Sports

A group of local men practice archery on a ridge overlooking the Laitlum Canyon about 20km (12 miles) from Shillong, India, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. In villages scattered across the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya an ancient tradition of archery still continues and regular competitions are held between different localities. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

VIDEO: The ancient skill of archery thrives in northeastern India

The skill is part of a traditional rite for Indigenous people in Meghalaya

A group of local men practice archery on a ridge overlooking the Laitlum Canyon about 20km (12 miles) from Shillong, India, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. In villages scattered across the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya an ancient tradition of archery still continues and regular competitions are held between different localities. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
Wrexham’s Tom O’Connor celebrates scoring against Sheffield United during the English FA Cup fourth round soccer match at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Ryan Reynolds goes through range of emotions in FA Cup match

‘I’m now so much in love with this sport that I actually hate it.’

Wrexham’s Tom O’Connor celebrates scoring against Sheffield United during the English FA Cup fourth round soccer match at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales, Sunday Jan. 29, 2023. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Canada’s Fancy Bermudez grabs the ball from an Australian player during the second half of rugby action at the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., on Saturday, April 30, 2022. Bermudez scored two tries in a losing cause against Brazil at the HSBC Sydney Sevens. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Canada’s Fancy Bermudez grabs the ball from an Australian player during the second half of rugby action at the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., on Saturday, April 30, 2022. Bermudez scored two tries in a losing cause against Brazil at the HSBC Sydney Sevens. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau responds to questions during a news conference after an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers, in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 21, 2023. The Vancouver Canucks have fired head coach Bruce Boudreau and hired Rick Tocchet as his replacement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau responds to questions during a news conference after an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers, in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 21, 2023. The Vancouver Canucks have fired head coach Bruce Boudreau and hired Rick Tocchet as his replacement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Rachael Karker of Canada competes during the women’s World Cup freestyle ski halfpipe event in Calgary, Alta., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Gu golden again in World Cup halfpipe, Canada’s Karker, Bowman finish on podium

Eileen Gu’s halfpipe is ready for the Winter X Games. The 19-year-old…

Rachael Karker of Canada competes during the women’s World Cup freestyle ski halfpipe event in Calgary, Alta., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Canada’s Brock Webster runs with the ball during a rugby union international match between Portugal and Canada in Oeiras, outside Lisbon, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Armando Franca

Canadian rugby women finish 11th while men place 14th at New Zealand Sevens

Women finished with huge win against Papua New Guinea, beating them 44-5

Canada’s Brock Webster runs with the ball during a rugby union international match between Portugal and Canada in Oeiras, outside Lisbon, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Armando Franca
Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaitl (29) plays the puck while sitting on the ice after falling in front of Vancouver Canucks Andrei Kuzmenko (96) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Oilers beat reeling Canucks 4-2 for 6th straight victory

Loss was 3rd in 4 nights for Canucks

Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaitl (29) plays the puck while sitting on the ice after falling in front of Vancouver Canucks Andrei Kuzmenko (96) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The B.C. Hockey League has announced its lineup for the 2023 Skills Competition this Saturday, Jan. 19. (Photo- BCHL)

Fastest skater? Hardest shot? Lineup for BCHL’s skills competition announced in Penticton

Hometown brothers Josh and Bradly Nadeau will represent the Vees on Saturday

The B.C. Hockey League has announced its lineup for the 2023 Skills Competition this Saturday, Jan. 19. (Photo- BCHL)
Canada’s Caitlin Kraemer, foreground right, celebrates scoring with teammates from left, Ava Murphy, Piper Grober, Emma Pais and Alex Law after scoring the opening goal during the women’s under-18 ice hockey world championship match between Canada and Sweden at the Ostersund Arena, in Ostersund, Sweden, on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Per Danielsson/TT News Agency via AP
Canada’s Caitlin Kraemer, foreground right, celebrates scoring with teammates from left, Ava Murphy, Piper Grober, Emma Pais and Alex Law after scoring the opening goal during the women’s under-18 ice hockey world championship match between Canada and Sweden at the Ostersund Arena, in Ostersund, Sweden, on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Per Danielsson/TT News Agency via AP
Madeline Schizas of Ontario performs during the senior women free program at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Oshawa, Ont., on Saturday, January 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Madeline Schizas holds off 16-year-old Ruiter to win Canadian figure skating title

‘The end of that program wasn’t easy but I pushed right to the end and I’m happy with that.’

