Local Sports

Braden Holtby’s new mask designed in collaboration with Luke Marston and David Gunnarsson. (Mike Wavrecan photo)

Vancouver Island Coast Salish artist unveils new mask for Canucks goalie

Braden Holtby’s new mask features artwork by Luke Marston inspired by the legend of the seawolf

The 2020 City of Victoria Youth Poet Laureate Neko Smart will give up her seat for the next young poet in January. (Contributed/ Jeremy Loveday)

Nominations open for Victoria’s 2021 Youth Poet Laureate

Honourary one-year term reserved for region’s emerging poets

Victoria HarbourCats 2019 leading hitter Frankie Niemann strokes a pitch into the field during play at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. Photo by Christian J. Stewart/Victoria HarbourCats

High-level sports options abound during summer in Victoria

From HarbourCats baseball to Shamrocks lacrosse to Pacific FC soccer, you’ve got choices as a fan

‘Thank you Victoria!’: Team Kazakhstan

‘Thank you Victoria!’: Team Kazakhstan

World junior underdog team thanks Victoria for its support

‘Thank you Victoria!’: Team Kazakhstan
Victoria HarbourCats’ pitcher Ethan Fox hurls one toward the plate during 2018 West Coast League baseball action game at Wilson’s Group Stadium. The Cats announced their 2019 season schedule today. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

HarbourCats nail down 2019 West Coast League baseball schedule

Another busy summer planned for Victoria’s collegiate level ballclub

Victoria HarbourCats’ pitcher Ethan Fox hurls one toward the plate during 2018 West Coast League baseball action game at Wilson’s Group Stadium. The Cats announced their 2019 season schedule today. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Victoria Royals’ goaltender Griffen Outhouse looks to gather in a rebound during Western Hockey League action against the Prince George Cougars at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Don Descoteau/Black Press

WHL Royals go 2-0 vs. P.G., gear up for weekend test against Kamloops

Three-way tie for first atop B.C. Division as Victoria, Kamloops, Vancouver unbeaten

Victoria Royals’ goaltender Griffen Outhouse looks to gather in a rebound during Western Hockey League action against the Prince George Cougars at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Don Descoteau/Black Press
Dante Hannoun (in red) and Victoria Royals teammates are drilled at practice ahead of this weekend’s Western Hockey League season-opening games against Prince George at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Don Descoteau/Monday Magazine

Victoria Royals on a roll heading into WHL season opening weekend

Team looks to gain revenge on Prince George after pre-season loss to Cougars

Dante Hannoun (in red) and Victoria Royals teammates are drilled at practice ahead of this weekend’s Western Hockey League season-opening games against Prince George at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Don Descoteau/Monday Magazine
Action from the Tuesday session of the Victoria Royals main training camp at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Jay Wallace-Facebook/victoriaroyals

WHL Royals gear up for final day of training camp

Wednesday night’s intrasquad game culminates camp, cheap hot dogs, popcorn part of the package

Action from the Tuesday session of the Victoria Royals main training camp at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Jay Wallace-Facebook/victoriaroyals
Victoria HarbourCats’ Ryan Ober leaps to grab a throw as a Portland player dives into second base, during Wednesday night’s West Coast League baseball game at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria. The Pickles posted a 10-3 victory to eliminate the Cats from playoff contention on the last day of the regular season. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Baseball’s HarbourCats wind up WCL season with loss to Pickles

Victoria needed a win to make the league playoffs, now looks ahead to 2019

Victoria HarbourCats’ Ryan Ober leaps to grab a throw as a Portland player dives into second base, during Wednesday night’s West Coast League baseball game at Wilson’s Group Stadium in Victoria. The Pickles posted a 10-3 victory to eliminate the Cats from playoff contention on the last day of the regular season. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Victoria Royals forward Dante Hannoun, right, is one of three overage players on the roster of the Western Hockey League team who are undrafted by NHL clubs. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Hockey Royals expecting a different look for 2018-19 WHL season

Three key Victoria players looking to stay in system of NHL clubs that drafted them

Victoria Royals forward Dante Hannoun, right, is one of three overage players on the roster of the Western Hockey League team who are undrafted by NHL clubs. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Ryder Hesjedal rides alongside a pair of junior riders during the Tour de Victoria Kid’s Race around the legislature front driveway and Belleville Street. This year’s annual cross-section of cycling challenges happens Aug. 18. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

TOUR DE VICTORIA: Pick your cycling challenge

Mass cycling event sees hundreds of riders take to the streets Aug. 18 around the region

  • Aug 2, 2018
Ryder Hesjedal rides alongside a pair of junior riders during the Tour de Victoria Kid’s Race around the legislature front driveway and Belleville Street. This year’s annual cross-section of cycling challenges happens Aug. 18. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
WATCH: Busy exhibition weekend follows WCL sweep for HarbourCats

WATCH: Busy exhibition weekend follows WCL sweep for HarbourCats

Victoria baseball club prepares to close out regular season, gunning for playoff spot

