A little of this and a little of that as we head to another weekend:
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Hockey fans should be in their glory this weekend as top-notch opponents roll into town both for Western Hockey League and B.C. Hockey League play.
The Kelowna Rockets – the No. 1-ranked team in the CHL - bring their A-game into Victoria to face the Royals, who remain an honorable mention in the rankings.
Meanwhile, BCHL monarchy - the Prince George Spruce Kings and Powell River Kings - head into Bear Mountain Arena on Friday and Saturday respectively against the league-leading Victoria Grizzlies.
The $64,000 question is, how many fans will be in attendance?
With numbers dwindling in both leagues, this weekend should be a great litmus test to see just what Island hockey fans are all about. Will they put their money where their mouths are?
We’ve heard and read that the area is hockey crazed, but attendance has proven much differently of late.
The Grizzlies did manage to get over the 2,000 mark last Saturday as the community rallied on Happy Day, in support of four-year-old cancer patient Hannah Day. But will the numbers continue?
Here’s hoping as both Victoria teams remain at the top of their leagues, the Grizzlies tied for first overall with Penticton and Langley and the Royals fourth overall in points in the WHL.
The Rockets have lost just five times in regulation this season.
If that can’t draw fans, then very little will.
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The UBC Thunderbirds cashed in big time when local football star Terrell Davis opted to leave Arizona State University in favour of a return to Canada.
Davis committed to the Canada West school last Thursday after getting no playing time in Tempe, Az.
It could get even more interesting if younger brother Marcus’s NCAA Division I aspirations do not come through and he elects to join big brother in Vancouver.
The younger Davis is off to Washington State this weekend on an official visit and we should soon find out what is in store for the young star, who was named triple-A player of the year the last two seasons after Terrell won the award in 2011 for the now three-time provincial champion Mount Douglas Rams.
The T-Birds also received a commitment from Cowichan’s Drayson Price and are also interested in Rams linemen Aarmin Purewal and Christian Krause and a pair of Belmont Bulldogs and Nanaimo prospects.
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Good luck to Island teams who will be representing the province at the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships in Liverpool, N.S.
Cameron de Jong’s team, consisting of third Brook Calibaba, second Ryan Cassidy and lead Alex Horvath will represent the Victoria Curling Centre and Juan de Fuca clubs.
Meanwhile, Kala Van Osch and her Nanaimo/Delta rink of third Marika Van Osch, second Sarah Daniels and lead Ashley Sanderson begin play in national junior women’s action this weekend.
Good luck to both.
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And, hats off to former Victoria Mariners third-baseman/pitcher and current Seattle Mariners outfielder Michael Saunders on his new contract.
Saunders, 27, avoided MLB arbitration by signing his one-year deal worth $2.3 million to remain in Seattle where he has played his entire pro career.
Here’s to a healthy, productive season.
