World Financial Group

On March 25, the World Financial Group-sponsored curling team, the Ferbey 4, returned to action at the Victoria Curling Classic held at Bear Mountain Arena in Victoria, BC. Let’s recap how Randy, Scott, David and Marcel tossed the rock.

In their first match on Thursday, the Ferbey 4, wearing their WFG curling shirts, faced the tough hometown rink of Mike Wood.  Despite our team having the hammer and an early lead, Wood’s rink emerged victorious by a 7-4 score after seven ends.  However, the team had better luck in their second match against the rink of Tyrel Griffith, from of Kelowna, BC, by winning in 5 ends with a score of 10-3.

There was only one match for the WFG-sponsored Ferbey 4 on Friday, March 26.  The game, opposite the Japanese national team based out of Nagano, went to a ninth end with Randy and the team losing the match 5-4.

The last match in the Victoria Curling Classic for the Ferbey 4 was on Saturday.  The team faced the fellow Edmonton rink of Ted Applemen, and only needed three ends to win 6-1.  Unfortunately, their play did not qualify them for the final rounds of the VCC.

Keep reading wfgsports.com for the latest news on the Ferbey 4 and WFG’s other sport sponsorships.

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers were trailing the Alberni Valley Bulldogs three games to two in their best of seven series.  Game six was played on Tuesday night in the friendly confines of Frank Crane Arena.  Would our team make it to game seven?

The first period was good for the Clippers, as the lone goal in the game was scored by team member Carson Schell from an assist by Todd Gebert.  Nanaimo also scored a power play goal by Nicholas McIntyre, assisted by Luc Olivier Blain and Cody Bremner, in the second period, but the second period also saw three Bulldog goals.  And in the third period, Alberni Valley proved to be too powerful for our team as they scored two more goals to win this game 5-2 and the series four games to two.  But McIntyre from the Clippers was named the Second Star of the Game.

Thank you, Clippers, for such a great season from your fans at World Financial Group.  Keep reading WFGSports.com for all the latest on this team and WFG’s other sports sponsorships!

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers continue their postseason play in the second round for the Fred Page Cup.  After winning their first series against the Victoria Grizzlies four games to two, the Clippers set their sights on the top seeded Alberni Valley Bulldogs, who were coming off a bye week.  Would the shipmen be able to teach the dogs some new tricks?

Game one was played at Weyerhaeuser Arena on March 9.  Five minutes had not passed in the game when forward Andrew Gladiuk scored on the power play to give the Clippers an early lead.  The Clippers scored again a few minutes later thanks to a Joe Perry goal to make the score 2-0 going into the first intermission.  The Bulldogs scored in the second period of the game, but Nanaimo put game one away, with a final score of 3-1, thanks to a Brayden Jaw power play goal. Clippers goalie Loic Boivin, who blocked 48 out of 49 shots, was named the First Star of the game and Victor Newell was named the Second Star of the Game for his timely assist in the first period.

But it’s not over for our WFG-sponsored hockey team.  Game six will be played on Tuesday, March 16 at Frank Crane Arena, and should Game Seven be necessary (and we certainly hope so), it’ll be played Wednesday in Alberni Valley.  GO CLIPPERS! 

When we last left the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, they were tied with the Victoria Grizzlies at two games apiece in their best of seven series.  How would the World Financial Group-sponsored “Junior A” hockey team do in the home stretch?

Game 5 was played on Thursday, March 4 in Victoria.  Kyle Weber of the Clippers scored the first goal early in the game, then the Grizzlies scored the next goal to end the first period at a 1-1 tie.  But the Clippers took over the game and never looked back, with Carson Schell, Teal Burns (on the power play) and Joe Perry scoring the game’s remaining goals.  Nanaimo won 4-1 and regained the lead in the series, three games to two.  Perry, Schell and Weber were named the Three Stars of the Game.

