CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - The Island Storm looks to make a good month a great one this weekend.
It starts today when the Atlantic Division-leading Storm (7-4, including 6-2 in December) hits the hardwood in Saint John, N.B., for a 7 p.m. contest with the Riptide (5-5). The squad has a quick turnaround for a 2 p.m. matinee with the Halifax Hurricanes (6-6) Sunday on New Year's Eve at the Eastlink Centre.
"We'd love to go in tomorrow night and get a win," head coach Tim Kendrick said before Friday's practice.
The Storm defeated the Riptide 107-101 on Dec. 22 in the Port City in the only meeting so far this season between the teams.
Kendrick said Gabe Freeman and Malcolm Miller at 24 and 17 points per game, respectively, are key cogs to the Riptide offence.
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"We have to be aware of those two all the time," he said.
The Storm had a hard practice Thursday and held a shootaround on Friday.
"We want to keep them as fresh as we can with two big games coming up," Kendrick said. "For me it's always about having your players ready to play. . . You practice to be able to win the game."
Guard Franklin Session (knee) and forward Du'Vaughn Maxwell (ankle) are not 100 per cent, but both are expected to play today.
While each game is worth the same in the standings, there are marquee games on the calendar that bring an extra cache. The Boxing Day and New Year's Eve games are two of the biggest of the season for the franchise.
Kendrick said the team's approach is always the next task at hand.
"We haven't spoken about Halifax," he said.
