With the two arch-rivals meeting in a home-and-home series next week with first place on the line in the Island Junior Hockey League, both head coaches have made it clear they want home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
“We love playing in Kensington, and if you can get an extra gate in your own building and you play well there it is very important,” said the Vipers’ Wade Waddell. “Our goal is to finish first, and we are not going to make any bones about it.”
With the two arch-rivals meeting in a home-and-home series next week with first place on the line in the Island Junior Hockey League, both head coaches have made it clear they want home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
“We love playing in Kensington, and if you can get an extra gate in your own building and you play well there it is very important,” said the Vipers’ Wade Waddell. “Our goal is to finish first, and we are not going to make any bones about it.”
Last year
Last year, home-ice advantage proved to be huge as the Vipers prevailed over the Red Wings in Game 7 of a memorable league championship series played before full houses at both Community Gardens in Kensington and the Evangeline Recreation Centre.
“We want that Game 7 or clutch game in our barn,” said the Red Wings’ Nathan DesRoches, who added his goal is to have his team playing its best hockey of the year come playoffs. “It’s definitely been a stressing point for us this year, and you do not have to look too much farther than what happened last season.”
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