KENSINGTON – The Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild will have a full roster for two tough tests in the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League this weekend.
The second-place Wild will host the Saint John Vitos on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and visits the undefeated Moncton Flyers on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
“It’s going to be a hard-fought weekend,” said Wild defenceman Isaac Wilson, 16. “We are coming off a couple of big wins, and our team is looking pretty good.”
A three-game winning streak has the Wild sitting at 4-1-1 (won-lost-overtime losses). After a season-opening 6-4 road loss to Saint John on Sept. 14, Kensington has won four of five and earned nine of a possible 10 points. The lost point was a 5-4 overtime decision against the Flyers in Kensington on Sept. 29 – a game in which Moncton rallied from a 4-2 deficit late in the third period.
“The first game (against Saint John) was a tough loss,” acknowledged Wild forward Jack Campbell. “We outplayed them, but got into some bad habits.”
Campbell also understands Kensington will have its hands full against Moncton.
“Moncton is pretty skilled,” he added.
Returning
It was a big week off the ice for the Wild as the team announced the return of Colby MacArthur on Wednesday night and Bennett MacArthur on Friday afternoon. The two third-year forwards, who are both from Summerside but not related, are expected to be in the lineup on Saturday.
Colby and Bennett, who filled the Wild’s final two playing cards, both started this season with the Summerside Western Capitals of the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League).
Last year, Colby had 41 points in 35 regular-season games and 10 points in five playoff games with the Wild. He had 11 points in 35 games in his first season with the Wild in 2016-17.
Bennett registered 24 points in 35 regular-season games with the Wild in his rookie campaign in 2016-17. Last year, he scored 30 goals in 54 games with Rothesay Netherwood School in New Brunswick.
Immediate impact
Campbell and Wilson have both made an immediate impact in their first season with the Wild. Wilson is third in team scoring with 10 points, including six goals, in six games while Campbell is fourth with seven points, four goals and three assists, in four contests.
“Those guys are having a great season,” said Wild head coach Kyle Dunn. “They travel a long way to be in Kensington. It speaks volumes of our organization when you have a guy coming from Vernon River in Isaac Wilson and Souris in Jack Campbell, and the kilometres and hours in a car does not matter.
“They are great guys in the dressing room, they put the work in at practice, they are competitive guys and it’s no surprise they are putting up points.”
Although it’s still early, both players are enjoying wearing the Wild jersey.
“There is a pretty good atmosphere around the team,” said the 15-year-old Campbell, who played with the Eastern Express major bantam team last season.
Wilson, a draft choice of the Western Capitals, played last year at King’s-Edgehill School in Windsor, N.S.
“There’s definitely a connection in the room,” offered Wilson. “All the boys get along really well, and that definitely translates onto the ice.
“We are a good puck-moving team and a hard-working team, so it really works out for us.”
Standings
The Wild enters weekend play one point up on Saint John (4-4-0) and the Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Pride (4-2-0), who visits Moncton (7-0-0) on Saturday night.
After falling behind the Vitos 4-0 in the season opener, the Wild is looking for a much better start, avoid penalty trouble and use their speed on Saturday.
“We have some smart players, so moving the puck is a key to our success,” added Campbell.
Wilson added, “We were getting outworked down low in our own end (against Saint John), so we want to make good breakouts and get good shots on net.”
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