Challenge in Regina.
• Kelowna’s Armand Bokitch celebrates the Calfornia community college football title as a member of the Butte College Roadrunners.
* Kelowna’s Kelsey Serwa wins a silver medal at a World Cup ski cross race in San Candido, Italy.
• Kelowna’s Christi Capozzi helps Canada the World University Games gold medal in women’s hockey in Trentino, Italy.
• Former Kelowna Rockets captain Lucas Bloodoff helps Canada win the World University Games gold medal in men’s hockey in Trentino, Italy.
