BUSY DAY FOR BASKETBALL
The 14U male basketball team won bronze against Team Minnesota, finishing off strong 43-31. Competition aside, what really made us proud was watching the two teams doing a spirit circle together at the end of the game to cheer each other on.
It was another big win for 16U female basketball today! Taking home a bronze medal after dominating their final game 75-49 against Team Minnesota. The girls showed their Team BC spirit as they all stayed to cheer their hearts on at the boys game!
Unfortunately, the 16U male team fell short of their goal, losing to Team EDN in the bronze medal match. It was an exciting, hard fought match with a heartbreaking loss as the team gave it their all. The 19U female also suffered a similar hard loss as they fell to a strong shooting team from Wisconsin. Frustratingly, the ball just wouldn’t drop when they needed it to, but the girls once again kept up their incredible team spirit and played hard for the entire game.
Last, but certainly not least, the 19U male basketball team left it all on the court, taking Team Ontario to TRIPLE OVERTIME before winning bronze!!!! It was a nail biter for sure. Way to go boys!
Congratulations to all of the athletes! You’ve put so much work into this and BC is proud of you! We can’t thank our coaches enough for all their hard work and dedication to Team BC.
ALL SOCCER TEAMS BRING HOME A MEDAL
Medals all around for soccer! The 19U female soccer team emerged victorious, securing the bronze medal with a 1-0 win over Team Saskatchewan. Team BC dominated by keeping the ball in Sask’s end during most of regulation play, but both teams came up empty as the clock ran out. “Moving into penalty kicks was a dramatic way to finish, and BC came up with a 1-0 win to claim the bronze!” said soccer’s sport liaison, Andrea Carey.
Congratulations to the 16U male soccer team for their impressive victory! Winning gold against Team Alberta with a score of 2-1 is no small feat. After the game, Coach Ivan Nikolov said “the final game was probably the most intense and the most exciting game so far.”
Another big congratulations to the 16U female soccer team for their gold medal victory against Team Saskatchewan with a score of 2-1! The 19U male team won their gold yesterday.
What an amazing turnout for Team BC soccer! We are so proud of all the athletes and thank the coaches for their hard work.
PICKING UP HARDWARE IN LACROSSE
What a great day for Team BC Lacrosse! With three gold medal matches played against Team Ontario today, it was a non-stop emotional wave for the players, coaches and fans. The 19U females won in a nail biting 10-8 win, showing tremendous grit and teamwork. Head Coach Savanna Smith said after the game “we play with heart, we play with grit, and we play because lacrosse is Medicine. This one is for you CB, forever in our hearts.” Congratulations to the women’s team!
Both the 16U and 19U male teams placed silver after close losses. The 16U male team lost on a heartbreaking 1 point difference 6-7 and the 19U male team’s final score was 11-9 for Team Ontario. We are so proud of all our lacrosse athletes for competing with integrity and demonstrating strong sportsmanship in the tough moments. Thank you for embodying Team BC spirit!
We would also like to thank all the lacrosse coaching and management team for their dedication to our team BC athletes and love for the Creator’s game.
THREE MEDALS FOR SOFTBALL AFTER A RAINY FEW DAYS
The NAIG journey for softball did not end exactly how we all envisioned as there were significant rain delays over the past two days. The 19U male team played their hearts out to make it to the gold medal game. Due to the unseasonable weather, they were unable to play the game, and as a result, both Team BC and Team Nova Scotia were awarded gold! Way to go Team BC!
Both the 16U female and the 19U female teams advanced to the bronze round, but similarly, they were also impacted today by the rain. Both teams were awarded bronze, as well as their opponents. Well done!
We are so proud of each and every one of our softball teams and thank our coaches for their leadership, dedication and care.
The North American Indigenous Games Council proudly announced the induction of four esteemed individuals into the inaugural North American Indigenous Games Hall of Honour this evening. A legacy of the Halifax 2023 NAIG, the Hall of Honour stands as a testament to sporting excellence and outstanding achievements, both on and off the field of play. I·SPARC extends heartfelt congratulations to the remarkable honourees, whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the Games and the Indigenous sports community.The following individuals were honoured:
- Alex Nelson, Builder: Alex Nelson has devoted his life to empowering Indigenous youth through sports and cultural pride. His pioneering efforts in promoting Indigenous athleticism, along with his role as first chairperson and three-time president for the North American Indigenous Games and organizing the 1997 NAIG in Victoria and serving as NAIG President for three terms, exemplify his commitment to fostering unity and healing within our communities. Alex Nelson serves as I·SPARC’s Senior Advisor and Elder.
- Chief Charles Wood and Chief Wilton Littlechild, Ph.D, Founding Fathers of the NAIG: Their visionary leadership and tireless dedication have been instrumental in laying the foundation for the North American Indigenous Games Movement. Through their guidance, the Games have grown into a powerful platform for Indigenous athletes to showcase their talents and celebrate their cultural heritage.
- Sarah-Lynne Knockwood, Athlete: With determination and grace, Sarah-Lynne Knockwood has exemplified the very essence of sportsmanship. Her achievements as an athlete have not only brought glory to her nation but have inspired countless others to pursue their dreams with passion and resilience.
Congratulations to Chief Charles Wood, Chief Wilton Littlechild, Ph.D, Sarah-Lynne Knockwood, and Alex Nelson, on this prestigious recognition. Their unwavering commitment to sporting excellence, cultural pride, and community building is a testament to the transformative power of sports. We are immensely proud of Alex Nelson, I·SPARC’s Senior Advisor and Elder, for this well-deserved recognition.
The induction ceremony took place Saturday evening, July 22nd, marking a momentous occasion to honour and celebrate the remarkable legacies of these outstanding individuals.
