Islanders look to boost offence
Senior ball team already has a great pitching staff
The Charlottetown senior baseball Islanders got a big boost with the return of slick shortstop Jordan Duffy and they earned a doubleheader split with Chatham Ironmen here at Memorial Field last weekend.
If they can secure the services of slugger Dillon Doucette for the required 10 league games to be eligible for the playoffs they could be tough down the stretch.
They have great pitching with MVP candidate Brodie MacDonald, ace righty Jordan Stevenson and clever Jake Beck and that’s key in the playoffs. The Islanders are idle this weekend.
On the ice
Hockey fanatics can still get a chance to talk hockey right here on the Island with NHLers past and present and with standouts from other sports as both the Summerside and Fox Meadow golf courses host major events in support of Summerside and Charlottetown boys and girls clubs.
The Novus-sponsored celebrity golf tournament in Summerside, hosted by Gerard Gallant and Heather Moyse, gets underway with the July 17 celebrity dinner, which includes guest speakers, live and silent auction items like autographed jerseys plus memorabilia and sport experiences. Larry Robinson, Max Domi, Bryan Trottier, Frank Mahovlich and Darren Langdon will be on hand. The golfing takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday and there’s three hole-in-one chances to win a car. For further information, contact Adam Binkley at 902-303-4884.
The Charlottetown Boys and Girls event gets underway Thursday, July 20 and the venue has moved to Fox Meadow in Stratford after a 20-plus year run at the Belvedere course. ExBlue Jays outfielder Al Woods is arriving all the way from San Francisco. More on this one next week.
On the links
On the topic of golf, Greg Bryanton and Bobby Savidant knocked off Wendell MacEachern and Roger MacLauchlan in doubles match play at Avondale.
Ex-baseball star Marty Koughan, an Avondale regular, has dominated the Island senior golfers which is no easy feat.
Alan “the Postman” Ford is now under the tutelage of golf pro Dave Bowlan so I expect a marked improvement in his game.
Tiffany Chaisson, who spearheads the non-profit Fairways group which provides funding for under-privileged young under-18 golfers from around the world, is in the province working on their behalf. The group sponsors 20 golfers from Canada, Nepal, India and Bolivia. More later.
This and that
Ex-Island hockey, fastball and harness racing handicapping star Ron “Chucker” Carmichael took a spill at the Spa last week and his nasty gash required 20 stitches.
Chucker showed me a copy of the Tampa Bay Times where Lightning public relations man Bobby Taylor talked about the most unusual one-day jobs in sports. Taylor played the 196970 season with Jersey Devils of the Eastern Hockey League in the days before goalies wore masks and when pro clubs carried just one goalie. Taylor was cut for 77 stitches in the first period and scoring leader Jamie Kennedy took his place. He blanked Johnstown the rest of the way in the Devils 2-1 win. Ask Jamie for the Coles notes version of this story.
Now that Jamie is no longer officiating, there are others trying to take his place as No. 1 hockey referee. Thane Arsenault says he is, and Tommy Ford wants the title, but how about up-and-coming Jeff Heron who has a bright future. Another to watch is young Alex Dillon who has been selected by Hockey Canada to attend the officials Program of Excellence in Calgary, July 25-29.
On the track
Live harness racing continues at the CDP with a 10-dash card and the $1,900 feature includes Don MacNeill’s red-hot and impressive Mick Dundee who is coming off a sharp 1:56.3 victory here. Others to watch in the eight-horse field are Clic K and Rash B Havior.
The Governors Plate eliminations are all set for Sunday afternoon at SRW. Rene Allard has entered Crombie A and Do Over Hanover and they’ll be tough to beat. Allard literally saved the Gold Cup and Saucer Race the last three years, bringing in quality horses on short notice allowing the track to offer two Gold Cup trials. He bought a house here last year, has horses training on the Island with multiple trainers, purchases yearlings at our sale and is an active buyer and bidder. Allard is a great supporter of P.E.I. harness racing.
Classic Pro, co-owned by Dr. Ian Moore, Serge Savard Sr. and Ron MacLellan, has been given a bye into the final of the Meadowlands Pace set for Saturday, July 15 at the Meadowlands. Downbytheseaside and Miso Fast also have a bye. The elimination event goes Saturday at the Big M with Huntsville leaving from the rail in a field that includes Santafe’s Coach, Western Hill, Blood Line for Mark MacDonald and six others. The top colt Fear the Dragon has opted to skip the Meadowlands Pace.
Also on the card, the $240,000 Graduate for older pacers with Lyons Snyder, Dr J Hanover, Sintra and Western Fame with the outside 10-hole for MM.
In New York Sires action, Cruisin in Style from Anthony MacDonald’s The Stable won his debut with an impressive 1:56 victory vs. two-year-old trot colts. The Stable’s other two-year-old trot colts Lawmaker was beaten a nose at the wire in 1:56 in Pennsylvania stake action while stable-mate Canale Hanover was interfered with but was fifth in another PA stake. In Ohio, three of the Stable‘s pacing colts finished 2-2-5, all going for $40,000.