Hot Corner
Number of factors figuring in Red Wings’ demise
In this week’s edition of the Hot Corner, columnist Joe MacIntyre takes a look back at the first 10 years of Summerside’s multi-purpose facility, Credit Union Place. MacIntyre touches on some highlights that have taken place, and offers his thoughts on why he feels the City of Summerside made the right decision building the facility.
It has been 10 years since the opening of Credit Union Place, and the City of Summerside is celebrating with a birthday bash Saturday. Everything in the facility is free of charge, including that evening’s MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) game between Yarmouth and Western Capitals. Looking back over the last 10 years, many have been to, or used, this beautiful state-of-theart facility for various activities, and have created lifetime memories.
Who can ever forget back on Sept. 14 and 15, 2011, when music icon Elton John played before two soldout shows?
He was just one of many who have performed here.
The biggest hockey crowds P.E.I. has ever seen attended the 2007 MHL playoffs, with as many as 5,500 fans attending the deciding Game 6 between the Caps and Truro.
Out-of-province visitors rave about this facility, and continually tell us how lucky we are to have a facility like this. Summerside has a reputation of doing things right when it comes to major projects like this, and we can thank former Mayor Basil Stewart and then CAO Terry Murphy, amongst others, for having the foresight to build this facility.
It cost $43 million and, as of the end of 2016, its mortgage has been whittled down to just over $22 million. At this rate it will be paid for in 10 more years, just in time for the 2027 20th anniversary bash.
Credit Union Place has been a wonderful addition not only to Summerside, but all of P.E.I. and beyond. It is a beehive of activity on a daily basis, and leaves little doubt it was a great move by Summerside to build it.
The streak
It has been talked about plenty over the last while, but it has become very evident the longest consecutive playoff appearance streak in pro sports is coming to an end after 25 straight years. The Detroit Red Wings will miss the NHL playoffs for the first time since 1990, and for Wings’ fans that thought is hard to swallow.
We are not used to this, and may require a little therapy to get over this extremely rare occurrence. We may have to reach out for help to Toronto fans, who are used to being in this position. As far as what happened goes, the Wings are trying to rebuild on the fly. With winning so much over those 25 years, they have drafted no higher than 15th in that time frame.
Once highly-regarded general manager Ken Holland has made some bad free-agent signings recently, and saddled the team with some questionable long-term contracts on aging veterans. Detroit leads the NHL in man games lost to injuries this year, and that may be enough to save the job of second-year coach Jeff Blashill, who appears to be in over his head.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have the second-longest NHL streak at 10 games.
In today’s NHL, it will be a tough task to make the playoffs for the next 15 consecutive years.
Baseball
Baseball is back and for fans of America’s favourite pastime, we will see some good baseball beginning next week.
The World Baseball Classic begins on Monday in South Korea, where the four teams in Pool A play. Sixteen nations will contest the title, with the other three pools being played in Japan, Mexico and Miami.
Canada is in tough in Pool C, and begins play in Miami on Thursday against the defendingchampion Dominican Republic at 7 p.m., Atlantic Time. They play Colombia on March 11 at 1 p.m., and finish against the United States on March 12 at 8 p.m.
There will be some great baseball leading up to the championship day on March 22.
Have a great week!