The Reds, who lost only three guys from last year’s Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship squad, are again ranked No. 1 in the country with a 10-0-2 record.
“The group, as a whole, is really goal-oriented and excited about the opportunity to host this year,” head coach Gardiner MacDougall said Tuesday. “They know there’s a destination point in the journey.”
The Reds, who are in town tonight to play the UPEI Panthers, will host the national championship, March 16-19.
RELATED: PANTHERS DEALING WITH ADVERSITY.
The Reds, who lost only three guys from last year’s Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship squad, are again ranked No. 1 in the country with a 10-0-2 record.
“The group, as a whole, is really goal-oriented and excited about the opportunity to host this year,” head coach Gardiner MacDougall said Tuesday. “They know there’s a destination point in the journey.”
The Reds, who are in town tonight to play the UPEI Panthers, will host the national championship, March 16-19.
RELATED: PANTHERS DEALING WITH ADVERSITY.
Reds forward Stephen Anderson is eighth in the Atlantic University Sport scoring with 15 points in 11 games. The Morell native had nine points in 15 games last season in his first year in the conference after four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Saint John, Val-d’Or and Cape Breton.
“He’s been very, very good for us this year. He’s made a big step in all parts of his game,” said MacDougall, a Bedeque native.
When Christopher Clapperton went down with a pre-season injury, MacDougall moved Anderson to left wing on the squad’s top line with Cam Braes and Philippe Maillet.
“He’s got good speed, sees the ice well and is dynamic off the rush,” MacDougall said.
Tonight’s game could see the return to Charlottetown of Oliver Cooper, who served as captain of the Islanders last season. MacDougall said Tuesday afternoon a decision had not been made on who was playing tonight’s game.
The freshman has played three games this season, including the Oct. 12 game at UPEI and two games with Dalhousie.
MacDougall said the Reds have more depth than normal up front, but he likes what he has seen from Cooper.
“He’s been really good for us. He’s had to be a little patient, but I think he sees the big picture and continues to get better,” MacDougall said of the Fredericton, N.B., native. “He’s showing continued improvement.
“He has a terrific attitude and is very outgoing with the guys. You can see why he was (the Islanders’) captain last year.”
