Sports

Canada’s Josiah Morra, second right, runs with the ball during HSBC Canada Sevens quarterfinal rugby action against Britain, in Vancouver, on Sunday, September 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canadian men fall to Britain in rugby sevens quarterfinal

The best the host men can finish in Vancouver is fifth

Canada’s Josiah Morra, second right, runs with the ball during HSBC Canada Sevens quarterfinal rugby action against Britain, in Vancouver, on Sunday, September 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Team Saskatchewan skip Matt Dunstone directs his teammates as he plays Team Northern Ontario at the Brier in Calgary, Alta., on March 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Road to Canada’s Olympic curling trials crowded in Ottawa tournaments

The men’s and women’s champions in Saskatoon will wear the Maple Leaf in team curling in Beijing

Team Saskatchewan skip Matt Dunstone directs his teammates as he plays Team Northern Ontario at the Brier in Calgary, Alta., on March 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Canada’s Ciaran Breen, front, is tackled by Germany’s John Dawe during HSBC Canada Sevens rugby action, in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada 2nd in rugby sevens pool with 2-1 record, meets Great Britain in quarterfinal

Canada will face Great Britain in Sunday’s quarterfinal while the U.S. plays Kenya

Canada’s Ciaran Breen, front, is tackled by Germany’s John Dawe during HSBC Canada Sevens rugby action, in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
More than 40 teams participated in a summer tournament at Oak Bay High and St. Margaret’s School in Saanich. (Courtesy Flight Basketball)

Summer basketball takes flight in Oak Bay, Saanich

Community hoops club slides into fall ball

More than 40 teams participated in a summer tournament at Oak Bay High and St. Margaret’s School in Saanich. (Courtesy Flight Basketball)
B.C. Lions quarterback Michael Reilly (13) hands off to running back Chris Rainey (3) during first half CFL football action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal, Saturday, September 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Reilly tosses 2 touchdowns, leads B.C. Lions past Montreal Alouettes 27-18

B.C. wins third straight CFL contest to up record to 4-2

B.C. Lions quarterback Michael Reilly (13) hands off to running back Chris Rainey (3) during first half CFL football action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal, Saturday, September 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Royal Victoria Yacht Club sailors Jessica Hirschbold (crew) and her sailing partner Grace Poole (skipper) with hardware earned at the Canadian Youth Olympic Training Sailing Regatta in Kingston. (Courtesy Jill Fitz Hirschbold)

Oak Bay sailors harness fragile August wind, soar to national title

Consistency pays off for Greater Victoria Yacht Club youth team

Royal Victoria Yacht Club sailors Jessica Hirschbold (crew) and her sailing partner Grace Poole (skipper) with hardware earned at the Canadian Youth Olympic Training Sailing Regatta in Kingston. (Courtesy Jill Fitz Hirschbold)
BCHL

BCHL experiments with coach’s challenge, video review during preseason

The junior A league wants video review in place in time for its BCHL Showcase event in Chilliwack

BCHL
Travis Bridge takes part in the 10-hour Bike-A-Thon held at Bigby Place. Participants were raising money for Nelson adults with special needs to travel to an athletics event in 2022. Photo: Tyler Harper

VIDEO: Nelson’s Bigby Place holds 10-hour marathon fundraiser

Participants spent the day on a stationary bike to pay for a trip to Operation Trackshoes

Travis Bridge takes part in the 10-hour Bike-A-Thon held at Bigby Place. Participants were raising money for Nelson adults with special needs to travel to an athletics event in 2022. Photo: Tyler Harper
Canada head coach John Herdman, left, and David Junior Hoilett walk off the field after the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League qualifying soccer match against French Guiana in Vancouver, on Sunday March 24, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canadian men continue climb up world soccer rankings, reaching No. 51

It’s the highest position for the Canadian men in more than a decade

Canada head coach John Herdman, left, and David Junior Hoilett walk off the field after the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League qualifying soccer match against French Guiana in Vancouver, on Sunday March 24, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Golden Tide head coach Curtis Pelletier. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Golden Tide)

FRIDAY BASEBALL: Victoria Golden Tide playing inaugural home game

Tide taking on Thompson Rivers Wolfpack at Wilson’s Group Stadium at 6 p.m.

