Local Sports

Two-year-old Kashius Weme rides at the Steve Smith Memorial Bike Park in Nanaimo on Tuesday, May 11. The youngster’s precocious bike-riding ability is already attracting cycle sponsors. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

2-year-old Nanaimo bike rider already attracting cycle sponsors

Kashius Weme has a knack for extreme cycle sports

A rendering of what Serauxmen Stadium might look like after new outfield fencing is finished. (Icad Design Graphics Studio/City of Nanaimo image)

Nanaimo’s Serauxmen Stadium getting another $1 million in improvements

Outfield fencing, including ‘Green Monster’ which came down last year, being replaced at ball field

BCHL

BCHL pod season will end without playoffs

With COVID restrictions still hampering the league, the Fred Page Cup won’t be awarded in 2021

Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Chase Klassen drives to the net, pursued by Nanaimo Clippers defenceman Michael Craig, during a BCHL game Sunday, April 25, in Port Alberni. (Elena Rardon/Black Press)

Nanaimo Clippers thinking must-win the rest of the way

Nanaimo was at .500 at season’s mid-point before two losses this past weekend

Alberni Valley Bulldogs forward Chase Klassen drives to the net, pursued by Nanaimo Clippers defenceman Michael Craig, during a BCHL game Sunday, April 25, in Port Alberni. (Elena Rardon/Black Press)
The Nanaimo White Rapids summer swim club is excited to be back at the Kin Pool in Bowen Park to mark the club’s 55th anniversary, even though things may look slightly different this year due to safety considerations, says columnist.

White Rapids anxious to dive into the pool

Things may look slightly different this year due to safety considerations, says columnist

  • Apr 21, 2021
The Nanaimo White Rapids summer swim club is excited to be back at the Kin Pool in Bowen Park to mark the club’s 55th anniversary, even though things may look slightly different this year due to safety considerations, says columnist.
The Nanaimo Clippers’ game against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs slated for Thursday, April 15, has been postponed due to a “potential positive COVID-19 test result,” says the BCHL. (News Bulletin file photo)

UPDATE: Nanaimo Clippers COVID-19 test comes back negative, team can practise and play

Junior A hockey team had suspended activities the day before out of ‘abundance of caution’

The Nanaimo Clippers’ game against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs slated for Thursday, April 15, has been postponed due to a “potential positive COVID-19 test result,” says the BCHL. (News Bulletin file photo)
Nanaimo NightOwls. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo NightOwls cancel season due to COVID-19

Baseball team’s inaugural season in West Coast League will have to wait until 2022

Nanaimo NightOwls. (News Bulletin file photo)
BCHL

BCHL stays tight-lipped about reasons for leaving Canadian Junior Hockey League

The BCHL retains affiliation with Hockey Canada and BC Hockey, but isn’t saying what comes next

BCHL
Alberni Valley’s Brandon Buhr narrowly misses scoring his second goal of the Bulldogs’ BC Hockey League game against Victoria Grizzlies in the first period Friday, April 2, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

BC Hockey League submits notice to withdraw from CJHL

Canadian Junior ‘A’ League announces B.C. circuit’s intentions in short statement

Alberni Valley’s Brandon Buhr narrowly misses scoring his second goal of the Bulldogs’ BC Hockey League game against Victoria Grizzlies in the first period Friday, April 2, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Tristan Fraser of the Nanaimo Clippers collides with Michael Hoekstra of the Victoria Grizzlies along the boards during Saturday’s game at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. Fraser scored the game-winning goal in a 4-3 win. (Elena Rardon/Black Press)

Nanaimo Clippers win in their return to the ice

Clippers edge Victoria Grizzlies 4-3 Saturday in BCHL action in Port Alberni

Tristan Fraser of the Nanaimo Clippers collides with Michael Hoekstra of the Victoria Grizzlies along the boards during Saturday’s game at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. Fraser scored the game-winning goal in a 4-3 win. (Elena Rardon/Black Press)
Nanaimo Clippers forward Baxter Anderson moves the puck as teammate Shaun Mahoney checks Alberni Valley Bulldogs opponent Ethan Bono during Island Cup exhibition action last fall at Port Alberni’s Weyerhaeuser Arena. (Black Press file photo)

