Defending national champs UBC first up for Vikes field hockey team
The University of Victoria Vikes women’s field hockey team opens the 2016 Canada West season this weekend against a very familiar foe.
The Vikes head to Vancouver to take on the UBC Thunderbirds, a team that edged UVic in a shootout in last year’s national championship game in the Vikes’ backyard.
Now, head coach Lynne Beecroft and her team are after some revenge, but know it won’t be easy against the five-time defending national champs.
“I think UBC is going to be 50-60 per cent stronger than they were last year,” said Beecroft, who heads into her 33rd year at the helm of the Vikes. “So we are going to go in there and give it our best shot and continue to grow each and every week.”
The Vikes will once again be led by veteran national team players Kathleen Leahy and Rosie Beale. Fourth-year goaltender Sheriden Goodmanson also returns.
Following the UBC games on Saturday and Sunday, the Vikes will be back on the road next weekend, travelling to Calgary to take on the Dinos. UVic doesn’t play their home opener until Oct. 8 when they host the Thunderbirds.
The 2016 CIS championship tournament is slated for Nov. 3-6 at the University of Toronto.
Downey Memorial tourney this week
On May 25, 2014, the Victoria Mariners said farewell to one of their own as Zack Downey lost his battle with cancer.
But the Mariners keep Downey’s fighting spirit alive by hosting the annual Zack Downey Memorial Tournament every fall. This year’s tournament is slated for this week as the Mariners welcome fellow B.C. Premier Baseball League teams, the Parksville Royals, Nanaimo/Mid-Island Pirates, Whalley Chiefs and Coquitlam Reds to Layritz Park for four days of action.
First pitch is today at 3 p.m., followed by another game at 5:15 p.m. The tournament wraps up on Sunday with the championship game at 3 p.m.
On the next tee: Zone 5 Foursomes
The top women golfers on the Lower Island are gearing up for one last big tournament.
The Zone 5 Foursomes tournament begins Friday with qualifying at Cedar Hill, and then moves to Cowichan Golf Club on Monday for the start of tournament play, before moving to Gorge Vale on Tuesday, Highland Pacific on Thursday for the semifinal matches and wrapping up on Friday at Victoria Golf Club with the final matches.
Players play in teams of two using an alternate shot format.
Back chasing a third straight Zone 5 Foursomes title are Lee Frank of Olympic View and Sue Ovans of Royal Colwood.
Hanson Brothers invade Langford
If it’s old-time hockey you’re a fan of, you might want to venture over to the City Centre Grille Sports Bar in Langford today.
The bar, located inside Langford Lanes, will be hosting “the toughest line in hockey” as the Hanson Brothers of Slapshot fame make an appearance.
The meet-and-greet event goes from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and tickets are $40 (includes a burger and beer). The event was close to being sold out as of Wednesday night but if there are some tickets left, they will be available starting at 10 a.m. at Langford Lanes.