SPORTS briefs

Red Wings back in action Thursday

ABRAM-VILLAGE – The Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings return to action on Thursday.

The Red Wings, who sit atop the Island Junior Hockey League standings at 21-8-2 (won-lost-overtime losses), will host the Kent Koyotes in an interlocking game with the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m.

The Red Wings are coming off an 8-5 win over the Cap-Pelé Predators on home ice Tuesday night.

Kent comes to town as a big and physical team, and the last meeting with the Red Wings featured multiple fights. Rookie Luke Oliver will get the nod in goal for the Red Wings.

Matrix push Regals to brink of elimination

ALBERTON – The Mid-Isle Matrix has pushed the Western Regals to the brink of elimination in the P.E.I. Midget AAA Hockey League playoffs.

The Matrix pulled out a 4-3 road win at the Jacques Cartier Arena on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinal series. The Matrix will go for the sweep at the APM Centre in Cornwall on Thursday at 7:40 p.m.

Chandler LaPorte had a goal and two assists to lead the Matrix in Game 2. Zach Wilson, Kyler Weeks and Colin Goodwin added single tallies while assists were credited to Lucas Buch, Nick Trainor, Duncan Picketts, Ben Peters and Zac MacKay.

Tristan Cahill (2) and Sterling MacKendrick (1-1) answered for the Alberton-based Regals. Kalim DesRoches, Chandler DesRoches and James Doyle chipped in with helpers. Winning goaltender was Jonah Arbing. Colin Gaudette tended goal for the Regals.