KENSINGTON, P.E.I. — Making the jump from one division to another at any level of hockey is often a challenging transition.
This is especially true at the major midget level, and no one is more aware of this than four members of the P.E.I.-champion Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild. Sixteen-year-old forwards Lucas Parsons, Reid Peardon, Duncan Picketts and Kalib Snow have made the jump from the P.E.I. Midget AAA Hockey League to the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League.
All four are playing what head coach Kyle Dunn describes as “key roles” with the Wild, who will be the P.E.I. representative at the 2019 Atlantic major midget hockey championship in Charlottetown from April 4 to 7.
“When you have kids not make (major midget) their first year and go down to minor midget, you love to see those kids come back the next year and make it,” said Dunn. “Obviously, only 20 guys can make it here in Kensington and only 20 in Charlottetown.
“There are only 40 spots open and you have your third-year and second-year players filling roster spots.
“For those young guys out there playing minor midget, you are not down there to be forgotten about. We go to a lot of rinks watching games, and if you want to play here and put the work in, it is possible. These four guys here are proof of it.”
Parsons
Parsons, who played with the Pownal Red Devils last year, picked up 31 points, including 17 goals, in 33 regular-season games. Parsons scored three goals in four playoff games. He’s also delivered in the clutch, netting a team-leading five game-winning goals in the regular season, and two in the post-season.
“Last year, I tried out (for Charlottetown) and just came up short,” said Parsons. “This year, I wanted to give it another chance, so I came to the ID (identification) camps, (Kensington) talked to me a few times and we talked over the summer.
“I wanted to excel my game, and thought it would be a good decision (to try out for Kensington).”
Parsons showed his commitment to getting to the next level.
“I was in the gym all summer, and on the ice a few times trying to get better every day,” he said.
The work has paid off.
“I have put up good numbers, and it’s been a fun year,” said Parsons. “It’s been a great experience.”
“Lucas Parsons is a natural goal-scorer. We have him up and down the lineup, and no matter where he’s played in the lineup he’s always seemed to find the back of the net. The biggest thing with Lucas is he’s working on his foot speed, and he’s getting better every practice. He’s a goal-scorer and you saw it in the playoffs, three goals in four games and two game-winners.”
-Coach Kyle Dunn on Lucas Parsons
Peardon
Peardon decided to play for the Kings County Kings last year.
“I tried out for the (Charlottetown) Pride last year and sort of made it, but decided to go back (to midget AAA) and thought it would be better for my development,” explained Peardon. “It turned out I had a pretty good year last year.
“I had a pretty good tryout, and found myself (with the Wild).”
Peardon was credited with 17 points, including nine goals, in 30 regular-season games with Kensington. He contributed three points, including one goal, in four playoff games.
“I would have hoped to have had a couple of more points,” said Peardon. “I thought I played pretty well in the playoffs, and will be looking to build off that.”
Peardon, who talked to both P.E.I. major midget teams last summer, has been playing on a line with Picketts and Landon Clow.
“We are there to chip pucks in and tire the defence,” said Peardon. “We have been doing a pretty good job.”
“Reid plays a 200-foot game. He plays a penalty-killing role a little bit. He has that natural speed about him, the thorn-in-your-side kind of player, which is hard to play against. He plays his role well.”
-Coach Kyle Dunn on Reid Peardon
Picketts
After trying out for the Wild, Picketts played the 2017-18 campaign with the Mid-Isle Matrix.
“I played a few games with the Wild last year (as an affiliated player), so I was a bit used to it,” said Picketts, who was invited to return to the Wild camp last fall. “If you don’t make it your first year, you just need to keep working and the next year give it another shot and you will be older and stronger.”
Picketts earned 16 points, including nine goals, in 35 regular-season games. He chipped in with three helpers in the four playoff matches.
“It was a pretty good year,” assessed Picketts. “I didn’t have too many points, but I’m more of an energy guy.
“My line’s goal is to forecheck, get some energy going and score once in a while.”
What has been the biggest adjustment to major midget?
“The decision making because of how fast everything is,” answered Picketts. “You don’t have a lot of time to make your decisions.”
“Duncan is a big guy, and plays a lot of penalty kill for our team. He brings a lot of energy, physical play and likes to go to the dirty areas. That’s the style we have here in Kensington – get to the dirty areas, and Duncan fits that well.”
-Coach Kyle Dunn on Duncan Picketts
Snow
Snow, who brings a blue-collar work ethic, cracked Kensington’s roster as a walk-on.
“I was just going to come, work my hardest and see what I could do,” offered Snow. “It’s gone pretty smooth, I have fit in pretty good and it’s been fun so far.”
Snow played the 2017-18 season with Summerside’s midget AAA team.
“I always work my hardest, and try to put my best foot forward,” said Snow, who felt adjusting to the level of speed was the biggest adjustment at the major midget level. “I tend to see myself as a PK (penalty killing) guy.”
Despite playing a defensive role, Snow quietly chipped in 14 points, including three goals. In the playoffs, Snow collected a pair of assists in four contests.
Snow agreed with the assessment that it is a great feeling to make the jump after putting in so much hard work.
“It’s always nice to improve and get to the next level,” said Snow. “That’s always what your goal is in the end.”
“Kalib is a guy like Duncan Picketts. He plays his fourth-line role very well, is an energy guy, he goes to the net and gets some PK time. He’s played some big PK minutes all season. He’s bought into his role, loves to come to the rink and here’s a guy who thrives off being pushed.”
-Coach Kyle Dunn on Kalib Snow