With the series one victory away for the WFG-sponsored Clippers, game six was played in the friendly confines of Frank Crane Arena on Friday, March 5.  Victoria scored the first goal early in the first period.  However, Clippers forward Brayden Jaw scored the next goal to tie the game.  Not long after, Luc Olivier Blain scored on the power play to take the Clippers to a 2-1 lead at the end of the first.  Cody Bremner scored in the second to extend the Clippers lead 3-1.  And, although Victoria scored in the third, Nanaimo won the game 3-2 and the best of seven series four games to two!  The Clippers also took all three Stars of the Game honors: goalie Loic Boivin (who blocked 29 out of 31 shots), Blain and Carson Schell.

The second round for our BCHL team begins Tuesday opposite the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.  Games one and two will be played at Weyerhaeuser Arena on March 9 and 10 with games three and four played on March 11 and 13 at Frank Crane Arena.  GO CLIPPERS!

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers, currently in the first round of the BCHL playoffs, won their first two games over the Victoria Grizzlies on the road.  The best-of-seven series moved to the Clippers home ice of Frank Crane arena for games three and four.  How would the Clippers on their home ice?

In game three played on Monday, March 1 the Grizzlies took a 2-0 lead in the first period, but Nanaimo answered back with three goals in the second from Andrew Gladiuk, Colton Cyr (on the power play) and Carson Schell. Victoria came back to tie the game with 1:03 remaining in the third period and score the game winning goal in overtime to win this one 4-3.  Clippers goalie Loic Boivin, who blocked 39 out of 43 shots, was named the Second Star of the Game.

Game four of the series hit the ice on Tuesday, March 2.  Like the previous night’s game, the Grizzlies jumped to an early lead, but thanks to goals by Kyle Kramer and Joe Perry (on the power play), Nanaimo took a 2-1 lead into the third period.  As in game three, Victoria came back to score in the third to force overtime, which, once again, resulted in a Grizzlies game winning goal to take the fourth game 3-2.  Kramer was named the Second Star of the Game.

The best of seven series is now tied at two games each.  Game 5 will be played on Thursday, March 4 in Victoria with game 6 played the next night at Frank Crane Arena.  If necessary, the WFG-sponsored Clippers will play game 7 in Victoria on Sunday, March 7.  GO CLIPPERS!

Over the weekend, the World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL entered the quarterfinals for the Fred Page Cup against the Victoria Grizzlies.  Both teams entered the postseason with strong momentum, but who would be the stronger of the two teams?

Game one was held in Victoria Friday, Feb. 25.  The Clippers’ forward Teal Burns scored the first goal of the game during the second period, and although Victoria scored the next two goals, Nanaimo scored two more – one by Brayden Jaw on the power play and the other by Colton Cyr - to win the first game of the best of seven series with a score of 3-2.  Burns was named the First Star of the Game while Mike Domsodi was named the Second Star.

Saturday evening (Feb. 26) was game two, also played in Victoria.  The home ice advantage was a help for the Grizzlies as they scored the first two goals of the game.  But the second period was a scoring display by the Clippers with Tristan Lowenberger, Teal Burns and Kyle Kramer all scoring in the “middle 20” to take a 3-2 lead.  A Victoria goal in the third forced overtime, and at 5:59 into the extra frame, Luc Olivier Blain scored the game winner with an assist from Burns for the Clippers to take game two 4-3.  Stars of the Game honors went to Blain (First) and Kramer (Second).

Our WFG-sponsored hockey team returns to Frank Crane Arena with a two game lead. Games three and four will be played this Monday and Tuesday on Nanaimo’s home ice.  The puck will drop at 7 p.m. (Pacific Time).  GO CLIPPERS!

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League ended its regular season on Saturday against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.  The Clippers have been on a hot streak, winning six of their last seven games.  Would they enter the playoffs on a win?

The Clippers got off to a strong start in the first period thanks to a goal by Andrew Gladiuk off an assist from Kyle Weber and Second Star of the Game Mike Domsodi.  The Bulldogs, however, would bite back for two more goals going into the third period.  Then, on a power play, Teal Burns tied the game with a goal thanks to assists from Luc Olivier Blain and Andrew Gladiuk.  Unfortunately for Clippers’ fans, the Bulldogs would score the game winner in overtime to take the final regular season game 3-2.

