by Natalie Ramsay | Jul 7, 2023 | Men's News
This article was written by Olivier Laurin and featured in the Comox Valley Record on June 17, 2023. Sebastian Lambert is what many would call a phenom. Humble in nature, Lambert is a man of few words who maintains a timid demeanour. After speaking with the athlete’s surroundings, one thing comes out again and again; Lambert seems to be the embodiment of Twain’s adage: actions speak louder than words. Upbringing and discovering football Born and raised on Denman Island, Lambert had a quiet upbringing, growing up with his two siblings and his single mother. His first introduction to sports was soccer and swimming. It was only years later that Lambert would find his calling in American football. Showcasing natural abilities from the get-go, the young teenager quickly made a name for himself in the local sports scene. Nicknamed “Ninja” by teammates and spectators, Lambert was known for his speed, agility, and strength. At 14, the young athlete was playing on both offence and defence as well as being the team’s kicker for the Comox Valley Raiders. It is this versatility that ultimately earned him the prestigious title of MVP. Today, four years later, the 6’1” 195-pound wide receiver still wears the Raiders’ jersey and was awarded the provincial MVP for his performance in the 2022 season. However, his time with the home team is coming to an end. Freshly graduated from Vanier, Lambert is set to leave the Valley this summer for Victoria. “He’s going to play this year for the West Shore Rebels of the Canadian Junior Football League,” says Lambert’s mentor Aaron Kitto. “Out of all the...
by Natalie Ramsay | Jun 21, 2023 | Men's News
A Comox Valley rugby player has been chosen to represent Canada at the Canadian Classics Rugby tour in Boston this summer. JB Nikkel, who plays for the Comox Valley Kickers Rugby Club, is one of the 41 new players who will join the Canadian Classics, a team of former national and international players who aim to promote and develop rugby in Canada. Nikkel, who plays as a fullback, has been playing rugby for most of his life and has also represented Ashburton Celtic RFC, Mid-Canterbury, South Canterbury Maori and Westshore RFC. He said he was honoured and thrilled to be part of the Canadian Classics and play a highly competitive game against the USA Classics. “I’m very grateful for this opportunity and I can’t wait to wear the maple leaf on my chest,” Nikkel said. “I’m dedicating this tour to my late brother Konrad, who continues to be my #1 inspiration. He helped shape me into the rugby player and person that I am today. I’ve been blessed with so much support along the way and I hope to make my family, my club, and my community proud.” Nikkel will travel to Boston with his teammates for the Classic Can-Am Summer Series on July 8, 2023, held at the Irish Cultural Heritage Centre. The purpose of this single-match summer event is for the opportunity to trial new players, test new systems, and renew old rivalries in preparation for Bermuda’s World Rugby Classic that occurs each fall. The Comox Valley Kickers Rugby Club President, Aaron L’Arrivee, said he was delighted for Nikkel and his achievement. He said he was...
by Natalie Ramsay | Feb 12, 2023 | Game Reports, Men's News, Women's News
The Comox Valley Kickers Women’s team hosted Langley RFC at Cumberland Village Park and won a convincing victory of 47-5 this past Saturday. Tries were scored by Emma Jacobi (2), Tyra Schaad (2), Natalie Nguyen, Jess Nikkel, Frances Nye and Sienna Stigant with two converts added on by Christina Green-Speck and Nikkel and Stigant adding one a piece. “We had a strong game. Our set pieces look good, and we really worked on flow. We were able to maintain possession for most of the game and were able to shut Langley down quickly on their possessions. We ran the ball well and showed big improvement from last week,” says Coach JP Lussier. “Momentum is building for our squad. We are seeing more consistent numbers showing up to practice and it really makes a difference when it comes to games. Our chemistry is continually improving,” says Co-Captain Natalie Nguyen. The Comox Valley Kickers Men’s team traveled to Vancouver for their first of three consecutive trips to the mainland. They faced off against Scribes RFC at Rupert Park and triumphed 54-5. Tries were scored by Nate Bice (2), Brandon Hudson (2), Jimmy Brazier, Sebastian Lambert, Derek McCubbin and Will Perry with Kyle Hall adding six successful conversions. “We were able to travel with solid numbers which is paramount for away games. We haven’t played against the Scribes before in league play so we were uncertain of what to expect. It was very close the first twenty minutes but once we settled into a rhythm, we started to pull away,” says Captain Brandon Hudson. Next week the men’s team are on the...
