Critical game
Fiddler MacDonald says the Charlottetown Islanders have played better lately but have to make up ground tonight against Cape Breton.
The Charlottetown Islanders meet the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles tonight at 7 p.m. at the Eastlink Centre in an important game with playoff implications.
It is the second of two weekend games between these two clubs, and regardless of what happened Friday, this game is crucial. The Islanders trailed the Screaming Eagles by eight points with a game in hand before Friday’s game. A split means the Islanders gain no ground on the Screaming Eagles for the eighth spot, which is important since the top eight clubs have home-ice advantage in the opening playoff round.
The Islanders have played much better in recent weeks and the scoring has been coming from all lines. They’ve played better defensively too and, most important of all, goaltender Mason McDonald is living up to expectations.
Of local interest tonight, Screaming Eagles defenceman Dunc MacIntyre is the son of Charlottetown’s Ann Ready, Spy’s daughter, who is married to Dunc MacIntyre, the son of Sydney Millionaires great with the same name, who was an allstar left-winger in the Maritime Big Four in the early 1950s. Ann is the sister of Mike Ready, an all-star defenceman with Charlottetown senior teams in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Football
The Super Bowl between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos goes Sunday, Feb. 7, but New England fans still think they should be there.
Bill Belichick’s decision to not kick a field goal in the second quarter of Sunday’s game with Denver, while fourth-and-one at the Broncos 20, was almost as stupid as Pete Carroll’s play call for a pass while first-and-goal at the New England one-yard line in last year’s Super Bowl.
I had a brief chat last week with Charlie Cooke of Cooke Insurance and he told me he was at an insurance meeting in New Orleans 50 years ago and had a box for the first Super Bowl, but decided to pass on the game.
Charlie’s current legal advisor Jim Revell, a quarterback in his younger days, almost broke out in tears when I told him what Charlie had done. By the way, the Sports Prophet’s annual Super Bowl poll goes here next Saturday.
The final live harness racing card goes today at 12:30 p.m. at Red Shores at the Charlottetown Driving Park.
I talked to Lee Drake last week and he reminded me he will be making the draw today after Race 10 for the Red Shores Old Home Week and/or Governors Plate table package in support of the Classy Lane Relief Fund. There’s plenty of time to get in on the draw, so let’s help.
Condolences to Paul Strain, one of our local handicapping experts, and all connected on the passing of his dad Frank, who was a top goaltender and played with the Charlottetown Islanders of the 1950-51 Maritime Big Four. Frank was also an avid fisherman and outdoorsman.
Standardbred Canada’s website featured a big article on Fractional Ownership via The Stable, which was strongly endorsed by Greg Peck, one of the sharpest individuals in he world of harness racing.
As a result, Anthony MacDonald has indicated those who watch the Woodbine feature tonight on The Stable and retweets or contacts him at anthony@thestable.ca will be eligible for a draw and credit worth $300.
Island standout colt Proven Desire raced great last week at Woodbine, closed in a fast 27:2 last panel for third in the tough $22,00 race for driver James MacDonald and co-owners Blair Hansen, Megan:MacDonald and Jack Mallard. James is not driving tonight as he’s in Moncton this week for the baptism of Shawn Hughes baby.