Eleven outstanding Delta athletes are part of the Team BC contingent heading to Prince Edward Island next week for the 2023 Canada Winter Games.
It‘s the third time that PEI has staged the Canada Games since the province hosted its first Winter Games in 1991. More than 3,000 athletes will compete in 20 sports venues throughout PEI, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
Team BC finished fourth with 87 medals and a record-setting 30 gold medals at the last Canada Winter Games in Red Deer in 2019.
Team BC is expected to be near the top of the medal standings once again at the Games.
Many high-level athletes have launched their athletic careers through the BC Games and Team BC.
At the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Team BC was represented by 20 alumni including medallists Micah Zandee-Hart, Cassie Sharpe, Justin Kripps, Mollie Jepsen, and Meryeta O‘Dine.
“Our athletes have worked incredibly hard for the chance to represent our province at these Games and we can‘t wait to hit the ground running in PEI. The Canada Games are a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most participants and a chance to show off their talent and potential,” said Team BC Chef de Mission Kurt Innes in a news release.
The Canada Winter Games take place Feb. 18 to March 5.
Here’s a look at our Delta athletes headed to PEI:
Alpine Skiing
Gavin Santoro, 15, is scheduled to compete in the slalom, giant slalom and super giant slalom events. Under coach Jorgen Anderson, he trains with the Apex Ski Club.
Badminton
Grace Wang, 17, has been playing competitive badminton for nearly seven years under coach Lingling Wang.
Curling
It was back in December when Emily Bowles teamed up with Adam Fenton to win a provincial qualifier and earn the opportunity to represent BC in the first-ever Mixed Doubles competition at the Games. Bowles also just skipped her regular rink to the provincial U21 title and is headed to next month's Canadian Junior Championships in Quebec.
Figure Skating
Training at the Champs International Skating Centre of B.C., Tasha Lai, 14, and Vancouver’s Mickey Becker-Pos head to PEI as BC/Yukon Sectional champions in ice dancing.
Alex Clarke is a manager with Team BC figure skating.
Gymnastics
Makenzie Grant’s promising career includes winning the all-round gold at the 2018 B.C. Winter Games and placing third on the vault at the 2022 Canadian Championships. The 15-year-old trains under Janice Fowler at the Langley Gymnastics Foundation.
Hockey
Following an extensive tryout process that concluded with final selection camps in Whistler back in December, Rebecca Noble and Will Sharpe were named to their respective Team B.C. U18 female and U16 male hockey rosters. Noble is a top rated goaltender in the BC U18 AAA Female League with the Fraser Valley Rush, while Sharpe plays out of the Yale Hockey Academy and was a first round pick in last spring’s Western Hockey League Prospects Draft.
Judo
Owen Hou, 15, trains under Cynthya Tan at the Peak Judo Club. He won bronze at the 2020 B.C. Winter Games and gold at the 2022 provincials.
Ringette
Following an extensive tryout process Delta Ringette’s Alexandra Zed and Jessica Murphy have earned spots on the U19 Team BC roster. Julia Fechter is an alternate.
Short Track Speed Skating
Ryan Bolton,18, secured his Team B.C. spot with an impressive showing at trials back in December at the Richmond Olympic Oval. Much of his training in the past year has been at the Calgary Olympic Oval Program.
