Local Sports

2010 is turning into a remarkable year for the Sunshine Coast Skating Club, with a record number of skaters qualifying for high-level competitions, and even helping out with the Olympics.

More than 200 fans were treated to an entertaining night of men's hockey last Saturday at the Sunshine Coast Arena.

For the third straight year, Chatelech is sending racers to the high school ski/snowboard provincial championships. After another solid season of racing, both the girls' and boys' snowboard teams will head to Rossland and Red Mountain March 1 to 3.

The Suncoast Racquet Club proudly hosted its first open to the public tennis tournament Feb. 5 to 7.

Too many turnovers and poor second and third quarters proved to be too much for the Chatelech Eagles Wednesday night as the Elphinstone Cougars advanced to the North Shore final with a 64-52 win.

The Elphinstone Coug-ars' playoff run came to end Tuesday night in Richmond, but what a run it was. After losing 43-34 to the West Vancouver High-landers last Wednesday (Feb.

Chad Niddery's goal 45 seconds into overtime sent the Powell River Kings to a thrilling 6-5 win over the Burnaby Express last Sunday at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre.

The Elphi bantam boys passed their first playoff test Monday night in North Vancouver with a 50-30 win over the Sutherland Sabres. Head coach Denis Tur-enne called the game the best defensive effort the Cougars have put in all season.

The Elphinstone Cougars rebounded from an overtime loss to the Chatelech Eagles to beat the Balmoral Barons 35-28 in the championship final of the six-team bantam girls' tournament at Elphinstone last Saturday afternoon.

Can a senior men's hockey team make a go of it again on the Sunshine Coast? That's one of the questions the Sechelt Hitmen hope to answer when they play host to the Powell River Regals next Saturday night.