Daily Recap – August 21, 2022

Team BC wrapped up the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games with a successful final day of competition, capturing 10 more medals, including five Gold medals. BC finishes these Games third in the overall medal standings, with a total of 128 medals, including 34 Gold, 51 Silver, and 43 Bronze.

MEDAL STANDINGS | SCHEDULE + RESULTS | PHOTOS | LIVESTREAM

Highlights from Day 16:

• Box Lacrosse (M) won the first Canada Games Gold medal in the sport since they last won in 1985, capping off an emotional week that saw them play for their teammate Ben Pawluk. The story was covered on CBC News: The National. 
• Volleyball (F) put together a strong performance to win the Bronze medal
• Diving’s Keira Lu won the Bronze medal in the women’s 1m springboard 
• Rowing won five medals on the final day of the Games, including two Gold
• BC’s sailors won Gold in both sailing events on Sunday at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club.
• Soccer (F) finished in fifth place after beating New Brunswick 3-1

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Box Lacrosse

In a rematch of the last Canada Games men’s box lacrosse final in 1985, Team BC overcame a 6-4 deficit in the third period to storm back and beat Ontario 7-6 and win Gold.

The win capped off an emotional week for Team BC that saw them rally behind teammate Ben Pawluk, who was unable to attend the Games due to a cancer diagnosis. The team hung Pawluk’s jerseys behind their bench for strength throughout the Games and opponents lined up to sign them before each game. 

“We had one purpose coming into this tournament; going for Ben and everybody knew this, the whole Canada Games knew it,” said captain Luca Pivetta (Victoria). “We just had that extra give in us to go for Ben and for his family.”

“It’s hard to put into words – I can't say enough about this group of athletes,” said assistant coach Grant Hamilton. “Dealing with all of the emotions of what their friend Ben is going through. We talked to Ben before the game in the dressing room, it was so inspirational for the guys. All week long, he was in our thoughts, and he really helped us in moving us to win this game.”

The entire week was an emotional rollercoaster for the team and the final was no different. After hearing from Pawluk pre-game, BC battled to a 3-2 lead after the first period.

But momentum shifted in the second period, as Ontario scored three straight to go up 5-3 and finished the period up 6-4. They couldn’t hold off an inspired BC team, however, as BC scored three straight in the third and played smothering defence to cap off an incredible performance. 

“Absolutely unbelievable job on defence – they say defence wins championships and that’s exactly what happened in the last ten minutes,” said Pivetta. “I think we had like six shot clock violations and it was just amazing defence, keeping the team calm on the bench and on the floor.”

Jared Maznik (Ladner) scored the winner half way through the third period to give BC the win. Maznik and teammates Aidan McDonald and Josh Mills (Maple Ridge) all finished the game with two goals apiece, while Nathan Chalmers (Coquitlam) added another for the blue and gold. 

The team’s story has been covered by CBC Vancouver and was also featured on CBC News: The National. 
 
“You’re our inspiration, an amazing person, keep fighting, we’re here for you, we’ll always be here for you, thank you for taking us to the championship,” said Hamilton in a message to Ben.

Result
Box Lacrosse (M) vs Ontario – 7-6 Win – GOLD

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Diving

BC’s Keira Lu (Victoria) won the Bronze medal in the women’s 1m Springboard event at the Eleanor Misener Aquatics Centre at Brock University. In the preliminary rounds, Lu failed one of her dives, but managed to climb back up to ninth place to qualify for the finals. She finished less than 6 points behind the Silver medallist from Quebec.

Result
Diving (F) – 1m Springboard – Keira Lu – BRONZE – 231.95

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Rowing

Team BC captured five medals in rowing events on the final day of the Games at the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course, including 2 Gold medals.

Gunnar Platt (Shawnigan Lake) and Quinn Storey (Burnaby) brought home the Gold medal in the men’s Double Sculls event. In the women’s Four, Danica Ariano (Vernon), Mira Calder (Victoria), Sally Juliette Jones (Victoria), and Ellie Sousa (Victoria) won the Gold for BC.

