Local Sports

The history of the Viking can be traced back to the eighth century, but the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings are looking to make a little history themselves in the 21st century.

If there was ever a good time to check someone in the head, Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins picked maybe the worst time to throw a flying elbow this season.

It may be too early to think about Easter, but as far as hockey goes in the Battlefords the Battlefords Minor Hockey Association and Battlefords Female Hockey Association now have all their eggs in one basket.

The annual Women's Battle River Rocker bonspiel packed the Battleford Curling Club last weekend, with 12 teams taking part. Although there were definitely some serious games, the ample laughter showed that girls really do know how to have fun.

One of the best Battlefords North Stars players in the past three seasons has left the Battlefords and is set for a new college hockey experience.

He spent a lot of time in the penalty box, in fact Wade Belak has earned 1,263 penalty minutes in the NHL, but he is now situated in another box at the arena - the press box.

Miracles do still happen. Want evidence? In Saturday's Junior Boys' District Basketball final in Marshall, the hand of something or someone with a keen sense of the implausible stirred the pot for the tiny Glaslyn School Jets.

Another hockey league is done for the season. The Beaver Lakes Hockey League, which includes teams from Big River, Glaslyn, Leoville, St. Louis, Shellbrook and Whitefish ended Saturday, as St. Louis beat the Glaslyn North Stars.

The battles for the provincial basketball titles are heating up and all divisions in Saskatchewan are down to the sweet 16.

The first brackets begin this week for the NCAA's March Madness and last week the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association started their local version of March Madness. Two Battlefords teams remain heading into the regional championship weekend.