Nanaimo Clippers about to start ‘uncharted’ BCHL season

Clippers will play 20 games in 35 days in Island ‘pod’ in Port Alberni

Nanaimo Clippers forward Baxter Anderson moves the puck as teammate Shaun Mahoney checks Alberni Valley Bulldogs opponent Ethan Bono during Island Cup exhibition action last fall at Port Alberni’s Weyerhaeuser Arena. (Black Press file photo)
The Nanaimo NightOwls will play an all-Canadian regular-season schedule in their first West Coast League campaign, with the playoff format still to be determined. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo NightOwls to debut with all-Canadian schedule

Baseball league announced last week that there won’t be international travel during regular season

The Nanaimo NightOwls will play an all-Canadian regular-season schedule in their first West Coast League campaign, with the playoff format still to be determined. (News Bulletin file photo)
The Chilliwack Chiefs and Coquitlam Express will finally play games in early April as the BCHL squeezes in a shortened 20 game season. Just-announced provincial funding may help the junior A league offset financial losses caused by the COVID pandemic. (Darren Francis photo)

Province provides relief funding for amateur sport

The government is directing $15 million to teams/leagues impacted by the COVID pandemic

The Chilliwack Chiefs and Coquitlam Express will finally play games in early April as the BCHL squeezes in a shortened 20 game season. Just-announced provincial funding may help the junior A league offset financial losses caused by the COVID pandemic. (Darren Francis photo)
Nanaimo Clippers defenceman Trevor LeDonne during a game last season at Frank Crane Arena. (Corey Shaw/Nanaimo Clippers photo)

Nanaimo Clippers’ persistence pays off with condensed hockey season

New captain Trevor LeDonne and his team excited for games

Nanaimo Clippers defenceman Trevor LeDonne during a game last season at Frank Crane Arena. (Corey Shaw/Nanaimo Clippers photo)
BCHL

BCHL will have three teams playing in Burnaby during shortened season

The league announced five pod locations as the junior A league prepares to play in early April

BCHL
Ian Thorpe’s Thorpe Report will appear once a month in the News Bulletin.

Thorpe Report returns, softball on the way back

Ian Thorpe’s sports column back on a monthly basis in the News Bulletin

  • Mar 18, 2021
Ian Thorpe’s Thorpe Report will appear once a month in the News Bulletin.
A Nanaimo NightOwls hat featuring an alternate logo created by Snuneymuxw artist Noel Brown. (Nanaimo NightOwls photo)

Snuneymuxw artist creates alternate logo for Nanaimo’s new NightOwls baseball team

West Coast League expansion team set to debut this summer at Serauxmen Stadium

A Nanaimo NightOwls hat featuring an alternate logo created by Snuneymuxw artist Noel Brown. (Nanaimo NightOwls photo)
The BC Hockey League announced a shortened 2021 season will begin in early April, following approval from the league’s board of governors and the provincial health office. (Damon James photo)

BC Hockey League announces shortened season will begin in April

Junior ‘A’ hockey league board of governors approve season following green light from province

The BC Hockey League announced a shortened 2021 season will begin in early April, following approval from the league’s board of governors and the provincial health office. (Damon James photo)
Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Dylan Coghlan, right, smiles with his teammate Shea Theodore after Coghlan scored a goal during the third period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, March 10, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

Hockey player from Nanaimo scores his first NHL goal as part of hat-trick performance

Dylan Coghlan of the Vegas Golden Knights scores all his team’s goals in 4-3 loss to Minnesota Wild

Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Dylan Coghlan, right, smiles with his teammate Shea Theodore after Coghlan scored a goal during the third period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, March 10, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Peninsula Panthers and Kerry Park Islanders players battle during a Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League game in November 2020. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

VIJHL pulls plug on 2020-21 season

‘It seemed that this is the time to make this decision’

Peninsula Panthers and Kerry Park Islanders players battle during a Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League game in November 2020. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)