Local Sports

Vernon Iron Ghost Construction Tigers captain Jacob Brewer (34) fends off a check from Brandon Matvenko of the Armstrong Shamrocks as the two rivals played to an 11-11 tie in Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League play Wednesday, May 18, at Kal Tire Place. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Armstrong Shamrocks rally late to stun Vernon Tigers

Visiting Irish score five times in game’s final 6 minutes for 11-11 TOJLL draw at Kal Tire Place

Vernon Iron Ghost Construction Tigers teammates Carston Disher (left) and Noah Pearson team up to try and take the ball away from Thorden Groeneveld of the Kamloops Venom during the Vernom’s 13-7 Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League victory Saturday, May 14, at Kal Tire Place. (Roger Knox - Black Press)

Kamloops Venom take bite out of Vernon Tigers

Visiting Venom score 13-7 win in Tigers’ Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League home opener

The longtime rivalry between the Vernon Tigers (white) and Armstrong Shamrocks got kickstarted again Saturday, April 30, in Armstrong as the Irish returned to the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League for the first time in three years. The two teams played to a spirited 9-9 draw. (Black Press - file photo)

Late goal lifts Vernon Tigers to 9-9 TOJLL draw with Armstrong Shamrocks

Two rivals play spirited first league game against one another in three years at Nor-Val Sports Centre

Armstrong’s DJ Crowe (left) celebrates his first-ever hole-in-one on the 7th hole at the Overlander Golf and Events Centre Saturday, April 16. His dad, Jesse – Overlander’s director of golf – filmed the historic ace. (Instagram photos)

VIDEO: Armstrong golf pro records son’s first-ever ace

DJ Crowe puts it in the hole at Overlander’s Par-3 7th hole from 125 yards out with dad Jesse filming the tee shot

Armstrong’s DJ Crowe (left) celebrates his first-ever hole-in-one on the 7th hole at the Overlander Golf and Events Centre Saturday, April 16. His dad, Jesse – Overlander’s director of golf – filmed the historic ace. (Instagram photos)
Salmon Arm’s Matthew Johnston of the North Okanagan Knights has been named the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s most sportsmanlike player. (Contributed)

North Okanagan Knight KIJHL’s most sportsmanlike player

Matthew Johnston of North Okanagan Knights adds Junior B award to sportsmanlike trophy he won in Pee Wee

Salmon Arm’s Matthew Johnston of the North Okanagan Knights has been named the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s most sportsmanlike player. (Contributed)
Salmon Arm Silverbacks goalie Liam Vanderkooi made 22 saves Saturday, March 26, as the team fell 7-5 at the Shaw Centre to the Trail Smoke Eaters in the BCHL regular-season finale for both teams. (Chris Fowler Photo)

Smokies burn Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Trail scores 7-5 B.C. Hockey League win at Shaw Centre Saturday; playoffs start this week

  • Mar 27, 2022
Salmon Arm Silverbacks goalie Liam Vanderkooi made 22 saves Saturday, March 26, as the team fell 7-5 at the Shaw Centre to the Trail Smoke Eaters in the BCHL regular-season finale for both teams. (Chris Fowler Photo)
Apex Mountain ends the season with the popular Dummies Downhill event April 2. (Apex Mountain)

VIDEOS: Dummies Downhill and Slush Cup end ski season at South Okanagan slopes

Apex hosts Dummies Downhill April 2 and Baldy Mountain hosts Slush Cup April 3

Apex Mountain ends the season with the popular Dummies Downhill event April 2. (Apex Mountain)
Daniel Panetta and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks will play the Wenatchee Wild in the first round of the 2022 B.C. Hockey League playoffs. Salmon Arm fell 4-1 to the Spruce Kings in Prince George Saturday, March 19, and will close out the regular season at home Saturday, March 26, against Trail. (Chris Fowler Photo)

Spruce Kings slip past Salmon Arm Silverbacks

BCHL: Prince George gains split of weekend home-and-home with ‘Backs

Daniel Panetta and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks will play the Wenatchee Wild in the first round of the 2022 B.C. Hockey League playoffs. Salmon Arm fell 4-1 to the Spruce Kings in Prince George Saturday, March 19, and will close out the regular season at home Saturday, March 26, against Trail. (Chris Fowler Photo)
Salmon Arm and Greater Vernon Minor Hockey organizations will be hosting provincial championship tournaments March 20-23. (Contributed)

