CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Knights are a win away from their first P.E.I. championship since rebranding.
The Knights blasted the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild 10-1 Friday to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven major under-18 hockey provincial final. Game 4 is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Credit Union Centre in Kensington.
“It’s just a great feeling to get a win tonight,” said Knights winger Cameron MacLean, a 17-year-old New Haven native. “It’s not over yet. We can’t let bad habits sneak into our game, so we’re focused on Saturday night now.”
The @chtownknights have taken a commanding 3-0 series lead after beating the @KensingtonWild 10-1.
— Guardian Sports (@SportsGuardian) March 27, 2021
Shots were 49-17. pic.twitter.com/Lpwr55Nmc2
Charlottetown last won the title in 2015 when they were still the Islanders. They became the Pride in 2016 and the Knights in 2019.
While Friday’s score was lopsided, the key came about six minutes into the second period with the Knights leading 2-1. Charlottetown goalie Jack Howatt stopped Avery Brown on a breakaway and seconds later MacLean potted his first of three on the night to make it 3-1. The Wild called a timeout, but it didn’t work as MacLean scored 46 seconds later and the rout was on.
“Howie made a huge save and then we just took it over from there,” said MacLean, who added two assists for a five-point game.
Head coach Luke Beck said MacLean has been an important part of their program for the past three years.
“He’s been a great player for us, somebody that our players look up to and somebody we’re really proud to call a Charlottetown Knight and it’s good to see him get rewarded here tonight.”
The Wild have a depleted lineup with injuries, suspensions and penalties resulting in them having more coaches (four) than skaters (three) on their bench at times Friday at MacLauchlan Arena.
“We’re bringing a knife to a gun fight right now,” head coach Kyle Dunn said. “That game out there tonight just looked like a high-intense practice for them.”
He doesn’t see things getting better with their season on the line on Saturday with the team’s affiliates being in provincial series as well.
“We have 11 (players) and there’s nobody coming for help,” he said. “It’s buckle up and enjoy the ride because it’s going to be a long 60 minutes.”
Highlight reel
A look at Friday’s Game 3 of the P.E.I. Major Under-18 Hockey final between the Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Knights and the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild.
Outcome
Charlottetown – 1 5 4 — 10.
Kensington – 1 0 0 — 1.
Goals
Charlottetown – Cameron MacLean 3, Nolan Stewart 3, Caleb MacDonald 2, Luke Coughlin and Isaac Vos.
Kensington – Alex Graham.
Assists
Charlottetown – Cameron MacLean 2, Will Morrison 2, Landon MacDonald 2, Colby Huggan 2, Jesse Blanchard, Max Chisholm, Luke Coughlin, Caleb MacDonald, Jonah Jelley, Will Smith and Cole McKeigan.
Kensington – Kieran Rennie and Jamie Collins.
Goalies
Charlottetown – Jack Howatt, 16 saves on 17 shots.
Kensington – Josh Smith, 39 saves on 49 shots.
MIA – Connor Keough (Knights) and Max Sentner (Wild) both served the first of two-game suspensions while Harry Clements (Knights) and Jack MacKinnon (Wild) served the first of four-game suspensions.
Dunn said Charlottetown ran the score up on Friday.
“It was 8-1 and they put their No. 1 power-play unit out,” he said. “They want to run it down our throats.”
Beck disputed the claim.
“We want to play 60 minutes – that's how every team should want to play. They’re still out there working hard and coming at us hard, so we’re not going to back down,” he said. “It’s u-18 hockey and it’s an Island championship on the line. By no means are we trying to run up the score, (but) we’re going to continue to play the game hard, as they did right to the buzzer.”
Nolan Stewart also scored three goals, including back-to-back goals to make it 6-1 heading to the third. He scored twice on the power play and once shorthanded as Charlottetown tallied four times on the power play while Kensington could not muster much offence with the man advantage.
