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Season Preview |
Posted By: JFDOUCET |
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 |
The new season of the Razzy's Junior C Hockey League gets underway on Friday night on two fronts. The new look Morell Cover All Construction Crunch will host the South Side MacDonald's Excavation / EF MacPhee Construction Lynx on opening night in Morell. The Crunch will have a new set of black and gold uniforms this season thanks to their new sponsor. Coach Brian Kelly expects the Crunch to improve this season with Jamie Kelly, Nigel Fisher and Mitchell Ryan, three of the league's top scorers along with Zack and Matt MacDonald providing much of the offence. Manning the blue-line are newcomers, Brandon Kok, Dan MacDonald, and Nathan Trainor who will add some speed and toughness alongside returnees Ben Gould, Bruce Jay and Spencer Van Diepen. Sharing the goaltending duties will be Brady McKenna and Travis Crane who are expected to take the team deep in the playoffs. The Lynx' manager, Steve Watts, is eager to get the season up and running with a solid group of returning players plus many recent local Midget graduates. There are numerous changes including new bench bosses, Andrew MacKay, Brody Noonan and Mike Irwin. Former Midget AAA players Andy Murphy, Jeff MacFarlane and Jamie Parsons have joined the team along with returning veterans Chad Murphy, Corey Ross and Jordan Stetson. Doug Williams and Alex Watts are both returning in goal. The other game on Friday night will feature the Charlottetown Halliwell Consulting Abbies visiting the Pownal Red Devils. "We're looking to build off of a great first season," says Abbies head coach, Cory Gaudet, "we have two first year goaltenders but are faster on defence. Up front we have four solid lines that can all score and are big and fast. We are looking forward to big years from Rodney Hynes and Chad Doyle on defence. Forwards Jeremy Stevenson, Robbie Doucette, Mike Jeffery, and Josh Blakeney should provide the bulk of the offence, while over-agers Alex Hannam and Colin Cudmore should provide leadership." After being a younger team last year, the Red Devils have signed four of last year's graduating players, Ben Visser, Calvin MacPherson, Kyle MacPherson, and Josh Garnhum, to provide continued leadership on a developing team. The offense will be bolstered with the new additions of Josh Doran, Coady Garnhum, Peter MacAulay, John Doyle, and Jesse Hawkes. Their defensive game should improve with the defence and goaltenders all returning. All eight teams will be in action on Saturday night, including the Red Devils visiting the North River Island Excavators Flames at APM Centre. Flames manager, Don Jardine says "The team will be led by veterans such as Chad Fleming, Lucas Vessey, Morgan McLellan, Kevin MacKay and Jorden Parkman. Some new faces will add a different look to the team." At the Charlottetown Civic Centre, it will be a battle of the expansion teams with the Montague Sharks taking on the Holland College Hurricanes. "We are planning on making an instant impact in the league" states Sharks manager Peter MacDonald, "leading the team will be the strong goaltending tandem of Travis McLeod and Calvin MacIntyre, both former Midget AAA netmen. We will be relying on a 'scoring by committee' offense, with four solid lines that are capable of playing in any situation. We will look to team captain Jesse MacDonald, and assistant captain Trent Johnston for point production as well as offensive stalwarts Jack Panting and Simon Peters," added MacDonald. "We're a new group entering the league and our program will no doubt take time to come together," admitted Hurricanes coach, Dan Cudmore. "Any time you bring twenty strangers together it will take time for them to learn each other's tendencies and get on the same page. We'll continue to work hard and the guys are very excited to be a part of this league and challenge the other great teams."
In Crapaud, the Lynx will have their home opener against the Island Champion Tignish Perry's Construction Aces. The Aces coaches and management are looking for strong play from their twelve returning layers, including both goaltenders. With their new crop of players looking strong as well, they hope to be very competitive again this year. Saturday's schedule wraps up with the Abbies hosting the Crunch, and on Sunday the Flames will visit the Hurricanes, while the Aces have their home opener against the Sharks.
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