Six young Indigenous athletes homing their craft on Vancouver island have been honoured by the province.

The 2024 Vancouver Island awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport were recently announced by the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I路SPARC) Premier's Awards.

The winners are: Ava-Marie Jaeger, Women鈥檚 Artistic Gymnastics, M茅tis Nation of Greater Victoria; Makena Kauffman, Gymnastics, M茅tis Nation of Greater Victoria; Sophie Campo, Softball & Volleyball, Squamish Nation; Marquez Caffiero, Soccer, Nooaitch First Nation / Tsartlip First Nation; Phoenix Roman Ross, Basketball, Cree / M茅tis; and Wyatt Blace, Hockey, Squamish Nation. 

They are among 34 regional nominees, who will now be considered for the provincial awards, to be announced later in 2025.

Premier David Eby congratulated all 34 regional finalists.

"As athletes, you know how much dedication and perseverance it takes to excel," he said. "Your achievements in sport carry over to other parts of life as well. I know in the future you will make great contributions on and off the field of play."

"Your hard work, dedication, passion to your sport is an inspiration to all athletes, said a Salish Storm Hockey Association spokesperson in a video congratulating the nominees. "As local Indigenous leaders you play an important role in your community, showing young players...that Indigenous youth are being celebrated on a provincial stage for doing what they love."

Blace, a right winger with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs' Junior A B.C. Hockey League team, calls Crofton home. He was chosen as much for his skills off the ice as in the hockey arena.

He started playing hockey at five years old in the Cowichan Valley. Now he has committed to playing Ivy League hockey with Dartmouth when his junior career wraps up. In his free time Blace volunteers at cultural events and works with young hockey players.

"It is an honour to be named as a regional recipient for the 2024 Premier's Award for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport," Blace said in an I-SPARC video profiling the six Vancouver Island recipients.

He thanked his coaches with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs鈥攈ead coach Joe Martin and assistant coach Ryan Rehill鈥攁s well as his teammates, team staff and billet family "for everything they have done to help me on and off the ice."

He credited his family with helping him on his hockey journey "and getting me to where I am today."