The Saanich Junior Braves start a busy week on Friday, hosting a home game against the Victoria Cougars at 6:30 p.m. at Pearkes Arena. On Saturday, the Braves travel to Kerry Park to take on the Islanders at 7:30 p.m. before heading to Nanaimo on Thursday, going head-to-head against the Buccaneers at 7:15 p.m. Next Friday, Oct. 23, the Braves are back on home ice, hosting the Westshore Wolves at Pearkes Arena at 6:30 p.m.
The Saanich Braves Midget Tier 1 team comes off a gold-medal win this past weekend at the Seafair Invitational Tournament in Richmond to take on the Juan de Fuca Grizzlies Tier 1 team Sunday. The teams will hit the Q! Centre ice at 6:30 p.m. for the exhibition game. League play will get underway for local rep squads later this month.
This week finds a number of University of Victoria Vikes on the road, including soccer, rowing, basketball and field hockey squads.
Here at home, the men’s and women’s golf teams and the men’s and women’s rugby teams compete this week, with the Vikes golfers at Cordova Bay Golf Course Oct. 19 and 20 for the Vikes Shootout event.
On the rugby turf, the UVic men’s rugby team plays Friday, welcoming cross-town rivals the James Bay Athletics Association. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. at Centennial Stadium.
On the women’s side, the Vikes rugby team plays Sunday, hosting the University of Alberta at 11:30 a.m. at Wallace Field.
The Camosun Chargers men’s and women’s volleyball teams each play two games this weekend against Vancouver Island University. The athletes take to the court at PISE (Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence at Camosun’s Interurban Campus) Friday, at 6 p.m. for women’s games and 8 p.m. for men’s games. On Saturday, the local squads travel to VIU, with the women playing at 1 p.m. and the men at 3 p.m.
In high school football, Spectrum kicks off its regular season this Friday, hosting Eric Hamber at Spectrum at 2:30 p.m. Regular season play continues Thursday, when the Thunder hosts Earl Marriot at Spectrum at 3 p.m.
Mount Douglas’ Varsity Rams is the only Gordon Head team playing in week six, as the Junior Varsity squad has a bye. The senior Rams travel to South Delta to take on South Delta’s Varsity team at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. On Friday, Oct. 23 both the Varsity and Junior Varsity Rams host games against New Westminster, with Junior Varsity hitting the field at 12:30 p.m. and Varsity at 3 p.m.
It’s a big week for high school field hockey. On Monday, in the competitive division, Reynolds faces Oak Bay and Mt. Douglas plays GNS at 3:30 p.m. while Lambrick plays SMUS at 4:30 p.m. In the developmental division, St. Michaels University School battles Glenlyon Norfolk at 4:30 p.m., while Reynolds faces Oak Bay. All games are at UVic.
In developmental play Wednesday, GNS plays Reynolds and SMUS plays Oak Bay, both at 3:30 p.m. SMUS’ competitive squad will take on GNS at 4:30 p.m. while Oak Bay faces Mt. Doug, also at UVic.
Senior boys’ soccer continues strong Tuesday, with a number of games on the schedule. St. Andrews hosts Royal Bay at 3:30 p.m., while Reynolds visits SMUS at 3:45 p.m. Claremont visits Oak Bay for a 3:30 p.m. start, Spectrum hosts Parklands secondary at 3:30 p.m., Lambrick Park plays at Vic High at 3:45 p.m., and SMUS B takes on host Mt. Douglas at 3:30 p.m.
Saanich will host the region’s cross country runners this week with a Tuesday meet at Beaver Lake. Events start at 3:30 p.m. for the younger runners, with the final event of the day for the senior boys beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Senior boys’ volleyball continues Wednesday, when the Spectrum, Mt. Douglas and Pacific Christian School all visit the Belmont Bulldogs. At Oak Bay High, Lambrick will take on the hosts, along with Stelly’s and Parklands, while Reynolds and Claremont visit Royal Bay. All matches start at 6 p.m.
Colin Gall is an athlete, avid sports fan and a Grade 11 student at Mount Douglas secondary.
