News
February Sports Update
From Shawnigan Lake to Vancouver, Ottawa and Portland, Shawnigan’s athletes have been storming across the continent in recent months, with great results to report, while also preparing for some big upcoming championships.
ICE HOCKEY
For a long time this season, Shawnigan’s U18 Prep girls’ ice hockey team was hanging around the middle of the CSSHL standings. For the most part, though, that was because the team had played significantly fewer games than most of their rivals. After a busy January, Shawnigan has caught up to the rest of the league, and now sits third in the standings with a strong record of 16 wins and nine losses.
In early January, Shawnigan attended the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees Showcase Tournament, where they faced off against top U22 teams from across Canada. The team went 3-0 in pool play before bowing out in the playoffs.
Team captain Taya L. is tied for the league lead with 25 goals in 25 games, and sits fifth in points with 43, and Alix W. is third among goalies with a 2.00 goals-against average and .927 save percentage while going 9-3. Zoe C. was named CSSHL Female Prep Player of the Month for January after recording 17 points (nine goals and eight assists) in 10 games.
On January 9-12, the U18 Prep boys’ team hosted the 2025 Robertson Invitational, featuring CSSHL teams from BC and Alberta, as well as Fairmont Prep from California. St. George’s School defeated Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna in the tournament championship game.
U18 Prep defenceman Wylie W. played for China in Div. 2A of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, held in Zagreb, Croatia on January 6-12, posting one assist in five games as China won two games and lost three. Wylie has 25 points (four goals and 21 assists) in 21 games for Shawnigan this season.
On Saturday, January 25, our development ice hockey squads squared off with Brentwood in showcase games at Kerry Park Arena to help mark the 50th anniversary of Brentwood’s own ice hockey programs. Shawnigan’s own ice hockey program began in 1974, with the addition of a girls’ development squad in 2018, first in partnership with Brentwood College School as ShawWood, and since 2021 with our own all-Shawnigan, all-girls team. This year Shawnigan has strong dev squad teams of both genders, including 38 girls, many of whom had never played ice hockey before coming to Shawnigan but wanted to experience Canada’s most-recognized sport for themselves.
BASKETBALL
The senior boys’ basketball team is in Portland, Oregon this week for a three-game tour, including a game at Moda Center, home to the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. With very short notice, Shawnigan picked up the senior boys team from Khalsa Secondary and travelled with them to Portland for a game on the NBA hardwood, followed by a chance to watch the Trail Blazers take on the Sacramento Kings. When they return, they will hold a four-day training camp before heading to the Comox Valley for the North Island Championships at Highlands Secondary, hoping to qualify for the Island Championships.
The junior A girls’ team has had quite the week. Last weekend, the team travelled to Vancouver for the Independent Schools Association championships, where they placed third, edging Brentwood College School by three points in the last minute of play. On Tuesday, the girls played Brentwood again, this time for the North Island banner, and won once more. The team won’t be attending the Island championship tournament as it conflicts with Ski Week. “Both the ISAs and North Islands were incredible team efforts as we battled injuries and illness,” said coach Mrs. Julie Robb.
SQUASH
Shawnigan hosted its third Squash BC silver event in December, with 25 students participating. Jasper C. finished second in the top division, and Brian T. won division 3. The School also hosted a silver event in January, with 72 players taking part, making it the biggest silver event in BC this year. Brian T. won his division again, and Leo C. also won in what was only his second squash tournament.
The busy season continues with a silver event at St. Michaels University School this weekend, the Independent Schools Association championships at Shawnigan on February 22, and Squash BC provincials in Vancouver on February 28-March 2.
After that, the squash program will focus on the Mike Johnson Classic in early April. Now in its third year, the event will bring some alumni players back to the School to play in the professional challenger event. That will be followed by nationals in Toronto in early May.
ROWING
Shawnigan had an outstanding showing at the Kraken Erg indoor regatta hosted by Brentwood College School last Sunday. “Our rowers have been training all term for this event, and I am excited to say we had some great performances,” Head of Rowing Mrs. Jennifer Parfitt commented.
U15 1000m Boys erg
Naro G.: second
U15 1000m Girls erg
Edie H.: third
U17 Men's Novice 2000m erg
Kyle J.: first
U17 Lightweight Women's 2000m erg
Isabella P.: second
U17 Women's Novice 2000m erg
Kalissa S.: third
U19 Men's Novice 2000m erg
Sam T.: second
RUGBY
Three members of the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 – which was announced on January 15 – have prominent connections to Shawnigan Lake School. Alumni Eddie Evans ’81 (Lake’s) and Ian Hyde-Lay ’75 (Lake’s) are being inducted as a player and a match official, respectively. Current coach Mrs. Barbara Mervin is also being inducted as a player. Congratulations to all nine inductees!
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
