Image credit: Team B.C.

By Marty Hastings

AT THE GAMES

Kamloops athletes return from Canada Summer Games with medals, memories

Aug 28, 2025 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Athletes from Kamloops who took part in the Canada Summer Games have arrived home from St. John’s, Newfoundland, with medals around their necks and stories to tell.

Alivia Smigielski, among 16 from the city who represented B.C. at the Games, won gold with the women’s lacrosse team, tallying an assist in the final in a 4-2 win over Alberta.

Corben Hickey and Nate Neuls of the Kamloops Canoe and Kayak Club (KCKC) won silver and bronze medals in under-18 men’s team canoe events, finishing second in the IC4 200-metre and third in the IC4 500m.

Aiden Muzio scored for B.C. in a 4-0 triumph over Nova Scotia in the men’s soccer bronze-medal game, a wonderful individual effort worthy of the all-Games highlight reel.

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Rounding out the Kamloops medallists is Layla Spencer, whose women’s baseball team thumped Nova Scotia 10-1 in the bronze-medal tilt.

“It’s been a hot minute since B.C.’s been top three in nationals,” Spencer said. “It was unfortunate when we lost in the semis because we had beaten Ontario already, but it was okay because we brought it to bronze and took that medal and it was super exciting. Our coaches were like, ‘Why didn’t you celebrate enough? This is huge.’ We kept it classy and brought the medal home.”

Women’s baseball made its Canada Summer Games debut this year in St. John’s and Spencer caught a piece of national baseball history.

She blasted a three-run shot in the bottom of the first inning of the first game of the tournament – the first home run in the history of the female baseball event.

The ball will be displayed in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Marys, Ont.

“I didn’t know until after the game I wasn’t going to keep the ball,” Spencer said. “It’s kind of unfortunate, but it’s in a better place right now. I got a few photos with it and definitely huge recognition, so I can understand why I don’t get to keep it.”

The KCKC boasted five athletes who represented B.C. at the Games, including Corben Hickey, Nate Neuls, Damian Hickey, Harris Hunter and Douglas Hunter.

Harris Hunter competed in six events and placed fourth in the K1 1,000m and K2 200m. His brother, Douglas, participated in four events and earned a fourth-place finish in the K2 500m, along with Damian Hickey, who placed fourth in two team kayak events.

Medallists Corben Hickey and Nate Neuls were in action in four events each.

Morgan Ring placed fourth with the women’s basketball team, Hailey MacPhee finished fifth with the artistic swimming team, Allison Hill placed fifth with the women’s soccer team and Ryen Scott finished seventh with the women’s volleyball squad.

“Even though we weren’t playing for a medal, there was still a crowd every game,” Scott said. “We had people cheering us on, people cheering against us. In our quarter-final, even though we ended up losing that game, having Manitoba fans cheering against us and B.C. people waving their flags in the stands was super awesome.”

Scott submitted a video of Team B.C.’s grand entrance at the closing ceremony and a photo of herself draped in the province’s flag.

“I’ve never competed in an environment like that,” she said. “Like, I wouldn’t ever go out and talk to some person I don’t know from Nunavut, but I played spike ball with them. It’s something different that you don’t experience often.”

Three Kamloops representatives handled coaching or managing duties.

Stanislav Marek was a manager for the canoe and kayak team, Aaron Leontowich was a swimming coach and Reece Wilson was a manager for men’s volleyball.