DELTASPORTS LadnerbluelinerhelpsCanadawinU21 WorldtitleinCzechia

MARK BOOTH mbooth@delta-optimist com

It’s been a summer of lifetime memories as an elite ball hockey player for Brooke Tuba.

The Ladner blueliner is fresh off helping Canada win gold at the U21 World Championships in Liberec, Czechia.

Canada capped a perfect six game run with a 1-0 win over Slovakia in the title game That came after an earlier 7-4 semifinal triumph over the United States, along with four round-robin victories Czechia, Slovakia, US and Great Britian.

Tuba earned her Team Canada status thanks to her play for B C at last summer ’ s U19 national championships The roster was finalized last October and regular team Zoom meetings following in the months ahead before getting together at last for a pre-tournament training camp in the Czech Republic The 2022 Delta Secondary graduate and now UVic student was one of three B.C. girls on the roster, with the core of the team (eight players) being from Newfoundland.

“It was such an incredible experience. The girls were super nice, the coaches were amazing and it was a super competitive tournament. Thankfully our team went undefeated,” said Tuba. “It was definitely the highest level I have ever played at.”

Soon after returning home, Tuba was packing her bags again, this time for a threeweek excursion to the Maritimes, starting off with the B C team at the U19 Canadian Championships in St John’s The tournament will give her an opportunity to reunited with many of her Canadian teammates who also will be playing for their respective countries

She then goes directly to New Brunswick for the Canadian Women’s Championships, starting Aug 8 It’s all part of her ever-expanding playing resume in a sport she only started playing a year ago through the encouragement of one of her ice hockey teammates.

“It was after our season and one of my friends asked if I wanted to play as a way to stay in shape and I was like sure, why not,” added Tuba. “I never in a million years dreamed it would be like this.”

MARK BOOTH

mbooth@delta-optimist com

Delta swimmers Chloe MeredithJensen and Kyla Marshall were part of Team B C’s impressive medal haul at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games in Halifax.

Meredith-Jensen won a trio of gold medals in the women ’ s 17-to-19-yearold 400m freestyle, 200m medley and 200m free relay events The Sungod Swim Club member added silver in the 50m backstroke and bronze in the 100m back. Fourth place finishes in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, along with a sixth in the 200m individual medley capped off her outstanding meet Marshall reached the podium three times, including silver in the women ’ s 14-and-under 200m medley relay Bronze medals also came in the 200m breaststroke and 800m freestyle. The Winskill Dolphins Swim Club member added a fifth in the 400m free, a pair of eighth place finishes in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and a ninth in the 100m free

In total, Team B.C. captured 159 medals across 14 sports, including 53 gold, to place second in the overall team standings, just 17 medals behind runner-up Team Saskatchewan and 31 ahead of third place Team Ontario

The 2023 NAIG brought together Indigenous athletes from across Turtle Island to celebrate their culture and showcase their athletic abilities. Team BC’s outstanding performance was a testament to the talent, dedication, and hard work of the athletes, coaches, families, and mission staff Throughout the week-long event, spectators and participants experienced impressive displays of skill, sportsmanship, and unity, which left a lasting impact.

“Team BC athletes, coaches, volunteers, parents, and mission staff are to be congratulated on their success following the NAIG 2023,” said The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I SPARC) President, Corinne McKay. “The Host Province and Community of Kjipuktuk (Halifax) were excellent and gracious hosts We note they are currently challenged with flooding and offer our best in their recovery efforts to the communities affected. We know the investment in the lives of our athletes will reap positive results for their future opportunities.”