The Dallas Stars had a little break in their National Hockey League schedule and opted to spend part of it in Whistler.
With two full days between a 2-1 win in Calgary on Oct. 27 and their next game in Vancouver against the Canucks on Oct. 30, Dallas took in the Sea to Sky's natural beauty, culminating with a full team practice on Sunday morning, Oct. 29.
The Stars were on the Meadow Park Sports Centre ice for about 50 minutes, clearly preparing well for the Canucks, who they defeated 2-1 in overtime on Monday night.
In an article on the team website, players discussed how important it was to get some time together early in the season, including a rookie dinner on Saturday night, especially with a number of new faces joining the team.
Head coach Ken Hitchcock told the team's website that in addition to the arena's beautiful natural light giving players and coaches an outdoor-rink atmosphere without the windchill, there were also a number of practical benefits for a squad that normally practices on ice affected by sweltering Texas heat.
"It's a throwback. It brings you back to your beginnings," Hitchcock said. "It's interesting you get on these ice surfaces and the sheet's hard and it doesn't snow up as much.
"I mean, we ran a 50-minute practice and at the end, if you wanted to, you could run power play and not miss a beat."
SportBC Athlete of the Year nominations now open
Have an athlete you feel should be recognized?
SportBC's 52nd annual athlete of the year awards will be handed out in the spring, and nominations are open until Nov. 17.
Categories include: athlete with a disability; college athlete; female coach; Harry Jerome comeback award; junior female athlete; junior male athlete; male coach; master athlete; official; senior female athlete; senior male athlete; team; and university athlete.
There are also high school male and female athlete awards, though those nominations are due Dec. 15 to allow fall seasons to finish.
Whistler's Finn Iles won the junior male athlete award at last year's event.
For more information or to nominate an athlete, visit sportbc.com/programs-and-events/athlete-of-the-year-awards/nomination-forms.
Volleyball championships coming to WSS
The best young spikers will be coming to Whistler Secondary School on Nov.10.
Teams from Pemberton, Squamish and Whistler will compete in four separate divisions: Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10 and senior. Action gets underway at noon with the Grade 8 tournament. The final match will be the senior girls' final at 7 p.m.
