local sports

BC School Sports tournaments can now resume after a Feb. 3 decision from the Ministry of Education. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

‘It’s official’: BC School Sports gets green light to resume tournaments

The Ministry of Education initially prevented such events from happening, amid the pandemic

BC School Sports tournaments can now resume after a Feb. 3 decision from the Ministry of Education. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
The Rockets host Vancouver on the second of a home-and-home on Saturday night (Photo credit - Steve Dunsmoor)

Sports weekend preview: Rockets look to make it four straight, UBCO hosts Pride Night

17 games total are taking place over the weekend

The Rockets host Vancouver on the second of a home-and-home on Saturday night (Photo credit - Steve Dunsmoor)
Elena Gaskell of Vernon has been named to Freestyle Canada NextGen team. (Photo Submitted)

Vernon freestyle skier reaches Olympic dream

Elena Gaskell one of 24 athletes named by Freestyle Canada to the Canadian Olympic team Monday, Jan. 24

Elena Gaskell of Vernon has been named to Freestyle Canada NextGen team. (Photo Submitted)
Lake Country hockey players Brooke Disher (left) and Jade Iginla are among 40 players contesting for spots on Canada’s U18 Women’s Team that will compete at the World Championships in Sweden in January. (Facebook photos)

Okanagan duo hoping for Team Canada spot

Brooke Disher and Jade Iginla named to Hockey Canada’s U18 Women’s Selection camp in Ontario

Lake Country hockey players Brooke Disher (left) and Jade Iginla are among 40 players contesting for spots on Canada’s U18 Women’s Team that will compete at the World Championships in Sweden in January. (Facebook photos)
Lumby disabled skier Logan Leach, 19, follows his guide, Julien Petit, down an alpine track. The Lumby athlete who is visually impaired has had some impressive World Cup results in hopes of being named to Alpine Canada’s Para Alpine Team ahead of the 2022 Paralympic Games in Beijing. (Contributed)

WATCH: Okanagan skier making tracks for Beijing Paralympics

Lumby’s Logan Leach has some impressive World Cup results in hopes of being named to Canadian team

Lumby disabled skier Logan Leach, 19, follows his guide, Julien Petit, down an alpine track. The Lumby athlete who is visually impaired has had some impressive World Cup results in hopes of being named to Alpine Canada’s Para Alpine Team ahead of the 2022 Paralympic Games in Beijing. (Contributed)
KidSport Penticton made its message clear this week — kids are trying to re-connect with sports so that they can benefit from what it provides. The organization cited teamwork, fitness and socialization as some of the benefits kids in the community may be missing out on. (WikipediaCommon file photo)

KidSport Penticton invites community to ‘Give the Gift of Sport’ this holiday season

Now more than ever kids need to re-connect with the benefits of team play

KidSport Penticton made its message clear this week — kids are trying to re-connect with sports so that they can benefit from what it provides. The organization cited teamwork, fitness and socialization as some of the benefits kids in the community may be missing out on. (WikipediaCommon file photo)
North Valley Gymnastics Society teammates Nicole Sjoberg (left) and Neala Hackman hope to compete at home in the BC Winter Games in February, hosted in Greater Vernon. (Contributor)

Vernon gymnasts aiming for BC Games berths at home, with Kelowna assist

Nicole Sjoberg and Neala Hackman have overcome gym closures and gym fires in their training plans

North Valley Gymnastics Society teammates Nicole Sjoberg (left) and Neala Hackman hope to compete at home in the BC Winter Games in February, hosted in Greater Vernon. (Contributor)
Lake City Basketball announced on Monday that an organized men’s basketball league is coming to Summerland on Jan. 5. (Mark Brett/Western News)

A new men’s basketball league is coming to the South Okanagan

Lake City Basketball announced the inaugural edition of the league will start on Jan. 5

Lake City Basketball announced on Monday that an organized men’s basketball league is coming to Summerland on Jan. 5. (Mark Brett/Western News)
Vernon Panthers runningback Kolby Thorpe eludes a Kelowna tackler in the Interior Subway Bowl AA/AAA Hybrid Senior Varsity Football championship game Friday, Dec. 4, at Greater Vernon Athletic Park. The visiting Owls stopped the Panthers on the one-yard line on the game’ final play to post a 21-20 victory. (Darren Hove Photo)

Kelowna Owls edge Vernon Panthers for Interior football title

Owls stop Panthers on game’s final play at Kelowna one-yard line for 21-20 victory

Vernon Panthers runningback Kolby Thorpe eludes a Kelowna tackler in the Interior Subway Bowl AA/AAA Hybrid Senior Varsity Football championship game Friday, Dec. 4, at Greater Vernon Athletic Park. The visiting Owls stopped the Panthers on the one-yard line on the game’ final play to post a 21-20 victory. (Darren Hove Photo)
Brennan Nelson playing for the Okanagan Rockets, photo provided by Brennan Nelson. (File photo)

Scouts to attend upcoming Okanagan Classic U18 AAA tournament

The 2006 players in particular will be under examination from Western Hockey League scouts

Brennan Nelson playing for the Okanagan Rockets, photo provided by Brennan Nelson. (File photo)
Kelowna’s Vivian Schmeeckle (right) discusses shot options with skip Hannah Rempel as Comox Valley counterpart Keelie Duncan looks on during semifinal play Sunday, Oct. 24, at the 20th annual Rick Cotter Memorial Junior Spiel at the Vernon Curling Club. Rempel went on to win the championship. (Roger Knox - Black Press)

Kelowna quartet rakes in Cotter cash

Hannah Rempel rink wins 20th annual Rick Cotter Memorial Junior Spiel at Vernon Curling Club