Golden Tide head coach Curtis Pelletier. (Photo courtesy of Victoria Golden Tide)
Canada’s Connor Braid (6) runs the ball against Fiji during World Rugby Sevens Series action in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday, March 9, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms

Victoria rugby stalwart Connor Braid retires in wake of Tokyo Olympics

Sevens star also had 26 caps for the Canadian 15s team

Canada’s Connor Braid (6) runs the ball against Fiji during World Rugby Sevens Series action in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday, March 9, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms
The Victoria Royals begin their WHL exhibition schedule this weekend in Kelowna, and host the Prince George Cougars on Sept. 25 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. (Kevin Light/Courtesy Victoria Royals)

Victoria Royals final roster to be released any day now

Western Hockey League team saw 43 players vie for spots during main camp

The Victoria Royals begin their WHL exhibition schedule this weekend in Kelowna, and host the Prince George Cougars on Sept. 25 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. (Kevin Light/Courtesy Victoria Royals)
Peninsula defenceman Matthew Seale finds himself sandwiched between Victoria Cougars players during the Panthers 4-1 loss Friday in North Saanich. The Cougars won the teams’ season opener 9-3 the night before in Esquimalt. (Photo by Gordon Lee)

Victoria Cougars dampen Panthers’ lofty expectation for VIJHL season start

Cougars post 9-3, 4-1 wins over the Panthers in opening junior B hockey weekend

Peninsula defenceman Matthew Seale finds himself sandwiched between Victoria Cougars players during the Panthers 4-1 loss Friday in North Saanich. The Cougars won the teams’ season opener 9-3 the night before in Esquimalt. (Photo by Gordon Lee)
Cincinnati Bengals fans cheer during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Tailgating, face-painted fans back in force at U.S. NFL stadiums

Vaccination rates and mask rules vary across the country

Cincinnati Bengals fans cheer during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Canada back Ben LaSage, left, tries to tackle U.S. center Bryce Campbell during the first half of a Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification pathway match Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Glendale, Colo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, David Zalubowski

Canadian men face longer road to Rugby World Cup after loss to the U.S.

The team that qualifies as Americas 1 has some two years to prepare for France 2023

Canada back Ben LaSage, left, tries to tackle U.S. center Bryce Campbell during the first half of a Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification pathway match Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Glendale, Colo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, David Zalubowski
B.C. Lions quarterback Michael Reilly rushes for a first down during the first half of a CFL football game against the Ottawa Redblacks in Vancouver, on Saturday, September 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. Lions QB Mike Reilly throws 4 TDs in 45-13 blowout win over Redblacks

Leos (3-2) moved into a tie for second place in CFL’s West Division

B.C. Lions quarterback Michael Reilly rushes for a first down during the first half of a CFL football game against the Ottawa Redblacks in Vancouver, on Saturday, September 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a shot to Emma Raducanu, of Britain, during the women’s singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Canada’s Flushing Meadows darling Fernandez comes up short in US Open women’s final

A remarkable run to the US Open final ended in disappointment for Canada’s Leylah Fernandez

Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a shot to Emma Raducanu, of Britain, during the women’s singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Black Press reporter Erin Haluschak. (Peter McCully photo)

NFL preview: Black Press football insider Erin Haluschak talks Seahawks and more

Podcast: Discussion includes predicted Super Bowl and MVP winners, fantasy picks

Black Press reporter Erin Haluschak. (Peter McCully photo)
Canada’s Jake Thiel, left, jumps for the ball against Australia’s Nick Malouf during the Challenge Trophy final at the World Rugby Sevens Series action in Vancouver, B.C., March 10, 2019. Only seven of the men’s core teams are taking part in next week’s HSBC Canada Sevens in Vancouver with New Zealand. Fiji, Australia, Argentina, Japan, France and Samoa among those missing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms

Field for Canadian rugby sevens events diluted by pandemic-related issues

New Zealand. Fiji, Australia, Argentina, Japan, France and Samoa among countries missing

Canada’s Jake Thiel, left, jumps for the ball against Australia’s Nick Malouf during the Challenge Trophy final at the World Rugby Sevens Series action in Vancouver, B.C., March 10, 2019. Only seven of the men’s core teams are taking part in next week’s HSBC Canada Sevens in Vancouver with New Zealand. Fiji, Australia, Argentina, Japan, France and Samoa among those missing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms
Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a shot to Aryna Sabalenka,of Belarus, during the semifinals of the US Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Teen dream: Longshot Canadian Fernandez meets longshot Raducanu in US Open final

Pair meet Saturday for the first major final between two teens since Williams/Hingis in 1999

Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, returns a shot to Aryna Sabalenka,of Belarus, during the semifinals of the US Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)