by Natalie Ramsay | Feb 4, 2023 | Game Reports, Men's News
At Cumberland Village Park, in the torrential downpour this past Saturday, the Comox Valley Kickers Men’s Team hosted the Nanaimo Hornets. The weather resulted in difficult playing conditions. The rain and wind resulted in a tighter field of play, with more tackles and simpler set plays. The game plan didn’t change though and the Kickers came up victorious with a score of 48-5. Nate Bice (2), Brandon Hudson, JB Nikkel, Joe Barker, Steve Hextall, Jimmy Robertson and Joe Goldes scored tries with Kyle Hall and Nikkel adding two successful conversions each. “I’ve very proud of the heart the men showed today. Nanaimo really challenged us in the first half and we rose to the occasion. In the second half, we possessed the ball for a good majority of it which resulted in being able to put more points up on the board,” says Captain Brandon Hudson. “We have been getting more consistent players out which has helped us gel as a team. Excited for the season ahead.” The Kickers Women game vs. Bayside/Surrey was cancelled. Next game day is Saturday, February 11th. The Kickers Men travel to the mainland to play against the Scribes at Rupert Park and the Kickers Women host Langley RFC. Both the men’s and the women’s teams are continually recruiting players. No experience necessary. Practices are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Cumberland Village Park. Everyone welcome. For more information, please visit...
by Natalie Ramsay | Jan 29, 2023 | Men's News
James Dubois, a current player with the Comox Valley Kickers RFC has defied all odds. In 2020, James was diagnosed with cancer in his spleen which he subsequently had removed. A spleen will usually weigh less than a pound, but James’ spleen was so enlarged that it weighed approximately 7 pounds when removed through surgery. Not long after his spleen was removed, he found out that the cancer was very aggressive and was attacking his other organs, namely his kidneys and his heart. The heart is made of connective tissue and muscle cells that do not turn over very fast which is why heart cancer is extremely rare with an incidence rate of 0.002%. James did several rounds of chemotherapy. His body reacted well to the treatment, and he was in remission. One year ago, James was once again in a hospital bed at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, now in a cancer coma with a brain tumour that was attempting to spread. He was on death’s doorstep. With a strong will, he began chemotherapy again and eventually had a stem cell transplant in June of 2022. On Saturday, January 28th, 2023, everyone at Cumberland Village Park witnessed something special. James – now 53 years old – stepped on the rugby pitch and played his first game of rugby after having beaten cancer twice. Low and behold, as he wore the black and maroon for the Comox Valley Kickers, he played against Richmond RFC, the club from his hometown that he had previously played 20 years with. It was a beautiful day for rugby and the camaraderie shown...
by Natalie Ramsay | Jan 28, 2023 | Game Reports, Men's News, Women's News
The 2022/23 Club Rugby Season started up again this past weekend with both Comox Valley Kickers Rugby teams hosting Richmond RFC at Cumberland Village Park. As the Comox Valley Kickers Women’s team had participated in regional play on the Island this fall, this was the start of the BC-wide regular season. The return to play showcased a mix of veteran players and new recruits and resulted in a dominating victory of 50-12 over Richmond. Tries were scored by Karli MacFarlane (2), Tyra Schaad (2), Sienna Stigant (2), Jenn Lund, Chloe Speed, with converts added on by Stigant (2), Christina Green-Speck (2) and Jess Nikkel. “We came out strong and put Richmond under pressure right from the start. Our defense was sound, and we made our tackles. We were able to string together plays on offense with support and that made a big difference,” says Coach JP Lussier. “This is a good start to our season, but we gave up a lot of penalties. There is definite room for improvement. We have a solid foundation to work with and will continue to build on it as the season progresses,” says Co-Captain Natalie Nguyen. The spring rugby season marks the continuation of the fall rugby season with the #4 ranked Comox Valley Kickers Men’s team upsetting the #1 ranked Richmond RFC in a landslide victory, 61-21. Brandon Hudson (3), Nate Bice (2), Steve Tien, Jimmy Robertson, Joe Barker and Sebastian Lambert scored tries for the Kickers with Kyle Hall adding 8 converts. “I’ve been putting off playing with the lads and I’m glad that they convinced me to do it. It was...
