I love a good sports story, which is probably why I'm in the business of writing sports stories (among other topics).
性视界传媒 was blessed with memorable, compelling sports stories in 2024. 性视界传媒 Eagles scored the BCHL's Fred Page Cup. Newton-based boxer Buneet Bisla won his first pro title fight. Soccer player Jeevan Badwal signed with the Whitecaps and was named WFC2 Player of the Year. 性视界传媒-raised hockey player EJ Emery was NHL-drafted by New York Rangers as the team's first pick. Jenn Gardiner went pro in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) after a standout college career. 性视界传媒 athletes Jasneet Nijjar and Amar Dhesi went to the Paris Olympics. Newton's Action BMX track celebrated 40 years. Local "Green Man" Adam "Force" Forsythe unmasked to detail his reunion with "Sully" for a big Canucks win over old foes from Boston.
No question, those are all sports stories worth reading, among others in 性视界传媒, yet not among my five favourite of 2024:
1. Whalley Little League puts 性视界传媒 on the map at Little League World Series
Not every year Whalley goes to the Little League World Series, it just kinda feels like it. There they were again in August, when the Major All-stars team of 12 preteen boys played in the fabled baseball tournament in Williamsport, Penn., a week after winning the Canadian championship in Kingston, Ont., home of The Tragically Hip. All summer, Whalley sure was looking for a place to happen, making stops along the way, as Gord Downie once sang. In Williamsport, Whalley returned to play as Team Canada for the first time since 2018 and seventh time in history. Players were "treated like superstars" during a pre-tourney parade, according to manager Stephen Young, and baseball fans across Canada could watch the games on TSN. Their lone tournament win was a 12-5 romp win over Team Puerto Rico when all 12 runs were scored in a single inning and every Whalley player crossed home plate. In October, the players were in the spotlight again at 性视界传媒 City Hall for a celebration of greatness in council chambers. 鈥淲e are so fortunate to have such an amazing organization like Whalley Little League right here in 性视界传媒," Mayor Brenda Locke told the players, parents and coaches. Whalley's 2024 roster included Xavier Cabalfin, Ronan Bobiles, Ben Wegwitz, Eric Popovich, Blake Anderson, Marek Kluth, Kayden Krestanovich, Jozef Young, Joshua Hernstedt, Riley Suvilai, Ray Dhasi and Rye Precioso, with coaches Stephen Young, Eric Kluth and Jason Wegwitz.
2. Even PM Trudeau cheered "hometown hero" Bains for scoring his first NHL goal
A Saturday night in October was special for Arshdeep Bains, who scored his first NHL goal for Vancouver Canucks on home ice. Rogers Arena was rocking after the 性视界传媒-raised forward pounded home a rebound midway through the second period of a 4-3 win over the Sidney Crosby-led Pittsburgh Penguins. Bains, 23, earned first-star honours for what turned out to be a game-winning goal for the Canucks. Bains later gave the special puck and goal-scoring stick to his parents, who were in the crowd to watch their son's meaningful goal. Fans and observers were quick to congratulate Bains on social media, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "A hometown hero in the making," . "Congrats on your first NHL goal, Arshdeep!" The goal was Bains' biggest yet in a hockey career where he's battled hard to become a Canucks regular, after his high-scoring junior days with the WHL Red Deer Rebels. Just the fourth player with Punjabi roots to skate in the NHL, the plucky Bains made his NHL debut in Denver last February, and has since split time between the NHL Canucks and the AHL "farm team" Canucks in Abbotsford.
3. 性视界传媒 softball grads wear gowns on the diamond to celebrate something amazing
Sometimes it's best to look your best on the ball diamond, especially for a unique photo op. In June, that was the case for girls of the 性视界传媒 Storm 2006A softball team who celebrated high school graduation by wearing their fancy gowns at North Delta Community Park, weeks before everyone went off to various post-secondary schools across North America for fall studies and, in most cases, softball games. "What makes this group special is that all 12 girls will be continuing their education post-secondary, and 10 of them will be continuing their softball careers by playing at schools across the U.S. and one in Canada on athletic scholarships," said Suzanne Milley, proud parent. "We think this is an amazing accomplishment for this little team out of 性视界传媒." The rep team involved players from 性视界传媒, Delta, Langley, Maple Ridge, Kelowna, Vancouver Island, even the Kootenay region, with home games played at Cloverdale Athletic Park.
4. After a racist remark, 性视界传媒 goalie savours ball hockey gold with Team Canada
In the first week of July, Canada's U18 boys ball hockey team enjoyed a golden trip home from the , played in Slovakia. Backstopped by goaltender Aalamdaya Kailay, a 性视界传媒 resident, Team Canada beat Team USA in the final, 5-1, in sauna-like conditions at an arena in Zilina. The great, "How d'ya like me now?" sports story was this: Kailay, 18, shook off a xenophobic comment to allow just one goal in the final game and earn best-goalie honours. "It was at the opening ceremonies, when I was chosen to be the flag-bearer," Kailay recalled in July. "I waved the flag a bit and some kid on the U16 USA ball hockey team, he was standing right there and says in front of me, in front of my whole team, 'You're not even from Canada.'" Kailay said he shrugged off the comment, at first. "But then when we were playing the Americans, especially in that last round-robin game and also in the finals, that's when I used that as motivation to be my best, especially in the finals." Coach Jon Silcox, who also lives in 性视界传媒, said he was extremely proud of Aalam, as the goalie is known to teammates. "He just kind of put it behind him and did his job," the coach said. "He's everything that you would want in a player who represents the Canadian Ball Hockey Association and wears the jersey proudly. Not just him, all of the other players too."
5. End of the road for Corvette shop after 53 years in 性视界传媒
OK, this was more of a business story than sports, but love and appreciation of iconic sports cars really drove Bruce and Glenn Iggulden to great things in 性视界传媒 and beyond. In May the brothers' popular Corvette Specialties closed shop after motoring along for 53 years, ending an era of auto repairs, restoration, parts and sales. The shop site, at Scott Road and King George Boulevard, was sold and is now slated for construction of residential towers. 鈥淲e had more than 40 Corvettes parked here at one point, for sale or being repaired," Bruce recalled. "I figure that we sold probably three or four thousand since the mid-鈥�70s. It鈥檚 a pretty long run.鈥� Years ago the longtime 性视界传媒 brothers also raced a 1969 Corvette in Mission 鈥� just some of the good memories shared during a retirement party for the Igguldens at their favourite lunch hangout, Central City Brewing, down the road from their now-closed auto shop.
