Another dominant year for Ethan Katzberg, the NHL debut for Matthew Wood and an Order of Sport award for Michelle Stilwell highlight the top central island sports stories of 2025. (Submitted photos)

By Dan Marshall

Best in Sport

Top Stories of 2025: Championships, records and new beginnings for mid-Island athletes

Dec 26, 2025 | 10:59 AM

NANAIMO — Many mid island athletes and teams had major successes in 2025.

Ethan Katzberg once again made headlines with a Canadian track and field championships win in the hammer throw in August.

The Nanaimo product, who lives and trains in the Kamloops area, threw 81.33 metres.

In mid September, Katzberg won his second consecutive World Athletics Championship title, throwing an impressive 84.70 metres at Tokyo’s National Stadium.

On the ice
A Nanaimo hockey player had a special moment, starting down the path of his pro career.

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After Matthew Wood was drafted in 2023 by the Nashville Predators he signed his first NHL contract, a three year $950,000 deal, on March 29.

Just days later on Apr. 6 the 20-year-old played in his first NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Wood became an NHL regular in the fall and quickly scored his first career goal on Oct. 30 versus the Philadelphia Flyers.

Another milestone came on Nov. 10 when Wood recorded his first NHL hat trick at Madison Square Garden.

On the diamond
In July, Hayden Cuthbertson had a similar jump to the big leagues in becoming the third player in Nanaimo NightOwls franchise history to be drafted into Major League Baseball.

He was selected in the 18th round by the Miami Marlins on July 14.

The 21-year-old left handed pitcher was born in Parksville and played two seasons for the NightOwls in 2023 and 2024.

Cuthbertson joined Elijah Ickes and Connor Caskenette as Nanaimo West Coast League players who made it onto the MLB draft board.

On the floor
In August, a first for the Nanaimo Timbermen franchise, as captain Andrew Bowman was named the MVP of the BC Junior A Lacrosse League.

The Nanaimo native had 60 points which was the sixth most in the league.

It capped off a career which saw him put up 252 points in 74 career games.

Bowman will graduate into the WLA in 2026 and is likely to be a top draft pick of the Senior A Timbermen.

On the court
Early in 2025, the VIU Mariners women’s basketball team was in the midst of a tremendous 2024-25 season, temporarily halted by more serious matters.

The players on the team made a unanimous decision to not suit up for a pair of PACWEST games against Columbia Bible College on Jan. 10 and 11.

It was in response to team concerns over alleged physical and verbal abuse from CBC coaches and staff towards top player Harriette Mackenzie during a game in October of 2024.

Mackenzie, who is a trans-woman, had spoken out about the abuse in the fall of 2024.

The PACWEST would later announce the women’s provincial tournament would not be hosted by CBC but instead moved to Capilano.

The Mariners would go on to beat Columbia Bible College in the tournament final with VIU winning the provincial championship 69-59.

Mackenzie won tournament MVP and was also named a 2024-25 first team all-star and all-Canadian.

In our hearts
A long time staple of the Nanaimo sports community was lost in the summer of 2025 after lengthy health battle.

Gary Dorland was the Nanaimo Clippers equipment manager in recent years but had been a fixture at sporting events across the city helping out and selling 50/50 tickets for more than 25 years.

A community memorial was held at Frank Crane Arena on Aug. 10 with several colleagues, friends and family members taking time to share stories of Dorland.

The Clippers announced at the ceremony they were creating a trophy in his honour to be given out annually.

The Gary Dorland Memorial Award will be presented to the player, staff member or volunteer who demonstrates outstanding selflessness and commitment to the organization.

On the greens
In late August the Nanaimo Golf Club hosted the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship and a local player won the event with a three shot victory.

Nanoose Bay’s Shelley Stouffer won her third Canadian Championship and was the only golfer not to finish over par in a field of about 140 players.

In the hall
One of the central island’s most decorated athletes, Michelle Stilwell, was bestowed a tremendous honour in June.

The multi-time Paralympic gold medalist was named to Canada’s sports hall of fame when she received the Order of Sport.

Stilwell excelled in both racing and wheelchair basketball winning six gold and one silver medal across three separate Paralympics from 2000-2016.

She is the 18th Paralympian to earn the Order of Sport.

All around
Power lifting was in the spotlight in the Harbour City in 2025 with locals Tyler Ollech and Margot Croft going to the World Bench Press Championship in May and then Nanaimo hosting the Western Canadian Power Lifting Championships in October.

In July, a group of 36 local athletes returned from the Special Olympics BC Summer Games in Prince George with a large medal haul.

Swimmer Lornita Phillips headlined a long list of podium finishers with six gold medals in the pool.

Other highlights on the 2025 sporting calendar include a gold medal win for Brooklyn Chase in U16 discus at the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships in August and the VIU Mariners women’s soccer team capturing the PACWEST soccer championship while sweeping all of the major conference awards.

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