CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A Panther-packed weekend is set for UPEI beginning tonight.
Here’s a breakdown of the three days of action.
Tonight
The UPEI basketball teams host St. FX for games tonight and Saturday at 6 p.m. (women) and 8 p.m. (men) at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.
The women’s Panthers are 9-2 and in third place in the conference with a game in hand on Memorial and Acadia (both 9-3) while the X-Women are 2-9 and tied for seventh in the eight-team conference. UPEI’s men’s squad is 2-9 and in the basement of the eight-team conference while St. FX (6-5) is tied for second.
“Moving into this weekend, our focus is to commit to playing a complete 40-minute game and not allowing our temporary lapses in scoring to affect the way we compete on the defensive end,” said men’s basketball coach Darrell Glenn. “We have to play through our mistakes and continue to fight together.”
The men’s hockey team is hosting Acadia tonight at 7 p.m. while the country’s third-ranked Panthers (17-4-1) are in Antigonish, N.S., to play St. FX in women’s hockey.
Saturday
Saturday’s schedule will see the Panthers host St. FX on the basketball court and the Saint Mary’s Huskies in men’s hockey.
The women’s basketball game is the team’s annual shoot for the cure game in support of breast cancer research. Since its launch nationally in the fall of 2007, more than $1.25 million has been raised.
“We would love to see lots of support and generous donations for this national initiative in support of the Canadian Cancer Society,” said coach Matt Gamblin.
Before the men’s game begins at 8 p.m., the Panthers will honour UPEI’s 1985-1986 men’s basketball team, which won the Atlantic championship.
Sunday
The weekend concludes Sunday with the UPEI women’s hockey team hosting UNB (14-8-0) at 3 p.m. in the team’s annual pink in the rink game in support of breast cancer research.
The Reds defeated the country’s second-ranked Saint Mary’s Huskies 3-1 on Wednesday.
“UNB is playing very well and will be coming in with a full line-up,” said UPEI head coach Bruce Donaldson. “In previous games, they have been missing a few players, but it appears they are healthy and ready to play. They have a very balanced line-up starting with strong goaltending, mobility on the back end and forwards who work exceptionally hard. We will need to play well defensively against them and hope to take advantage of any odd man situations.”
