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Christmas is a time for family and friends and that message rings even more true for major junior hockey players who are away from home from September to April or May, depending on team successes.

Nanaimo’s plan to attract a Western Hockey League club to become an anchor tenant for a new events centre will come down to a referendum, which city officials hope to have in place between February and March of 2017.

Geroy Simon is like Uncle Sam. He’s looking for a few good men — specifically young men to round out his Game Ready Elite 7-on-7 football program, which is in its second year of operation. The former sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

The Victoria Racquet Club Kings, Juan de Fuca Grizzlies and Saanich Braves bantam teams will all play host to the Hong Kong Typhoons in international exhibition games this week. It all begins today at 8:15 a.m.

Calgary Flames forward Michael Frolik may have said it best over the weekend. “You always want to go into the holidays, into the short Christmas break, feeling good about yourself and your game.

With all his recent successes, the Christmas break almost appears to be coming at an inopportune time for Jamie Rome. The 18-year-old rookie Victoria Grizzlies forward scored three goals and added an assist Sunday afternoon to power the sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

The Victoria Grizzlies make one last appearance at home at 2 p.m. today at The Q Centre against the Prince George Spruce Kings before they enjoy an 11-day Christmas break from game action.

Victoria-based Rowing sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½, normally a steady supplier of medals for sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ in the Summer Olympic Games, came back with just one from Rio this year.

VANCOUVER 5 VICTORIA 4 The Vancouver Giants were supposed be The Rivalry for the Victoria Royals when the latter began play in the WHL in 2011-12.

The Victoria Grizzlies slid into the Weyerhaeuser Arena on a cool Friday night still minus some big names, but managed to earn a point in a come-from-behind 4-4 double overtime tie against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.