POWNAL, P.E.I. — The P.E.I. Major Under-15 AAA Hockey League begins Thursday with a battle between two teams that would have been playing for the 2019-20 provincial title before the season abruptly ended in March due to the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic.
Puck drops at 7:40 p.m. in Pownal.
Eastern Express have eight returning players eagerly waiting for an opportunity to win the provincial title. They will be leaning on returnees Matthew MacLean and Justin Smith to anchor a new blue-line. Up front the team is led by third-year player Ross Campbell, along with Evan Nicholson, Owen MacPherson, Mason Power and Dawson Sharkey.
Adding to this core group of veterans the team is excited about the speed and energy brought in from first-year players Ryan Dwyer, Alex Keus, Drew MacDonald, Carsen MacKenzie, Kayden McGuigan, Nolan McQuillan, Austin Walker and Aiden Wilson along with some rugged play from second-year under-15 players Cayle Coffin and Logan Gregory.
The goaltending duo is Jackson MacDonald and Hudson Bradley.
K.J. White takes over as the head coach of the Central Attack after serving as an assistant under Jeff Squires. White will be looking to his five returning players for leadership on and off the ice. The team will look to play a high-tempo game and get pucks in deep and have a good forecheck.
Prince County Warriors head coach Cleve McNeill is looking forward to a good year built around experience. The team has 11 major under-15 AAA players returning to the Warriors, and some great new additions who add some speed and skill to the lineup.
The Warriors return the goaltending tandem of Cole Echlin and George Gallant.
The Mid-Isle Matrix under new head coach Taylor Runighan has 14 fresh faces on its roster and will be relying heavily on the leadership on and off the ice of his four returnees, Michael Arsenault, Rowan Tremere, John Beaton and Liam Boswall. Runighan has added Nick Currie and Jacob Stewart to his coaching staff.
The public is asked to refer to Hockey P.E.I.’s Phase 4 protocol that can be found here.
