Paralympians headed to UVic Sports Hall
Two multi-medal Paralympians and one of the most successful teams in University of Victoria sports history form the Class of 2016 for UVic’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Swimmer Stephanie Dixon, alpine skier Lauren Woolstencroft and women’s rowing from 1981-82 will be enshrined in UVic’s Sports Hall of Fame during ceremonies on March 30.
Dixon, a three-time Paralympian, was named UVic’s athlete of the year in 2004 and 2005 and graduated with a bachelors in psychology in 2007.
Woolstencroft, also a threetime Paralympian, earned an electrical engineering degree in 2005. She’s a multi-medal winner at the Paralympics and was Canada’s flag bearer at the closing ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
The 11 rowers who competed for UVic during the 1981 and ’82 seasons won eight national titles including at the Royal Canadian Henley and Canadian University Rowing Championships and the women’s eight crew in 1982 won the San Diego Crew Classic against NCAA teams.
Among the rowers during that time were Lisa Roy, Janice Mason, Katie Burke, Shelley Donald and Andrea Schreiner Stapff, all 1980 Olympians. Also competing during that time were Carla Pace, Lorna Schultz Nicholson, Joanell Storm, Lisa Robertson, Marilyn Brain Campbell and Carolyn Trono.
The Class of 2016 will be enshrined during the Vikes Celebration of Champions March 30 at the Victoria Conference Centre. Tickets are $90. For more information, go to govikesgo.com/COC.
Rugby players get national team call
Five Island-based rugby players will be sporting red and white this weekend as the Canadian Under-20 XVs team heads to Austin, Texas, to take on the U.S. for the right to advance to the World Rugby U-20 Trophy Tournament in Zimbabwe in April.
National U-20 head coach Jeff Williams, who resides in Victoria, has named to his roster Luke Bradley of Port Alberni, who plays for the UVic Vikes, as well as fellow Vike Gavin Rowell. Also named were Nakai Penny, who hails from Courtenay and plays for the UBC Thunderbirds, George Barton, who’s from Duncan but just signed to play pro in France for Clermont ASM Espoirs, and Aaron Evison of James Bay Athletic Association.
Saturday’s game begins at 6:45 p.m. PT.
Female goalie shines in VIJHL debut
Jaydlin Spooner has had a strong season for the Vancouver Island Seals female midget team and last weekend she showed she might just be ready to take her game to the next level.
With the Campbell River Storm struck by a rash of injuries, including starting netminder Jake Mullen, Spooner was called to duty on Sunday to backup Riley Welyk in Comox Valley against the Glacier Kings. And when Welyk went down with an injury early in the second period, Spooner went between the pipes and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s North Division leaders didn’t miss a beat, downing the Glacier Kings 6-3.
Spooner faced 11 shots, giving up two goals in a little over 38 minutes of playing time. The 5-foot-7, 140-pound netminder made some key saves in the second period to allow her team to take control.
Spooner also dressed as the backup goalie in the Storm’s 7-1 win Monday over the Glacier Kings in the second game of a home-and-home series.
But with Mullen and Welyk expected to be healthy for Friday’s game, Spooner has been returned to her midget team where she says she will be a better player thanks to her brief taste of junior hockey.
Chargers coach to help national program
Camosun College Chargers women’s volleyball coach Chris Dahl has helped put the school’s program front and centre on the national scene, and now his work is being rewarded.
Dahl has been named one of the head coaches for Volleyball Canada’s Youth Development program. Dahl, who will oversee female athletes born in 1999 or later, led the Chargers to a national bronze medal last season and has Camosun in second spot in the Pacwest standings this season heading into next week’s regular-season finales. Dahl was also named the CCAA women’s volleyball coach of the year last season.
The Youth Development Program provides an environment for Volleyball Canada to expose identified athletes to international level of education, training and competition early in their careers.