SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — What seems to be an April hockey tradition on P.E.I. resumes this week.
For the sixth time in eight years, including four of the last five, the Western Red Wings and Kensington Vipers will meet in the best-of-seven Island Junior Hockey League championship series.
“I’m not surprised (about meeting Kensington), but I’m excited like everyone else seems to be for it,” said Red Wings head coach Nathan DesRoches. “I am sure it’s not going to disappoint, like it hasn’t in the past.”
The last two finals between the arch-rivals have been seven-game thrillers, with the Vipers winning in 2016 and the Red Wings taking the 2017 title. Both series attracted full houses to the Evangeline Recreation Centre in Abram-Village and Kensington’s Credit Union Centre. This year is expected to be no different.
“It could be a physical series,” predicted Vipers head coach Wade Waddell. “We are probably two of the more physical teams in the league.
“They are a high-scoring team, and we had a year where we really struggled to score goals by times, but over the last four or five games of the regular season and playoffs we have found our groove scoring. We hope that continues and have been on a nice little roll. Really, since January, we have been playing good hockey.”
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The Red Wings, based on their first-place finish in the regular season, will host Game 1 at the Evangeline Recreation Centre in Abram-Village on Wednesday. Game 2 is in Kensington on Sunday. Both are 7 p.m. starts.
“Our goal is to try and get the first game,” said Waddell. “If we don’t then we will just go from there.
“They are a quality opponent, we know it’s going to be a hard, hard series. We like where our game is right now, and the last six weeks we’ve shown we are there with anybody.”
One major difference this year is it’s the first time the Red Wings will enjoy home-ice advantage against the Vipers.
“Obviously, the way things have worked out in the past with Kensington having home-ice (advantage), we fully understand, as a staff and players, how important it is,” said DesRoches.
Head-to-head meetings
Western, which is looking to win its third straight provincial title, finished the regular season at 30-4-2 (won-lost-overtime losses). The Vipers were second at 25-11-0. A big reason for the 12-point difference between the two teams was the Red Wings’ dominance of the regular-season series. Western went 8-1-1 and earned 17 of a possible 20 points against Kensington.
However, both coaches understand the playoffs are a new season.
“We need to stay within ourselves, and play our own game,” said DesRoches. “Anytime you get yourself into a rivalry as big as this one it’s very important that you control your emotions, and do not let the game get the best of you, make sure you dictate the game on your terms.”
DesRoches said Bronson Banks will start Game 1 in goal for the Red Wings. Both Banks and Luke Oliver saw action in Western’s semifinal sweep of the Eastern Maniacs. The Vipers will counter with Caleb Coyle, who came off the bench to win four straight games in Kensington’s five-game series win over the Sherwood-Parkdale Metros in Round 1.
“You don’t win championships without good goaltending,” said Waddell. “Other keys are going to be staying disciplined and getting contributions from everybody.
“If you look through their lineup they had contributions from everybody. They are a hard team to match up against.”
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Head to head
Regular-season meetings between Red Wings, Vipers:
Oct. 7 – Red Wings 1 at Vipers 2.
Oct. 21 – Vipers 3 at Red Wings 5.
Nov. 11 – Vipers 1 at Red Wings 8.
Dec. 15 – Red Wings 4 at Vipers 1.
Dec. 26 – Red Wings 4 at Vipers 1.
Dec. 30 – Vipers 2 at Red Wings 3.
Jan. 13 – Red Wings 2 at Vipers 3 (OT)
Feb. 10 – Vipers 0 at Red Wings 3
Feb. 27 – Vipers 2 at Red Wings 4.
March 3 – Red Wings 6 at Vipers 3.Recent Matchups
Recent final series results between Vipers, Red Wings:
2017 – Red Wings win 4-3.
2016 – Vipers win 4-3.
2015 – Vipers win 4-0.
2013 – Vipers win 4-0.
2012 – Vipers win 4-0.
