Local Sports

The B.C. Hockey League’s Wenatchee Wild, the lone American franchise, is taking a hiatus from the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 restrictions. All players have been released to find other opportunities to play. (Black Press file photo)

Wenatchee Wild taking BC Hockey League break

Loop’s lone American franchise pulls plug on 20-21 season due to COVID; vow to be back in 2021

BCHL

BCHL pushes back season start due to provincial health orders

The delay is minimal, just six days, for now. But the league is open to starting up after Christmas

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League is mouring the death of former president Len Dergousoff of Salmon Arm. The longtime Revelstoke Grizziies board member, who was president from 1999-2002, lost a year-long battle with cancer at age 80. (Dergousoff family photo)

Former KIJHL president dies after cancer battle

Len Dergousoff, 80, of Salmon Arm, was longtime Revelstoke Grizzlies exec, president 1999-2002

The Kamloops Storm (dark jerseys) spoiled the North Okanagan Knights’ Kootenay International Junior Hockey League regular-season home opener Sunday, Nov. 15, with a 3-2 overtime win at Armstrong’s Nor-Val Sports Centre. (Morning Star - file photo)

Storm spoil North Okanagan Knights’ home opener

Kamloops scores 3-2 overtime win Sunday, Nov. 15, at Nor-Val Sports Centre

The Kamloops Storm (dark jerseys) spoiled the North Okanagan Knights’ Kootenay International Junior Hockey League regular-season home opener Sunday, Nov. 15, with a 3-2 overtime win at Armstrong’s Nor-Val Sports Centre. (Morning Star - file photo)
North Okanagan Knights goalie Jacob Dubinsky made 28 saves in his KIJHL debut, but it wasn’t enough as Dubinsky and the North Okanagan Knights fell 7-5 to the Heat in Chase in North Okanagan’s regular-season opener Saturday, Nov. 14. (Twitter photo)

Chase Heat rally past North Okanagan Knights

Hometown Heat score three times in final 14 minutes for 7-5 KIJHL win

North Okanagan Knights goalie Jacob Dubinsky made 28 saves in his KIJHL debut, but it wasn’t enough as Dubinsky and the North Okanagan Knights fell 7-5 to the Heat in Chase in North Okanagan’s regular-season opener Saturday, Nov. 14. (Twitter photo)
Sicamous Eagles games this season will streamed at www.hockeytv.com (Sicamous Eagles/Facebook)

Sicamous Eagles win regular season opener

The Eagles beat the Golden Rockets on the road on Nov. 13.

Sicamous Eagles games this season will streamed at www.hockeytv.com (Sicamous Eagles/Facebook)
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Sicamous Eagles

Sicamous Eagles gear up for first home game of the season

Games this season will not have fans in the stands due to COVID-19 but will be streamed online.

Sicamous Eagles
Vernon Vipers forward Nicholas Remissong tries to set up a screen in front of Salmon Arm Silverbacks goalie Riley Kohonick while being bothered by Gorillas captain Hunter Sansbury during the ‘Backs’ 2-1 shootout victory in the B.C. Hockey League’s Okanagan Cup pre-season tournament Saturday, Oct. 31, at Kal Tire Place. (Lisa Mazurek - Vernon Vipers Photography)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks pull off few tricks in Halloween win over Vernon

Carter Loney scores lone shootout goal as Gorillas slither past Snakes 2-1 at Kal Tire Place

Vernon Vipers forward Nicholas Remissong tries to set up a screen in front of Salmon Arm Silverbacks goalie Riley Kohonick while being bothered by Gorillas captain Hunter Sansbury during the ‘Backs’ 2-1 shootout victory in the B.C. Hockey League’s Okanagan Cup pre-season tournament Saturday, Oct. 31, at Kal Tire Place. (Lisa Mazurek - Vernon Vipers Photography)
Nick Kent had three assists to lead the Vernon Vipers over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 4-1 Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. (Lisa Mazurek Photography)

New additions push Vernon Vipers past Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Freshly signed WHL talents Josh Prokop and Tyler Carpendale both had goals in Friday night’s tilt

Nick Kent had three assists to lead the Vernon Vipers over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 4-1 Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. (Lisa Mazurek Photography)
The ‘new normal’ for hockey parents in Chilliwack and elsewhere in B.C., watching their kids from outside of the arena due to COVID-19 protocols. (Submitted photo)

Chilliwack hockey parents petition to be let back in the arena

Refused access due to pandemic protocols, parents are now applying pressure to loosen the rules

The ‘new normal’ for hockey parents in Chilliwack and elsewhere in B.C., watching their kids from outside of the arena due to COVID-19 protocols. (Submitted photo)
Penticton Vees forward Ryan Upson (pictured) scored his fourth goal of the Okanagan Cup Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at the Shaw Centre against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in what would prove to be the Vees’ first loss of the tournament. (Contributed)

