Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - Submitted by Courtesy of NBPEIMML
The six-team NB/PEI Major Midget Hockey League gets its 2014-15 campaign started on Friday night, September 19th.
In Saint John, the New Brunswick Champion Vitos host the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild at 8:00 at the QPlex. "We are excited to start this season," says new head coach, Kyle Dunn. "There is also lots of enthusiasm about hosting the Atlantics."
Joining Matt Fortier as an assistant coach is Duane Richards, who is new to the role this season. The Vitos will be hosts of the Telus Cup in 2016 and are building for that as well, but are focusing on putting together a strong 2014-15 season first.
Elsewhere, the Miramichi Rivermen will host the Moncton Mark's Work Wearhouse Flyers at the Lord Beaverbrook Arena at 8:00. The Rivermen are coming off a strong 22-win season a year ago and will be looking to build on that momentum. The Flyers have been strong recently as well as they went undefeated in six pre-season games.
On Saturday night, the Rivermen will travel to Kensington for a 7:30 matchup with the Wild, while the Charlottetown Mark's Work Wearhouse Islanders will get their season kicked off on the road at the Red Ball Internet Centre against the Flyers.
"I know last year we struggled at times but everyone is a year older now and we are excited about the upcoming year" said Islanders head coach, Jeff MacDonald. "We are happy with the speed, skill, hockey sense and competitiveness of our team. Since day one of training camp, we have seen a competitive nature that will help us get through the high's and low's of the season."
On Sunday afternoon at 1:45, the Islanders will have their home opener with the Vitos, and at 3:00 at the Willie O'Ree Place, the Fredericton Service Master Clean Canadiens will kick their season off when they host the Rivermen. "We're very pleased with play during our exhibition games," said Canadiens head coach, Kevin Pottle. "We will rely on a strong leadership core of Patrick Daley, Sam Cameron, Nic Pellerin and Taylor Leblanc.
We will also benefit from the experience of returning goaltender Ryan Hale. Rookies joining us Mika Cyr, Denis Toner, Alex Lavoie, Cole Easton, Andy Chiasson, Reed MacKenzie and Jack Grant are all expected to step in and contribute."
Each team will once again have four inter-league games with teams from the Nova Scotia Major Midget League as part of their 35-game regular season. The NB/PEI teams will host Nova Scotia teams on the weekend of November 1-2nd, and will travel to Nova Scotia for games on the weekend of December 6-7th.
The two PEI teams and four New Brunswick teams will play off separately for the chance to represent their respective province at the Atlantic Major Midget Championships, April 2-5th in Kensington, PEI.
