The UPEI men’s hockey Panthers, which beat nationally-ranked UNB on three occasions this season, entertain first-place Acadia Axemen this evening at 7 in a game that is important to both clubs. The Axemen, with 31 points, are clinging to top spot in the tough Atlantic university hockey conference, one point ahead of UNB and Moncton.
Saint Mary’s hold fourth with 28 points while the Panthers are next with 26 points.
Since the top two clubs in the league earn a bye in the first playoff round, and the next two have the extra home game in a best-of-three series, the Panthers know the importance of the weekend series which started here last night with Dal in town and the Tigers battling with St. F.X. for that last playoff spot.
Acadia goaltender Evan Mosher, who starred here with the P.E.I. Rocket before joining the university ranks, has been solid throughout for the Axemen and he’ll have to be against a high powered Panthers attack. Matt Carter (13 goals-16 assists), Jordon Knox (10-16), Jared Gomes (15-7) and Chris Desousa (9-11) are among the top scorers in the conference while Mike MacIsaac (three) and Dana Fraser (two) have five game-winners between the two. Panthers goaltender Mavric Parks was outstanding in last week’s home loss to Moncton and a similar performance tonight could mean a Panthers victory.
This afternoon, the annual White and Green alumni game goes today at 4 at MacLauchlan Arena on campus followed by a social at the university. Former captains K.J. White and Ron “The Artful Dodger” Carragher will split the squads which is made up of ex-PWC, St. Dunstans and UPEI varsity hockey players. There is hints that ex-PWC and (UNB) standout Gordon Tweedy will be making an ice comeback but we’ll have to wait and see.
On the basketball front the UPEI men’s club is in first place in the Atlantic university conference with 24 points, two more than the perennial nationally ranked St. F.X. club who have a game in hand.
The Panthers entertain last place Memorial in games tonight and Sunday on campus and need these points to maintain their first-place status.
The UPEI women’s team is last in the conference with two wins, one at home and one on the road, and they meet Memorial tonight at 6 and Sunday afternoon at 1 against the third-place St. John’s club. The women have been improving so these games may be tougher than the records indicate.
Rocket in action
The P.E.I. Rocket of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League complete their two-game home stand when they face Blainville-Boisbrand Armada tonight at 7 at the Civic Centre.
Rocket captain Josh Currie is in the midst of his best season and, after a slow start, now has 18 goals for the campaign, right up there with Ben Duffy (27-36) and Matt Beran (19-29) among team leaders. Goaltenders Maxime Lagace and Antoine Bibeau have had a youthful group of defenders along the Rocket blue-line and as a whole have been solid. The Rocket is five points out of a playoff spot and there’s an outside chance of post-season play, so a win tonight is huge.
On the links
Unless you are following Tiger Woods, golf is not a frontline story in the local media at this time of the year.
Last week, however, golf was a big story as Summerside Golf Club pro Dallas Desjardins was named top golf pro for all of Canada. Winning an Island or Atlantic award is an achievement but to win at this level speaks volumes of the work he has done not just in Summerside but for golf on Prince Edward Island. A great guy, and most deserving.
On the gridiron
The Super Bowl goes next Sunday from Indianapolis and next week I’ll have our annual Super Bowl poll. Stay tuned for The Sports Prophet and his pollsters.
Big hockey day
Island hockey fans are looking forward to the big hockey weekend, Feb. 8-11, the climax being Saturday’s CBC hockey broadcast coming from Credit Union Place with Don Cherry and Ron MacLean on one set and Cassie Campbell and Bruce Rainnie on another location.
On Wednesday, Feb. 8, Marlene Campbell’s play The Dressing Room (re: the career of junior star Paul MacWilliams) will have two shows at the Jubilee Theatre, Summerside, the first at 4 for minor hockey folks is free and the second at 8 for the general public.
On the track
The final live race card of the season goes this afternoon at the city track, a 15-dash card with a 1 p.m. post time. The $1,900 feature goes in Race 7 and it includes, from the rail out, Doll R General, Huron Express, Casual Motion, Incredible Mike, Blue Star Outlaw and Oakrock Almighty.
The breeding season in this region is just around the corner and there’s a number of new stallions. Mitch Tierney has landed Duke MacCallum t, 1:56, the Ontario stakes winning son of Duke of York who now stands in Europe. This is a handsome big horse who showed two 27 quarters at two and who took his record at four; in this one he spotted the field 20 lengths and came five deep in the stretch trotting away from the Woodbine field. Ask announcer Ken Middleton about this fella. He was meant to be a great horse and could make a terrific sire. There’s a video on this fellow, so contact Mitch Tierney at 394-4398.
Speaking about Mitch, Unstoppable Speed (Benviolo Hanover) impressed in winning last Tuesday at Western Fair for Island-born trainer Ron MacLean. The four-year-old, co-owned by David and Mitch Tierney and by Sterling and Kelsie Buchanan took the $9,000 class in 1:57 with ease.
Trot sire Meadowagogo who had a number of stakes winners, including stakes star Maple Leaf Spirit to his credit will return to P.E.I. and stand at Bert Honkoop’s Kings County farm.
The powerful Meridian Farms have moved their standout stallions, including Brandons Cowboy back to P.E.I. They have a number of highly regarded trot stallions, including Northern Bailey and the new stallion Neal, t, 1:54.4, the first son Credit Winner in this region. He will make a nice addition to the many daughters of Balanced Image line trotters. More on the other Meridian Farms stallions and other new faces next week.
I had a call the other night from Ron Carmichael in Florida. Ron and the many Little Brown Jug fans on the Island were saddened by the passing of Tom Thomson, head of the LBJ Society. Tom Thomson led a big contingent from Delaware, Ohio, to the Gold Cup and Saucer 20 years ago and since has been a big supporter of Old Home Week and the Cup and Saucer. Chucker and Don Simmonds joined Tom at the Jug every year and it’s no wonder so many of us returned. To Tom’s family and all those connected to this gentleman, our condolences.
Fred MacDonald’s column appears in The Guardian every Saturday. To comment, email fiddlersfacts@hotmail.com
