CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The new look, and much improved, Island Storm make its National Basketball League of Canada debut tonight at 7 p.m. at Eastlink Centre with a new head coach in Tim Kendrick, one returning player and a roster loaded with talent.
Kendrick comes to the Storm after fashioning a .600 winning percentage during six seasons at UPEI and a silver medal with Team Nova Scotia at the 2009 Canada Games in Summerside, which included an upset of Ontario.
It may take a little more than a two-week training camp to put the pieces to this puzzle together but by season’s end this Storm team will be in the running for the Atlantic Division crown.
Tonight's opponent, the St. John’s Edge from Newfoundland, are playing its first ever game.
Last year, the Storm had trouble limiting opposing team's big men, but with the addition of seven-foot-one Asauhn Dixon-Tatum, six-foot-11 Zack Valliere, Torrence Dyck, Du’Vaughn Maxwell and a pair of hard-nosed former Panthers in Brad States and Dut Dut, who are all listed as six-foot-six or taller, that should not be a problem this year.
Last year's roster was very strong and talented from the guard position and this year's club is even better. The collection of Andre Stringer, who played for the Maine Red Claws and Scott Morrison, highly regarded Franklin Session (aka Frank Nitty) and Chris Johnson, a talented guard from North Preston, N.S., will be as good as any in the league.
Talented UPEI all-Canadian Tyler Scott from Halifax has impressed in camp, as have Wayne McCullough and Kemy Osse.
Holland College grad Trenity Burdine is on inactive reserve and likely will see action this season. The Storm has more depth and talent than last season, but you can see for yourself tonight.
Rugby
The UPEI rugby club won its first Maritime championship since 1954 by beating St. FX 17-10 at UPEI last weekend to earn and are in Guelph, Ont., competing at the nationals.
The success of this club can be attributed to the large contingent of players from the Nova Scotia Division 1 champion Hunter’s Ale House Mudmen. Besides head coach Charlie Waddell and assistant Kyle Robertson, the Panthers line-up includes standouts Mark Lloyd, Isaiah Hood, Morgan Campbell, and a couple of thumpers in James Coyle and Sean Doyle.
New UPEI athletic co-ordinator Leigh Reid, a standout rugby player before coming to UPEI, is with the club in Ontario. It's a pity he couldn't play.
UPEI has had men’s club teams for years, and with the game growing in almost all the senior high schools, maybe it's time to step into the varsity circuit. The Panthers, who travelled by car to Guelph, lost the opener 66-0 to the Gryphons – one of the best varsity clubs in Canada.
College
The Holland College Hurricanes, under the leadership of athletic director Albert Roche, have had another terrific year in athletics, challenging for medals in just about every sport.
They came home this week with a bronze at the national men’s soccer tournament in British Columbia and picked up more hardware as Ibra Sanoh and James Mallard were named tournament-all stars.
In other Holland College-related news, ex-Hurricane football grad Eugene McMinns scored a touchdown and was a standout on special teams and on defence as Acadia downed Saint Mary’s 45-38 to advance to today’s Uteck Bowl against the Western Mustangs in Wolfville, N.S.
Harness racing
Local harness racing continues today at 12:30 p.m. at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park with a 12-dash card.
Forever Paradise looks like the favourite in the $2,250 top class, but he'll have his hands full with The Big Bite, who has won two of his last four. The Jack Keenan-owned Perfect Escape has the rail and is coming off a win while last week's winner, Simon Said, has Post 2 in the eight-horse field. It’s a tough call.
Bo Ford trains and co-owns Prettyndangerous and she won the $2,250 open mares last week and gets the nod in a very competitive seven-horse field today.
Former stakes standout Malabrigo was purchased at the Harrisburg mixed sale by his trainer-driver Marc Campbell, who had the mare jogging at the city track this past week.
His Boy Elroy from Truro Raceway has been razor-sharp since moving to Ontario from the Maritimes. He recently took a new 1:50:1 record and is in to go at Woodbine tonight in the $18,000 class, Race 10, where he can win.
Ellis Park (James MacDonald) has the rail in the $34,000 Woodbine feature but Easy Lover Hanover looks the best.
At The Meadowlands tonight, in the TVG series for open mares at $20,000, Mark MacDonald has Breeders Crown winner Pure Country against the like of Lady Shadow and five others.
Islanders John Likely, George Rogers, Rabs MacDonald and Bobby Whitlock were visiting Wally Hennessey at Pompano Raceway this past week. They all joined Wally in the winner’s circle Tuesday night with the connections of trot winner Czech It Out.
Sunday live racing continues tomorrow with another card of live harness racing at 2 p.m.
Pigskin picks
The NFL heads into Week 11 and with so many top quarterbacks injured and not playing, odds-makers are shaking their heads trying to finalize odds. Some clubs are starting their third, fourth and fifth QBs on their depth chart, while other teams are trying guys that were not listed on opening day. Be careful betting favorites.
Baltimore Ravens (4-5) at Green Bay Packers (5-4) – Packers QB Brett Hundley was sharp in leading the Packers over the Bears and I believe he's capable of another strong performance at home against a hot-and-cold Baltimore club, which is a three-point favourite. Bet GB at home.
Philadelphia Eagles (8-1) at Dallas Cowboys (5-4) – The Cowboys O-line is injury riddled and cannot protect QB Dak Prescott. Running back Ezekiel Elliott is out and even owner Jerry Jones is under siege. Should be an Eagles rout.
Buffalo Bills (5-4) at LA Chargers (3-6) – The Bills have benched Tyrod Taylor and that's a bold move for a team fighting for a playoff spot. It's Chargers Phil Rivers versus a rookie named Peterman, gotta take Rivers and the home dog here. Rivers had a suspected concussion last week but is expected to play. If Rivers does not play, take the five-point spread and bet the Bills.
Atlanta Falcons (5-4) at Seattle (6-3) – The Seahawks have been giving up a lot of points and now they are without their best defender Richard Sherman. Atlanta looked much better last time out and this could be your Monday night upset.
Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) at Denver Broncos (3-6) – Denver is three-point home favourite against a so-so Bengals club. The Broncos have lost five in a row, a couple by lopsided scores, but have too many good players on defence and I can see them winning at home against a heartless Cincinnati club.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
