Sports

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

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

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

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)
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)
CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie attends a a news conference in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, February 28, 2019. The CFL faces more challenges in its 2021 return than it did last year when it was forced to cancel its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

CFL continuing talks with federal government about return to field in ‘21

CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie has said his league and Ottawa have left the door open regarding future plans

CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie attends a a news conference in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, February 28, 2019. The CFL faces more challenges in its 2021 return than it did last year when it was forced to cancel its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The City of Nanaimo’s parks, recreation and culture department opened registration last week for spring programming. (News Bulletin file photo)

City of Nanaimo’s parks and rec set for spring programming

Registration now open, activities going ahead with COVID-19 precautions

The City of Nanaimo’s parks, recreation and culture department opened registration last week for spring programming. (News Bulletin file photo)
The Nanaimo Clippers in action at Frank Crane Arena in early 2020. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo Clippers for sale as owner says hockey won’t be back to normal any time soon

Wes Mussio says he’s had numerous inquiries about the junior A club already

The Nanaimo Clippers in action at Frank Crane Arena in early 2020. (News Bulletin file photo)
Alli Schroder is the first woman to sign with a Canadian College Baseball Conference program, according to Baseball Canada. (Submitted photo)

VIU Mariners baseball team signs first woman in league history

Right-handed pitcher Alli Schroder commits to university team for 2021-22 season

Alli Schroder is the first woman to sign with a Canadian College Baseball Conference program, according to Baseball Canada. (Submitted photo)
Danielle Groenendijk raised more than twice her goal for Parkinson Canada. (Photo submitted)

VIU volleyball athlete doubles fundraising goal for Parkinson’s

Daily runs over 30 days by Groenendijk add up to 254 kilometres

Danielle Groenendijk raised more than twice her goal for Parkinson Canada. (Photo submitted)
Driven Performance Fitness instructor Katie Diaz leads participants through a zumba class. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo News Bulletin’s top 10 most-read sports stories of 2020

Readers were interested in ways to keep moving during the pandemic

Driven Performance Fitness instructor Katie Diaz leads participants through a zumba class. (Photo submitted)
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
Photos of Vancouver Canucks players are pictured outside the closed box office of Rogers Arena in downtown Vancouver Thursday, April 8, 2021. The Vancouver Canucks say 25 players and coaches have tested positive during a COVID-19 outbreak that involves a variant of the virus. It is now the biggest reported outbreak in the NHL this season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Canucks’ return to practice pushed back as player added to COVID protocol list

COVID outbreak has led to eight games being cancelled

Photos of Vancouver Canucks players are pictured outside the closed box office of Rogers Arena in downtown Vancouver Thursday, April 8, 2021. The Vancouver Canucks say 25 players and coaches have tested positive during a COVID-19 outbreak that involves a variant of the virus. It is now the biggest reported outbreak in the NHL this season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
FILE - An arena worker removes the net from the ice after the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames NHL hockey game was postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test result, in Vancouver, British Columbia, in this Wednesday, March 31, 2021, file photo. As vaccinations ramp up past a pace of 3 million a day in the U.S, the NHL is in a tougher spot than the other three major North American professional sports leagues because seven of 31 teams are based on Canada. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Vancouver Canucks scheduled to practice Sunday, resume games April 16 after COVID outbreak

Canucks outbreak delayed the team’s season by eight games

FILE - An arena worker removes the net from the ice after the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames NHL hockey game was postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test result, in Vancouver, British Columbia, in this Wednesday, March 31, 2021, file photo. As vaccinations ramp up past a pace of 3 million a day in the U.S, the NHL is in a tougher spot than the other three major North American professional sports leagues because seven of 31 teams are based on Canada. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
University of Victoria rowing coach Barney Williams at the University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

UVic, women’s rowing coach deny former athlete’s allegation of verbal abuse

Lily Copeland alleges coach Barney Williams would stand close to her and speak aggressively in the sauna

University of Victoria rowing coach Barney Williams at the University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning says the players who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 are recovering and the team still intends to play a 56-game season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canucks players ‘mostly on the other side’ of COVID outbreak: general manager

The athletes have had a “whole range” of COVID-19 symptoms, said team physician Dr. Jim Bovard, but no one has needed to be hospitalized

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning says the players who’ve tested positive for COVID-19 are recovering and the team still intends to play a 56-game season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
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)
This photo provided by the New York Rangers shows New York Rangers NHL hockey defenseman Jacob Trouba receiving a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. (Nick Homler/New York Rangers via AP)

NHL grapples with vaccine inequity between U.S. and Canada

Vancouver Canucks reported 21 players and four staff members tested positive for the virus

This photo provided by the New York Rangers shows New York Rangers NHL hockey defenseman Jacob Trouba receiving a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. (Nick Homler/New York Rangers via AP)
The Cambridge crew, including Shawnigan Lake School grad Quinten Richardson, celebrates beating Oxford in the 166th running of the Boat Race on Sunday, April 4. (Submitted)

Vancouver Islanders square off in England’s fabled Boat Race

Shawnigan Lake alum Richardson and Cambridge edge out Brentwood grad Barakso and Oxford

The Cambridge crew, including Shawnigan Lake School grad Quinten Richardson, celebrates beating Oxford in the 166th running of the Boat Race on Sunday, April 4. (Submitted)