Jesse Blanchard and his Mount Academy Saints teammates are looking forward to a few rare home games this week.
The bantam squad, in its first year, doesn’t play in a league but competes in exhibition games and tournaments mostly in the United States and Quebec. It has split eight games with Nova Scotia-based Newbridge Academy with some of the contests taking place on the Island.
“It’s going to be great,” Blanchard said Wednesday morning as the team prepared to compete in the 44th annual P.E.I. Source for Sports Spud Minor Hockey Tournament starting today. “I think most of us just want to prove ourselves because we’re a new school.”
The tournament will provide some of the Saints the opportunity to play against friends they grew up playing with.
Crosby Andrews gets that chance in today’s first game when they play the Mid-Isle Matrix.
“It’s going to be something else. A lot of guys I know and played with last year (are on this year’s team), so there’ll be competition out there,” he said. “I’ve been looking forward to it, and thinking about it, for the past two weeks, so I’m ready to go.”
Blanchard gets the same opportunity on Saturday – which happens to be his 15th birthday – when the Saints face the Prince County Warriors. Blanchard helped the squad win the provincial championship a year ago and thought long and hard this summer before committing to the Saints.
He said Saturday will be “intense, very intense”, but it is a game he is looking forward to.
Head coach Jason Gallant said it is important for the players to channel the emotions in a positive way and stick to the team’s game plan.
Unlike most hockey teams, there was no core returning from the previous season to start from in September. Everybody was new and had to grow together into a collective unit.
“It’s quite a change,” said Andrews, a 14-year-old defenceman from Hunter River. “Everyone doesn't really know each other, you’re kind of shy in the room, but we’re coming around now.”
He said it took about three tournaments or 15 games for everyone to bond.
“We didn't mesh right away, but I think we’re meshing now,” said Blanchard, a forward who was born in Mississauga, Ont., but has lived the majority of his life in Summerside. “We’ve become good friends and we’re starting to click here coming into the Spud.”
The players both said it has helped that they just don't just see their teammates for practices and games but spend all day together at school as well.
“I think it’s great,” Blanchard said. “We get to spend so much time together it’s almost like we’re a tight-knit family now.”
Andrews was part of the North River Flames squad that won the novice AA title at the Spud a few years ago.
“I just keep looking back to that and hoping I can do it again,” he said.
Andrews said it will take a team effort to have success this week.
“(We have) a great coach, we have a great squad, everyone is ready for it and I think we’re going to do well,” he said. “We all have to play as a team, passes have to be on, we have to crash the net, shoot pucks and hope we have success by doing that.”
Gallant said spectators watching the Saints for the first time can expect to see a team that competes hard and works together.
“We try to preach speed and playing fast,” he said. “We have time to dedicate to skills, so I’m hoping (spectators will) see that come through.”
Gallant said he has enjoyed getting to know the boys and working with them on and off the ice.
“They’re an unbelievable group of kids and they’re fun to come to the rink with every day.”
Wednesday’s practice began at 7:15 a.m. at MacLauchlan Arena. It meant an early wake-up call for the young hockey players.
“The alarm went off at five in the morning, and I left Summerside at 5:50,” Blanchard said.
He said it takes a lot of time management skills but is much easier now than when the school year began. Despite the time commitment, he doesn’t have any second thoughts of joining the Mount.
“It’s been great,” he said. “There’s a lot of nice people, classes are good, hockey during the day, so it’s a good experience.”
Roster
A look at the Mount Academy Saints bantam roster.
Player Hometown
Goalies
Blake Crozier Cornwall
Kale Hunter Kensington
Defencemen
Finn Morris Charlottetown
Jackson Lea Cornwall
Crosby Andrews* Hunter River
Marshall Gallant* O’Leary
Will Lowther Cavendish
Caden Doyle Charlottetown
Forwards
Jack Flanagan Stratford
Nathan Campbell Stratford
Ryder Howatt Borden
Jude Campbell Mermaid
Keefe Marshall* North River
Jesse Johnston Clinton
Sam Bowness Clyde River
Jesse Blanchard* Summerside
Cullen Hiltz Halifax
*The team is using four assistant captains this season.
Crosby Andrews: “This is our first tournament at home. It’s going to be nice. Everyone is going to be there. It’s going to be quite a show.”
Need to know
44th annual P.E.I. Source for Sports Spud Minor Hockey Tournament.
What – One of the largest minor hockey tournaments in the region. It attracts the top squads in Atlantic Canada in atom, peewee, bantam and midget divisions. This year’s event has 67 teams competing in more than 140 games. It is a boost to the local economy and the primary fundraiser for the Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association.
When – Today through Sunday. Championship Sunday occurs at MacLauchlan Arena with games being streamed online at http://360go.live/q24.
Where – Eight ice surfaces, including MacLauchlan Arena A and B, Eastlink Centre, Cody Banks Arena, Simmons Sports Centre, APM Centre in Cornwall, South Shore Actiplex in Crapaud and the North Star Arena in Rustico.
Notable alumni – Al McAdam, Adam McQuaid, Noah Dobson, Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.
Online – spud.goalline.ca, @CMHASpud on Twitter, @CMHASpud on Facebook.
Today’s schedule
MacLauchlan Arena B
Atom
3:45 p.m. – Charlottetown Abbies vs. Sherwood Falcons.
Bantam
5 p.m. – Newbridge Academy vs. Eastern Express.
6:45 p.m. – Prince County Warriors vs. Moncton Hawks.
Midget
8:30 p.m. – Kings County Kings vs. Moncton Thunderbirds.
MacLauchlan Arena A
Bantam
4:30 p.m. – Mount Academy Saints vs. Mid-Isle Matrix.
Midget
6:15 p.m. – Pownal Red Devils vs. Central Attack.
Bantam
8 p.m. – Dieppe Flyers vs. Central Attack.
Looking back – Here are the 2018 division champs:
Novice AA – Charlottetown Abbies.
Atom AAA – Bedford Blues.
Peewee AAA – Moncton Hawks.
Bantam AAA – ACA Rangers.
Midget AAA – Central Attack.
