Local Sports

Members of the Burns Lake RCMP, Lakes District Secondary School senior boys basketball team and community members played against The Fabulous Harlem Crowns Basketball Team last week. The American team used the power of laughter to engage the public during the games, and used the halftime break to talk about substance use and addiction. The event, which was part of the national addictions awareness week, was sponsored by Lake Babine Nation. (Flavio Nienow photos)

The Omineca Ski Club (OSC) is introducing new events, including the “bring a friend Fridays,” in which members can bring a friend to ski for only $5 (day pass and ski rentals included). A fun group event will also take place each Friday at 5 p.m. The lodge will be open from noon to 7:30 pm on Fridays, so come out for a ski and then join friends in the lodge for snacks and a hot drink. The OSC will also host an open house and ski swap on Saturday, Nov. 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Lakes District Secondary School boys soccer team returned from provincials in Nakusp with two wins and three losses. Goals from Spencer Brown, Marlon Bloomfield, Steven Strizich and Aiden Martens. One referee stated that this team played with “more heart on the field than any team there.” They were also lucky to have no snow in Nakusp on the weekend.

Teams from Burns Lake, Houston, Smithers, Fort St. James and Prince Rupert competed in a bantam minor hockey tournament on Oct. 27-28 in Houston. The Smithers Storm team won first place in a shootout against the Prince Rupert Seawolves, scoring 3-2. The Houston Flyers took third place in a 4-0 score against Fort St. James, and the Burns Lake Bears placed fifth.

The Lakes District Secondary School (LDSS) Grade 8 girls volleyball team played against the Nechako Valley Secondary School team while the LDSS junior girls played against the Fort St. James Secondary School team last week. Results weren’t available by press time.

A Lakes District Secondary School boys soccer team has recently won the zone finals in Prince George, qualifying for the provincials that are being held in Nakusp on Nov. 2-4, 2017. Back row (L-R): Danny Dell (coach), Ben Brochez, Angus Brochez, Spencer Brown, Avery Wilson, Colin Fehr, Braedon Puglas, Cormick Turner, Kyle Nealis, Thomas Willner, Steven Strizich, Nicholas Schroeder, Benny D’Silva (assistant coach).

Teams from Burns Lake, Smithers, Houston and Vanderhoof joined the hosts in Prince Rupert for the northwest girls rugby zones on Friday, Oct. 13 and Saturday, Oct. 14. According to Lakes District Secondary School coach Matt Moore, the Burns Lake girls - many of whom had never played in games before - exceed expectations, showing huge improvement between Friday night and Saturday afternoon. They ended up winning one game, tying one and losing two.

The second annual Boer Mountain Challenge, which was held on Oct. 1, 2017, had 39 participants from Burns Lake, Prince George and Smithers. Participants ran or hiked one of three distances - 10, 20 or 30 km. Everyone completed their distances, with the youngest hiker being only seven months old and the oldest being over 70.

Burns Lake, Houston, Smithers, Vanderhoof and Prince Rupert recently had a girls rugby playoff in Houston. Scores were not recorded as this tournament was intended as a friendly playoff. Regional zones for girls rugby will be in Prince Rupert on the weekend of Oct. 13-14, 2017.

The Lakes District Secondary School’s (LDSS) Grade 8 girls volleyball team played against two Fort St. James Secondary teams last week. The LDSS girls lost to the first team but won against the second.