Kelowna’s Vivian Schmeeckle (right) discusses shot options with skip Hannah Rempel as Comox Valley counterpart Keelie Duncan looks on during semifinal play Sunday, Oct. 24, at the 20th annual Rick Cotter Memorial Junior Spiel at the Vernon Curling Club. Rempel went on to win the championship. (Roger Knox - Black Press)
Vernon’s Lillian (Lillatron) Marchand, 15, with the gold medal she won in the blue belt juvenile division at the EUG (Evolve Ur Game) 3 competition in Las Vegas Saturday, Oct. 23. The win over an American competitor moves Marchand to the No. 1 contender spot in the division for EUG 4 in early 2022. (Instagram photo)

Major martial arts win for Okanagan fighter

Lillian (Lillatron) Marchand, 15, now No. 1 contender in Brazilian jiu-jitsu division for next bout in early 2022

  • Oct 25, 2021
Vernon’s Lillian (Lillatron) Marchand, 15, with the gold medal she won in the blue belt juvenile division at the EUG (Evolve Ur Game) 3 competition in Las Vegas Saturday, Oct. 23. The win over an American competitor moves Marchand to the No. 1 contender spot in the division for EUG 4 in early 2022. (Instagram photo)
Vernon Kal Tire won the regular season in the Kelowna Men’s Soccer League’s 45+ Division, then added a third straight Playoff Cup championship with a 2-0 win over the runner-up Penticton Pinnacles in the final match. (Contributed)

Vernon squad reaches pinnacle of soccer league

Kal Tire defeats Penticton Pinnacles 2-0 in Kelowna Men’s 45+ League championship game

Vernon Kal Tire won the regular season in the Kelowna Men’s Soccer League’s 45+ Division, then added a third straight Playoff Cup championship with a 2-0 win over the runner-up Penticton Pinnacles in the final match. (Contributed)
Vernon’s Ryan Vest won the Juvenile Boys National Championship division in convincing fashion at the year-end Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT National Championship in Surrey. (Black Press - file photo)

Vernon golfer runs away with national championship

Ryan Vest scored nine-shot victory over fellow Predator Ridge golfer Cooper Humphreys at Maple Leaf Junior Tour year-end tourney

Vernon’s Ryan Vest won the Juvenile Boys National Championship division in convincing fashion at the year-end Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT National Championship in Surrey. (Black Press - file photo)
Kyla Inaba from Vernon’s Predator Ridge Resort, placed fourth at the 2021 PGA of BC Women’s Golf Championship at the Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey. (PGA of BC file photo)

Vernon’s Kyla Inaba fourth at PGA of BC Women’s Golf Championship

Predator Ridge pro, who was second in 2020, picked up 58 points in the Stableford scoring system over the 36 holes to finish five points behind the winner

Kyla Inaba from Vernon’s Predator Ridge Resort, placed fourth at the 2021 PGA of BC Women’s Golf Championship at the Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey. (PGA of BC file photo)
Coldstream’s Marty Stein (left) has signed with the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres to be a Western Canada scout. Stein spent the last 25 years visiting arenas around North America as a scout with the Detroit Red Wings. (Morning Star - file photo)

Okanagan NHL scout moves from Red Wings to Sabres

Coldstream’s Marty Stein joins the Buffalo Sabres as a Western Canadian scout after 25 years and four Stanley Cups with Detroit

Coldstream’s Marty Stein (left) has signed with the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres to be a Western Canada scout. Stein spent the last 25 years visiting arenas around North America as a scout with the Detroit Red Wings. (Morning Star - file photo)
Vernon’s Predator Ridge Golf Resort has received high marks in a survey from a popular Canadian golf website. (Contributed)

North Okanagan golf course among Canada’s best public links

Predator Ridge Resort earns high praise for both of its 18-hole tracks at scoregolf.com

Vernon’s Predator Ridge Golf Resort has received high marks in a survey from a popular Canadian golf website. (Contributed)
Andrew Poje and his ice dancing partener Kaitlyn Weaver were part of the Stars on Ice tour (Stars On Ice/Web)

Former Olympian set to coach at the Kelowna Skating Club

Andrew Poje competed in Sochi and Pyeongchang, now skates professionally

Andrew Poje and his ice dancing partener Kaitlyn Weaver were part of the Stars on Ice tour (Stars On Ice/Web)
Coldstream’s Stacy Roest (left) enjoys a special moment with nephew Erick Roest of Lethbridge and the Stanley Cup Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Vernon’s Training House in Kal Tire Place North. Roest hosted a private function at the facility with the Cup, which he gets to spend a full day with as the assistant general manager of the back-to-back NHL champion Tampa Bay Lightning. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

VIDEO: Stanley Cup makes Vernon appearance

Cup brought to private function by Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Stacy Roest of Coldstream

Coldstream’s Stacy Roest (left) enjoys a special moment with nephew Erick Roest of Lethbridge and the Stanley Cup Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Vernon’s Training House in Kal Tire Place North. Roest hosted a private function at the facility with the Cup, which he gets to spend a full day with as the assistant general manager of the back-to-back NHL champion Tampa Bay Lightning. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Lucas Hofer of the Vernon Jackals (with ball) stares down would-be Salmon Arm Yeti tacklers with teammate Kyle Richardson (left) in support during Okanagan Rugby Union action Saturday, July 24, at Salmon Arm’s Little Mountain Sports Field. (Vernon Jackals photo)

Vernon Jackals dismantle Salmon Arm Yeti as Okanagan Rugby Union kicks off

Four-time defending champion Jackals roll to 79-7 victory in season opener

Lucas Hofer of the Vernon Jackals (with ball) stares down would-be Salmon Arm Yeti tacklers with teammate Kyle Richardson (left) in support during Okanagan Rugby Union action Saturday, July 24, at Salmon Arm’s Little Mountain Sports Field. (Vernon Jackals photo)