Local Sports

Sarah Beaudry of Prince George cruised to a 15th-place finish Thursday in her opening race at the world junior biathlon championships in Minsk-Raubachi, Belarus.

British Columbia's undefeated streak in men's curling at the Canada Winter Games came to an end Thursday night when Manitoba handed B.C. a 6-5 loss in semi-final play at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club. The loss was not only B.C.

Even from his office in Calgary inside the nation's first indoor ice oval, speed skating star Mike Marshall is proud of what's happening in Prince George.

Ontario and Manitoba will play for ringette gold at the Canada Winter Games. In semifinals held Thursday at the Coliseum, Ontario skated to a 4-3 overtime decision against Quebec, while Manitoba downed New Brunswick 7-4.

Alpine skiing 10 a.m. Women's ski cross - elimination, quarter finals, semi finals, finals Tabor Mountain Ski Resort Biathlon 10 a.m. Women's 3 x 6 km relay - finals 1 p.m. Men's 3 x 7.5 km relay - finals Otway Nordic Centre Men's curling 9 a.m.

Team Ontario is back in familiar territory at the Canada Winter Games. It will play for gold for the seventh time in Canada Games history, repeating a pattern the team has followed ever since women's hockey was introduced in 1991.

In a familiar scenario at these Canada Winter Games, Quebec skaters ruled the short track on Thursday. When medals were presented at Lakewood Dental Arena for the 1,000-metre distance, all six of them went to athletes from Quebec.

Nik Goncin got a taste of Canada Winter Games glory four years ago in Halifax when he helped Saskatchewan win a bronze medal, their highest finish ever. On Thursday, Goncin guaranteed his team will do better than that before they leave Prince George.

The three local athletes competing in the short track speed skating events at the Canada Winter Games have completed most of their attempts at the medals.

A year ago Aaron Mah was nursing a bad knee after a rough landing tore two ligaments and his meniscus. On Thursday, the 17-year-old Vancouver gymnast was standing on the podium's highest perch after claiming gold for a challenging floor routine.