“We’re pretty stoked,” said Platt after winning the Gold medal. “We certainly had a tough one yesterday, and we just came back today ready to go, and we’re fired up.”

In the women’s Eight with Coxswain event, the team of Danica Ariano (Vernon), Lyndsey Bryden (Vancouver), Mira Calder (Victoria), Claire Hallett (Victoria), Sally Juliette Jones (Victoria), Caitlin Lawrence (Delta), Elisa Luo (Vancouver), Ellie Sousa (Victoria), and Willow Ming Ting Woon (Victoria) captured the Silver medal.

Giancarlo DiPompeo won the Silver medal in the men’s Single Scull event. DiPompeo won his third medal at these Games, a Bronze, with his teammate Matthew Thompson (Toronto, Ontario) in the men’s Lightweight Double Sculls event.

Results
Rowing (M) – Single Scull – Giancarlo Di Pompeo – SILVER – 6:52.41
Rowing (M) – Double Sculls – GOLD – 6:21.09
Rowing (F) – Four – GOLD – 6:35.25
Rowing (M) – Lightweight Double Sculls – BRONZE – 6:28.92
Rowing (F) – Eight with Coxswain – SILVER – 6:15.45

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Sailing

BC’s sailors won Gold in both sailing events on Sunday at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Sailing Club.

Jessica Hirschbold (Victoria) and Grace Poole (Victoria) took home the Gold medal in the women’s Double Handed 29er event after coming in third and first on the last day of racing.

On the men’s side, Colin Gilley (Vancouver) and Matt Young (Vancouver) secured the Gold medal for BC after finishing first and second in Sunday’s races.

Results
Sailing (F) – Double Handed 29er – GOLD – 16 Points
Sailing (M) – Double Handed 29er – GOLD – 15 Points

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Soccer

In the fifth place game at the Youngs Sportsplex, BC’s women’s soccer team defeated Team New Brunswick 3-1 to finish fifth at these Games.

After an uneventful first half, Team BC’s goal to start off the second half was disallowed due to an offside call. Team New Brunswick then scored a goal to take a 1-0 lead, but BC’s Noelle Sather (Port Coquitlam) tied the game at the 60-minute mark in a penalty kick after a handball in the penalty box by New Brunswick. Jeneva Hernandez Gray (Coquitlam) scored the game-winning goal at the 67-minute mark, and Jaime Perrault (Pitt Meadows) scored the third goal for Team BC at the 70-minute mark to extend their lead to 2 and win the game.

Result
Soccer (F) vs New Brunswick – 3-1 Win – 5th Place

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Volleyball

At the Canada Games Park on Sunday, BC’s women’s volleyball team captured the Bronze medal with a straight set win over Saskatchewan.

“We were determined to get a medal,” said outside hitter Taylor De Boer (Kelowna). “We played free, had fun and [we’re] happy to win a Bronze”.

Team BC’s men’s volleyball pulled off an upset win over a favoured Manitoba team in the closely-contested fifth place game at the Welland Campus at Niagara College 3 sets to 2 to finish fifth at these Canada Summer Games.

Charles Parkinson, a legendary volleyball coach and the head coach of the BC men’s team, coached his last game of his coaching career at these Canada Summer Games.

“We had a fantastic finish,” said Parkinson after their victory over Team Manitoba. “I couldn't have gone out with a finer group of kids, and the chance to coach at [the] Canada Games. I've been at [the] CSG in multiple roles over the years, but it's my first time as a coach and this was really sweet. This will stay with me forever.”

Results
Volleyball (F) vs Saskatchewan – 3 sets – 0 Win (25-21, 25-21, 25-23) – BRONZE
Volleyball (M) vs Manitoba – 3 sets – 2 Win (27-29, 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 15-11) – 5th Place