Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Canucks to open training camp Friday

Sports briefs: Downhillers wrap season in Switzerland; Calgary's Olympic draft hosting plan includes Whistler

The Vancouver Canucks will boldly venture into their new era beginning Friday.

The team will kick off its first training camp following the retirement of legendary players Henrik and Daniel Sedin this Friday, Sept. 14 at Meadow Park Sports Centre.

Despite the absence of the Swedish twins, there will still be stars in attendance with established players Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat and Jake Virtanen all suiting up while prospects Elias Petterson, Jonathan Dahlen, Olli Juolevi and Thatcher Demko will compete for their chance to crack the NHL club.

On Sept. 14, on-ice sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., while on Sept. 15, they'll go from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a scrimmage at 10 a.m. On Sept. 16, practice will go from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a scrimmage at 11 a.m. and camp will wrap Sept. 17 with a session from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and a scrimmage at 11 a.m. All sessions will be open to fans free of charge.

Vancouver posted a 31-40-11 record last season, missing the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five campaigns.

Full details are online at www.nhl.com/canucks.

Regularly scheduled programming, including fitness classes, ice programs, public skating, drop-in hockey and league games, at Meadow Park Sports Centre is on hold for the duration of camp until 3 p.m. on Sept. 17.

The weight room and cardio room will remain open while the pool is closed for annual maintenance until Sept. 17.

Local DH racers wrap season at worlds

Finn Iles wrapped up his first UCI downhill season in the elite men's division with a 14th-place finish in the UCI World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland on Sept. 5.

As the top Canadian, Iles finished 3.95 seconds back of winner and teammate Loic Bruni of France, while Belgium's Martin Maes and Great Britain's Danny Hart rounded out the podium. Other Canadians were Mark Wallace in 18th, Magnus Manson in 19th, Henry Fitzgerald in 45th and Forrest Riesco in 49th.

In the junior men's event, Lucas Cruz took 14th as well, finishing 10.2 seconds back of winner Kade Edwards of Great Britain, who was 4.4 seconds up on runner-up Kye A'hern of Australia and 5.4 seconds ahead of Eliot Jamison of Canada.

"Wasn't the run I was looking for last Sunday but the ups and downs are all part of it. Every race I learn so much about being a better bike rider, competitor and all around person. These tough races get me so fired up and determined to put my head down, train hard this winter and kill it once the season comes around," Cruz posted to Instagram on Sept. 11.

Other Canucks were Ben Wallace in 15th, Kendall McLean in 24th, Justin Clements in 27th, Whistler's Ian Milley in 40th, and Keegan Fry in 47th.

In the elite women's event, Squamish's Miranda Miller took 18th, while Great Britain's Rachel Atherton and Tahnee Seagrave took the top two spots, and France's Myriam Nicole ended up in third.

Olympic draft hosting plan includes Whistler

Calgary's 2026 Olympic bid includes Whistler as a venue alongside Canmore and Nakiska.

In a presentation to Calgary city council on Sept. 11, Calgary 2026 CEO Mary Moran revealed the draft hosting plan, which includes Whistler Olympic Park as the host for Olympic ski jumping and Nordic combined events.

"These facilities will see several improvements for hosting competitions and for community use," the plan notes.

Later in the meeting, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and 12 councillors voted to send the question of whether the city should continue with the bid to a plebiscite. Three councillors voted against the motion.

Calgarians will vote on the issue on Nov. 13.

Whistler Racquet Club hosts tourney

The Whistler Racquet Club welcomed competitors to the Whistler Tennis Academy NTRP Fall Classic TKO Tournament last weekend.

In the men's 4.5 singles event, Paul Beaton emerged victorious while Robert Socha and Jamie Conway took second and third respectively. As for the women's 3.5/4.5 combined singles, Holly Calvin took the win ahead of Jacqueline Luft and Adrienne Webb. Lastly, in the mixed 4.5 doubles event, Robert Socha and Julie Regan teamed up for the title, besting second-place duo Simon Parkinson and Melanie Tremoin and third-place team Tai Tran and Lynda Harnish.

In other club news, the Whistler Tennis Association and Whistler Squash Club will team up to host a women's-only weekend from Nov. 9 to 11. The event is designed for those 19-and-older who are aspiring tournament players or experienced tournament players looking to improve.

For more information or to register, visit www.whistlertennisassociation.ca.