sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

The old adage about not being able to tell the players without a program is apropos every January in the Western Hockey League. It is no different this season, as a dizzying array of player moves has changed the landscape of the league.

Surrounded by friends, family and loved ones, Kesa Van Osch and her Nanaimo rink captured the 2018 sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Scotties Women’s Curling Championship early Sunday evening at the Victoria Curling Club.

The first event of the annual eight-race Island Race Series has traditionally been the fastest. Another swift field, headed by Olympians Lucas Bruchet and Natasha Wodak, will look to devour the new course today in the 39th Harriers Pioneer 8K.

The only colour that stood out more than sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½â€™s gold at the 2018 world junior hockey championship was the blue of the empty seats that plagued much of the tournament in Buffalo, New York.

The Van Osch clan is one win away from qualifying as the host team for the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Penticton this month.

VICTORIA 5 KAMLOOPS 4 (OT) Down 3-0 after the opening period, the Victoria Royals caught fire to cool off the Kamloops Blazers in a 5-4 overtime win, twice recovering from three-goal deficits in Western Hockey League play on Saturday night in the B.

There was something Bruin’ at The Q Centre on Friday night. And it resulted in another victory for the red-hot Victoria Grizzlies.

The Western Hockey League transaction list is an interesting one as the Victoria Royals appear in seven of the last 14 deals made as the roster deadline of Jan. 10 nears.

Well now, that’s why you don’t count your chickens before they hatch or, in curling circles, your stones before they’re thrown.

It turns out Bo knows curling, just not quite as well as hockey. Bo Horvat, the young — currently injured — Vancouver Canucks star, was on hand at the Victoria Curling Club for Draws 4 and 5 of the 2018 sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½