Three members of the Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating Club powered their way to overall gold medals at the Western Canadian Short Track Championships, held in Kelowna on the weekend.
The new western champions are Callie Swan (12-year-old girls), Carolina Hiller (13-year-old girls) and Nicolas Hiller (13-year-old boys).
On her way to winning westerns, Swan zipped to gold medals in her 2,000-metre and 3,000m races and picked up bronze in a 100m pursuit. As well, Swan was part of golden performances in two relay events.
Carolina Hiller was absolutely dominant in her category. She posted winning times in 500m, 1,500m and 3,000m races and was also untouchable in a 100m pursuit. In a 3,000m relay, she helped her four-person team to bronze.
Nicolas Hiller, not to be outdone, was golden in 3,000m and 100m pursuit races. In relay events, he added two more golds to his collection and also secured silver in the 400m distance.
In other results: Kadeja White grabbed gold in a 2,000m four-person relay, silver in a 100m pursuit and bronze in a 3,000m points race; and Lucas Hiller skated to top spot in a 3,000m points race and gave silver-medal performances in the 100m pursuit and a 1,500m race.
Soccer team starts in style
In their first outdoor test of the season, the Under-18 Kodiaks put the boots to their competition.
The Kodiaks, an all-star team from the Prince George Youth Soccer Association, ran to a 3-0 record at a weekend tournament in Burnaby. In their final game, they beat the South Burnaby Metro Club Brilliant 2-1 for gold. All the goals were scored in the first half, with Matt Jubinville and Cheona Edzerza doing the damage for the Kodiaks.
Earlier, the Kodiaks beat Langley United 3-0 and silenced the Port Coquitlam Gunners 5-0. Against Langley, Robbie McDougall scored twice and Rylan Jubinville struck for a single. In the game against the Gunners, Matt Jubinville fired a pair of goals, while Nikola Knezevic, Kieran Missellbrook and German exchange student Jurji Kuzema also scored.
The Kodiaks, coached by Aaron LeBlanc, will be in Kelowna for a tournament on Easter weekend.
Win and a loss for B.C. girls
Team B.C. -- featuring Prince George players Saynia Pickering, Justine Lamothe and Murdine Leboe -- is off to a 1-1 start at the Tim Hortons Canadian Ringette Championships, being played in Cambridge, Ont.
In its tournament-opener in the Under-16 division, B.C. nipped Nova Scotia 6-5. In its second game, B.C. lost 7-4 to Ontario.
So far, Quesnel's Sydney Kaleta has held the most dangerous stick in the B.C. offence. She scored three goals in the first game and added two more in the second. Emily McMartin, Rebecca Milligan and Nina Tajbakhsh were the other shooters who solved Nova Scotia's goaltending. Against Ontario, Aimee Qualizza and Jessica MacDonald were the other B.C. marksmen.
Today, B.C. will step onto the ice against Quebec.
Tough result for Seehra
Prince George boxer Jag Seehra was on his way to a possible win in Venezuela but his Sunday bout ended in disappointment.
Seehra, part of Canada's national B team for a Pan American Games qualifying tournament, was leading his Nicaraguan opponent at the end of the second round. Unfortunately, the 21-year-old Inner City Boxing Club member had a nosebleed and the referee decided to stop the fight.
The match was Seehra's first in Venezuela, after he had received a bye to the quarterfinal round in the 60-kilogram weight class.
Peters, Citizen staff
