CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Four Island hockey teams are coming together to ensure they have games to play inside the province.
The Island Covid Cup will see the Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Knights and Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild, plus two teams from The Mount Academy play a series of games during the next week while travel restrictions are in place in P.E.I. due to the pandemic.
The Knights and Wild play in the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Under-18 Hockey League while The Mount Academy Saints’ under-17 and -18 teams normally play in leagues outside Atlantic Canada. P.E.I. left the Atlantic bubble for a two-week period starting Nov. 24 as positive cases increased in other Maritime provinces.
“With only having one dance partner in our league on the Island, we knew our options would be limited,” Knights head coach Luke Beck said.
They reached out to the other two parties to see if there was interest to explore the idea further.
“I think it was a great idea on their behalf,” said Wild bench boss Kyle Dunn.
“We’re probably one of the only provinces around that is still playing some hockey. I think it’s great, especially for these young guys’ development.”
Schedule
A look at the Island Covid Cup games.
Today
7 p.m. – Kensington at Charlottetown.
Saturday
6 p.m. – The Mount Academy under-18 at Kensington.
7:45 p.m. – The Mount Academy under-17 at Charlottetown.
Tuesday
The Mount Academy under-18 vs. The Mount Academy under-17. Time and location to be determined.
Friday, Dec. 4
7 p.m. – The Mount Academy under-18 at Charlottetown.
7:30 p.m. – The Mount Academy under-17 at Kensington.
Note – All Knights games are being live streamed on the team’s Facebook page.
Kenny MacDougall, headmaster at The Mount, said he has a feeling of gratitude and appreciation.
“One, to be thankful enough to have the province in the state that it is that we still are allowed to have meaningful competition, and two, to have the co-operation from the major midget teams in our province that they see the value in playing us and trying to organize something that is meaningful for the kids in such a strange year,” he said.
The format will see each team play three games between tonight and Dec. 4. The first contest sees the Knights and Wild play the only game that will count in their league standings.
Beck said everyone has been through a lot since the pandemic struck P.E.I. in mid-March
“(We) understand there’s a lot more important things that hockey,” he said. “We just want to give our kids the best possible experience we can.”
Dunn said the series of games will provide the players something to look forward to as opposed to daily practices, which can become monotonous.
“We’re watching the news every day and hoping people stay safe and follow the guidelines.”
The Mount teams will be able to play their game before their exam week, Dec. 6-11.
“It will be a great way to wrap up term one,” MacDougall said.
Jason Malloy is The Guardian's sports editor. He can be reached by email at jason.malloy@theguardian.pe.ca and followed on Twitter at @SportsGuardian .
