Hockey Day on P.E.I. to include women’s Panthers

The Charlottetown Islanders are teaming up with the UPEI men’s and women’s hockey Panthers to present a new and improved Hockey Weekend on P.E.I.

This year’s event will take place on Friday, Jan. 4, and Saturday, Jan. 5, and feature games at both MacLauchlan Arena and Eastlink Centre. Fans will purchase a weekend pass that grants them access to hockey action all across Charlottetown. On Friday night, Charlottetown native Kameron Kielly and the men’s Panthers take to the ice at MacLauchlan against the Acadia Axemen at 7 p.m.

Saturday sees a double-header go down at the Eastink Centre. At 4 p.m., the women’s Panthers, led by rookie forward and High Bank native Kelly Clements, will go head-to-head against Mermaid’s own Maddy Koughan and the Mount Allison Mounties.

Immediately following the game, the Islanders and Charlottetown native Thomas Casey hit the ice to do battle with former Islander Mitchell Balmas and the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles at 7 p.m. This year’s format marks the first time the women’s Panthers will take part in the festivities. “We want Hockey Weekend in P.E.I. to continue to evolve. What better way to do that then add more hockey,” said Islanders president of operations Craig Foster. “We felt strongly that the female side of our game needed to be a part of this event. By adding the UPEI women’s hockey team in this new format, we were able to accomplish that.”

Passes for the weekend will be $20 and will be sold by minor hockey players across the province. Half of the proceeds from the ticket sales will go to the minor hockey players’ team. The goal for the weekend is to raise more than $10,000 for minor hockey teams across Prince Edward Island.

Teams interested in selling tickets can visit the Islanders administration office on the second floor of the Eastlink Centre, call 902-8922993 or email khalyn@charlottetownislanders.com.