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  • Will They or Won’t They

    SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – MARCH 01: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Vancouver Canucks looks on during the first period against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on March 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

    It’s the biggest question in the NHL right now … Will the Vancouver Canucks TRADE Quinn Hughes?

    Now, before I get into this too far, I will state my opinion and say NO, the Vancouver Canucks shouldn’t trade Quinn Hughes because he’s a generational talent that the Canucks have never had the likes of (on defense) and probably won’t see again. Unless of course they keep up their rate of play lately, then we could see Gavin McKenna in a Canucks uniform soon.

    But I digress; the biggest question going right now is will the Vancouver Canucks trade Quinn Hughes. Usually, where there is smoke there is fire and I can’t tell if this is just all the bongs being hit at the same time, or if this is going to take place. Two things come to mind immediately: Quinn Hughes is a free agent in 2027, and the Canucks don’t appear to be a contender anytime soon. Those two things will make one think that a trade will be on the horizon. However, if I stop and really think this through, I don’t think it’s a smart move to trade Quinn Hughes and here’s why …

    Quinn Hughes is an elite-level NHL talent. It’s Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar (shout-out to Lane Hutson in Montreal and Matthew Schaefer on Long Island) at the top of the defensive talent pool currently in the NHL. Having a player like that means you’ve got something that everyone else would want to have on their roster, so you can look at that as both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because Quinn Hughes could fetch a big return. A curse because a player like that will go for high value and if you can’t build a winner around them, who knows if they’re interested in staying around forever. Now, I’m not a mind reader, never will be either (I don’t think) but if I were the GM of the Vancouver Canucks, I’m not trading Quinn Hughes. I’d give him whatever he wanted, sign him for a long time and rebuild the team around him. On the other hand, you trade Quinn Hughes now, try to capitalize on the return and blow up the team completely, going full rebuild. The Vancouver Canucks have the chance to do this, with or without Quinn Hughes. Let’s just hope, for fans’ sake, that the Vancouver Canucks make the right call, build this team from the ground up, and do it well!

    Tyson Taylor – Independent Sports Reporter

  • Storm FC Roll Through Nanaimo, Stay Unbeaten

    Iver moves past a defender last weekend in Nanaimo – Tyson Taylor Photo

    It was a rougher challenge than usual for Oceanside Storm FC in Nanaimo this past weekend, but they faced it head on together and came away with a statement 5-1 victory.

    Liam Taylor paced the way for the Storm, putting 3 goals in the back of the net, while Everett Wood and Jack Bellamy each beat the keeper to round out the scoring. Hunter Phillips and Calvin Adams held it down in net for the Storm FC. “Proud of how the whole team played and carried themselves,” co-coach Chris Phillips said after the gritty performance from the Storm FC.

    Next up for the 7-0 Storm FC comes at home, against Oceanside FC Team 1. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at the Qualicum Beach Rec Fields.

  • Byard Looking To Make History

    They say age is just a number, which is most definitely the case when it comes to the man staring history in the face this Saturday night in Victoria, BC.

    Jaye Byard will step in to the ring against Brandon Colantonio, 15 years older but comes in with a lifetime of experience in the boxing world compared to his opponent. It’s been a lifetime of hard work, dedication, and self-belief for Byard, and it all comes together this weekend.

    When asked how he feels heading into this fight, Byard is ready to go. “I feel really good, camp was really a successful one, had good quality sparring, great training, the team is all on the same page and it feels really good to get back in the ring after a layoff of over a year.”

    The last time Byard was in the ring, he made quick work of ‘Sugar’ Shane Upshaw via KO in the first round. “The whole fight, I was dealing with a lot of emotional stuff outside of the ring,” Byard said. “Really trying to keep it together, mentally, was a tough balance. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much in that fight, we came together two times, and it was over for Shane.”

    This time around, there is a title on the line for Byard, vying to become the first ever WBC USA Bridgerweight Champion (200 – 224 lbs./91 – 102 kg), a title that was created in 2020 in honour of 6-year-old American Bridger Walker, who saved his 4-year-old sister from a stray dog attack. Byard, already the CPBC Classic Heavyweight Champion, has a chance to add another title to his resume.

