Excluding a trip to the Monctonian tournament in Moncton, N.B., from Nov. 17 to 20, the Wild will play seven of their next eight New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League games at Community Gardens. That stretch starts with a rare Friday home date against the Charlottetown Pride at 7:30 p.m.
“We have to be ready,” emphasized Wild head coach Kyle Dunn. “You obviously want to play good at home in front of your own fans.”
Previous meeting
In the lone meeting between the provincial rivals, who will play a best-of-seven playoff series in March to determine P.E.I.’s representative at the Atlantic championship, the Wild defeated the Pride 6-2 in Charlottetown on Oct. 26.
“It was a good game,” recalled Dunn. “Charlottetown is a great team, and it’s going to be a great series when we meet in the playoffs.”
One point
With the team that finishes higher in the regular-season standings receiving home-ice advantage for the playoff series and the Pride holding a one-point lead over the Wild, Friday’s game is a big one for both squads. Charlottetown enters at 4-6-1 (won-lost-overtime losses) while Kensington is 4-7-0.
“It’s going to be a battle for home ice in the playoffs every time we play Charlottetown, and that’s what makes these games important,” emphasized Dunn.
Defensive play
One immediate focus for the Wild is tightening up their “defensive zone” play. The Wild allowed over 50 shots in 6-4 and 7-4 road losses to Pictou County and Cole Harbour in interlocking play with the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League last weekend.
“We scored four goals in both games, and that should be enough to win a hockey game,” said Dunn. “We want to take care of our own zone first, and let the offence take care of itself. . .
“Everybody has to buy into committing to team defence. We can’t be cheating offensive to score a goal.”
Saturday game
The Wild hosts the Fredericton Caps on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
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