B.C. hockey tourneys start in Salmon Arm, Vernon

Tier 2 U15 (Vernon) and Tier 2 U13 (Salmon Arm) finals are both eight-team events, on until Wednesday

Salmon Arm and Greater Vernon Minor Hockey organizations will be hosting provincial championship tournaments March 20-23. (Contributed)
Some Williams Lake U11 hockey players enjoyed a game wearing NHL jerseys at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex. Back row from left, Callum Peterson - Dallas, Kalen Surette - Vegas, Mike Palmantier - Seattle, Kloey Spence - Vancouver, Tryan Rivet - Pittsburgh, Gavin Francis - Carolina, Cole Olsen - Nashville, Henry Larsson-Allan - Philadelphia, third= row from left, Deklan Fraser - Calgary, Landon Galisky - Buffalo, Matthew Boyd-Gilbert - Detroit, Easton Neuner - St. Louis, Jackson Sache - Anaheim, Flynn Kinley - Edmonton, Lane Judd - Winnipeg, second row from left, Carter McLennan - Arizona, Luc Harrison - Columbus, Sophie Johnson - New Jersey, Jayda Frizzi - New York Islanders, Parker Cook - Colorado, front row from left Zion Campbell - Toronto and Wade Hansen - Montreal. (Clay Palmantier photo)

22 NHL jerseys = fun game on ice

Williams Lake hockey dad Clay Palmantier organized the event

Some Williams Lake U11 hockey players enjoyed a game wearing NHL jerseys at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex. Back row from left, Callum Peterson - Dallas, Kalen Surette - Vegas, Mike Palmantier - Seattle, Kloey Spence - Vancouver, Tryan Rivet - Pittsburgh, Gavin Francis - Carolina, Cole Olsen - Nashville, Henry Larsson-Allan - Philadelphia, third= row from left, Deklan Fraser - Calgary, Landon Galisky - Buffalo, Matthew Boyd-Gilbert - Detroit, Easton Neuner - St. Louis, Jackson Sache - Anaheim, Flynn Kinley - Edmonton, Lane Judd - Winnipeg, second row from left, Carter McLennan - Arizona, Luc Harrison - Columbus, Sophie Johnson - New Jersey, Jayda Frizzi - New York Islanders, Parker Cook - Colorado, front row from left Zion Campbell - Toronto and Wade Hansen - Montreal. (Clay Palmantier photo)
Salmon Arm and Greater Vernon Minor Hockey organizations will be hosting provincial championship tournaments March 20-23. (Contributed)

North Okanagan, Shuswap teams hosting B.C. minor hockey finals

Salmon Arm hosts U13 Tier 2 and Greater Vernon is host for U15 Tier 2 finals; both start March 20

Salmon Arm and Greater Vernon Minor Hockey organizations will be hosting provincial championship tournaments March 20-23. (Contributed)
Salmon Arm’s Natalie Wilkie returns home with two gold, one silver and one bronze medal in Para nordic skiing from the 2022 Beijing Paralympics Winter Games. (Dave Holland Photo)

Salmon Arm Paralympian adds fourth medal from Beijing

Natalie Wilkie wins bronze with Canadian teammates in Para nordic skiing mixed relay; wins 2G, 1S, 1B

Salmon Arm’s Natalie Wilkie returns home with two gold, one silver and one bronze medal in Para nordic skiing from the 2022 Beijing Paralympics Winter Games. (Dave Holland Photo)
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks rallied from a 4-1 third-period deficit only to fall 5-4 in a shootout to the Wenatchee Wild in BCHL play Saturday, March 12, at the Shaw Centre. (Chris Fowler Photo)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks’ Wild comeback earns point

‘Backs rally from 4-1 down in third only to lose 5-4 to Wenatchee in BCHL shootout at Shaw Centre

