KENSINGTON – A major hockey championship is coming to Kensington.
Hockey P.E.I. announced on Wednesday morning a selection committee comprised of members of the provincial association’s minor council selected the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild to host the 2015 Atlantic major midget hockey championship. The five-team tournament will take place at Community Gardens from April 2 to 5.
“We are proud to bring this special event to Kensington,” said Wild president, general manager and host bid committee spokesman Mike Gallant. “Our community has shown great support, and we plan to make this an enjoyable experience for our fans and all players who will attend."
Provincial champions
The provincial champions from Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, P.E.I. representative Charlottetown Islanders and the host Wild will battle for the right to move onto the Telus Cup national midget hockey championship in Riviere-du-Loup, Que., from April 20 to 26.
The Wild and Islanders are the Island’s two entries in the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League. The Wild defeated the Islanders in a six-game provincial championship series last March.
"On behalf of the Kensington Wild major midget team and our host committee, we are very excited and look forward to hosting the top major midget teams in Atlantic Canada,” said Gallant. “We are very excited and are certain that, in co-operation with Hockey P.E.I., we will be able to stage a great event.
“Not only will it be a great experience for our own players, but we plan on making sure to make this event something all teams will remember.”
The last time Kensington hosted an Atlantic midget hockey championship in 2002, NHL superstar Sidney Crosby played in the tournament for Nova Scotia’s Dartmouth Subways, who went on to win the silver medal at the Canadian championship.
Training camp
The opening of training camp for the Wild is just over a week away. An orientation meeting for parents and players, along with camp registration, will take place at Community Gardens on Friday, Aug. 29, beginning at 7 p.m.
A dryland fitness session will be held on Sunday, Aug. 31, a 6:30 p.m., and the first on-ice session is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 1, at 8 p.m.
All players are asked to pre-register by email to pei.wildhockey@hotmail.com,and include name, height, weight, team played for last season, email address and phone number.
