Big day of football in Summerside on Nov. 4
It was a memorable 1987-88 hockey season for local teams
It will be a big day for local football on Saturday, Nov. 4, when Summerside hosts two provincial championships. Both the Ed Hilton Bowl (bantam) and the Potato Bowl (varsity) will be played at beautiful Eric Johnston Field.
The Summerside Waterwise Spartans hosted the Charlottetown Privateers on Friday night in one of two semifinals in the Papa John’s P.E.I. Bantam Tackle Football League this weekend.
The Summerside Cooke Insurance Clippers have already qualified for the Potato Bowl based on their first-place finish in the regular season. The Clippers will face either Cornwall or Souris.
The doubleheader will culminate another fine season for everyone involved in the sport locally.
One should tip their hat to John Turner and company for making this strong program what it is today. One can only wonder would there even be a football field in this fantastic complex if it were not for the efforts of Turner, who has been instrumental in resurrecting the sport in Summerside? He has done so much for football that those in power may want to consider naming the field after him. It could be called Turner Field at Eric Johnson Complex, which recognizes both Turner and Eric Johnston, who donated the land the complex sits on.
It is great to have the two championships in Summerside, and it will be a great day of football.
Greatest season
The greatest season is what it could be called, according to local resident and sports enthusiast Kevin Crozier. Crozier is referring to the 1987-88 hockey season in Summerside, where provincial championships were won at six different levels – all at the top level available.
The Summerside Minor Hockey Association won AAA championships in novice, peewee, bantam and midget. The Western Capitals captured the Island junior championship while the Regent Leafs were the Island senior champs.
That was some kind of season, and one that will quite likely never be done again, especially since there are currently no bantam AAA or senior teams in Summerside.
It is the 30th anniversary of that great season and, like Crozier, I think some sort of recognition should follow. Maybe a future Caps’ game would be a good place to recognize the accomplishment.
Outdoor rinks
It is great to see both Kinkora and Summerside make announcements for outdoor rinks for the coming season. Janet Payne, a great community leader in Kinkora, has plans rolling for this winter to have it up and running by January with lights and maybe even a roof, which is a great idea.
A covered facility could be used for many other community and year-round events as well. Summerside, meanwhile, will make great use of the old boards from Credit Union Place, and will build a rink on the tennis courts at Queen Elizabeth Park. That is a perfect spot for it, and will enhance the skating oval that is already there each winter. Summerside used to have great outdoor rinks at Elm St. School, Notre Dame Park and Harvard Street Park that were enjoyed by all ages. Skating and hockey are a favourite winter pastime, and these initiatives by both Kinkora and Summerside will go a long way in getting kids away from the electronic world and adults off the couches, even if it for just a couple of months in the winter.
World Series
It is referred to as the Fall Classic, and if the rest of the World Series between Los Angeles and Houston is anything like the exciting Game 2, baseball fans are in for a treat. There does not appear to be much difference between the Dodgers and Astros, and either team can win it. The Dodgers have not won the World Series since 1988 while the Astros have never won it.
The teams went into Friday night’s Game 3 in Houston tied 1-1. We will see some great baseball over the next few days. Since I picked a Cubs-Yankees’ World Series, I will not even try to predict a winner. But, as an American League fan, I say “Go Astros!”
Have a great week!