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Matthew Baldisimo has taken leave of the Langford training camp of Pacific FC. But he’s got a legitimate excuse to hand to head coach Pa-Modou Kah. In soccer, the World Cup is the biggest doctor’s note of all.

Islander Pete Devries waited a lifetime to see his sport accepted into the Olympics. Now, on the verge of his sport’s debut at the Summer Games in Tokyo, his dream of becoming an Olympian has been shattered.

They may never toss away their fishing rods but more people are opting for the curved blade as the Alberni Valley is becoming Hockey Central.

The whispers that Spencer Carbery of Victoria will soon be on an NHL bench grew to a full-throated roar Friday as the Islander was named American Hockey League coach of the year for guiding the venerable Hershey Bears to the best record in the AHL at

Observers now know the list of 21 invited players — including 14 from the NBA such as Andrew Wiggins, Dillon Brooks, Kelly Olynyk and R.J.

The pandemic-abbreviated WHL and BCHL seasons were short, but vital, for players such as defenceman Gannon Laroque of the Victoria Royals and forward Ellis Rickwood of the Victoria Grizzlies.

Release the Kraken to join the league for next season. No, not that team and that league of which fans might be thinking. It’s the Lake Cowichan Kraken, the newest franchise in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League.

The sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ restart plan envisions sports returning across the province, with spectators in venues on an increasing sliding scale.

Sports journeys have headwaters. Nick Pivetta’s flowed from Little League at Layritz Park to the Royal Athletic Park mound, and first start and first win in Victoria HarbourCats franchise history in 2013, to fabled Fenway Park.

It takes about 12 hours by plane, but Cam Levins of Black Creek ran to Japan in just two hours, 10 minutes and 13 seconds. The Islander knew time was draining and quickly.