Local Sports

The Nanaimo Clippers in action at Frank Crane Arena in early 2020. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo Clippers for sale, owner says hockey won’t be back to normal any time soon

Wes Mussio says he’s had numerous inquiries about the junior A club already

A petition calling on the provincial government to allow the B.C. Hockey League to resume play has been launched by former NHL player Garry Valk. (Black Press file photo)

Petition calls for government to allow B.C. Hockey League to start playing

Launched by former NHL player Garry Valk

Ice climbers Katie Dawson and Clark Bostrom prepare to ascend Margaret Falls, in a rare solid state due to the deep mid-February chill, on Feb. 15. (Carla Schneider Photo)

Snapshot: Climbers scale frozen Shuswap waterfall

Deep mid-February chill left Margaret Falls in the Shuswap solid enough to climb

Brian Browning demonstrates the snow dog trail groomer for Mayor Alan Harrison. (City of Salmon Arm/Facebook)

New machine grooms snow covered mountain bike trails in Salmon Arm

With the success of the first one, the Shuswap Cycling Club is fundraising to buy a second groomer.

Brian Browning demonstrates the snow dog trail groomer for Mayor Alan Harrison. (City of Salmon Arm/Facebook)
Ron Sleeman will be leading the Sicamous Eagles’ organization when KIJHL games resume following the current COVID-19 shutdown. (Sicamous Eagles Photo)

Sicamous Eagles’ new coach and GM look to the future

Gerald Bouchard is the new bench boss and Ron Sleeman has taken over in the head office

Ron Sleeman will be leading the Sicamous Eagles’ organization when KIJHL games resume following the current COVID-19 shutdown. (Sicamous Eagles Photo)
Vernon’s Shawnee Harle is a two-time Olympian as an assistant coach with Canada’s women’s basketball team, and former head coach of the University of Calgary Dinos women’s hoops squad. She has created her own website to help athletes, parents, coaches and businesses deal with mental toughness. (shawneeharle.com photo)

Two-time Okanagan Olympian passes along mental toughness tips

Vernon’s Shawnee Harle is Canada’s highest certified basketball coach

Vernon’s Shawnee Harle is a two-time Olympian as an assistant coach with Canada’s women’s basketball team, and former head coach of the University of Calgary Dinos women’s hoops squad. She has created her own website to help athletes, parents, coaches and businesses deal with mental toughness. (shawneeharle.com photo)
video
Youth sports push-ups combined with Sean Hawthorne
Push up harder version with Sean Hawthorne
Push up easier version with Sean Hawthorne
Push up basics with Sean Hawthorne
See More Videos 
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 rink ready for Brier marathon

Jim Cotter and teammates 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)
A Nelson Leafs player takes a shot on a Beaver Valley Nitehawks goaltender during the 2020 playoffs. The KIJHL announced Saturday it was cancelling the 2020-21 season. Photo: Jim Bailey/Trail Times

KIJHL cancels season due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions

It’s the second straight season the KIJHL has had to shut down prematurely

A Nelson Leafs player takes a shot on a Beaver Valley Nitehawks goaltender during the 2020 playoffs. The KIJHL announced Saturday it was cancelling the 2020-21 season. Photo: Jim Bailey/Trail Times
Montreal Canadiens captain Shea Weber, flanked by his family and assistant captains, receives a drawing in commemoration of his 1000th NHL game on Tuesday, Feb. 2. (Submitted)

Salmon Arm artist picked to draw Shea Weber to recognize 1,000th game

Canadiens staff had no idea Justin Maas lives near Weber’s hometown when they commissioned him

Montreal Canadiens captain Shea Weber, flanked by his family and assistant captains, receives a drawing in commemoration of his 1000th NHL game on Tuesday, Feb. 2. (Submitted)
BCHL

BCHL season delayed once more, but league still hopes to play

The junior A league isn’t ready to sink the season, which is now pushed back into March

BCHL
Former Abbotsford Falcons player Wesley Olfert is battling cancer for a third time in his young life. (Submitted)

Abbotsford football community rallies around former player battling cancer for third time

GoFundMe launched for former Abbotsford Senior student and Falcons player Wesley Olfert

Former Abbotsford Falcons player Wesley Olfert is battling cancer for a third time in his young life. (Submitted)
Shuswap Ringette U16 team athletes: Brianna Congdon, Mackenzie Packer, Brooklyn Wright, Sequoia Robinson, Camryn Petty, Alecia Hughes, Kaelah Riley and Kellan Mooney. The team photo was photoshopped together by the team manager in order to maintain physical distancing due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Contributed)

Shuswap Ringette players shine in skills competition

Shuswap Ringette’s U16 squad earns highest scoring team in the province

Shuswap Ringette U16 team athletes: Brianna Congdon, Mackenzie Packer, Brooklyn Wright, Sequoia Robinson, Camryn Petty, Alecia Hughes, Kaelah Riley and Kellan Mooney. The team photo was photoshopped together by the team manager in order to maintain physical distancing due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Contributed)
The Greater Vernon Ringette Association is one of six Vernon sports groups benefitting from B.C.’s Local Sport Relief Fund. (Morning Star file photo)

Relief funds keep Okanagan in the game

Clubs at risk of closure due to inability to offer programs and fundraise

The Greater Vernon Ringette Association is one of six Vernon sports groups benefitting from B.C.’s Local Sport Relief Fund. (Morning Star file photo)
Brett Forsythe battles it out in a game of singles pickleball on ice at Okanagan Training Rink Thursday, Jan. 7 in support of the Vernon Food Bank. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Pickleball play hits the ice in Okanagan

Rivals battle it out in support of the food bank

Brett Forsythe battles it out in a game of singles pickleball on ice at Okanagan Training Rink Thursday, Jan. 7 in support of the Vernon Food Bank. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
Nathan Grieve, pictured here in 2017, earned the 2020 PGA of BC professional development program order of merit. (File photo)

Three golf pros at Shuswap’s Talking Rock make provincial top 100

Nathan Grieve, head pro at Talking Rock, won the PGA of BC order of merit for 2020.

Nathan Grieve, pictured here in 2017, earned the 2020 PGA of BC professional development program order of merit. (File photo)
BCHL

BCHL delays start of the season as provincial health orders remain in place

The junior A league has been forced to abandon a plan to start in mid-January

BCHL
The KIJHL season won’t continue until at least Feb. 5. Photo: Tyler Harper

KIJHL postpones regular season until Feb. 5

The announcement follows an extension of the province’s athletic travel restrictions

The KIJHL season won’t continue until at least Feb. 5. Photo: Tyler Harper
Sicamous Eagles

Sicamous Eagles recruit new coach and GM

Longtime GM Wayne March out of head office but will remain “resource” for team.

Sicamous Eagles
BCHL team can now practise together in full, after a revision to the provincial health order on Dec. 28. (Garrett James photo)

BCHL teams can practise together following revised health-order

Junior ‘A’ league commissioner still hopeful a season can be staged this year

BCHL team can now practise together in full, after a revision to the provincial health order on Dec. 28. (Garrett James photo)
Florence Pineo says bowling is good exercise and a fun social outing for seniors. (Jim Elliot - Salmon Arm Observer)

What’s the good news, 2020? 98-year-old Salmon Arm woman keeps active at the bowling lanes

The Salmon Arm Observer looks back at some of the positive stories of 2020

Florence Pineo says bowling is good exercise and a fun social outing for seniors. (Jim Elliot - Salmon Arm Observer)