local sports

The Chilliwack Chiefs and Coquitlam Express will finally play games in early April as the BCHL squeezes in a shortened 20 game season. Just-announced provincial funding may help the junior A league offset financial losses caused by the COVID pandemic. (Darren Francis photo)

Province provides relief funding for amateur sport

The government is directing $15 million to teams/leagues impacted by the COVID pandemic

 

Lumby Para-Alpine skier Logan Leach (left, with guide Caele Kassa of Vernon) races to silver at the 2019 Canada Winter Games. Leach is a finalist for Sport BC’s Athlete with a Disability Award that will be presented virtually Thursday, March 25, at the 54th annual Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards. (Facebook photo)

North Okanagan skier up for provincial honour

Visually impaired Logan Leach up for Athlete with a Disability at 54th annual Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards to be presented Thursday

 

Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games 2022 committee has released its branding for the event which will run Feb. 24-27. (Photo submitted)

Vernon BC Games committee releases branding

Branding, logo released; director of marketing named

 

Armstrong’s Jesse Crowe, shown at the home of golf, St. Andrew’s in Scotland, has been named the Royal York Golf Course’s director of golf operations. (Facebook photo)

Okanagan golf pro soars to home course position

Jesse Crowe becomes director of golf operations at Armstrong’s Royal York Golf Course

Armstrong’s Jesse Crowe, shown at the home of golf, St. Andrew’s in Scotland, has been named the Royal York Golf Course’s director of golf operations. (Facebook photo)
Vernon’s Jim Cotter (left) and third Steve Laycock of Saskatoon will be joined by the Kelowna front end of Rick Sawatsky and Andrew Nerpin, and fifth player Tyler Tardi of Cloverdale, at the Tim Horton’s Brier Canadian men’s curling championship starting March 5 in a bubble environment in Calgary. (Black Press file photo)

Okanagan rink ready for Brier marathon

B.C./Saskatchewan team could play 14 games in 10 days to win Canadian men’s curling championship

Vernon’s Jim Cotter (left) and third Steve Laycock of Saskatoon will be joined by the Kelowna front end of Rick Sawatsky and Andrew Nerpin, and fifth player Tyler Tardi of Cloverdale, at the Tim Horton’s Brier Canadian men’s curling championship starting March 5 in a bubble environment in Calgary. (Black Press file photo)
Vernon’s Barb and Denis Murdoch, pictured at Lake Louise in 1987, will be inducted into the builder category of the B.C. Volleyball Hall of Fame, Class of 2021, on Feb. 15. (Murdoch family photo)

North Okanagan volleyball couple earn Hall of Fame call

Denis and Barb Murdoch will be inducted into B.C. Volleyball Hall of Fame in builder category

Vernon’s Barb and Denis Murdoch, pictured at Lake Louise in 1987, will be inducted into the builder category of the B.C. Volleyball Hall of Fame, Class of 2021, on Feb. 15. (Murdoch family photo)
Vernon’s Emma Lunder, the veteran of Canada’s senior women’s biathlon team at age 29, placed sixth with partner Christian Gow of Canmore, Alta. in a World Cup mixed relay event Sunday, Jan. 10, in Oberhof, Germany. (Nordic Focus photo)

Narrow miss at World Cup medal for Okanagan biathlete

Vernon’s Emma Lunder and partner were sixth in mixed relay event at World Cup stop in Germany

Vernon’s Emma Lunder, the veteran of Canada’s senior women’s biathlon team at age 29, placed sixth with partner Christian Gow of Canmore, Alta. in a World Cup mixed relay event Sunday, Jan. 10, in Oberhof, Germany. (Nordic Focus photo)
The 2021 Canadian National Taekwon-do Championships were set to be hosted by Sundance Martial Arts in Vernon in April, but the event has been cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. (Sundance Martial Arts photo)

COVID-19 strikes down Taekwon-do nationals in Vernon

The 2021 Championships would have been hosted by Sundance Martial Arts at Kal Tire Place in April

The 2021 Canadian National Taekwon-do Championships were set to be hosted by Sundance Martial Arts in Vernon in April, but the event has been cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. (Sundance Martial Arts photo)
Vernon’s Emma Lunder, 29, the veteran of Canada’s senior women’s biathlon team, competes at a World Cup race in December 2020 in Hochfilzen, Austria. (Nordic Focus photo)

Vernon biathlon veteran relishes role with national team

Emma Lunder, 29, has three top-10 World Cup 2020-21 results for Canadian women’s squad

