The Islanders are loaded with youngsters and although they have just the one win in their first five games, they have allowed just 12 goals in those outings.
Defenceman P.O. Joseph anchors a young blue-line along with Finland's Saku Vesterinen and, as a group, they've played very well. They've been in all the games but the lack of scoring – just six goals – has played a major role in the early season record.
Goaltender Matthew Welsh gives them quality goaltending and they have some scoring in veterans Adam Marsh and Keith Getson while European import Nikita Alexandrov looks like a good one. Alexandrov is one of four 17-year-olds on the club, the others being feisty Charlottetown centre Thomas Casey, winger Nathaniel Doyon and goaltender Dakota Lund-Cornish.
And let's not forget, rugged Pascal Aquin and Gregor MacLeod, who are expected to score, have been out of the line-up via suspension and injury, respectively.
Tonight is a great test for the rebuilding Islanders, so let's get out and support this young club.
University
The UPEI hockey Panthers opened regular season play last night against UNB and are on the road against Moncton tonight.
The Panthers played to a 5-5 exhibition tie last weekend against Boston University in Boston in their final game before the regular season. Kameron Kielly, back after a stint in the Winnipeg Jets camp, is with the Panthers and he's a skill player who can score. Have they got enough talent to scare the big boys like UNB, St. FX, Saint Mary’s and Acadia, time will tell.
John Fortier may not be a name familiar with today's sports crowd, but he represented P.E.I. at least 12 times at venues like the Brier, at the Canadian mixed, senior men’s etc. when 50 or 60 teams competed to get to the curling nationals in the 1960s and 1970s. He played senior baseball and fastball with Charlottetown teams and worked as a hockey and baseball volunteer in Sherwood for many years. He has major surgery scheduled for this upcoming week, so my best wishes and prayers are headed his way. All the best my friend.
And on the topic of old friends, circle Sunday, Oct. 15, on your calendar or smartphone for the big open house at the Pownal Sports Centre. It's the 50th anniversary of the opening of the facility, which once was home for the intermediate C Pownal Royals, Dunstaffnage Comets and Charlottetown Hawks in 1967.
Ed Wood, who travelled with Edwood Lawton's Stable of great horses in the 1990s, donated the land for the rink, Eddy MacLeod built it and Red Sox fan Harry Fraser was among the board of directors.
The open house is set for 2 to 6 p.m.
Basketball
The Island Storm signed popular and talented Halifax guard Tyler Scott, who was a two-time all-Canadian with the UPEI Panthers.
Terry Thomas, also a Halifax area guard, who played at S t F X developed into a star and Tyler can too. A great acquisition, especially since Terry was demanding big bucks.
The Storm signed six-foot-five Chris Johnson, who played pro in Germany and in the United Kingdom. The shooting guard is likely a replacement for Thomas, who signed with Moncton Thursday.
Rugby
How about those Hunter’s Ale House P.E.I. Mudmen, who captured the much-coveted Nova Scotia Division 1 rugby crown a week ago with a huge 37-14 win over Enfield. The Mudmen head to Fredericton, N.B., on Saturday, Oct. 21, to play for the Loyalists for the Caledonia Cup.
Harness racing
Live harness racing continues today and tomorrow at 12.30 p.m. in Charlottetown with the Atlantic Breeders Crown consolation races going today and the finals Sunday.
Tonight, there's the Breeders Crown banquet at 7 p.m. at Red Shores and Sunday the complimentary pancake breakfast at Red Shores getting underway at 9 a.m. followed by the fan seminar. The Atlantic Classic Yearling Sale Friday in Crapaud launched this big weekend for harness racing fans.
The Lexington Yearling Sale got underway Tuesday and of the 98 head sold on opening night, 54 sold for more than $100,000. Anthony MacDonald's The Stable.Ca landed five yearlings during the first two days, including Boldness, a brother to Adrian Chip, $1.2 million, and a full brother to Yes Mickey, 1:51:3, $225,000 in 2017.
Stonebridge Symba is a full brother to world champion Manofmanymissions, 1:52:1, $1.2 million and to Team Six, 1:52:4 ($188.000).
They also got Hip 134, a Credit Winner colt – the first colt from a young mare, who made $288,000 and is a sister to world champion Caprice Hill.
Hip 193 is a filly from the first crop of Hambletonian winner Trixton and a first foal of an Angus Hall stakes winning mare ($265,000) from the family of Armbro Blush and Armbro Leader, both O'Brien champions at two and three.
The first crops of Captaintreacherous, Sweet Lou, Father Patrick and Trxiton did very well, as did hot sire Muscle Hill. They sold for $27,000, $35,000, $35,000 and $57,000, respectively.
Pigskin picks
It's been a rough week for The Las Vagas House as seven NFL underdogs won, which is not good for bookmakers.
The schedule this week is a tough call, but let's take a look at games we like.
LA Chargers at New York Giants – Remember last week, I advised staying away from Buffalo and LA Rams games as the home teams, KC and Dallas, would have their hands full. This week, the 0-4 New York Giants are at home against winless LA Chargers. The spread is just 3.5 points, which the G-Men will easily cover.
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns – The New York Jets, who are 2-2 and have won two straight, are at 0-4 Cleveland, who were trounced at home by the Cincinnati Bengals. The Jets are two-point dogs, which I love as veteran Josh McCown has been sharp and should win three in a row.
Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans – Be careful, the KC Chiefs are on the road on a short week, having played Monday. Houston thinks they are a legit playoff club and they are solid on both sides of the ball. They can win outright.
Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals beat the Browns last week, no big deal. The Bills have a solid defence and QB Tyrod Taylor is for real with a good run game. Cincy is three-point home favorites, so bet the road dog Bills.
Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions – The Carolina Panthers and QB Cam Newton looked great against a porous Patriots defence last week. The Lions are at home, have a solid defence and a great QB in Matt Stafford. Gotta love the Lions.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
