Shane Sommer finally gave Nova Scotia its gold medal breakthrough on the last day of competition at the Canada Games in Red Deer, Alberta.
The 14-year-old from Port Williams placed first in the male ski cross competition for the province’s highlight moment of the Games. Bedford’s Cole Fraser also narrowly missed the podium in the same event, placing fourth. Sommer and Fraser had to advance through the round of 64, round of 32, quarter-finals and semifinals just to make it to the big final.
“It felt really good because we haven’t had two in the top five for a really long time,” Sommer said. “It’s been a lot of fun. The other events were a little rough but this one was a lot of fun. I’m just here for the best, support my teammates, have some fun and end off the week with a positive note.”
Grant Keefe and Noah Hann also wound up tied for ninth and Mitchell Larkin was in a group in 17th place.
Elsie Gillis fared well in the female singles, tying for ninth. Eliana Tzaneteas tied for 17th, Tori Pace was in a group in 26th and Lily Oakley finished in a tie for 33rd.
Nova Scotia’s medal count is 11 - one gold, six silver and four bronze. The female curling team and squash player Douglas Kosciukiewicz helped boost those totals with bronze victories.
The squad of Cassidy Currie, Cate Fitzgerald, Cally Moore and Taylour Stevens edged New Brunswick 8-7 for the clutch curling victory. They scored a point in the final end to break the tie. The boys’ team finished seventh.
Canaan’s Kosciukiewicz swept British Columbia’s Sam Scivier 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 12-10) in his squash match late on Friday.
BADMINTON
Nova Scotia wrapped up competition with a sixth-place finish in the team event.
Manitoba got the edge 3-1 in the final head-to-head. Sarah Newman and Dana Pothier combined for Nova Scotia’s lone victory (21-9, 21-14) over their Manitoba opponents.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
Fiona McClure, Maggie McClure, Ogen Newcomb and Colin Ward teamed up for a 10th-place finish in the mixed relay.
They clocked a time of 1:14:29. Ontario won in 1:05:46.90.
HOCKEY
The N.S. girls’ team dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to New Brunswick in overtime in the seventh-place game.
Erin Denny and Avi Adam were the goal scorers and Deanna Fraser stopped 22 shots. Nova Scotia finished eighth in the final standings.
