Varsity sport will return to Vancouver Island University this fall with a near normal PACWEST schedule. Soccer will be the first return with a start date of Sept. 18. (Northfield Photography)

By Dan Marshall

Mariners Return

VIU Mariners teams gearing up for post-shutdown sports season

Sep 1, 2021 | 4:35 PM

NANAIMO — Plans are in motion for a near-normal return to action Vancouver Island University is planning for a near-normal fall sports season at all levels.

The Mariners soccer teams have resumed playing preseason matches and fall schedules are confirmed for VIU volleyball and basketball teams.

Interim athletic director Danielle Hyde said the expectation is for all varsity and club sports to go ahead.

“All other schools we compete against in the PACWEST are on the same page and we’ve all moved forward with a slightly reduced schedule.”

PACWEST soccer will begin on Sept. 18 with the Mariners at Capilano with the home openers for the men and women Sept. 19 versus Langara.

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Hyde said the squads will have some changes after the entire 2020 season was cancelled because of COVID-19.

“There’s been a fair amount of turnover with our athletes but the group of coaches are back. Our coaches are back with Kevin Lindo coaching the women side and Larry Stefanek with the men’s side”.

Other major varsity sports at VIU include basketball and volleyball which will both start league play in November with the incumbent coaches returning and similar roster turnover.

Hyde is looking forward to a banner raising for the 2020 women’s CCAA national championship team at the home opener.

VIU will also get a second chance to host the CCAA women’s basketball nationals which were cancelled just days before the 2020 event was supposed to happen.

“We had first right of refusal and VIU allowed us to put our name back in. We’re excited to be able to put on a show and roll out the work we had done literally days before we were shut down.”

Hyde is in the process of reaching out to the many club sports under the VIU banner like hockey and baseball but expects their seasons will go ahead as well.

Fall will bring a return to campus recreation opportunities as students return for the new school year.

Hyde said the offerings will be at near pre-COVID levels.

“We have a full slate of student recreation opportunities in intermurals, outdoor recreation and fitness. We’ve got lots of options for students to participate and meet people which is what we’ve all missed and such an important part of the student experience.”

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