CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – If you're a sports fan then this is the week for you as the three most important Charlottetown-based clubs: the hockey Islanders and UPEI Panthers as well as the first-place Island Storm basketball squad are in action here this weekend.
The Islanders play the Moncton Wildcats Sunday at 3 p.m. giving Islanders another look at their new additions, Cam Askew from Shawinigan and highly regarded youngster Brett Budgell, who was the Islanders top pick in the 2017 draft.
NHL scouts who follow the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) told me Budgell would have been a top-10 pick but the fact he was considering the USA college route dropped him into second round, where the Isles selected him 25th overall. He was by far the best player at the Islanders rookie camp in Cornwall last summer.
Askew, a six-foot-three, 200-power forward with solid first half numbers, 13 goals and 11 assists, has plenty of upside while Cape Bretoner Derek Gentile, who is out this weekend after taking a stick in the eye last week, has 14 goals and leads the Islanders in scoring after a trade from Quebec.
In a stroke of good fortune, when the smoke clears from the QMJHL trade period, Val-d'Or, who has just 33 points, traded their two best players and it is very likely they will sink to the bottom of the standings.
One of ex-GM Grant Sonier's last moves for the Islanders was the trade of defenceman David Henley for Val-d'Or first rounder in 2018 plus second-round picks in 2016 (used to take Nathaniel Doyon) and 2017 (Budgell). The Islanders got bigger, better, more talented and with a first-round pick in the pocket, that's what I call a very profitable weekend.
The Panthers complete a two-game home weekend tonight with a 7 p.m. tilt against the Dalhousie Tigers in a game involving two clubs fighting for their playoff lives.
The Storm appears to have helped themselves with the addition of six-foot-eight Meshack Lufile, who was an Atlantic University Sport all-star with Cape Breton a few years ago. He made his debut in the New Year’s Eve game against Halifax in front of 2,600 fans and he was impressive defensively and offensively. The Storm (8-5) entertains Windsor (5-7 before Friday’s game in Saint John, N.B.) tonight at 7 p.m. at the Eastlink Centre in its only appearance of the year.
The Storm has a talented club with standouts like Franklin Session, Du’Vaughn Maxwell, Chris Johnson, Andre Stringer and Tyler Scott.
Crystal ball
As the Sports Prophet, I've been asked to take a look down the road at what the future has in store in the NHL’s Eastern and Western conferences as we begin the 2018 portion of the season.
I see a changing of the guard just like in Major League Baseball when the Houston Astros won their first World Series championship.
In the NHL’s Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights will be one of the top four along with the Winnipeg Jets, LA Kings and Nashville Predators. Las Vegas is dynamite at home and is for real and so are the Jets.
As for the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid could carry the club into the playoffs, but I don't think they've got enough of a supporting cast, unless 19-year-old Jesse Puljujarvi can carry a second line.
Tampa Bay Lightning appears to be the class of the Eastern Conference but there are upstart teams that could advance to the final four, possibly Toronto, New Jersey or Washington and Pittsburgh.
The Penguins have the talent but I wonder if their veterans are hungry enough. Winning back-to-back-to-back titles in this salary cap era is a difficult task and like the Chicago Blackhawks may realize teams can't turn it on and off at will.
The Leafs need a solid defenceman but they have the goaltending, the talent and the youth to make a serious run. As for the Montreal Canadiens, they are a sad-sack club going nowhere but near the basement and about to make wholesale changes.
Harness racing
Live harness racing continues today at 12:30 p.m. at the city track with a 13-dash card.
The $2,400 feature goes in Race 9 where young and highly regarded Ryan Desroche handles Rose Run Quest from the outside 5 post in a field that includes Drivingthedragon N, Woggy Rocks, Smiley Bayama and Czar Seelster. Desroche also handles Woodmere Arcticblue and Eagle Jolt for trainer Marc Campbell, who is taking part in the North America Driving Challenge Jan. 7-9 at Miami Valley of Ohio against Ontario drivers James MacDonald, Trevor Henry, Doug MacNair, Billy Davis and a host of USA-based drivers.
At Pompano Park, Florida, Wally Hennessey won the $11,000 New Year’s Eve Open aboard Drachan Hanover in 1:52, winning over another Islander, John MacDonald, who was driving Sing For Me George.
Video
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Pigskin picks
The playoffs are here, so lets take a look at this weekend’s wildcard round games.
Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs – The Titans have lost three of their last four while the Chiefs are 4-0 during the same period. Love the Chiefs at Arrowhead.
Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars – The Bills make their first playoff appearance in 18 years but on the road at Jacksonville. The Bills best player LeSean McCoy may not play, which tips the scales heavily in the Jags favour.
Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – The Saints defence is hot and cold and Panthers QB Cam Newton is too inconsistent. The Saints clobbered the Panthers twice in the regular season, scoring at will. Gotta like the Saints at home.
Atlanta Falcons at LA Rams – The G and G boys, MVP back Todd Gurley and QB Jared Goff give the Rams a big edge and their D has been solid all year. Besides I don't like Atlanta on the road. The Rams could win the NFC.
In the end, however, I am certain the teams with the bye in the AFC, Pittsburgh and New England, will meet in the conference final at Foxboro. I would have picked the Steelers to win but the addition of veteran all-pro linebacker James Harrison helps solidify the Patriots battered linebacker cast.
On the NFC side, look for the Minnesota Vikings to be the first team to host and play in the Super Bowl, although getting past the Rams will be a huge task.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
