Olympics, hoops, Little League in spotlight
The Island ushers in a new decade with a year highlighted by international sport, along with the usual staples, in 2020. Here are 20 for ’20:
1. TOKYO OLYMPICS: More than 50 Island or Island-based athletes will compete in the 2020 Olympics from July 24 to Aug. 9 as the Summer Games return to Tokyo 56 years after the 1964 Games which introduced modern Japan to the world.
2. OLYMPIC HOOPS QUALIFYING: Will the Golden Generation finally shine? We’ll find out June 23-28 at Save-onFoods Memorial Centre as most of Canada’s NBA players have committed for the FIBA men’s Olympic basketball qualifying tournament for Tokyo 2020.
3. CANADA SEVENS: From the court to the turf, Island sports fans can also get a preview of Tokyo 2020 in the Canada Sevens women’s rugby sevens stop on the World Series tour May 2-3 at Westhills Stadium in Langford, hosted by the Olympics-bound Canadian side.
4. RIVALRY SERIES: Canada versus the U.S. is more than just the biggest rivalry in women’s international hockey. It is international women’s hockey. The sides renew acquaintances Feb. 3 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
5. PAN AM CROSS-COUNTRY: The best harriers in the hemisphere will run over Bear Mountain for the 2020 Pan American crosscountry championships Feb. 29 as a precursor to Victoria bidding for the 2023 IAAF world cross-country championships.
6. ROAD TO WILLIAMSPORT: There is no kids’ sports championship on the planet to rival the Little League World Series. The 2020 Canadian representative to compete in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, will be decided in the national Little League championship tournament to be hosted at Layritz Park Aug. 6-16.
7. STARS ON ICE: It will be equidistance between Winter Olympics — from the memorable Canadian figure-skating turn at Pyeongchang 2018 to the looming uncertainty of Beijing 2022 — when a national team in transition comes to Blanshard Street. Also expect the usual dollop of former Olympic medallists on hand when the annual Stars on Ice return May 12 to the Memorial Centre.
8. VICTORIA OPEN: Future PGA Tour players have been coming through Victoria for nearly four decades. The tradition continues with the 38th annual Island stop in the Mackenzie TourPGA Tour Canada from June 4-7 at Uplands. The final qualifying tournament for the 2020 Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada season takes place April 28 to May 1 at Crown Isle in Courtenay.
9. PFC SEASON 2: Pro sports — a rarity for mid-size markets — came to Greater Victoria with Pacific FC starting as a charter franchise in the inaugural season of the Canadian Premier League of soccer in 2019. PFC’s second season will open in April at Westhills Stadium. The 2020 CPL schedule has yet to be announced. But Canada Soccer’s 2020 Canadian Championship tournament has been finalized. The first leg between Pacific FC and CPL-rival FC Edmonton will be played between June 16-18 and second leg June 23-25. Westhills Stadium in Langford and Clarke Stadium in Edmonton will each host a game in the total-goal aggregate set with the order to be determined.
The winner between PFC and FC Edmonton will advance to play the Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS in the second round between July 7-16.
“It would be a massive opportunity for us to play the Whitecaps at B.C. Place and at Westhills in a provincial rivalry,” said Pacific FC CEO and GM Rob Friend.
10. ’CATS SEASON 8: The Victoria HarbourCats, who have made Royal Athletic Park the place to be and be seen during summers in leading the West Coast League of baseball in attendance for six of their seven seasons, begin their eighth WCL season June 5 on Caledonia Street against the Ridgefield Raptors from Washington state.
11. SHAMROCKS SEASON 71: The 2020 Western Lacrosse Association schedule has yet to be announced but the season will open in May at The Q Centre. The defending league-champion Victoria Shamrocks will attempt to continue an era of success in which they have won four WLA titles and made four appearances in the Mann Cup national championship since 2013, highlighted by the Canadian title in 2015.
12. VISL SEASON 125: The venerable Vancouver Island Soccer League, in operation since 1895, will host the annual all-star game against the Fraser Valley on Jan. 11 at Layritz Park. The draw for the 105th Jackson Cup — the VISL’s annual FA Cup style tournament — will be held in January leading to the final in the spring at Royal Athletic Park. Can first-time winner and defending-champion Westcastle United hold off current league-leader Lakehill?
13. WHL PLAYOFFS: The Victoria Royals will look to extend their streak of being one of only three Western Hockey League teams to not miss the playoffs since the franchise entered the league in 2011-12. The 2020 WHL playoffs begin March 27.
14. BCHL PLAYOFFS: The Nanaimo Clippers and Cowichan Valley Capitals appear to be the Island Division teams to watch as the B.C. Hockey League regularseason careens to a close Feb. 23 ahead of the playoffs.
15. VIJHL PROSPECTS GAME: Hockey fans and scouts can get a look at potential WHL and BCHL players in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League prospects game Jan. 12 at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.
16. VIKES HOOPS: Optimistic trends in the pre-Christmas portion of the Canada West schedule have confirmed stirrings of a hoops revival for both the University of Victoria men’s and women’s teams. Conference play resumes Jan. 3-4 at CARSA gym against UBC-Okanagan, and continuing through Feb. 8, with the Canada West playoffs beginning Feb. 14.
17. TIMES COLONIST 10K: The 31st annual running takes place April 26 along the picturesque course.
18. GOODLIFE FITNESS MARATHON: Make room for the Thanksgiving turkey with a calorie burn Oct. 11 in the 41st annual marathon that has become a fall tradition.
19. IRONMAN 70.3 VICTORIA: From Simon Whitfield to Peter Reid, Victoria became a spiritual home for triathlon. Top pro triathletes from around the world will again take to this event on May 31, which is unique for its trail run course around Beaver-Elk lakes.
20. U SPORTS SWIMMING: A strong UVic Vikes team looks to make a splash nationally when it hosts the U Sports championships Feb. 20-22 at Saanich Commonwealth Place.