Sports

Zac Jones of the New York Rangers skates with a stick decorated for “Pride Night” in warm-ups prior to the game against the Washington Capitals, in New York City, Monday, May 3, 2021.NHL players refusing to participate in Pride nights around the league shows hockey still isn’t safe for a number of LGBTQ people, says one of the first male professional players to publicly come out as gay. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Bruce Bennett, POOL

More work needed to make hockey safe for LGBTQ people: former pro player

NHL Pride nights to promote inclusivity have seen players refusing to take part.

Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, front left, and general manager Patrik Allvin listen during a news conference after the NHL hockey team announced Tocchet’s hiring, in Vancouver, on Sunday, January 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

THE MOJ: Of course, the worst has (predictably) happened, the Canucks are good again

Is management going to buy into this late-season resurgence, or is major surgery still on the way?

After winning fans at the World Cup, the Canadian men take the first steps toward the 2026 tournament as they return to CONCACAF Nations League play in their first outing since Qatar.  Canada coach John Herdman looks on during second half group F World Cup soccer action against Morocco at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, December 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Herdman laments labour dispute between national teams and Canada Soccer

Both men’s and women’s teams have resorted to job action over their dissatisfaction

Seattle Mariners’s Julio Rodriguez reacts after stealing second base during the 13th inning in Game 3 of an American League Division Series baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

THE MOJ: The hunter about to become the hunted for the Seattle Mariners

After breaking a long post-season drought, what’s next for B.C.’s other favourite baseball team?

Seattle Mariners’s Julio Rodriguez reacts after stealing second base during the 13th inning in Game 3 of an American League Division Series baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
B.C. Lions head coach Rick Campbell watches from the sideline during the second half of a CFL football game against the Edmonton Elks in Vancouver, on Thursday August 19, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

PODCAST: Rick Campbell, coach of the B.C. Lions

MOJ on Sports: A member of 3 Grey Cup winning teams

B.C. Lions head coach Rick Campbell watches from the sideline during the second half of a CFL football game against the Edmonton Elks in Vancouver, on Thursday August 19, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Bronze medalists, Canadian Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, Briane Harris and Krysten Karwacki show their medals after the LGT World Women’s Curling Championship at Goransson Arena in Sandviken, Sweden, Sunday, March 26, 2023. Canada defeated Sweden 8-5. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-TT, Jonas Ekstromer

Canada downs Sweden to capture 2nd straight world women’s curling bronze medal

Switzerland took gold, and Norway got silver

Bronze medalists, Canadian Kerri Einarson, Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard, Briane Harris and Krysten Karwacki show their medals after the LGT World Women’s Curling Championship at Goransson Arena in Sandviken, Sweden, Sunday, March 26, 2023. Canada defeated Sweden 8-5. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-TT, Jonas Ekstromer
Canada’s Sophie de Goede lines up for a penalty kick in Langford, B.C., July 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Canadian women thump South Africa 66-7 in their first outing since Rugby World Cup

Team ranked 4th overall

Canada’s Sophie de Goede lines up for a penalty kick in Langford, B.C., July 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Canadian national men’s soccer team forward Alphonso Davies, centre, stands with his teammates during a training session for a CONCACAF Nations League match against Curacao, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Canada, taking the field for the first time since the World Cup in Qatar, faces No. 86 Curacao in CONCACAF Nations League play Saturday night. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canadian men dispatch Curaçao 2-0 in first outing since World Cup in Qatar

Team set to play Honduras next on Tuesday in Toronto

Canadian national men’s soccer team forward Alphonso Davies, centre, stands with his teammates during a training session for a CONCACAF Nations League match against Curacao, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Canada, taking the field for the first time since the World Cup in Qatar, faces No. 86 Curacao in CONCACAF Nations League play Saturday night. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver Coastal karate athlete Haumi Tarighatbin (red) faces off against Cancouver Island Central Coast athlete Hudson Ball Saturday, March 25, 2023, during the Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games at Kalamalka Secondary School. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

PHOTOS: Athletes dazzle on Day 2 of B.C. Winter Games in Greater Vernon

Competition in the Games continued Saturday; run through to 12 p.m. Sunday, March 26

Vancouver Coastal karate athlete Haumi Tarighatbin (red) faces off against Cancouver Island Central Coast athlete Hudson Ball Saturday, March 25, 2023, during the Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games at Kalamalka Secondary School. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Maple Ridge Mayor Dan Ruimy posed with Fin, the Vancouver Canucks mascot, for a Kraft Hockeyville promotional video at Planet Ice. (Brandon Tucker/The News)

