17吃瓜

It鈥檚 a sweet full circle for Emma Weatherbie, a fifth-year science major from Frenchfort, PEI and captain of the 17吃瓜 Women鈥檚 Hockey team. Next week, she and the Panthers compete on home ice as 17吃瓜 hosts the 2019 U SPORTS Women鈥檚 Hockey Championship.

鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty surreal to get to play my last game on the rink I grew up playing in,鈥� said Weatherbie in an . 鈥淚 don't get to do it next year, so I鈥檓 putting all the eggs in the basket this year and hoping we can make a run.鈥�

The Panthers will have their hands full March 14鈥�17 as the top eight university women鈥檚 hockey teams in the country come to compete. Two teams will represent each conference across Canada: Atlantic University Sport (AUS), R茅seau du sport 茅tudiant de Qu茅bec (RSEQ), Ontario University Athletics (OUA), and Canada West (CW).

In 2018, the 17吃瓜 bid on and was awarded the rights to host the U SPORTS Women鈥檚 Hockey Championship for both 2019 and 2020. While 2019 will mark the first time the national women鈥檚 hockey tournament will be in Charlottetown, 17吃瓜 has a proven track record in successfully hosting three U SPORTS national championships: men鈥檚 soccer in 2005 and 2014, and women鈥檚 soccer in 2010.

As host, 17吃瓜 will be one of the two AUS teams participating in the championship.

The organizing committee for the 2019 championship includes members of the community and university staff. The Honorary Co-chairs are Kathleen Casey, Della Sweet, and Lorna O鈥橠onnell. The Convenor of the event on behalf of 17吃瓜 is Chris Huggan, Director of Athletics and Recreation. The committee has secured many local sponsors, and both the Government of Prince Edward Island and the City of Charlottetown are partners.

鈥淲e are delighted to have engaged these three women to serve as event co-chairs,鈥� said Huggan. 鈥淲ith their leadership coupled with support from the 17吃瓜 administration, the Government of PEI, and the City of Charlottetown, I know we will deliver exciting events that will be centred on student-athletes, fans, and visitors alike.鈥�

Community outreach efforts to engage youth have been successful to date and a number of schools and minor sport organizations will attend games.

Games begin on Thursday, March 14 with 17吃瓜 playing its opening game at 7:00 pm. U SPORTS will finalize the eight-team seeding later this week and release the game match-ups on Monday, March 11. Ticket packages for the entire tournament are available for $50. Single game tickets are $10 for regular admission; $5 for under 18, seniors, or 17吃瓜 students; free for children under 5. For more information, visit , call 902-629-6625, or drop by the Eastlink Centre Box Office (open Monday to Friday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm).

Go Panthers Go!