JEERS: To those fickle fans of the Charlottetown Islanders who fail to show up to support the team in the postseason. During the three home games in the Quebec series, crowds averaged under 2,500. The opening game needed a half-price ticket offer and special discounting to even get that crowd out. It was disappointing to see fans stay away in droves instead of selling out the Eastlink Centre to show their appreciation for a team which was a big surprise throughout the regular season and is an even bigger surprise thus far in the playoffs. The last two games of the regular season saw virtual sellouts – yes, thanks largely to ticket redemption nights. But if crowds of 3,600 to 3,700 can show up in the regular season, where are those extra 1,200 fans for the playoffs? The Isles have a loyal fan base but deserve better support. After beating Quebec in seven games, the Isles shocked the high-flying Mooseheads on Friday and Saturday before crowds of 8,000 per game in Halifax to grab a 2-0 series lead. The Isles return home Tuesday and Wednesday nights – hopefully to packed houses.
CHEERS: To the Holy Cow restaurant in Morell which has taken Burger Love to a successful next level. Diner Ed McKenna notes the folks at Holy Cow – in addition to selling their ‘Mr. Irrresti-Bull’ Burger Love special at the restaurant - have taken that April creation on the road in their fry truck to different locations in P.E.I. McKenna said he was at the Holy Cow last Wednesday and the place was buzzing. Apparently, they sold out of burgers in Tignish the day before - 375 burgers in one day. On Wednesday in Kingston, they got overwhelmed with customers, some waiting 1 and 1/2 hours for their burger. “This is an ingenious success story of a great Island event that has taken Burger Love to areas that have limited access to Burger Love,” says McKenna. “I love the idea that this restaurant has thought out of the box to sell burgers and is successful. I understand that owners Quentin Gillis and Tanya O'Brien will be adding new locations for the rest of the month.”
CHEERS: To UPEI women’s basketball star forward Kiera Rigby, the 2018 Atlantic University Sport recipient of the 32nd annual James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award. The award was presented during the UPEI athletics awards Friday in Charlottetown. The $1,000 Bayer scholarship was established in 1985 and is awarded annually to an outstanding student-athlete in the AUS for excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship. Each year, the 11 AUS member schools nominate one student-athlete for this prestigious award with each of the nominees receiving a $500 scholarship.
CHEERS: To former NHL star Theo Fleury who will bring his health advocacy message as keynote speaker to the spring fundraising dinner of the Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island on May 18 in Charlottetown. Fleury has many notable hockey accomplishments including a Stanley Cup championship, Olympic gold medalist and world junior champion but is in high demand as a speaker because of his advocacy and leadership on issues like mental health, addictions, sexual assault and sexual violence.
CHEERS: To Summerside native Robert Pitcairn who is competing as part of the Canadian contingent in the Commonwealth Games in Australia as the oldest athlete – ever. The 79-year-old full bore shooter makes his debut at the Games on Monday. Pitcairn, who turns 80 on June 26, is not satisfied with merely being the oldest athlete in the Games’ history. “My goal is to stand on the podium with my partner, Nicole Rossignol, in the pairs event, and then again for the individual event. I trained hard, I’m aiming for that and I am going to get them,” said the B.C. resident.
JEERS: To Old Man Winter for overstaying his welcome in the Maritimes this weekend. Eastern P.E.I. got more than 10 cm of snow overnight Sunday but parts of Nova Scotia gor hammered with 20-30 cm before the storm pulled away. Just when our thoughts were starting to turn towards outdoor spring events - like trout fishing, early golf and yard cleanups – Mother Nature intervenes.
