It's shaping up to be a busy few weekends for Coast athletes at the university level as playoffs are about to start in earnest.
Roberts Creek's Stuart Richey has played a major role in guiding the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's volleyball team to Canada West final four for the first time in four years.
The WolfPack edged out the Saskatchewan Huskies in the third and deciding match of their best-of-three series last weekend in Kamloops.
The WolfPack is now off to the Langley Events Centre this Friday, Feb. 21, to meet the Alberta Golden Bears in the Canada West semi-finals.
At UBC Okanagan, first year Heat player and Elphi grad Michelle Jakszuk was recently named to the Canada West All-Rookie team.
"Good things always seem to happen when Michelle is on the floor," notes Heat head coach Steve Manuel. "She has the ability to make an impact whenever she enters the game."
Heat will play the UBC Thunderbirds as they host this weekend's Canada West Final Four in Vancouver, where three of four teams will qualify for the CIS championship. Host Regina has qualified automatically. Okanagan will take on UBC in one semifinal, with Manitoba facing Trinity Western in the other.
At the University of British Columbia, the UBC men's hockey team secured its spot in the playoffs, splitting a pair of games with the University of Manitoba last weekend.
The Thunderbirds won 5-2 last Friday night and lost 2-0 Saturday night, but coupled with other results in Canada West, clinched a playoff spot with a record of 11-15-2.
Madeira Park's Joe Antilla scored in Friday's win and finished the regular season with seven goals and nine assists.
UBC is off to Saskatoon this weekend to face the Huskies in the first round of the Canada West playoffs.
Douglas College is closing in on the playoffs for both men's and women's teams.
The Royals men's team, featuring former Elphinstone Secondary School guard Andrew Baron, plays its last league game this Friday, Feb. 21, against Langara. Baron is second in the Pac West conference in rebounds (9.53 per game) and fourth in assists (4.00) per game.
On the women's side, fellow Elphi alumni Ellen Fallis is in her first year with the team. The women also play Langara Friday, Feb. 21, in their final league game.
Douglas then plays host to the provincials in New West Feb. 27 to March 1.
