IJHL Playoffs: DesRoches, Waddell expect intense final series

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Although the season will continue for both the Western Red Wings and Kensington Vipers following the Island Junior Hockey League championship series, neither head coach expects to see any less intensity between the two arch-rivals.

The Kensington Vipers visit the Western Red Wings in Game 1 of the best-of-seven matchup on Wednesday. Puck drop at the Evangeline Recreation Centre is 7 p.m.
Regardless of the series outcome, both teams are guaranteed berths in the 2019 Don Johnson Memorial Cup Atlantic junior B hockey championship tournament, which will be held in Kensington from April 23 to 28. Since the Vipers are already in as the host team, the Red Wings will represent P.E.I.
“Honestly, I don’t think it will affect anything whatsoever,” said Red Wings head coach Nathan DesRoches. “Everybody plays to win the league title, and I don’t expect Kensington to take their foot off the gas, and I guarantee you they don't expect us to take our foot off the gas.
“We had practice the other day, and the Don Johnson Cup wasn’t brought up once. It is not even on our minds at this point.”

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This is not the first time the Vipers have been in this situation.
“We have been down this road before with Sherwood and Western,” said Waddell referring to past IJHL finals when the Atlantic championship was hosted on P.E.I. “We want to win the Island championship, and I’m sure that they do, too.
“When we get to the Don Johnson, both teams will want to win that as well. If we were playing a pre-season game in September the intensity would be there. That’s not going to go away.”

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