Vernon’s Emma Lunder, 29, the veteran of Canada’s senior women’s biathlon team, competes at a World Cup race in December 2020 in Hochfilzen, Austria. (Nordic Focus photo)
Over 30 per cent of Canadian youth under the age of 18 cannot afford to play organized sport. (Wikimedia Commons)

Penticton families need help getting kids into the game

Ninth annual KidSport Give the Gift of Sport fundraising campaign could be the most crucial one yet

Over 30 per cent of Canadian youth under the age of 18 cannot afford to play organized sport. (Wikimedia Commons)
(Pixabay)

‘Modified’ games, limited competitive play return as B.C.’s local sports enter Phase 3

Phase 3 will see sports divided into four categories based on the number and intensity of contact

(Pixabay)
The Summerland Arena has been open since July 13, 2020. The municipality is also in the process of reopening other recreation facilities. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland working to reopen recreation facilities

Arena and pool are opening, but ball season will not proceed

The Summerland Arena has been open since July 13, 2020. The municipality is also in the process of reopening other recreation facilities. (Summerland Review file photo)
(Wikimedia Commons)

B.C. pledges $1.5M to help local groups return to sport; no date for competitive play

Feds will also provide $3.4M in funding for youth sports

(Wikimedia Commons)
Penticton Minor Hockey Association’s July 31, 2020 registration deadline is fast approaching. Organizers say registration numbers are, so far, lower than average this year. (File photo)

Minor hockey in Penticton to hit the ice in September

The association’s July 31 registration deadline is fast approaching

Penticton Minor Hockey Association’s July 31, 2020 registration deadline is fast approaching. Organizers say registration numbers are, so far, lower than average this year. (File photo)
Penticton Vees defenceman Josh Niedermayer, younger brother of Vees forward Jackson, will particpate in Hockey Canada’s under-17 virtual development camp July 19 to 25. (Cherie Morgan Photography)

Penticton Vees defender invited to Hockey Canada U17 camp

Josh Niedermayer will play his first full season with the Vees next season

Penticton Vees defenceman Josh Niedermayer, younger brother of Vees forward Jackson, will particpate in Hockey Canada’s under-17 virtual development camp July 19 to 25. (Cherie Morgan Photography)
The Penticton Vees traded goaltender Carl Stankowski June 23, 2020 to the Grande Prarie Storm in exchange for goaltender Kaeden Lane (pictured). Lane posted a 3.22 goals against average along with an .897 save percentage in 74 career games with the Storm while registering 31 victories in that span. (Sean Mascaluk/Pro Sports Photography)

Penticton Vees swap goalies with Grande Prairie Storm

Vees send goaltender Carl Stankowski to Grande Prarie in exchange for goaltender Kaeden Lane

The Penticton Vees traded goaltender Carl Stankowski June 23, 2020 to the Grande Prarie Storm in exchange for goaltender Kaeden Lane (pictured). Lane posted a 3.22 goals against average along with an .897 save percentage in 74 career games with the Storm while registering 31 victories in that span. (Sean Mascaluk/Pro Sports Photography)
The Penticton Vees executed an offseason trade on June 2, 2020, sending forward Jack Barnes (’00) and future considerations the Cowichan Valley Capitals (’01) in exchange for forward Luc Wilson. (Garrett James/BCHL)

Penticton Vees acquire forward Luc Wilson in trade with Cowichan Valley

Departing is 20-year-old Penticton native Jack Barnes

The Penticton Vees executed an offseason trade on June 2, 2020, sending forward Jack Barnes (’00) and future considerations the Cowichan Valley Capitals (’01) in exchange for forward Luc Wilson. (Garrett James/BCHL)
Okanagan Paralympian named to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Okanagan Paralympian named to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Three-time world and Paralympic gold medalist Sonja Gaudet is part of 11-member class

Okanagan Paralympian named to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
In August 2019, Duncan Walters stands in the area where he planned to build a disc golf course north of the Salmon Arm airport. Work is now nearing completion. (File photo)

Shuswap disc golf course nearly finished but parking lot may slow momentum

City of Salmon Arm wants to see place to park ready before welcome sign adorns course

In August 2019, Duncan Walters stands in the area where he planned to build a disc golf course north of the Salmon Arm airport. Work is now nearing completion. (File photo)
Colton Poolman racked up 40 points in the 2015-16 season with the Penticton Vees. (Contributed)

Former Vees D-man Poolman inks NHL contract

Blueliner Colton Poolman signs with the Calgary Flames

Colton Poolman racked up 40 points in the 2015-16 season with the Penticton Vees. (Contributed)