The Panthers lost 3-1 to Dalhousie on Friday and then fell behind 8-0 Saturday in an 8-4 loss at St. FX in Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey action.
“The attitude in the room is back to work,” forward J.C. Campagna said before Tuesday’s practice. “We know what we need to fix to get better. We’ve proven we can play with the best teams in this league.”
They will get the chance to show it tonight when they host the country’s top-ranked UNB Varsity Reds. Game time is 7 p.m. at MacLauchlan Arena.
“I like that. We seem to play up to our competition with them,” Campagna said.
“We’re expecting a big game.”
Panthers head coach Forbes MacPherson said the coaching staff didn’t like the team’s compete level on Saturday and added the squad was disorganized.
MacPherson said he isn’t ready to chalk it up to one bad game, given UPEI has lost three of its past four games, including an 8-6 loss to Saint Mary’s on Nov. 4.
“I don't think those kind of losses just happen,” MacPherson said of Saturday’s game.
Despite a tough few contests, Campagna said the team is unified.
“Every team goes through adversity at some point throughout the season. I think it’s much better to go through adversity right now in November then come playoff time,” he said.
“We definitely know we have a difficult task ahead of us tomorrow,” he added. “Every guy is going to have to pull their own weight if we want to beat a team like that.”
MacPherson said the team was a bit banged up.
Summerside defenceman Ryan MacKinnon and forward Kurt Etchegary didn't practice on Tuesday while Beau McCue is out until the second semester with a shoulder injury.
MacPherson said the team had not been notified of any suspensions coming from Saturday’s game, but acknowledged it was possible.
“Guys will have an opportunity to prove themselves tomorrow,” MacPherson said.
A look at the UPEI Panthers remaining games in the first half of the season.
Tonight
7 p.m. – UNB at UPEI.
Friday
7 p.m. – UPEI at Moncton.
Friday, Nov. 25
7 p.m. – UPEI at Saint Mary’s.
Saturday, Nov. 26
7 p.m. – UPEI at Acadia.
Thursday, Dec. 1
7 p.m. – Saint Mary’s at UPEI.
Friday, Dec. 2
7 p.m. – Acadia at UPEI.