  • Mar 13, 2022
The Salmon Arm Silverbacks rallied from a 4-1 third-period deficit only to fall 5-4 in a shootout to the Wenatchee Wild in BCHL play Saturday, March 12, at the Shaw Centre. (Chris Fowler Photo)
Macie Lewis (with ball) and the Vernon Christian School Royals finished fourth at the B.C. 1A senior girls high school basketball championships in Kelowna. (Jake Courtepatte - Black Press)

Heartbreaking finish for Vernon Christian School Royals

VCS bows in bronze-medal match at BC 1A Sr girls basketball finals; Salmon Arm’s King’s Christian places 9th

Macie Lewis (with ball) and the Vernon Christian School Royals finished fourth at the B.C. 1A senior girls high school basketball championships in Kelowna. (Jake Courtepatte - Black Press)
Spallumcheen wheelchair curler Ina Forrest and Team Canada is off to a 3-0 start at the Beijing Paralympics. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

North Okanagan-Shuswap athletes back in action in Beijing

Paralympics 2022: Spallumcheen’s Ina Forrest, Lumby’s Logan Leach and Salmon Arm’s Natalie Wilkie compete Sunday

  • Mar 6, 2022
Spallumcheen wheelchair curler Ina Forrest and Team Canada is off to a 3-0 start at the Beijing Paralympics. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Zack Smith was one of two Salmon Arm players to record a hat trick in a 9-3 Silverbacks’ BCHL romp over the Merritt Centennials Saturday, March 6, at the Shaw Centre. (Chris Fowler Photo)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks slam Merritt

Daniel Panetta and Zack Smith each score three times as Backs bomb Centennials 9-3 in BCHL play

  • Mar 6, 2022
Zack Smith was one of two Salmon Arm players to record a hat trick in a 9-3 Silverbacks’ BCHL romp over the Merritt Centennials Saturday, March 6, at the Shaw Centre. (Chris Fowler Photo)
Adam Kingsmill, far right, celebrates the opening of the 2022 Paralympic Games with Canadian teammates in Beijing, China. (Facebook photo)

Northwest B.C. Paralympic hockey player takes to the ice in Beijing tonight

The opening hockey game of the 2022 Paralympics features rematch of 2018 gold medal final with USA

Adam Kingsmill, far right, celebrates the opening of the 2022 Paralympic Games with Canadian teammates in Beijing, China. (Facebook photo)
The 2022 KIJHL playoffs are over for the Sicamous Eagles. (KIJHL photo)

Sicamous Eagles’ KIJHL season over; Chase Heat on brink of elimination

Revelstoke Grizzlies complete four-game sweep of Eagles; Kamloops Storm have 3-1 edge over Heat

The 2022 KIJHL playoffs are over for the Sicamous Eagles. (KIJHL photo)
Salmon Arm Silverbacks defenceman Mike Ladyman scored in the eighth round of a shootout to give the ‘Backs a 3-2 BCHL win Saturday, Feb. 26, in Prince George over the Spruce Kings. (Chris Fowler Photography)

Salmon Arm Silverbacks sweep Prince George weekend

‘Backs win 3-2 in shootout Saturday, Feb. 26, a day after edging Prince George 4-3

Salmon Arm Silverbacks defenceman Mike Ladyman scored in the eighth round of a shootout to give the ‘Backs a 3-2 BCHL win Saturday, Feb. 26, in Prince George over the Spruce Kings. (Chris Fowler Photography)
Salmon Arm King’s Christian Thunder forward Joseph Royal (with ball) draws Vernon Christian School Royals defenders Ben Porter (3) and Ben Tishenko off the ground during the North Zone Senior Boys A Basketball Final Friday, Feb. 18, at VCS. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

PHOTOS: Vernon Christian Royals seeded fifth for Okanagan tourney

Royals capture North Zone’s lone berth to eight-team Valleys with convincing win over Salmon Arm rivals

Salmon Arm King’s Christian Thunder forward Joseph Royal (with ball) draws Vernon Christian School Royals defenders Ben Porter (3) and Ben Tishenko off the ground during the North Zone Senior Boys A Basketball Final Friday, Feb. 18, at VCS. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)