A perfect script for Chisholm
Kensington Vipers sweep Metros to win 13th P.E.I. junior B championship
Max Chisholm could not have written a better script for the 2023-24 hockey season.
The 20-year-old rightwinger from Summerside led the Kensington Moase Plumbing and Heating Vipers to the franchise’s 13th P.E.I. junior B hockey championship.
"It feels great,” said Chisholm after the Vipers defeated the Sherwood-parkdale A&S Scrap Metal Metros 5-2 on March 24 to sweep the best-of-seven series. “Playing with all my buddies, nothing I could have wanted more from this year."
Chisholm was named the most valuable player of the playoffs. The product of the O’leary-based Prince County Warriors’ major under-15 team and the Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Knights’ major under-18 program recorded 10 points, including three multiple-point performances, and scored four goals against the Metros.
Obviously, it made me happy (to receive the MVP award), but it wasn't the main goal,” said Chisholm. “I was thinking of getting the job done in the game and getting the series put away. It was a nice added bonus."
Three-point effort
In the series clincher, Chisholm contributed a goal and two assists.
Chisholm set up Reese Wyand, who had two goals and an assist in the seriesclinching win, on a 2-on-1 for a power-play goal at 10:58 of the third period to extend the Vipers’ lead to 4-2.
"It was a little broken play, and we were able to use our speed for a 2-on-1,” said Chisholm.
“Reese was yelling at me he was there, and I was happy to find him back door."
That goal came 42 seconds after Cody Mccormack’s second goal of the game gave the Vipers a 3-2 lead on the power play.
Chisholm then sealed the win with an empty-net goal from inside Kensington’s own blue-line with 2:45 remaining.
"Chizzy came as advertised,” said Vipers head coach Wade Waddell, who has been behind the bench for all 13 championships. “I remember talking to certain guys who played with him over the years, 'Wait until you see Chizzy in the playoffs!'
"I had that conversation with him at our last practice before Game 1. I said, 'Your reputation is that you are a playoff guy, and I would like to see you keep that going,' and he said, 'I will!'
"He came through in the crunch for us."
CLOSE GAME
At Eastlink Arena in Charlottetown, the teams were tied 1-1 and 2-2 after the first and second periods of Game 4.
Cameron Doyle (1-1) and Cayle Coffin countered for the Metros.
Brett Ballum (2) and Carson Macdougall added assists for the Vipers, who outshot the Metros 50-33.
Noah Visser earned the goaltending win, and Matt Jelley tended goal for the Metros.
Waddell offered high praise for Jelley.
"They got fantastic goaltending the whole way with Jelley,” said Waddell.
“He was phenomenal and has been a four-year goalie for them.
“Looking back at great goaltenders I have seen in this league, I look at (former Viper) Grant Grady and Matt Jelley as two who are on my Mount Rushmore. I want to tip my hat to Matt for a fantastic playoff and career in this league."
Next up for the Vipers is the Don Johnson Memorial Cup Atlantic junior B hockey championship in Mount Pearl, N.L., from April 23 to 28.
Waddell says the Vipers feel they have some unfinished business after losing the 2023 championship game 4-3 to the Antigonish Bulldogs.
"Our goal since the start of the season has been to get back to the Don Johnson (Memorial) Cup,” said Waddell. “We are looking forward to that."
With only two junior B teams in P.E.I., the Metros and Vipers played a regularseason schedule with the New Brunswick Junior Hockey League before playing a playoff series to determine the province’s representative at the regional championship.
Kensington completed the regular season in second place in the seven-team league with a record of 14-8-2.