Local Sports

The snowy cold weather didn't seem to matter last Friday as the soccer action heated up indoors. The five teams at the girls' U15 youth soccer league met on Friday, Jan. 2, to compete for the annual Old Boot indoor tournament.

BC Hockey's helmet policy took effect Dec. 1. The policy requires all minor hockey coaches to wear a CSA (Canadian Standards Association) approved helmet during BC Hockey on-ice sanctioned events.

Last November, after completing the New York Marathon, Rick Cooney confidently declared that he would run 12 marathons in 2008. Included in that epic feat would be the "original" marathon in Athens, Greece.

As winter hangs in the air, it's not too early to plan what new and exciting sport you might like to take part in on the Sunshine Coast this coming spring and summer season.

The only women's match this week saw first place Marshall Mayhem beat IGA Blazers 4-2. Striker TJ Stewart inevitably scored, notching two goals, while Brooke Whalen scored from her corner kick and Trina Geisbrecht bagged a single.

Spurred on by the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics, skaters with the Pacific Blades speed skating club are charged up and competing with great success. The past two weekends have proven to be successful ones for the local club with top results at B.C.

The Suncoast Racquet Club enjoyed its first open tournament in the new indoor facility in Sechelt last weekend with some exciting matches in men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.

Gibsons' Ryan Dempster is staying in the Windy City, and he has 52 million reasons why. The right-hander agreed to a $52 million, four-year contract with an option in 2012 with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

The senior women's bonspiel held last weekend at the Gibsons Curling Club was a great success, thanks to all the volunteers who turned up to help make it run smoothly.

A youth injection is spurring on the Sunshine Coast Squash Association.