PHOTOS: Vancouver Canucks mascot helps make killer contest video for B.C. arena

Voting for the Kraft Hockeyville contest starts on March 31

Maple Ridge Mayor Dan Ruimy posed with Fin, the Vancouver Canucks mascot, for a Kraft Hockeyville promotional video at Planet Ice. (Brandon Tucker/The News)
Jack Hanratty has initiated a number of mental health supports as head coach of Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Canada rugby sevens members push for mental health literacy in sport

Co-captain, coach hope for more openness around mental health challenges facing athletes

Jack Hanratty has initiated a number of mental health supports as head coach of Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
More than 900 athletes are competing in the B.C. Winter Games from Friday, March 24, to Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Let the games begin: B.C. Winter Games in Greater Vernon officially underway

The torch is lit and over 900 athletes are ready to compete from Friday to Sunday

More than 900 athletes are competing in the B.C. Winter Games from Friday, March 24, to Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Tyson Rettle, founder of Braille Mountain Initiative. (Great Canadian Heli-Skiing)

Two blind skiers take on Rogers Pass west of Golden

Tyson Rettle and Mark Bentz are raising money for the Braille Mountain Initiative

Tyson Rettle, founder of Braille Mountain Initiative. (Great Canadian Heli-Skiing)
FILE - The ice is lit in rainbow light for Pride Night before an NHL hockey game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings, Monday, April 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Chicago Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys before Sunday’s Pride Night game against Vancouver because of security concerns involving a Russian law that expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights in the country. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

NHL’s Blackhawks won’t wear Pride jerseys, cite Russian law

Chicago coach Luke Richardson he and his players were disappointed in the decision

FILE - The ice is lit in rainbow light for Pride Night before an NHL hockey game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings, Monday, April 26, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Chicago Blackhawks will not wear Pride-themed warmup jerseys before Sunday’s Pride Night game against Vancouver because of security concerns involving a Russian law that expands restrictions on activities seen as promoting LGBTQ rights in the country. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games vice-president Cindy Masters (left) and director of marketing Lara Konkin go over some last-minute details at the Games’ media centre Thursday, March 23. The Games start tonight with the opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. at Kal Tire Place. Competition in the 15 sports runs Friday to Sunday. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Let the (Greater Vernon) B.C. Winter Games begin

Athletes, coaches, officials begin arriving today; opening ceremony is at 7 p.m. at Kal Tire Place

Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games vice-president Cindy Masters (left) and director of marketing Lara Konkin go over some last-minute details at the Games’ media centre Thursday, March 23. The Games start tonight with the opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. at Kal Tire Place. Competition in the 15 sports runs Friday to Sunday. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Langley’s Team Andrews, the defending 2022 senior women’s champions, was at the front of the procession piped on to the ice Wednesday, March 21, at the official start of the 2023 Connect Hearing BC Senior Curling Championships at the Langley Curling Centre. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

BC Senior Curling Championships get underway

Langley’s Team Andrews hopes to repeat as women’s champs, Nanaimo’s Team Craig wants another men’s title

Langley’s Team Andrews, the defending 2022 senior women’s champions, was at the front of the procession piped on to the ice Wednesday, March 21, at the official start of the 2023 Connect Hearing BC Senior Curling Championships at the Langley Curling Centre. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Randy Dodd fishes in a pool by Bridge Creek Falls back in 2021. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

It will cost a little more to go freshwater fishing in B.C. this summer

The provincial government announced that angling fees are going up for the first time since 2003

Randy Dodd fishes in a pool by Bridge Creek Falls back in 2021. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)
Wayne McGrath (left) with his son Gord McGrath. (Contributed)

Still got it: 79-year-old Vernon man Wayne McGrath is a hockey lifer

The former Mayor of Vernon started playing for the Moonshiners rec team 45 years ago

Wayne McGrath (left) with his son Gord McGrath. (Contributed)
People celebrate Japan’s victory against United States as they watch on a live stream of a World Baseball Classic (WBC) final being played at LoanDepot Park in Miami, during a public viewing event Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japanese beating Americans in baseball is must-see viewing in Japan

Japanese television stuck to its live coverage from Miami for almost two…

People celebrate Japan’s victory against United States as they watch on a live stream of a World Baseball Classic (WBC) final being played at LoanDepot Park in Miami, during a public viewing event Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Quesnel team played strong, Ice Hawks coach Ole Kjenstad says. (Zephram Tino photo - Clearwater Times).

Ice Hawks play well during first days of U18 minor hockey championship in Clearwater

Coach reports two wins and a tie, says players are enjoying the tournament

The Quesnel team played strong, Ice Hawks coach Ole Kjenstad says. (Zephram Tino photo - Clearwater Times).