By Tina Comeau
THE VANGUARD
The hunt to qualify for Division 1 high school hockey provincials will take place in Yarmouth this week.
The Yarmouth Vikings are hosting regionals at the Mariners Centre Feb. 27, 28 and March 1. Aside from the Vikings, the other teams that will be competing for a spot at provincials are Park View, Avon View, Kings Edgehill and Horton.
Division 1 high school hockey provincials are being hosted in March by Sir John A.
The Vikings have played Avon View and Park View in tournament play this season, but have not yet met Horton or Kings Edgehill.
During their regular league season the Vikings play in the five-team Southwest High School Hockey League. The Vikings finished their regular season in third place. They lost to the Barrington Barons in overtime in Game 3 of the league playoffs. In two of their tournaments this season the Vikings make it to the semi-final or consolation game.
Vikings head coach Kyle Boudreau says the season has been one of growth for the team, which nearing the end of its season was plagued by suspensions and injuries.
“We still have a very young team and we are seeing rapid improvement out of our younger players who have stepped into larger roles then I think most of them ever expected to have this season,” he said. “We have peaked at the right times so far with a good performance at the Cook’s Cup and a very good league playoff series versus Barrrington.
“These kids seem to know when it’s the right time to show up and play at their best,” he added. “We have a good group of kids and it’s been a good year overall.”
Boudreau says the hockey that will be played during regionals will be good hockey to watch, from the time the puck drops on Thursday to the conclusion of Saturday’s championship game.
“A lot of these kids are possibly playing their last weekend of competitive hockey of their lives if they don't advance to provincials,” he said. “The Grade 12s know that and don't want to end on a losing note. You can expect hard hitting, fast pace hockey with intensity levels staying high from puck drop till buzzer.”
Still, says Boudreau, “You have to take tournaments like this one game at a time, one period at a time and one shift at a time. You cannot get too far ahead of yourselves because anything can happen.”
The following is the schedule for regionals taking place at the Mariners Centre.
Thursday Feb 27:
12 p.m. Yarmouth vs. Park View
1:45 p.m. KES vs. Horton
3:30 p.m. Park View vs. Avon View
5:15 p.m. Horton vs. Yarmouth
7 p.m. KES vs. Avon View
Friday Feb 28:
9 a.m. Yarmouth vs. KES
10:45 a.m. Avon View vs. Horton
12:30 p.m. Park View vs. KES
2:15 p.m. Avon View vs. Yarmouth
4 p.m. Horton vs. Park View
Saturday, March 1:
11:15 a.m. Semi Final
3 p.m. Championship
The games are also being livestreamed by the MC Media video crew of the Mariners Centre. You can view the livestreaming here.
By Tina Comeau
THE VANGUARD
The hunt to qualify for Division 1 high school hockey provincials will take place in Yarmouth this week.
The Yarmouth Vikings are hosting regionals at the Mariners Centre Feb. 27, 28 and March 1. Aside from the Vikings, the other teams that will be competing for a spot at provincials are Park View, Avon View, Kings Edgehill and Horton.
Division 1 high school hockey provincials are being hosted in March by Sir John A.
The Vikings have played Avon View and Park View in tournament play this season, but have not yet met Horton or Kings Edgehill.
During their regular league season the Vikings play in the five-team Southwest High School Hockey League. The Vikings finished their regular season in third place. They lost to the Barrington Barons in overtime in Game 3 of the league playoffs. In two of their tournaments this season the Vikings make it to the semi-final or consolation game.
Vikings head coach Kyle Boudreau says the season has been one of growth for the team, which nearing the end of its season was plagued by suspensions and injuries.
“We still have a very young team and we are seeing rapid improvement out of our younger players who have stepped into larger roles then I think most of them ever expected to have this season,” he said. “We have peaked at the right times so far with a good performance at the Cook’s Cup and a very good league playoff series versus Barrrington.
“These kids seem to know when it’s the right time to show up and play at their best,” he added. “We have a good group of kids and it’s been a good year overall.”
Boudreau says the hockey that will be played during regionals will be good hockey to watch, from the time the puck drops on Thursday to the conclusion of Saturday’s championship game.
“A lot of these kids are possibly playing their last weekend of competitive hockey of their lives if they don't advance to provincials,” he said. “The Grade 12s know that and don't want to end on a losing note. You can expect hard hitting, fast pace hockey with intensity levels staying high from puck drop till buzzer.”
Still, says Boudreau, “You have to take tournaments like this one game at a time, one period at a time and one shift at a time. You cannot get too far ahead of yourselves because anything can happen.”
The following is the schedule for regionals taking place at the Mariners Centre.
Thursday Feb 27:
12 p.m. Yarmouth vs. Park View
1:45 p.m. KES vs. Horton
3:30 p.m. Park View vs. Avon View
5:15 p.m. Horton vs. Yarmouth
7 p.m. KES vs. Avon View
Friday Feb 28:
9 a.m. Yarmouth vs. KES
10:45 a.m. Avon View vs. Horton
12:30 p.m. Park View vs. KES
2:15 p.m. Avon View vs. Yarmouth
4 p.m. Horton vs. Park View
Saturday, March 1:
11:15 a.m. Semi Final
3 p.m. Championship
The games are also being livestreamed by the MC Media video crew of the Mariners Centre. You can view the livestreaming here.