Madeline Schizas of Ontario performs during the senior women free program at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Oshawa, Ont., on Saturday, January 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
A Hockey Canada logo is seen in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A Hockey Canada logo is seen in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
The Buffalo Bills pray on the field after their teammate Damar Hamlin was taken to hospital after suffering cardiac arrest. (@BuffaloBills/Twitter)

Jordy’s Journal: The good and the bad of the Damar Hamlin incident

As of Wednesday morning, Hamlin remains in critical condition in ICU, showing signs of improvement

The Buffalo Bills pray on the field after their teammate Damar Hamlin was taken to hospital after suffering cardiac arrest. (@BuffaloBills/Twitter)
Camera operator Nathan Eides, left, records Canada celebrating a win over Sweden during IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship action in Halifax on Saturday, December 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Camouflaged cameraman a hit at world juniors: ‘I have the best seat in the house’

Nathan Eidse sits in the penalty boxes and jumps into the fray as soon as play stops

Camera operator Nathan Eides, left, records Canada celebrating a win over Sweden during IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship action in Halifax on Saturday, December 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Quebec ultra-marathon runner Joan Roch is shown in a handout photo. Roch is preparing for a nearly 8,000 kilometre run from the most southern point of the United States to Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula. PHOTO PC/HO-Joan Roch

Quebec ultra-marathoner preparing to run nearly 8,000 km from Florida to Quebec

Roch will run an average of 52 km – over a marathon – a day in order to finish in 5 months

Quebec ultra-marathon runner Joan Roch is shown in a handout photo. Roch is preparing for a nearly 8,000 kilometre run from the most southern point of the United States to Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula. PHOTO PC/HO-Joan Roch
Team Canada players celebrate with their gold medals after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. Women’s hockey in 2022 was a firehose filled with change and advancement after the virtual desert of the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Women’s hockey roars back to life in 2022 after tough pandemic years

Women seeing a boost in wages, screen time and recognition

Team Canada players celebrate with their gold medals after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. Women’s hockey in 2022 was a firehose filled with change and advancement after the virtual desert of the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Hansel Enmanuel, a freshman guard from the Dominican Republic for Northwestern State, practices dunks during warm-ups before an NCAA college basketball game against Rice Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in Houston. Enmanuel lost his left arm in a childhood accident and has attained the talent and skill to play at the college level. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

VIDEO: Hansel Enmanuel, college player with 1 arm, becomes an inspiration

Viral videos of Enmanuel dunking makes it look easy, but he says it’s far from that

Hansel Enmanuel, a freshman guard from the Dominican Republic for Northwestern State, practices dunks during warm-ups before an NCAA college basketball game against Rice Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in Houston. Enmanuel lost his left arm in a childhood accident and has attained the talent and skill to play at the college level. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime celebrates after defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur during the final Davis Cup tennis match between Australia and Canada in Malaga, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. Auger-Aliassime is being rewarded for his breakthrough season by winning the Lionel Conacher Award as The Canadian Press male athlete of the year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Joan Monfort

Auger-Aliassime voted Canadian Press male athlete of the year

22-year-old Montreal star rose from 11th to 6th in world rankings this year

Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime celebrates after defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur during the final Davis Cup tennis match between Australia and Canada in Malaga, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. Auger-Aliassime is being rewarded for his breakthrough season by winning the Lionel Conacher Award as The Canadian Press male athlete of the year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Joan Monfort
Team Canada forward Marie-Philip Poulin (29) celebrates with her gold medal after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Marie-Philip Poulin voted The Canadian Press female athlete of the year for 2022

Poulin the only hockey player in the world to have scored goals in 4 consecutive Olympic finals

Team Canada forward Marie-Philip Poulin (29) celebrates with her gold medal after defeating the United States in women’s hockey gold medal game action at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
B.C. athletes shot for the stars in 2022. Clockwise from top left: Melanie Vogal, Rio Crystal, Teagan Dunnett, Kimberly Newell. (Photos submitted)

From cross-Arctic treks to Olympic dreams, B.C. athletes made 2022 one for the books

Athletes didn’t shy away from adventure this year

B.C. athletes shot for the stars in 2022. Clockwise from top left: Melanie Vogal, Rio Crystal, Teagan Dunnett, Kimberly Newell. (Photos submitted)
FILE - Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal during the Women’s Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Johan Cruyff stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort, File)

Women’s sports saw pivotal growth in deals, interest in 2022

Viewership, ratings and sponsorship deals up

FILE - Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal during the Women’s Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Johan Cruyff stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, March 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort, File)