JOCK TALK: Playoff hockey, school sports on tap

Colin Gall outlines some of the upcoming sports highlight events

BCHL playoff hockey returns to The Q Centre Friday night (March 10, 7 p.m.) as the Victoria Grizzlies host Nanaimo in game 5 of their best-of-seven Island semifinal series.

If  needed, game 6 would be played in Nanaimo this Sunday, with a possible game 7 scheduled for Tuesday, March 14 at 7 p.m. in Colwood.

High school rugby opens for the week with the School District 62 sevens next Tuesday, at Westhills Stadium.

In Tier 2 play, Royal Bay visits Edward Milne in Sooke next Thursday (March 16) at 3:45 p.m. while in Tier 1, the Belmont senior boys hit the pitch for games against Claremont and Oak Bay A at Oak Bay High, starting at 3:45 p.m. Follow the boys across town and cheer on the West Shore team!

High school badminton play has started on the lower Island, with Belmont and Royal Bay entered in the exhibition B league play hosted this week at Stelly’s on Tuesday (March 14) and at Edward Milne and Lambrick Park on Thursday, all starting at 3:30 p.m.

In Vancouver Island Soccer League Division 2 men’s play, Westcastle United team plays the Prospect Lake Lakers this Friday at 8 p.m. at Layritz Turf. The following Friday, United faces the Fred Milne Park Rangers FC at 7 p.m. at Sooke Field.

In the Lower Island Womens Soccer Association’s Doug Day Cup play, an all-West Shore matchup sees Juan de Fuca United take on Juan de Fuca FC at noon this Sunday (March 12), with the venue to be determined. Previous games have been held at Goudy Field, the Royal Bay turf and Westhills Stadium.

It’s time for runners and field event athletes to hit the track and turf as the Victoria Track and Field Club, in conjunction with Pacific Athletics Track and Field Club, begins spring training April 4 for athletes age 10 to 15. For more details and registration forms, visitvictrack.ca or pacificathletics.ca.

The Victoria Shamrocks’ women’s box lacrosse day camp happens Saturday, March 18 at Eagle Ridge arena. From 4 to 8 p.m., individuals 15 and older can learn the game and scrimmage with Shamrocks coaches and players.Registration is limited, find out more at victoriashamrocks.com.

Also on the team site are details of the Shamrocks’ spring break camp for kids aged seven to 14, hosted by Rhys Duch from March 20 to 22. Duch, Corey Small, Cody Hagedorn and others are featured coaches at the camp at Eagle Ridge arena. Learn more at 250-478-7625.

Head to the University of Victoria this week for the U SPORTS Final 8 Women’s Basketball Championship. After tipping off today (March 9), the event continues through this Sunday at the CARSA performance gym. Ticket prices and other information are at vikestickets.universitytickets.com, by email at vikestickets@uvic.ca or by calling 250-472-4000.

Colin Gall is a local athlete and Grade 12 student at Mt. Douglas Secondary. Send your coming sports events to jocktalk@telus.net.

Goldstream News Gazette