Sports

Gracie Graham (right) has two points in three games as Canada is undefeated at the U18 women’s world championships in Sweden. (@HockeyCanada/Twitter)

Kelowna hockey player helps Canada reach U18 women’s world championship semis

Gracie Graham has two points in three games at the tournament through three games

Gracie Graham (right) has two points in three games as Canada is undefeated at the U18 women’s world championships in Sweden. (@HockeyCanada/Twitter)
Canada’s Connor Bedard carries the Championship Cup after the team’s overtime win against Czechia in the title game of the IIHF world junior hockey championships Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press via AP)

After banner world juniors, Connor Bedard not focusing on NHL draft

Phenom showed how wide the gulf is between himself and the rest of his contemporaries

Canada’s Connor Bedard carries the Championship Cup after the team’s overtime win against Czechia in the title game of the IIHF world junior hockey championships Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press via AP)
Briar McNaney has been hired as the Nelson Leafs’ interim head coach. Photo: Submitted

Following line brawl and suspensions Nelson Leafs hire new interim head coach

Briar McNaney arrives after several years coaching Columbia Valley

Briar McNaney has been hired as the Nelson Leafs’ interim head coach. Photo: Submitted
FILE - Naomi Osaka of Japan smiles during her first round match against Camila Osorio of Colombia at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Naomi Osaka is pregnant and plans to return to competition in 2024, the tennis star announced Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. The former world No. 1 posted a life update Wednesday on social media, including a picture of an ultrasound. (AP Photo/Simon Baker, File)

Naomi Osaka says she’s pregnant, plans tennis return in 2024

Osaka hasn’t played a competitive match since September

FILE - Naomi Osaka of Japan smiles during her first round match against Camila Osorio of Colombia at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Naomi Osaka is pregnant and plans to return to competition in 2024, the tennis star announced Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. The former world No. 1 posted a life update Wednesday on social media, including a picture of an ultrasound. (AP Photo/Simon Baker, File)
Vancouver Whitecaps defenders Mathias Laborda, front left, and Karifa Yao participate in a drill during the opening day of the MLS soccer team’s training camp, in Vancouver, on Monday, January 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Personnel questions linger as Vancouver Whitecaps kick off training camp

Vancouver looks to avoid repeat of last year’s bad start after narrowly missing playoffs

Vancouver Whitecaps defenders Mathias Laborda, front left, and Karifa Yao participate in a drill during the opening day of the MLS soccer team’s training camp, in Vancouver, on Monday, January 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed they hosted 24-year-old, Victoria native CFL star quarterback Nathan Rourke for a workout Monday. Rourke passes during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Vancouver, on June 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Kansas City Chiefs latest NFL team to take a look at B.C. Lions quarterback Rourke

CFL’s top Canadian has worked out with 10 teams south of the border

The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed they hosted 24-year-old, Victoria native CFL star quarterback Nathan Rourke for a workout Monday. Rourke passes during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Vancouver, on June 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Buffalo Bills running back Taiwan Jones (25) kneels in prayer for safety Damar Hamlin before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin remains hospitalized after suffering a catastrophic on-field collapse in the team’s previous game against the Cincinnati Bengals. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Stable Hamlin released from Cincinnati hospital, continues recovery in Buffalo

Fallen Bill safety has been walking since having a breathing tube removed on Friday

Buffalo Bills running back Taiwan Jones (25) kneels in prayer for safety Damar Hamlin before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin remains hospitalized after suffering a catastrophic on-field collapse in the team’s previous game against the Cincinnati Bengals. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Cody Laybolt Tips in the Opening Goal Against the Nitehawks. Photo courtesy Peter Kalasz (www.peterkalaszphotography.com)

Bruins Split Weekend at Home

Submitted by Kevin McKinnon Grand Forks Border Bruins Grand Forks, January 11,…

  • Jan 9, 2023
Cody Laybolt Tips in the Opening Goal Against the Nitehawks. Photo courtesy Peter Kalasz (www.peterkalaszphotography.com)
Winnipeg Jets’ Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (71) celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks with Sam Gagner (89) and Kevin Stenlund (28) during second period NHL action in Winnipeg on Sunday January 8, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Greenslade

Jets beat Canucks 7-4, with hat trick by Kyle Connor

Canucks set to play Pittsburgh Penguins next on Tuesday

Winnipeg Jets’ Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (71) celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks with Sam Gagner (89) and Kevin Stenlund (28) during second period NHL action in Winnipeg on Sunday January 8, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Greenslade
A rock slides down the sheet at the Men’s World Curling Championships in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Melvin Lee’s first invitation to curl with a diverse team of law students came more than two decades ago. Now, the avid curler has a wealth of experience under his belt. And he is trying to give a similar welcome to others who are underrepresented in the sport. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

This Korean-Canadian curler wants to make the sport more diverse. Here’s how.

