Kensington Wild heads to national U18 ch’ship
P.E.I. baseball player putting up strong numbers with Louisiana Generals
We often hear about NHL players never drafted who came from nowhere, and closer to home we have a similar story unfolding.
First, some background, the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild surprised many by winning the Island major under18 hockey crown in March and last week captured the Atlantic championship in Lantz, N.S., with a 10-0 pounding of Halifax.
It was the first Atlantic title won by a P.E.I. major U18 team in 20 years. Kensington now heads to the Telus Cup Canadian championship in Cape Breton beginning April 22.
The Atlantic title was sweet satisfaction for GM Duane Richards, who started out with former Wild head coach Kyle Dunn in Kensington about a decade ago. Present Wild head coach and former P.E.I. Rocket Nathan DesRoches, along with assistants Nick Reeves and Jeremy Balderston, have done a terrific job. Let’s not forget goalie coach Chris Gallant, who inherited goaltender George Gallant.
Like a few NHL goalies, Gallant was never ticketed for stardom – undrafted in the QMJHL and the second-last player taken in his MHL draft by the Western Caps.
He was invited to AcadieBathurst’s QMJHL camp last summer by GM/head coach Gordie Dwyer and dressed for the Titan a couple of times this season.
Gallant, MVP of the P.E.I. playoffs and the Atlantic championship’s round robin, will need to continue his hot play at the Telus Cup.
Offensively, the line of N.B./P.E.I. Major Under-18 Hockey League MVP Ethan Dickson and rookies Liam Arsenault and Derek Andrews have been great. No doubt, Arsenault and Andrews will attract plenty of attention from QMJHL teams.
Congratulations to Mike and Lorna Gallant, who brought the Wild to Kensington in 2013 and sponsor Monaghan Farms, who stayed with the franchise through thick and thin. Good luck at the nationals!
BLUE JAYS
The Toronto Blue Jays and their fans are all smiles as the team returned to Toronto after a 4-6 road trip and then won two of three versus Seattle at home. Toronto awaits another weak club, Colorado, this weekend.
Did you notice manager John Schneider decided to sit his two hottest hitters, Justin Turner and Davis Schneider, in the final game of the three-game series against a divisional rival at Yankee Stadium?
It would have been smarter to have their two hottest hitters in the lineup against that bitter rival. Nobody had been tearing the cover off the ball, so why rest your two best hitters?
If they had to rest both, why not against Seattle?
Another puzzler is Schneider’s decision to play Kevin Kiermaier in centre field. Toronto would be stronger with George Springer in centre, but they’re in love with Kevin, hitting a cool .105.
There’s a reason no teams were interested in Kiermaier in the off-season.
In other baseball news, Tignish’s Josh Myers is winding down his senior year with the Louisiana Generals of the NAIA Division 1 League in the Red River Athletic Conference. He had three doubles in a twin bill April 6, and the Generals are in San Antonio, Texas, on April 13. Myers hopes to add to his sizzling .352 batting average.
Josh will be joining Charlottetown in their chase for gold at the senior nationals this summer in Windsor, Ont.
MASTERS
The Masters continues this weekend from Augusta, Ga., and golf fans are hoping Tiger Woods makes the cut – top 50 of 79 players for the last 36 holes.
The Canadian contingent is strong with Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin and Corey Conners all ranked in the top 50, plus 2003 Masters champ Mike Weir. Weir has missed the cut in 11 of his last trips to Augusta, but he’s a sentimental favourite for Canucks.
Angel Cabrera won the 2009 Masters at odds of 1251. With weather a factor on opening day, conditions are ripe for another monster longshot.
WRESTLING
Locally, Red Rock Wrestling is at Eastlink Centre April 19 at 7 p.m. The feature is the Red Rock Rumble 12-man, over-the-top match. P.E.I.’s Chris Cooke and Montague’s Brad Gillis will be in action while Wood Island’s Chance White will make his pro debut.
Stratford’s Kowboy Mike Hughes will referee one of the matches. Great entertainment!
HARNESS RACING
... The annual P.E.I. Horse Owners Awards Night is April 19, 7 p.m., at Rodd Charlottetown (reception at 6 p.m.). The stars from the past harness racing season will be honoured. Limited tickets remain at the Charlottetown Vet Clinic.
... Red Shores is hosting Breakfast with the Babies April 20 as race fans can get a chance to see horses training for the upcoming season. A special breakfast (9 to 11 a.m.) will be available, and the morning session will have the Red Shores broadcast team of Lee Drake, Peter MacPhee, Kurt Hughes and associates covering the action and talking about the upcoming season.
... Up-country, Uncle Shank, owned by Kevin Harvey, is in to go April 13 at Mohawk in the $24,000 class for driver James MacDonald.
... Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) and American History (Dale Spence) were five-six in the April 6 $36,000 top class, won by Tourasi (Doug McNair) in 1:49:4.
... The stakes trotter that won and was campaigned here by Bill Roloson, Oceanview Chip, is in to go at Mohawk April 13 in the first race, purse $12,000. American History drops down a class to $32,000 in Race 9. It’s a tough field with the likes of Emmetts Buddy and Whichwaytothebeach.
... At Rideau Carleton, driver Robert Shepherd posted two wins and was second by a neck in the $10,000 feature with P L Ozzy, who just missed by a nose to The Light Speed in 1:52:3. P L Ozzy is owned by Jody Sanderson and Mike McKenna of Cornwall, and Darren Smith and Dean Larkin.
... We regret to report the passing of Carolyn MacDonald (Art’s wife), granddaughter of Alex and Audrey MacPhee, and as well Irene Bagnall, wife of popular horseman Carl Bagnall. Our condolences to all connected.