After two weeks of sporting events at the Canada Winter Games, a number of North Shore competitors have walked away with medals among the best young athletes in the country.
On Prince Edward Island on Sunday, the B.C. girls hockey team triumphed in a 3-0 shutout final against Nova Scotia. On that gold medal team was 16-year-old defence Chloe Primerano, who had two assists in the final game and a total 10 points throughout the tournament, topped only by her teammate Maddie Leaney with 12. West Vancouver’s Vienna Rubin was also on the champion squad.
Last year, Primerano made Canadian Hockey League history when she was drafted by the Vancouver Giants, becoming the first female skater ever picked in the CHL Prospects Draft.
At the games, the North Shore athlete with the most medals was Mia Rodgers, 16, of North Van. She won gold in the 10 kilometre individual female, silver in the mixed relay and bronze in the 7.5 km pursuit female.
Finishing with the most golds was Ivan Lu. The 15-year-old athlete from West Van won gold both in the épée male and team mix fencing events. On the mixed team, he was joined by fellow local fencer Veronica Scherk, who also tied for bronze in the épée female.
Other medalists include Nia Haftlang of North Van, who won bronze in the 61 kilogram kumite male karate event, and Lena Andrews, who won bronze in the 53 kg kumite female. Roman Luke Bicknell won gold as part of team B.C. for male squash, and finished seventh in individual competition.
William Veroni placed fourth in 63.5 kg male boxing; Ty Copeland and Shea Busch placed fourth with the B.C. boys hockey squad; Julian Hassan placed fifth in 68 kg kumite male; and Anastasia Kimovska Talia Harasym finished eighth on team B.C. for ringette.
Cross country skiers Aidan Hay and Ryan Goodwin competed in four events, with their highest finish as sixth on team B.C. in the 4 x 5 km free relay mix; Samson Boldizar competed in two trampoline events, finishing 5th in team mix; and Mark Novak raced in four alpine skiing events, finishing 10th in ski cross and slalom male.
Full results can be viewed on the Canada Winter Games website.