Penticton Vees split pair of weekend games with Salmon Arm

Salmon Arm handed the Vees their first loss of the Okanagan Cup Saturday night

Penticton Vees forward Ryan Upson (pictured) scored his fourth goal of the Okanagan Cup Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at the Shaw Centre against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in what would prove to be the Vees’ first loss of the tournament. (Contributed)
The Sicamous Eagles recently moved into the “Eagles’ Nest” dormitory behind the Sicamous and District Rec Centre. (Jim Elliot/Eagle Valley News)

Sicamous Eagles move into dormitory on arena grounds

The KIJHL hockey team’s billet system was strained by COVID-19 so they are piloting a new solution

The Sicamous Eagles recently moved into the “Eagles’ Nest” dormitory behind the Sicamous and District Rec Centre. (Jim Elliot/Eagle Valley News)
Salmon Arm Silverbacks defenceman William Lavigne (left) tries to rub out Vernon Vipers forward Max Bulawka in B.C. Hockey League Okanagan Cup action. Vernon completed a home-and-home sweep of the Gorillas with a 4-3 overtime win Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Shaw Centre. (Lisa Mazurek - Vernon Vipers Photography)

Vernon Vipers sweep Salmon Arm

Snakes win 5-2 at home Friday, 4-3 in overtime Saturday at the Shaw Centre

Salmon Arm Silverbacks defenceman William Lavigne (left) tries to rub out Vernon Vipers forward Max Bulawka in B.C. Hockey League Okanagan Cup action. Vernon completed a home-and-home sweep of the Gorillas with a 4-3 overtime win Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Shaw Centre. (Lisa Mazurek - Vernon Vipers Photography)
The Vernon Vipers topped the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 5-2 for their first win of the BC Hockey League Okanagan Cup tournament Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. (Lisa Mazurek photo)

Vernon Vipers top Salmon Arm for first win of Okanagan Cup

The Vipers secured a 5-2 win over the Silverbacks at Kal Tire Place Friday night

The Vernon Vipers topped the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 5-2 for their first win of the BC Hockey League Okanagan Cup tournament Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. (Lisa Mazurek photo)
The Chase Heat defeated the North Okanagan Knights 6-4 as both teams kicked off their Kootenay International Junior Hockey League exhibition schedule Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Art Holding Memorial Arena in Chase. The game was played in front of zero spectators, as the regular-season will be, per COVID-19 regulations. (Rick Koch file photo)

Chase Heat melt North Okanagan Knights

KIJHL exhibition schedule starts off in the Shuswap

The Chase Heat defeated the North Okanagan Knights 6-4 as both teams kicked off their Kootenay International Junior Hockey League exhibition schedule Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Art Holding Memorial Arena in Chase. The game was played in front of zero spectators, as the regular-season will be, per COVID-19 regulations. (Rick Koch file photo)
Florence Pineo still bowls in a league at Lakeside Bowling making her one of the oldest bowlers in Western Canada. (Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer)

Salmon Arm woman one of the oldest competitive bowlers in Western Canada

Florence Pineo is still keeping it between the gutters at almost 98 years old.

Florence Pineo still bowls in a league at Lakeside Bowling making her one of the oldest bowlers in Western Canada. (Jim Elliot/Salmon Arm Observer)
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks lost the first two games of their pre-season to the Penticton Vees. (File photo)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks lose first two exhibition games

The ‘Backs are one of four teams in the running for the pre-season Okanagan Cup

The Salmon Arm Silverbacks lost the first two games of their pre-season to the Penticton Vees. (File photo)
The 2020 Penticton Dragon Boat Festival will not be held due to coronavirus. (Western News file photo)

South Okanagan Dragon Boat Festival marks what would have been 20th year

COVID-19 forced the festival to postpone until 2021

The 2020 Penticton Dragon Boat Festival will not be held due to coronavirus. (Western News file photo)
Salmon Arm Sockeyes train during the summer months at the SASCU Recreation Centre pool. (Contributed)

Salmon Arm swimmers catch their breath after summer training

Programs altered to meet restrictions around COVID-19

  • Sep 15, 2020
Salmon Arm Sockeyes train during the summer months at the SASCU Recreation Centre pool. (Contributed)
Sicamous Eagle Jacob Chafe and Ethan Schaeffer of the Revelstoke Grizzlies race for the puck in the Grizzlies’ end during a game at the Sicamous and District Rec Centre and on Sunday, Oct. 28. (Jim Elliot/Eagle Valley News)

Sicamous Eagles will face Grizzlies and Rockets to start KIJHL season

As part of a three-team cohort due to COVID-19, the Eagles will have only two foes in first 12 games

Sicamous Eagle Jacob Chafe and Ethan Schaeffer of the Revelstoke Grizzlies race for the puck in the Grizzlies’ end during a game at the Sicamous and District Rec Centre and on Sunday, Oct. 28. (Jim Elliot/Eagle Valley News)