CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Knights meet arch-rival Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild tonight at 7 p.m. in an important major midget hockey contest at MacLauchlan Arena.
The Knights handled by the coaching trio of Luke Beck, Parker Ronahan and former New York Rangers Jason MacDonald have 11 first-year midgets in their line-up but still made it to the playoff round in the big Moncton tournament in November.
The Knights are led by Simon Hughes (Robbie’s boy and the nephew of Charlottetown race analyst Kurt Hughes), talented sniper Colby Huggan and goaltender Jack Howatt, one of the top-ranked midget goaltenders for June’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft.
Kensington, under the guidance of Kyle Dunn and Duane (Knucker) Richards, has a solid club and is second in the New Brunswick-Prince Edward Island Major Midget Hockey League. They have standouts like Austin Arsenault and Landon Clow, son of former UPEI standout Don (Quack) Clow.
NHL
Summerside’s Noah Dobson, who is being brought along slowly by New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz and GM Lou Lamoriello is eligible for the world junior tournament, which gets underway Boxing Day in the Czech Republic. The Islanders, who are among the best NHL teams, are in a position to loan Team Canada the talented defenceman.
Charlottetown Islanders centre Nikita Alexandrov is heading to Russia’s camp while Gaetan Jobin, who has seven goals and has shown flashes of brilliance, will likely make the Swiss team. At any rate, their presence in the tournament will give Islanders plenty to cheer about.
Condolences
Alf Flanagan is a name not familiar with today’s hockey fans but 50 years or so ago he was a prominent player around the Maritimes. Alf played with a strong Moncton junior Beavers team that faced the Toronto St. Michaels in the 1961 Memorial Cup playoffs and was one of five Islanders picked up by Moncton to face the eventual Memorial Cup champions. Bill MacMillan and goaltender Gerry Cheevers were standouts for St. Michaels.
Alf later starred with Moncton in the Maritime semi-pro senior league in the 1960s and later in Syracuse of the Eastern Pro League before returning home where he was a prominent player for 15 years mostly with Sandys Royals.
I regret to report Flanagan passed away earlier this week. To wife Shirley, daughter Kim and all connected, my condolences.
Also on the local hockey front, I am saddened with the passing of Pownal’s Jimmy Dunn, who was responsible for the building of the hockey facility in Pownal and of the development of the minor hockey on the other side of the Hillsborough River. A huge loss for the community.
Here’s a story with an Island connection.
One of the talented coaches in the NHL today is Edmonton bench boss Dave Tippett, who has turned around the Edmonton franchise. Tippet won the NHL coach of the year award in 2010 with Phoenix, but you may not know he was a first line teammate with Charlottetown’s Dunstan Carroll on the powerful University of North Dakota Sioux. Dunstan was also a star on the gridiron as a rugged linebacker for Colonel Gray with the likes of Mike Kennedy, Steve Gallant and Terry Palmer in back-to-back Potato Bowl wins over arch-rival Charlottetown Rural, who had standouts like running back Callie MacPhail and linebackers David and Danny MacInnis.
Harness racing
Local harness racing continues today and Sunday at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park (CDP).
Customer appreciation day takes place today at the city track. It’s a must-attend day for fans new and old, so be there.
This afternoon’s $2,550 feature has Arc Light, Collective Wisdom, DrivingthedragonN, Miss Dragonfire and Tell Me Why. Sunday’s 10-dash card has a $2,950 top class with Rose Run Quest, Varadero Hanover, Midnight Matt, Burnout Hanover and Creepin.
At Flamboro this week, Sodwana Bay was third in 1:56:1 in the $10,500 preferred mares with Woodmere Wildstyle sixth.
Former CDP top-class pacer Euchred has Post 3 tonight at Mohawk for trainer Terry Gallant and driver Jody Jamieson and he can handle this $11,000 class. Kevin Harvey’s Lisburn (James MacDonald) has Post 6 in tonight’s $20,000 Mohawk class. The retirement of outstanding top-class pacer McCardle is great news for Canadian and USA breeders. The $5 million-plus winner is by Mcardle and the grandson of notable speedster Falcon Seelster (Warm Breeze) and an outcross to the vast majority of broodmares in North America. McWicked will attract P.E.I. broodmare owners.
Pigskin picks
The NFL heads into Week 14 and Sunday’s schedule is loaded with key games.
The NFC top six is coming clear with New Orleans (10-2), Seattle (10-2), Green Bay (9-3), Dallas (6-7), San Francisco (10-2) and Minnesota (8-4) most likely to advance. The Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) play Dallas next week with the NFC East crown on the line and the guarantee to host a playoff game. Here’s a look at some of this week’s games.
Seattle Seahawks at L.A. Rams (7-5) – I don’t see Russell Wilson losing to the Rams where a loss kills their playoff hopes.
Detroit Lions (3-8-1) at Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings should devour the Lions.
Washington Redskins at Green Bay – The Packers have an easy game at Lambeau. Even CBC’s Tracy Lightfoot gets this and the Vikings game correct.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) at Arizona Cardinals (3-8-1) – The Steelers have been a surprise and it is their smothering defence that’s doing a superlative job. They have an easy schedule down the stretch and a game tomorrow at Arizona should keep their playoff hopes alive.
Baltimore Ravens (10-2) at Buffalo Bills (9-3) – The Ravens are the best team in football and Monday’s thrilling win over San Francisco may be a preview of the Super Bowl. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is the Bobby Orr of the NFL, a difference maker and the most exciting player in football. As good as the Bills are, they can’t beat Lamar and the Ravens.
Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) at New England (10-2) – As much as I like the Patriots at Foxboro, the Chiefs, with QB Patrick Mahomes, can put points on the board and the Pats can’t. Even though the Patriots are 5-1 versus the Chiefs at Gillette Stadium, the gut feeling is a Kansas City win.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
