SUMMERSIDE -
SUMMERSIDE - The Three Oaks Axemen will be looking to win their fourth David Voye Memorial rugby tournament title in a row this week.
With a total of 22 teams - 11 boys and 11 girls - from P.E.I., Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, it is the largest high school rugby tournament in the province.
The Axemen open play in the 13th annual three-day event against the Colonel Gray Colonels on Thursday at 5 p.m.
"The AAA boys' team is in somewhat of a rebuilding year after graduating 13 athletes, including seven who were Canada Games players (last summer)," said Three Oaks head coach James Voye, who is son of the late David Voye. "I still expect the team to be competitive with the returning athletes from last season and the new athletes from our 'A' program."
The Axemen recently had a strong showing at the Rothesay Netherwood School's Rugby Fest tournament. Three Oaks won the event last year and lost 12-6 to a team from the Ottawa area in this year's final.
Three Oaks is also the defending P.E.I. School Athletic Association senior AAA and 'A' boys' champions.
Axewomen
The Three Oaks Axewomen also open play Thursday at 5 p.m. The Westisle Wolverines will provide the opposition.
"We have a lot of new players," said Axewomen head coach Laura McLean. "I think we only have about eight returning players, and that is with both AAA and 'A' experience.
"We took a lot of Grade 10s this year. We've played two games so far and the girls have really shown that they're continuing to grow and continuing to learn.
"We have a lot of high hopes for this season, and there is a lot of potential.
"This week is going to be real good for them to get some experience and get some kids in who may not have had much of a chance to play yet."
Founders
David Voye, who coached the senior AAA boys' team, and former athletic director Garth Turtle founded the rugby program at Three Oaks.
The tournament, in Voye's memory, began in 1997 and the inaugural event was captured by the Axemen. James Voye and Tim Hockin, who is an assistant coach with the Axemen, played on that team.
jpsports@journalpioneer.com
Penalty Kicks
A look at the David Voye
Memorial rugby tournament:
Three Oaks Senior High School will host the tournament from Thursday to Saturday.
There will be 36 games played - 18 boys and 18 girls.
The two Three Oaks teams open play Thursday at 5 p.m. Both teams will be idle Friday and will play twice Saturday.
Games will be played on three fields at Three Oaks - Canada Games, Victoria Road and Bus Depot.
There are four P.E.I. teams - Three Oaks, Westisle, Bluefield and Charlottetown Rural - in the girls' field.
Five P.E.I. teams - Three Oaks, Colonel Gray, Charlottetown Rural, Bluefield and Westisle - will compete for the boys' title.
The boys and girls' championship games are Saturday at 3 p.m.
Overall, the Three Oaks boys have won the tournament four times - 1997, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
