The UPEI Panthers and Moncton Blue Eagles, two longtime rivals in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Men’s Hockey Conference, will play an exhibition game at the new Evangeline Recreation Centre on Friday. Game time is 7 p.m., and Evangeline Recreation Centre manager Cedric Gallant is hoping this will become an annual event.
Visit different communities
“We’ve been trying to make it to as many communities as possible the last couple of years,” explained Panthers head coach Forbie MacPherson. “Last year, we played (an exhibition) game in Summerside, and did that again this year.
“Montague got wind that we were looking to play some exhibition games around the Island, so we did a fundraiser with them and their rink in the fall.
“Then Cedric heard that we did that for Montague, so between Allan Andrews (Andrews Hockey Growth Programs), ourselves and Cedric we made a connection, and before you knew it we lined up a game for Evangeline.”
Ironically, with the Evangeline region a predominantly French-speaking community and the Université de Moncton a French-speaking school, Gallant added it’s neat to have the Panthers face the Blue Eagles.
“It was kind of funny how it happened,” offered MacPherson. “We already had our exhibition schedule in place.
“They (Evangeline) had mentioned that if there was ever the chance to play Moncton that it may be a good fit. We already had Moncton scheduled in to play (in Charlottetown), so it worked out well for everyone.”
For anyone who has not seen Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) men’s hockey, what can they expect?
“It’s very, very fast, intense hockey,” answered MacPherson. “It’s played at a very quick speed. They can expect a very high calibre of hockey, no question about it.
“The best of major-junior players end up playing in the NHL, but the next group that decides to go to school, those are the guys who play CIS.”
Idle since Dec. 2
The Panthers, who haven’t played since closing out the pre-Christmas schedule with a 4-2 loss at home to Moncton on Dec. 2, resumed skating on Wednesday morning.
“We will have three skates in by the time we play (Friday),” said MacPherson. “It’s going to be real simple. It will be sticking with the basics, kind of getting our feet back under us and guys getting a feel for the puck.”
“We’ve been trying to make it to as many communities as possible the last couple of years. Last year, we played (an exhibition) game in Summerside, and did that again this year. Montague got wind that we were looking to play some exhibition games around the Island, so we did a fundraiser with them and their rink in the fall. Then Cedric heard that we did that for Montague, so between Allan Andrews (Andrews Hockey Growth Programs), ourselves and Cedric we made a connection, and before you knew it we lined up a game for Evangeline.” - Panthers head coach Forbie MacPherson
The Panthers are fifth in the tightly-contested AUS conference at 8-6-0 (won-lost-overtime losses), and the third-place Blue Eagles are 10-4-0.
The Panthers will open the second half of the regular season on home ice against the Saint Mary’s Huskies on Friday, Jan. 6. Game time at MacLauchlan Arena in Charlottetown is 7 p.m. UPEI will close out the regular season against the St. Thomas Tommies in Summerside on Saturday, Feb. 11.
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Tomorrow
Be sure to check out Part 2 of the interview with UPEI Panthers head coach Forbie MacPherson in Friday’s edition of the Journal Pioneer.
MacPherson will assess the team’s first half of the season and talk about players to watch our for on the Panthers, including a strong presence from Prince County.
