Playoff fever for Wild, Pride
Provincial major midget championship series opens Saturday
KENSINGTON – It’s a special time of the year for P.E.I.’s two major midget hockey teams. The Kensington Wild and Charlottetown Pride open the best-of-seven provincial championship series in Kensington on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
“It’s a new season and new expectations,” said Wild head coach Kyle Dunn. “What we accomplished in the regular season, we are putting that behind us.”
The Wild, winners of the Monctonian AAA Challenge in November and runners-up in January’s IceJam tournament in Bedford, N.S., completed regular-season play in the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League in second place at 27-6-2 (won-lost-overtime losses). The Pride (17-17-1) was fourth in the six-team league.
“We break the season into three different phases, from training camp to the Monctonian (in November), from the Monctonian past the Ice Jam and then into this final phase, which is the most important, the most fun and our group seems to be up for the challenge,” said Pride head coach Luke Beck.
ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP
Most years this series determines P.E.I.’s representative at the Atlantic championship. With the Pride hosting this year’s regional tournament from April 4 to 7, both teams are automatically guaranteed berths – Charlottetown as host team and Kensington as P.E.I.’s representative. However, don’t expect any less intensity.
“I think it will be just as intense if a team from Newfoundland was hosting the Atlantics,” said Pride forward and captain Nick Reeves. “Obviously, both teams don’t like each other at all. . . I think it will be an all-out war on the ice.”
Dunn is expecting a hardfought series.
“There is never a game with no emotion between these two teams,” said Dunn. “Teams get fired up, it’s going to be tight checking and it will come down to who makes the least number of mistakes.
“Both teams know we are in the Atlantics, but there is still that pride on the line for a provincial championship, and you want to go through the front door.”
Beck acknowledged one important key for the Pride will be defensive play. Kensington scored a league-leading 199 goals in 35 regular-season games.
“As they do each and every year, they have five or six guys who have been in the league for three years who are good players, so our focus will be on them,” said Beck.
“From there, our group will look to collectively play as a whole unit.
“We’ve done that in the past, and have had some success against some of the top teams like Kensington.
“Without a full group pushing towards the same goal we will be in trouble. We feel confident that if we do get a full effort we will have success throughout the series.”
DISCIPLINE
Dunn noted the importance of playing disciplined.
“Whether it is a 10-minute misconduct or a two-minute tripping penalty, we can’t afford to go to the box all night against a team like Charlottetown,” said Dunn. Wild forward Bennett MacArthur added, “We have to make sure our special teams are going, because in playoffs that’s important.”
Both coaches say they like what they see from their teams entering the post-season.
“We really like where our group has come,” said Beck. “Our team has played its best hockey in the second half, and we look forward to showcasing that for the Island to see over the next few weeks.”
Dunn likes what he has seen from the Wild in this week’s three practices.
“You’ve seen a little more jump, fire and excitement in the eyes of the guys,” added Dunn. “This is an exciting time to be a part of a coaching staff and a player.”