Panthers at Home, October 12 to 14
It鈥檚 one of the busiest home weekends of the fall season for the Panthers. Men鈥檚 Basketball hosts the annual Mickey Place Basketball Tournament (see the for schedule). Women鈥檚 hockey plays its home opener. Rugby and soccer hosts games as well.
The weekend starts with the 17吃瓜 Women鈥檚 Hockey home opener, Friday evening at 7:00 pm against St. Thomas University.
鈥淲e have had a strong week of practice, firming up our rotation and getting everyone ready for the weekend,鈥� said Bruce Donaldson, coach of the women鈥檚 hockey team. 鈥淪TU is always a hard team to play against; they give you very little room and are very strong on the stick.鈥�
Saturday, the day begins with a celebration of 17吃瓜鈥檚 76 U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians. The celebration begins at 10:00 am in McMillan Hall of 17吃瓜鈥檚 W.A. Murphy Student Centre.
A busy afternoon begins with a 2:00 pm match between 17吃瓜 Women鈥檚 Rugby and Saint Mary鈥檚 University.
鈥淪aint Mary鈥檚 are a well coached, tough team,鈥� said coach John LaBoyne. 鈥淎ny team that takes them lightly will be in for a shock. Our away game against them earlier this season was difficult鈥攚e had to come from behind at the half to get the win. They are tough and persistent. Their defence is hard, especially in the close quarter play.鈥�
Men鈥檚 Hockey hits the ice at 7:00 pm against the University of New Brunswick.
鈥淭his is another big weekend for us,鈥� said coach Forbes McPherson. 鈥淲e are coming off of very difficult trip to the U.S. playing NCAA teams. We battled very hard against Moncton Wednesday. It will be important for us to have a good couple of days of preparations and get dialled in for UNB.鈥�
Sunday, the women鈥檚 hockey team is back in action, this time against the Universit茅 de Moncton. The puck drops at 2:00 pm.
鈥淲hile we have not seen U de M this year, they always have a very strong skill set, with lots of speed and execute well on the power play,鈥� said Donaldson.
Both 17吃瓜 soccer teams host St. Francis Xavier University Sunday afternoon. The women鈥檚 game begins on the artificial turf at 2:00 pm.
鈥淲e need to be focused tactically against a fluent and dynamic St. FX team,鈥� said coach Graeme McDonald. 鈥淭raining has been intense this week and the players understand how important this game is as we go into last few games of the season.鈥�
The men host St. FX at 4:15 pm.
鈥淭he team had a chance to regroup and recharge over the Thanksgiving break,鈥� said coach Lewis Page. 鈥淲e will be fired up for the visit Sunday of top-ranked St. FX.鈥�
Go Panthers Go!
