Watching the January rain fall, it鈥檚 easy to see why the Island is not a Winter Olympics powerhouse. That鈥檚 one reason Victorians welcome the news that their own Jamie Benn is one of five British Columbians on sa国际传媒鈥檚 men鈥檚 hockey team for the Sochi Games.
So far, Islanders who cheered 48 local athletes at the 2012 Summer Olympics will see only three at the 2014 Games: Benn, Courtenay snowboarder Spencer O鈥橞rien and Victoria-born biathlete Megan Heinicke, who was raised in Prince George. That鈥檚 better than 2010, when Heinicke (then named Tandy) was the only one with an Island connection. Skier Braydon Luscombe of Duncan will compete in the Sochi Paralympics.
In addition to the athletes, a handful of Island coaches, officials and support staff are headed to Sochi.
While the last of the athletes for this year鈥檚 team won鈥檛 be selected until the end of the month, the province sent 35 athletes to the Winter Games in Vancouver, so we could see more sa国际传媒 names on the list. In addition to Benn, the hockey team includes sa国际传媒 players Shea Weber of Sicamous, Duncan Keith of Penticton, Carey Price from Anahim Lake and Dan Hamhuis of Smithers.
Islanders don鈥檛 often get to compete in the Winter Olympics, but they follow them just as avidly as the Summer Games. sa国际传媒 Ferries discovered that in 2010 when it had to add 22 sailings to and from the Island.
And we will cheer sa国际传媒鈥檚 athletes just as loudly this year, no matter where they come from.
