Men’s hockey
UPEI Panthers host nationally- ranked Moncton Blue Eagles in men’s hockey opener
UPEI opens new season at home tonight against arch- rival Moncton.
The UPEI Panthers open a new Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey season tonight at home against the nationally eighth- ranked and arch- rival Moncton Blue Eagles.
Game time MacLauchlan Arena p. m.
The Panthers, who went 2- 2- 1 in the pre- season, will also host the St. Thomas Tommies on Saturday, also at 7 p. m.
The Panthers defeated Moncton 3- 1 last weekend in an exhibition game in Grand Falls, N. B.
While the Panthers have lost AUS all- star forwards Jared Gomes and Matt Carter, who graduated last spring and are now in the ECHL, head coach Forbes MacPherson said the team has retained most of its core players.
“Those players ( Carter and Gomes) had been with me since day one, and they are to be credited with being part of the solution that has taken our program to the next level,” said MacPherson. “The goal this summer was not to rebuild, but to re- load, and we are excited about our new group going into the season.”
Forward Chris DeSousa has returned this week from attending a training camp with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, the top affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks.
However, he will not play
at is 7 in today’s game due to a controversial suspension in last year’s playoff semifinals, but the second- year forward will be in the lineup for Saturday’s game.
Because of high interest in the team after last year’s playoff run, season ticket holders are asked to pick up their tickets at the CARI Centre box office today from 2 p. m. until game time.
Season seats are still available for purchase but are selling quickly.
The Blue Eagles were one of three teams from the highly- competitive Atlantic
P. E. I. CURLING HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM
conference to be ranked in the first Canadian Interuniversity Sport men’s hockey top- 10 poll, along with the UNB Varsity Reds at No. 1 and the St. F. X. X- Men at No. 9.
The Panthers received five votes for the top- 10 poll.