‘It’s not just enough to have that open door in your facility. You need to be vulnerable and reach out to those communities.’

A rock slides down the sheet at the Men’s World Curling Championships in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Melvin Lee’s first invitation to curl with a diverse team of law students came more than two decades ago. Now, the avid curler has a wealth of experience under his belt. And he is trying to give a similar welcome to others who are underrepresented in the sport. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson speaks outside Langford City Hall on Jan. 6. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Victoria area pushing to attract the BC Lions for a regular-season home game

Similar one-off games have been held in Halifax last year, CFL team ‘intrigued’

Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson speaks outside Langford City Hall on Jan. 6. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
FILE - Gov. Jim Justice, center, speaks to Merl Wooten, owner of Wooten Machine Co., left, and Dr. Matthew Rohrbach while visiting community members on May 9, 2022, in Huntington, W.Va. . (Ryan Fischer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP, File)

West Virginia can keep transgender sports ban, judge says

‘This is not only about simple biology, but fairness for women’s sports’

FILE - Gov. Jim Justice, center, speaks to Merl Wooten, owner of Wooten Machine Co., left, and Dr. Matthew Rohrbach while visiting community members on May 9, 2022, in Huntington, W.Va. . (Ryan Fischer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP, File)
Buffalo Bills players and staff pray for Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Football fans grapple with violent side of a beloved sport

‘People sometimes look at players like they’re in a video game’

Buffalo Bills players and staff pray for Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
An artist’s portrait of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is displayed outside UC Medical Center, where Hamlin remains hospitalized, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin has shown what physicians treating him are calling “remarkable improvement over the last 24 hours,” the team announced on Thursday, three days after the player went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

THE MOJ: Hamlin collapse another hard reminder athletes are as human as any of us

Forget about football, all anyone wishes is that the young man will go on to lead a full life

An artist’s portrait of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is displayed outside UC Medical Center, where Hamlin remains hospitalized, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin has shown what physicians treating him are calling “remarkable improvement over the last 24 hours,” the team announced on Thursday, three days after the player went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Nelson head coach Adam DiBella addresses Leafs players during a training camp skate. DiBella has resigned after he was suspended for the remainder of the KIJHL season. Photo: Tyler Harper

UPDATE: Nelson Leafs head coach resigns after league suspension for line brawl

Adam DiBella stepped down after being suspended for the remainder of the season

Nelson head coach Adam DiBella addresses Leafs players during a training camp skate. DiBella has resigned after he was suspended for the remainder of the KIJHL season. Photo: Tyler Harper
Kelowna Rockets captain Colton Dach gets help from a teammate as they lift the trophy after winning the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championships for Canada on Thursday night, Jan. 5 (@reganrant/Twitter)

Two Kelowna Rockets coming home with gold and silver from World Juniors

Colton Dach, who was injured, won gold with Canada while Gabriel Szturc won silver with Czechia

Kelowna Rockets captain Colton Dach gets help from a teammate as they lift the trophy after winning the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championships for Canada on Thursday night, Jan. 5 (@reganrant/Twitter)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates with the puck during the second period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Crosby, Ovechkin among 1st round of NHL All-Star selections

Fans will choose the final 12 players who make it

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skates with the puck during the second period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
FILE - Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin with his helmet off before playing the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL football game, Sept. 8, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. The scenes of Hamlin’s on-field collapse after suffering cardiac arrest on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, has forced some fans to yet again confront a truth they have always known but hated to think about: Football can go from exciting and joyous to dark and tragic in a flash. Now, as the Bills defensive back remains in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital, fans are reflecting on their relationship with the sport they love. (AP Photo/John McCoy, File)

Agent: Bills safety Damar Hamlin is breathing on his own, able to talk

Player went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated on the field 4 days ago

FILE - Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin with his helmet off before playing the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL football game, Sept. 8, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. The scenes of Hamlin’s on-field collapse after suffering cardiac arrest on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, has forced some fans to yet again confront a truth they have always known but hated to think about: Football can go from exciting and joyous to dark and tragic in a flash. Now, as the Bills defensive back remains in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital, fans are reflecting on their relationship with the sport they love. (AP Photo/John McCoy, File)
Vancouver Canucks’ Ethan Bear, left, and Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canucks snap 3-game losing skid with 4-2 win over Colorado Avalanche

Andrei Kuzmenko nets a pair for Vancouver

Vancouver Canucks’ Ethan Bear, left, and Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Canada’s Shane Wright, top left, celebrates his goal with teammates during second period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal action against Czechia in Halifax on Thursday, January 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Guenther’s golden goal lifts Canada past Czechia 3-2 in OT for 20th world junior title

B.C.’s Connor Bedard named tournament MVP

Canada’s Shane Wright, top left, celebrates his goal with teammates during second period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal action against Czechia in Halifax on Thursday, January 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese