Liz Ashton - Photo by Megan Pollock
Special Olympics BC – Victoria athletes are headed home from Thunder Bay, Ontario with their heads held high after stellar performances at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games this week.
Speed skater Liz Ashton who travelled to the games with her coach Kaehlen Allison comes home with two gold medals and one silver, and Matthew Schultz and Aaron Taylor are bringing home silver medals for their efforts competing with the Comox Valley Vipers in the floor hockey finals versus a strong team from Peterborough, ON.
Victoria’s curling team comprised of Drew Denny, Kevin Nunn, Danny Pace, Patrick Reid and Drew Sabourin, led by coaches James Amarelo and Dave Bodie, also had a strong showing with a fourth place finish.
Special Olympics BC – Victoria was also represented at the games by Mission Staff Jean Tetarenko and Victoria’s Athlete Coordinator Kyle Eriksen who coached a Vancouver-based floor hockey team to a fourth place finish. Eriksen says he is incredibly proud of all the athletes from the Victoria area:

“Over the past week, Victoria athletes demonstrated a great deal of perseverance and determination in their sports, in the hopes of winning medals for BC: In speed skating, floor hockey, and curling.

All participating athletes had an amazing experience representing Victoria and the province in the wonderful city of Thunder Bay and all coaches are so proud of the way their athletes handled the pressures of adversity throughout the competitions. No matter the result, there was never any doubt that the athletes did their best every day!”

The athlete’s performances at the games will determine who will get selected to represent Team Canada at the 2021 Special Olympics World Winter Games.
A hero’s welcome has been planned at Victoria International Airport for the athlete’s arrival on Sunday March 1st at 4:45 pm. All are welcome.
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Comox Valley Vipers – Photo by SOBC Region 6
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Drew Sabourin and Patrick Reid – Photo by Special Olympics BC