The fact the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to win without all-star defenceman Kris Letang tells me knocking off the Penguins next season with a healthy Letang will be a very tough task. The Pens are likely going to lose talented goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who was sensational in the early rounds, but finding a capable backup to Matt Murray should not be a problem.
The big question in Pittsburgh is how long Sidney Crosby can continue to produce at such a high level while taking a pounding some legal, many illegal, night after night. Perhaps it’s time for owner Mario Lemieux to start protecting his assets.
The annual Razzy’s Road House hockey pool results have been finalized and the Carragher brothers, Danny and Jimmy, finished tied for first with the team of Trent Birt, Logan Birt and Bruce Guthro a tight third. Ron Carragher picked up a point in the final seconds of the last game to tie Ian (Tex) MacDonald and The Prophet and get a minor slice of the pot.
Tex probably would have won had we not taken the advice of an NHL head coach from Summerside, who advised us to take a Columbus Blue Jacket with one of our top draft picks.
On the topic of Gerard Gallant, the 14th annual Boys and Girls Club Celebrity Golf Tournament is set for July 17-19 in Summerside.
The gala dinner goes Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. at the Credit Union Place and celebrities include Donovan Bailey, wrestler Brutus the Barber Beefcake, Larry Robinson, Bryan Trottier, Max Domi, Tessa Bonhomme plus Gallant and Heather Moyse and the usual array of Island hockey personalities including popular MC George Matthews. Sponsored by Novus and Dominos, the golf goes Tuesday and Wednesday. Call or text 902-303-4884 to register.
The 23rd annual Charlottetown Boys and Girls Celebrity Golf tournament is slated for Friday, July 21, at Fox Meadow. The Kitchen Party is a major component of this golf event bringing together the likes of Bruce Guthro, Dale Gunning, Kyle MacNeil, Charlie A’Court and regulars like Al Woods, Troy Crowder, Ric Natress, Doug Bodger, Gord Dwyer and the popular Darren Langdon. There are 11 new teams added and they’ll have their hands full trying to take the crown from the Dr. Bill Stanish’s team from Halifax.
Baseball
The Frank Keoughan baseball tournament goes this weekend at Charlottetown fields off North River Road and it brings together eight of the best AAA peewee teams from the Maritimes. The Charlottetown team, handled by Mark Arsenault, appears to be the best of the local clubs.
Basketball
The Red Rock basketball tournament was staged two weeks ago in Charlottetown and for the first time ever the P.E.I. under-14 girls knocked off highly regarded Nova Scotia.
Sydney Strain, Dara McCabe and Amy Plaggenhoef were three of the standouts for the girls’ team. Strain’s aunt is Lori Kane, so she has the sports pedigree to be a star while McCabe and Plaggenhoef also come from a sports background, the former the daughter of Chris McCabe and latter the family of Derek Plaggenhoef.
New addition
Hubert (Sock) MacDonald's daughter Megan delivered a big baby boy this past week, so congrats to Meg and husband Brodie O'Keefe. I have been told the official name is going to be Drew James Fiddler — named after guess who?
Harness racing
The best three-year-old colts and fillies are in action tonight in Charlottetown as the lucrative Maritime Breeders stakes highlight the card.
The $23,600 filly goes in Race 9 with Ryan Ellis, the top driver last year at Truro Raceway, driving Elektra Express from Post 2 and Marc Campbell driving Filly Forty Seven from Post 5 in the nine-horse field.
The $21,400 colt final goes in Race 12 and it looks like a wide-open race with a case to be made for almost every horse.
The $1 million North America Cup goes tonight at Mohawk Raceway and the it’s very likely one of the three favourites – Huntsville, Fear the Dragon or Downbytheseaside – will win.
Classic Pro, trained and co-owned by Dr. Ian Moore, Serge Savard Sr. and Ron MacLellan leaves from Post 6 and has an outside shot.
James MacDonald leaves from Post 2 with Frost Damage Blues in the $265,000 Roses are Red Stakes tonight. She won her elimination in 1:50:1 and change last week and has a shot tonight.
Mark MacDonald was second in the $200,000 Charlie Hill Memorial last week with Obrigado.
Yonkers is back racing tonight and Mark has Western Fame in the $55,000 top class.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
