KENSINGTON, P.E.I. —
We’ve been a lot better at home this year than we have on the road. I think most teams like the comfort level of playing in their building 16 times and practising there every week. If we are going to hang our hat on advantages, one place we will hang our hat is home-ice advantage. If it gets down to a Game 7, we will be quite happy if that game is at home
- Wade Waddell
There is one word that immediately comes to mind when looking at the Island Junior Hockey League playoff series between the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers and Sherwood-Parkdale A&S Scrap Metal Metros.
Parity.
Only one point separated the teams as the Vipers won five of their last six games to finish in second place at 16-15-3 (won-lost-overtime losses). The Metros went 16-16-2.
“We’ve been a lot better at home this year than we have on the road,” said Vipers head coach Wade Waddell in addressing the importance of home-ice advantage. “I think most teams like the comfort level of playing in their building 16 times and practising there every week.
“If we are going to hang our hat on advantages, one place we will hang our hat is home-ice advantage. If it gets down to a Game 7, we will be quite happy to play that game at home.”
Metros head coach Brandon Birt acknowledges Credit Union Centre in Kensington is “a tougher rink to play in” than the Metros’ home, Cody Banks Arena, in Charlottetown.
“They have great fans and seem to fill the rink probably more than anybody,” said Birt.
The teams will play Game 1 in the best-of-seven semifinal in Kensington on Sunday at 7 p.m.
“It will be a great series,” said Birt. “We have had some lopsided games, one way or the other, throughout the season, but come playoffs Kensington will be ready to play.
“You have to be ready for them and they are a well-coached team. They have been there many, many times and they know how to handle themselves. We have to be ready for them.”
Waddell said there isn’t a lot to choose between the Vipers and Metros.
“They have a very physical team and we feel we can play that way, too,” said Waddell. “The key for us is going to be playing disciplined.
“We are a team that relies a lot on our goaltending and defence and they rely a lot on (Nick) Currie (19-29—48) and (Jordan) Birt (15-17—32) to carry the mail for them offensively.
“They are a team that can score a lot of goals and we like to think we are more of a defensive-oriented team. Those contrasting styles could make for a pretty exciting round.”
Entertaining
Coach Birt described the head-to-head meetings between the Vipers and Metros as very entertaining matches.
“As far as the players go, I think we are pretty evenly matched,” said Sherwood-Parkdale’s head coach. “Good goaltending on either side can steal a game here and there and that will play a big part.”
This is the third year in a row the Metros and Vipers have met in the semifinals. Kensington won in five games in 2019 and Sherwood-Parkdale picked up a seven-game series win in 2018.
“A lot of the guys have been playing against each other for two or three years, so you have a rivalry there,” said Birt. “Of all the teams, I think, we want to beat them the worst at this point.”
After having to deal with a short-staffed roster throughout the season, Waddell is excited to have a full roster at his disposal for the playoffs.
“For us, we are going into the playoffs with a full lineup, which is something we haven’t had a lot throughout the year,” he added. “We are optimistic about our chances, but we know we are up against a tough opponent.”
Schedule for IJHL playoff series between Vipers, Metros:
Game 1
Sunday, March 15
Metros at Vipers, 7 p.m.
Game 2
Wednesday, March 18
Vipers at Metros, 8 p.m.
Game 3
Sunday, March 22
Metros at Vipers, 7 p.m.
Game 4
Wednesday, March 25
Vipers at Metros, 8 p.m.
Games 5, 6, 7, if necessary
To be announced.
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