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GOLD COAST, Australia 鈥� As an opening ceremony featuring symbolic tributes to Australia鈥檚 indigenous people was getting under way, Aboriginal protesters were gathering outside the Commonwealth Games stadium to get a message across, too.

Most Islanders were sleeping, in the wee overnight hours Wednesday morning, as some of sa国际传媒鈥檚 best athletes marched into Carrara Stadium at Gold Coast, Australia, in the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Victoria Royals advanced to the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs after a riveting and tension-drenched night of high drama in the deciding Game 7 of their opening-round series against the valiant Vancouver Giants.

Six-foot-four goalkeeper Sean Melvin says he has the size to 鈥渃reate a presence鈥� in the crease. The Vancouver Whitecaps certainly think so, signing the Victoria product to a Major League Soccer contract on Monday.

It wasn鈥檛 a rabbit, but a puck, the Victoria Royals pulled out of the hat Monday at the Langley Events Centre.

The Campbell River Storm is again Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League champion. The Storm blanked the Saanich Braves 6-0 in the deciding Game 7 of the league final Saturday evening at Rod Brind'Amour Arena.

Every time former Victoria Eagles pitcher Nick Pivetta steps onto the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies, it continues an impressive legacy of sa国际传媒 Premier Baseball League alumni who have played in the majors.

Don鈥檛 count out the veteran yet. Catharine Pendrel proved on Saturday she still has what it takes.

VANCOUVER 5 VICTORIA 3 Vancouver leads series 3-2 It might seem like an April Fools鈥� joke. The Victoria Royals only wish it was. The Royals were specifically built for this time of year.

The mood was anticipatory Friday night as fans jammed every nook and cranny of Pearkes Arena hoping to see the Saanich Braves do something they haven鈥檛 done in more than two decades. But Storm clouds soon gathered over the rink.