Nine days before the Canadian women's rugby sevens team ascended to a program-best Olympic silver medal in Paris, the Whistler Wolves were making their own history on a local scale.
A pair of tries from Blake Mahovic helped propel the Wolves to the first Rugby League British Columbia (RLBC) Grand Final title in its four-year existence. Harvey Lew and Kane Strachan also found the end zone, with Lew knocking in three conversions and a penalty kick, as Whistler downed the Vancouver Dragons 26-12.
It's the first time since 2019 that an RLBC team has won both the annual rugby nines tournament and the 13s season. Head coach Blake Stewart won't soon forget how his men rose to the occasion.
"Last year, we won the Nines and then fell away a little, but this year we just kept on building," Stewart said. "We were able to build a squad of 33 people registered, which was highest among [all RLBC teams] and we're the newest. The Grand Final win is unreal—obviously, that's what you strive to do—but the participation is really what I'm happy about."
Whistler's U18 boys saw action too, prevailing over the Vancouver Valley Vipers in two exhibition matches before the seniors got going.
A tale of two halves
The scoreboard does not tell the full story of how the 2024 RLBC championship game unfolded on July 21 at South Surrey Athletic Park.
"We were all calm on the bus ride down," recalled Mahovic. "We were in high spirits, but there was a definite stillness. The Dragons are a big, intense team, so we had prepared for their big ball carriers and disruptive tackling."
Whistler got off to a fast start, breaching the try line within moments. They entered halftime up 18-6, cruising on both sides of the ball. Fans may have expected the bloodbath to continue…but that's not what took place.
Instead, the Dragons bared their own fangs as 30-degree heat took its toll on every athlete. Vancouver pounded the Wolves' line again and again, winning time of possession and threatening to grind out a comeback via sheer force of will.
"Luckily we defended so well," Stewart remembered. "You can teach defence individually and in a group and all that kind of stuff, but you can't teach people to defend for each other, and that was the most pleasing thing."
The Dragons threw their best punches, but Whistler withstood them and eventually struck back. Mahovic cashed in another try, and a penalty goal by Lew with six minutes to play helped sweeten the pot.
Wolves halves and middles maintained control of the game, and edge players kept their work rate high until the last whistle.
Mahovic earned the RLBC Finals MVP award, while his teammates voted Conal Donnelly Player of the Game. Donnelly's steadfast defence anchored Whistler when it mattered most.
"We've been playing a really great brand of rugby all year, and we knew all we had to do was execute it again as a squad," Mahovic said. "It was an incredible team effort, and I'm really proud to call myself a Wolf alongside all my brothers."
'Talent for rugby in the corridor is here'
Most RLBC squads are based in the Lower Mainland, with a significant population to recruit from. The Wolves only draw from Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton, but that fact hasn't held them back—in fact, it might even be advantageous in a counterintuitive sort of way.
"The boys that have been around already know each other," Stewart said. "Anytime new people come in, they're probably living in Whistler for the most part so we're hanging out on the weekends regardless of whether rugby is on or not. We've all got similar interests: biking, snowboarding and rock climbing.
"The Vancouver Dragons have been around for almost 10 years now. I believe that in four years, we're in just as good a position as they are—both on and off the pitch."
Veterans like Mahovic, who are seasoned both overseas and in the Canadian national pipeline, are invaluable. Captain Josh Michalik is younger, but steadily finding his voice as leader of his unit. Longtime Squamolian Keith Reeves has joined Stewart as a coach, elevating the Wolves' training to a new level.
Both men have the same philosophy: develop their people first, and the on-field results will come.
Meanwhile, the junior Wolves are lobbying Stewart for additional games this year. They'll get their wish with an upcoming Saturday fixture at Whistler Secondary School.
"When [U18 involvement] is player-led, that makes growth so much easier," remarked Stewart. "Talent for rugby in the corridor is here. Kids just need to be exposed to it."