After sixty games, the WFG-sponsored Clippers finished the season 24-25-1-10, earning 59 points in the standings.  This has earned the WFG-sponsored “Junior A” hockey team the sixth seed in the BCHL Coastal Conference playoffs.  Postseason play begins on Friday in Victoria against the Grizzlies.  Keep reading WFGSports.com for the latest postseason action from Nanaimo.  GO CLIPPERS!

The luge competition came to end yesterday at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. It was an exciting day of sliding for USA Luge, proudly sponsored by World Financial Group.  For USA Luge, there were two doubles teams competing for Olympic Gold. 

In their second trip to the Olympics, the team of Christian Niccum and Dan Joye finished sixth overall with races of 41.602 and 41.689 (1:23.291 combined).  This was only 0.586 seconds away from the Gold medal winners Andreas and Wolfgang Linger from Austria. 

WFG-adopted athletes Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin finished 13^th with runs of 41.821 and 42.184 (1:24.005 combined).  These 2002 Bronze medal winners at Salt Lake City Winter Olympics were 1.3 seconds off the leaders.

It’s been a real thrill for WFG luge fans to follow these amazing athletes as they compete on the world stage.  Keep reading WFGSports.com for the latest on “the fastest sport on ice”! 

The women took to the luge track at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics on Feb. 15 and 16.  Although the track was a bit shorter than usual, it didn’t change the competition for the Olympic Gold, which was long and fierce.

Three women from the World Financial Group-sponsored USA Luge team competed.  Finishing the highest of the three was 2009 World Champion Erin Hamlin, who had a spirited group of fans at the end of the course.  Her run times of 41.835, 42.219, 42.792 and 42.262 (2:49.108) combined earned her 16^th place, only 2.584 seconds off Gold Medal winner Tatjana Huefner of Germany.

Very close behind Erin was her teammate Julia Clukey.  With run times of 42.059, 42.075, 42.472 and 42.754 (2:49.360 combined), Julia slid into 17^th place.  This is Julia’s first Olympic games and we look forward to seeing more from this exciting athlete in the years to come.

Rounding out the WFG-sponsored USA Luge team was Megan Sweeney.  Her times of 42.450, 42.690, 42.625 and 42.450 (2:50.215 combined) gave her a 22^nd place finish on the day before her 23^rd birthday.  Megan also appeared in a taped piece on NBC before her final slide with her insights on how to take the very fast course at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

Visit WFGSports.com tomorrow for the doubles results.  GO USA LUGE!

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Luge competition may have had a shorter track than usual, but it didn’t seem to slow down the competition.  Over the two days of men’s competition on February 13 and 14, speeds on the track were seen in excess of 90 mph. 

Among the World Financial Group-sponsored USA Luge men, Tony Benshoof finished highest in the rankings.  His times of 48.657, 48.747, 49.010 and 48.714 (3:15.128 combined) earned him 8^th place, at only 2.043 seconds off the time of Gold Medalist Felix Loch of Germany.   

Also sliding was Chris Mazdzer.  In his Olympic debut, Chris, whose fans chose to show their support by painting his name painted across their stomachs, had the “#1 bib” out of all the competitors.  He opened his Olympic competition with a first run of 48.811 seconds.  Later runs of 48.963, 49.223 and 48.816 earned him 13^th place with a combined time of 3:15.813.  Although 2.728 seconds off gold, this was Chris’s best international result. 

WFG-adopted athlete Bengt Walden slid in his third Olympics, but his first as an American.  He had times of 49.002, 48.865, 49.323 and 48.794 (3:15.984 combined) for 15^th place, 2.899 seconds from first.  Amazingly, out of the 38 competitors, only 15.220 second separate first from last.

Read WFGSports.com tomorrow for the women’s luge results!