    “It sounds amazing,” Byard said of the chance to become a WBC title holder. “It feels like my dreams are on the horizon and are about to become a reality. All the work that I’ve done, since I was ten years old, it’s been my training camp and preparation for this fight. It hasn’t been 13 months of training for Brandon; I’ve been training for 35 years now.”

    Byard knows that being the older fighter comes with its detractors, but that doesn’t seem to faze him.

    “You can’t achieve anything in life without taking risks. I’m 44 years old, I’ve got 15 years on Brandon,” Byard said. “But for me, I love the challenge. You’re not going to get sympathy from anyone in boxing for being old, you make that choice to stick around in a young man’s game. I’m really looking forward to this fight; I’ve been ready for quite a while now. This past year, I haven’t been sitting around, I’ve not wasted any time.”

    It’s going to be a historic night and with a chance to make history, Byard is ready to step up. If he’s successful, then I guess it’s a rough night for me. If I’m successful, I’m keeping it rolling. I’m quite confident about this fight, we’ve got a great strategy and plan, whether he wants to box and run or make it ugly, we’re happy to do either,” Byard said. “At the end of the day, we’re going to find out if their plan to shut me down is successful, that’s the beautiful sport of boxing.”

    As the song goes, Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting, and you can bet Jaye Byard will be in on the action in the ring at the Bay Street Armoury in Victoria, BC, this Saturday night!

    Tyson Taylor – Independent Sports Reporter

  • History Making Night on Saturday in Victoria

    Photo Courtesy Champ Promotions

    The Bay Street Armoury in Victoria will play host to the first ever WBC title fight in British Columbia, marking a historic moment in boxing here in BC.

    Champ Promotions is back at it once again, with Round 7 taking place on November 8th from the Bay Street Armoury. The event gets under way with the under card at 3 PM, with the main card kicking off at 7 PM. This marks the first ever title fight for a WBC title in British Columbia’s storied boxing history, a significant event for both the sport of boxing and for Champ Promotions.

    The history making main event will see Jaye Byard, fighting out of Surrey, BC, taking on hometown fighter Brandon Colantonio, from Victoria, BC. The two combatants will battle for the WBC USA Bridgerweight Title, which was created in 2020 for fighters weighing between 200 and 224 pounds.

    Byard, currently ranked 34th in the WBC Bridgerweight rankings (wbcboxing.com), will look to improve on his 8-4 (8 KO’s) record and claim another title to go along with his Canadian Professional Boxing Council (CPBC) Classic Heavyweight Championship.

    Colantonio comes in with a 6-1 record, with an advantage in height, and reach. Colantonio will look to make history, right in his hometown, with a win on Saturday night.

    Jessica ‘The Cobra’ Camara (14-5-1) comes in as the #1 ranked Women’s Canadian Lightweight, and the #12 Lightweight in the world. Fighting out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Camara will look to get back in the win column when she takes on Lenka Volejnikova (3-4-1), fighting out of Prague, Czechia.

    Also fighting on the main card will be a super lightweight bout between Ankush Panghal, fighting out of Surrey, BC, and Qadir Hamid, fighting out of Surrey, BC. Also on the card, making his pro debut, is Isaiah Guy, fighting out of Richmond, BC, who will take on John Elroy Fruto, fighting out of Surrey, BC, in a lightweight bout. As always, cards are subject to change.

    If you can’t make it in person to the Bay Street Armoury, you can watch it at home on fite.tv or Chek TV and Chek +.

    Tyson Taylor – Independent Sports Reporter

  • Storm FC Remain Unbeaten

    Another trip to Ladysmith brought a surge of goals for Oceanside Storm FC, who improve to 6-0 this season with a 10-0 win this past weekend.

    Leading the charge for the Storm were Hunter Phillips, Liam Taylor, and Jack Bellamy; who each had two goals. Everett Wood, Anthony Fee, Oliver Barr, and Jack Harrison all found the back of the net to round out the scoring for the Storm. Oliver Barr and Liam Taylor shared shutout duties in goal for the Storm, who controlled the ball from the starting whistle all the way through to the final.

    Storm FC are back in action this upcoming weekend, on the road once again, as they head to Nanaimo to take on Napoli and look to remain unbeaten on the season.

    Tyson Taylor – Independent Sports Reporter