ABRAM-VILLAGE – Everyone is well aware of the intense rivalry that exists between the Western Red Wings and Kensington Vipers.
But a lot of people may not realize there’s a growing, bitter rivalry that has developed between the Red Wings and Sherwood-Parkdale Metros, who will meet in the best-of-seven Island Junior Hockey League championship series for the first time. Game 1 is at the Evangeline Recreation Centre on Sunday at 7:30 p.m., and the Red Wings have partnered with Domino’s Pizza to give away 100 free pizzas during Games 1 and 3.
“First and foremost, both teams hate each other,” said Red Wings head coach Nathan DesRoches. “Everybody comes up to me and likes to talk about the Vipers and Red Wings, but I will be the first to admit I think our team, and myself included, hate Sherwood a whole lot more.
“It’s a rivalry that has boiled over the last three years that I’ve been coaching (the Red Wings).”
When told of DesRoches’s comments, Metros head coach Alex Smith offered: “I wouldn’t disagree with him for sure. We usually like to keep that between the players if we can, but there’s certainly not a game goes by that something doesn’t happen, whether it’s chippy out front, somebody gets the gloves off or whatever the case might be.
“I’d be absolutely shocked if the playoffs are any different. We are certainly not going up there to play a bunch of friends of ours, that’s for damn sure.”
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The Western Red Wings’ Dawson McCormack examines his options as he is defended by the Sherwood-Parkdale Metros’ Calen McInnis during an Island Junior Hockey League regular-season game in Abram-Village. The two teams will open the best-of-seven Island Junior Hockey League final at the Evangeline Recreation Centre on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
Top two teams
The final, which will determine P.E.I.’s representative at the Don Johnson Memorial Cup Atlantic junior B hockey championship in Sydney, N.S., from April 24 to 29, will feature the top two teams in the 2017-18 regular season. The Red Wings, after winning just two of their first nine games, went on a 15-game winning streak en route to a first-place record of 25-9-2 (won-lost-overtime losses). The Metros were second at 19-16-1.
“I think it will be a really physical series, and discipline will be key,” said DesRoches, who added rookie goaltender Luke Oliver will start Game 1. “Both teams possess very good power plays and special teams. At the end of day special teams are such a big part of hockey with the way it is officiated.
“Like I said before, both teams really, really don’t like each other. It could end up being a long series, so it should be very entertaining.”
The Metros enter the final on a three-game winning streak after rallying from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Vipers in a seven-game semifinal matchup. It marks the first time since 2002 that the Vipers are not playing for the league title.
“It was pretty awesome to be honest,” said Smith in describing the Metros’ victory. “Personally, I and the team have been on the losing end to those guys quite a few times.
“First of all, it was an incredible run they were on, it was well into double digits in terms of consecutive years they were in the final. A lot of those games, unfortunately, came at the expense of our team. For us to be in the final means a lot to our organization.”
Healthy roster
The Red Wings, coming off a five-game semifinal series win over the Eastern Maniacs after dropping Game 1, are rested, healthy and have a full complement of players available.
“Last season we took some midget players up with us just to get the experience of junior hockey, whether they played or just being around the dressing room,” said DesRoches. “We are really lucky that our organization has the rights to (forwards) Nick Reeves (Charlottetown Pride), Chandler Wood (Kensington Wild) and Isaac Callaghan (Wild).
“All three guys have had excellent seasons in major midget, and all three guys can play up and down our lineup. I really feel all three guys, Nick, Isaac and Chandler, are going to play big roles for us in the final.”
The Metros have also bolstered their roster with the Pride’s Connor McGregor and Grant MacAdam, along with the Pownal Red Devils’ Grant Koughan, who was named the most valuable player of the P.E.I. Midget AAA Hockey League.
“They were phenomenal for us,” said Smith. “They played most or all of the series against Kensington. Connor filled the net for us early in the series, Grant had a three-point night and both played with grit. They are certainly not backing down, which is what you need in playoffs. We are really happy with them.”
The final is a rematch of last year’s semifinals, which the Red Wings won in four games.
“We have a different team this year than last year, and it never hurts when you are coming off a stretch like we are,” said Smith, who confirmed goaltender Alex Kelly will start the opener. “We are feeling pretty confident heading in. They have the two Gallant boys (Chasse and Jason) on their top line, and on the back end they have (Calvin) McRae. They are kind of three guys we know to watch on their team.
“They have some other secondary scoring that can hurt you, too.”
Smith liked the Metros’ balanced attack against the Vipers.
“We had a line of our captain Cody McPhee, overage player Patty McGuigan and Connor Gray that filled the net the last two games,” offered Smith. “That’s a line in terms of goal scoring would be considered our third line, but was our best line for those (last) three games. Having that depth up front is going to be huge.”
DesRoches did not shy away from the assessment that the Red Wings are entering as the favourites.
“I’d be lying if I said there is not a little bit of a different pressure this season, finishing first and having such a great regular season,” explained DesRoches. “At the same time, Sherwood beat us quite a bit this season, and we know they are very capable of winning a championship. We are not taking anything for granted.”
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Leaders
Playoff leaders for Red Wings and Metros:
Red Wings
Points: Jason Gallant, 10.
Goals: Jason Gallant and Chasse Gallant, tied with 5.
Assists: Jason Gallant and Silas Handrahan, tied with 5.
Goaltending: Bronson Banks, 3-1, 3.08 GAA, .895 save %, and Luke Oliver, 1-0, 1 shutout, 0.00 GAA, 1,000 save %.
Metros
Points: Cody McPhee, 7.
Goals: Tanner Lund and Connor McGregor, tied with 4.
Assists: Zach Ladner, Dylan MacDonald and Cody McPhee, tied with 5.
Goaltending: Alex Kelly, 3-1, 1.82 GAA, .948 save %, and Sam Walsh, 1-2, 4.65 GAA, .882 save %.
When They Play
IJHL finalseries schedule:
Game 1
Sunday, April 8
7:30 p.m. – Metros at Red Wings (Evangeline Recreation Centre).
Game 2
Tuesday, April 10
7:30 p.m. – Red Wings at Metros (Cody Banks Arena).
Game 3
Friday, April 13
7:30 p.m. – Metros at Red Wings.
Game 4
Sunday, April 15
7:30 p.m. – Red Wings at Metros.
Game 5, if necessary
Tuesday, April 17
7:30 p.m. – Metros at Red Wings.
Note: Games 6 and 7, if required, have yet to be scheduled.
