Sunday was another cross-country travel day for Team BC at the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games as week one athletes completed their games experience and week two athletes arrived and settled into the village at the University of Prince Edward Island.
Week one had 163 BC athletes, coaches and team managers and week two’s BC contingent is 162. Team BC won 52 medals during the first week of the Games: 21 gold, 12 silver and 19 bronze as the province sits in second place behind Quebec in the overall medal count.
Here’s what we heard from Team BC members as they passed by each other on campus.
Jack Hanson (Fort. St. John) |Speed skating (long) | on a complicated trade for a Nunavut team jacket.
“I traded my black [BC] puffer jacket for a New Brunswick puffer jacket. Then traded that for a ‘Toba [Manitoba] jacket and now ended up with the Nunavut jacket – the one I wanted all along. It took three trades for that jacket. I was trying to get a Yukon shell as well, but no one was biting on that.”
On competing at the speed skating oval in Halifax
“We were away from the Village, but it was still a super cool experience. The officials did a great job and all the volunteers welcomed us.”
Mason Pollard (Prince George) | Archery | on being at the Canada Games with athletes from other sports
“It’s very surreal to be with a lot of people with the same stature. I am excited to shoot and have fun.”
Matthew Leach (Lumby) | Alpine skiing | on his Canada Games expectations
“I am here to have fun and compete hard and enjoy the experience. It’s different being here because there’s a big amount of people. It’s so interesting.”
Alex Clarke (Vancouver) | Team leader | Figure skating | on leading athletes at their first multisport games
“It will be my job to make sure they are comfortable and happy and to get enough sleep and food and focus on what they are here to do. For a lot of them, this is their first time away from their parents.”
Team BC spotlight
Team BC Tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 27)
*medal opportunity | Times in AST (PST +4hrs)
7:30pm – Hockey (F) | Preliminary vs Saskatchewan | Credit Union Place