WATCH: Busy exhibition weekend follows WCL sweep for HarbourCats
The lightning-fast NSRA winged sprint cars are always a popular racing class at Western Speedway. They’ll be contesting the annual Daffodil Cup races over the Aug. 17 and 18 weekend in Langford. Courtesy Western Speedway

Big-time racing on tap in Langford this month

Western Speedway the place to be for a roaring good time in summer

The lightning-fast NSRA winged sprint cars are always a popular racing class at Western Speedway. They’ll be contesting the annual Daffodil Cup races over the Aug. 17 and 18 weekend in Langford. Courtesy Western Speedway
Part of the uniform fleet of Melges 24 boats are tied up at the Victoria International Marina after a day of racing the world championships on Juan de Fuca Strait. The championships wrap up Saturday. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Yachting world race event helps christen new Victoria marina

Sailors from near and far contesting international Melges 24 event in Juan de Fuca Strait

Part of the uniform fleet of Melges 24 boats are tied up at the Victoria International Marina after a day of racing the world championships on Juan de Fuca Strait. The championships wrap up Saturday. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kelly Gruber will serve as an honorary coach during this weekend’s home exhibition games between the Victoria HarbourCats and Coquitlam Angels senior men’s baseball team at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. Photo courtesy Victoria HabrourCats

HarbourCats featuring former Blue Jays star as weekend coach

1992 World Series champ Kelly Gruber honorary coach for exhibitions vs. Coquitlam men’s team

Former Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kelly Gruber will serve as an honorary coach during this weekend’s home exhibition games between the Victoria HarbourCats and Coquitlam Angels senior men’s baseball team at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. Photo courtesy Victoria HabrourCats
Port Angeles Lefites base runner Matthew Christian dives safely back into third base after overrunning the bag, as Victoria HarbourCats infielder Tanner Haney’s (11) looks to toss the ball to Clyde Chung-Chi Yen for the tag. The Lefties overcame a 6-1 deficit to win 8-6. Don Descoteau/Black Press

Sun shines on visitors in HarbourCats’ exhibition opener

Victoria in Port Angeles tonight for second half of West Coast League home-and-home

Port Angeles Lefites base runner Matthew Christian dives safely back into third base after overrunning the bag, as Victoria HarbourCats infielder Tanner Haney’s (11) looks to toss the ball to Clyde Chung-Chi Yen for the tag. The Lefties overcame a 6-1 deficit to win 8-6. Don Descoteau/Black Press
The Victoria HarbourCats may not see 2017 top slugger Hunter Vansau back in the lineup for a while, but the University of Mississippi outfielder is planning on returning to the Island once his season with the Ole Miss Rebels ends. Photo Christian J. Stewart/Courtesy Victoria HarbourCats

PLAY BALL: HarbourCats test WCL waters with exhibitions, open season at home Friday

New-look Victoria looks to improve on successful 2017 baseball season

The Victoria HarbourCats may not see 2017 top slugger Hunter Vansau back in the lineup for a while, but the University of Mississippi outfielder is planning on returning to the Island once his season with the Ole Miss Rebels ends. Photo Christian J. Stewart/Courtesy Victoria HarbourCats
Matthew Phillips and the Victoria Royals are on the ropes in the Western Hockey League playoffs, after suffering a 5-3 loss to Vancouver in game 5 on Saturday night at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Game 6 goes Monday afternoon in Langley, with game 7, if necessary, back in Victoria on Tuesday night. Don Descoteau/Victoria News

Late charge too little, too late for Royals in game 5 vs Giants

Vancouver on verge of advancing to WHL second round after game 5 win in Victoria

Matthew Phillips and the Victoria Royals are on the ropes in the Western Hockey League playoffs, after suffering a 5-3 loss to Vancouver in game 5 on Saturday night at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Game 6 goes Monday afternoon in Langley, with game 7, if necessary, back in Victoria on Tuesday night. Don Descoteau/Victoria News
Victoria Royals’ Andrei Grishakov (centre in white) and Dino Kambeitz mix it up with Everett’s Jake Christiansen in Western Hockey League action. The Silvertips won both ends of the teams’ regular season-ending series, 8-1, Saturday in Victoria and 3-2 at home on Friday. Don Denton/Black Press

Royals gear up for WHL playoffs after suffering season-worst loss

Victoria has a solid 7-3 record this year against opening-round opponent Vancouver

Victoria Royals’ Andrei Grishakov (centre in white) and Dino Kambeitz mix it up with Everett’s Jake Christiansen in Western Hockey League action. The Silvertips won both ends of the teams’ regular season-ending series, 8-1, Saturday in Victoria and 3-2 at home on Friday. Don Denton/Black Press
The 2018 Bear Mountain Bike Festival wheels into Langford at the end of March. Photo contributed

Mountain bike masters descend on Bear Mountain

Langford and the Westin invite fans to watch the best in off-road bike racing

  • Mar 10, 2018
The 2018 Bear Mountain Bike Festival wheels into Langford at the end of March. Photo contributed