The Collingwood netball team won the BC Championship this past weekend in Burnaby.  Here is Coach McLaughlin's report on this great accomplishment:

It had been nearly a decade since Collingwood claimed back-to-back gold at the BC Netball Provincial Championships. After two consecutive third-place finishes in '24 and '25, the Cavaliers arrived hungry for a different colour medal. With a roster boasting four seasoned seniors, experienced Grade 9s, and talented Grade 8 rookies, the timing felt right to reclaim the top spot.

The Road to the Finals

The squad headed into the weekend ready for any challenge. Their opening match served as a comfortable warm-up, allowing every player to get valuable minutes on court. The second game, however, was a grudge match against Moscrop—a team the Cavs had beaten in league play but lost to them in the season opener tournament earlier in the season.

Despite early struggles with possession, Collingwood's shooters kept them in the hunt, even as they trailed by two at the half. Following a few tactical positional changes, the defense tightened, swinging the momentum back in Collingwood’s favor for a gritty 3-point victory. A smoother third game followed, allowing the coaches to rotate the lineup and rest the starters for day two.

Adversity on Day Two

Saturday brought challenges both on and off the court. With players departed for Spring Fair and a painful sprained ankle sidelining Kayla Y., the Cavs were forced to push forward with a shortened bench.

After two clinical wins to start the day, the third game proved to be a battle. Trailing 5-0 early, Collingwood shifted positions to leverage different skill sets. Behind the consistent scoring of Sara D. and Eliza CG., and a dynamic defensive circle anchored by Campbell S. and Gemma T., the team rallied. Supported by the steady mid-court play of Sophia G., Miral N., and Shyra J., the Cavs clawed back to win by two and clinch a spot in the finals.

The Championship: A Comeback for the Ages

The final round-robin game against the Central Wildcats was a strategic crossroads: a win would set up a final against Moscrop, while a loss meant a rematch with Central. The Wildcats played with "nothing to lose" intensity, disrupting Collingwood’s rhythm with a relentless zone defence and perfect shooting.

The result? A Cavs-Wildcat rematch for the gold.

The final started as a mountain to climb. Despite excellent shooting, unforced errors left Collingwood down four at half-time. Minutes into the second half, the deficit grew to seven. In netball, where scoring is incremental and centre passes alternate, a 7-point gap late in the game can feel insurmountable. You have to score on your own possession and "break" your opponent's pass to gain ground.

The Cavs refused to quit. With less than two minutes left, Collingwood forced two crucial turnovers to pull within two. As the clock ticked down, they intercepted a Central centre pass and converted; Eliza then drained a long-range shot to tie the game.

With 40 seconds remaining, Central took their center pass. The crowd’s "DEFENSE!" chants shook the gym. Central moved the ball to the edge of the circle, earning a free pass on an obstruction call. Their Goal Shooter made a break, narrowly escaping a steal by Campbell S., but under heavy pressure from Gemma T., the shot rimmed out.

Gemma snatched the rebound with 20 seconds left. Collingwood transitioned the ball down-court with precision, finding the shooting circle with 10 seconds on the clock. A quick shot missed—but Sara D. went up strong for the rebound. A whistle blew: Penalty to Central.

With 4 seconds left, Sara stepped up for the free shot. She popped the ball in. 3, 2, 1... COLLINGWOOD WINS!

The gym erupted. Coaches jumped for joy and players embraced in a moment of pure magic. While the team held two silvers and two golds before the pandemic, this title felt like the ultimate culmination of a rebuilding era. It stands as a testament to recent graduates like Halle A., Mo K., Severin J., Kavika T., and Emily U., who kept the program alive and mentored the current stars.

As the squad says a bittersweet goodbye to powerhouse seniors Sara D., Miral N., Kayla Y., and Campbell S., the future remains bright. With a strong returning core including Shyra J, Jennifer C., Aika A., Ella S., Sophie SG., and Eliza CG., the door is open for new players to join the legacy.

After all, if you can run, catch, and throw, you can be a part of Collingwood Netball!

2025-26 BC Champions