Beck looking ahead

Head coach pleased with Pride’s first season

With the disappointment of losing Game 7 still fresh, Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Pride head coach Luke Beck was looking at the big picture.

The Pride had just suffered a 6-1 season-ending loss to the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild in Game 7 of the provincial major midget hockey championship series at Community Gardens on Saturday night. “Obviously the seventh game wasn’t our best, but we felt we played extremely well for the first six games and gave ourselves an opportunity to win an Island championship,” assessed Beck.

Year of change

The 2016-17 season was a year of change for Charlottetown’s major midget team. A new organization, including new coaches and management, took over the franchise that was coming off a two-win season in 2015-16, and the team was rebranded with the Pride name.

“We really have came a long way as a group,” said Beck, who praised the efforts of the team’s leadership group.

“When we started in September we weren’t quite sure what to expect.”

The Pride completed the 2016-17 regular season in fifth place in the six-team New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League at 12-21-2 (wonlost-overtime losses). Charlottetown jumped out to a 3-1 series lead over the Wild, who forced a Game 7 with back-to-back onegoal wins in Games 5 and 6. “We are obviously disappointed (after Game 7), but once we get rid of the emotion we will take a step or two back, we will regroup and be proud of where we have come from, and be excited about where we can go,” offered Beck.

“We are obviously disappointed (after Game 7), but once we get rid of the emotion we will take a step or two back, we will regroup and be proud of where we have come from, and be excited about where we can go.” Pride head coach Luke Beck