By Reegan MacAulay

Holland Hurricanes basketball and volleyball action continues, while women’s hockey returns with a new Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association season getting underway this weekend. Here is everything you need to know prior to ‘Canes action this weekend.

Women’s Volleyball

The women’s volleyball Hurricanes are set to finally play their home opener this weekend after starting the 2023-24 Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) regular season with four road matches.

On Saturday, at the McMillan Centre in Charlottetown, the ‘Canes will welcome the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves at 4pm.  UNBSJ enters the weekend at 2-2 and in a tie with the Hurricanes, and four other teams, for third in the standings with four points.

The action continues Sunday when the Hurricanes host the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus (Dal AC) Rams at 2pm. The Rams enter the weekend at 1-3.

The Hurricanes enter the weekend on a bit of a slide. After winning their first two matches of the season, they are now on a two-match losing streak after falling to Mount Allison last Saturday in four-sets, and the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils last Sunday in straight-sets.

The Hurricanes, the defending ACAA Champions, will look to rebound in front of their home fans this weekend at the McMillan Centre, and will rely on Ella Hickey, third in the conference with 7.43 assists per set, and Morgan White, second in service aces per set in the ACAA with 1.50.

Both matches can be viewed live this weekend at www.acaa.tv.

Connect with the women’s volleyball ‘Canes at www.x.com/caneswvball and www.instagram.com/caneswvball.

Men’s Volleyball

The men’s volleyball Hurricanes are also set to play their home opener this weekend at the McMillan Centre.  They opened their season with two road losses to the Université de Sainte-Anne Dragons, in Church Point, Nova Scotia, before having an off weekend last Saturday and Sunday.

The Hurricanes will host the UNBSJ Seawolves on Saturday at 2pm, before hosting the rematch on Sunday at 12pm.

The Seawolves enter the weekend at 2-1 and currently sit in third in the standings, after early season wins over Crandall and St. Thomas University (STU); their one loss came at the hands of the Dragons.

The ‘Canes will look to rebound this weekend in front of their home supporters at the McMillan Centre and rely on the strong early-season performance of Carson Gray, who currently leads the ACAA with an average of 3.57 kills per set.

Both matches can be viewed live this weekend at www.acaa.tv.

Connect with the men’s volleyball ‘Canes at www.x.com/canesmvball and www.instagram.com/canesmvball.

Women’s Basketball

The women’s basketball Hurricanes look to end a three-game losing streak as they travel to Moncton, New Brunswick on Saturday for a matchup against the Crandall University Chargers.

The ‘Canes are coming off a weekend where they lost to Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU), 105-79 on Saturday, and UKC, 94-89, on Sunday. Despite the losses, Lauren Armstrong was dominant with a combined 45 points. She is fourth in the ACAA in points per game (16.8) and second in the conference in rebounds per game (10.4).

The 2-3 ‘Canes will face Crandall this Saturday, Nov. 18, who are 0-3 to begin their season and currently sit in the seventh seed. Neither team has played each other yet this season.

Game time is at 1 p.m.

The ‘Canes will look to get back in the win column before returning home for their November 25 matchup with the MSVU Mystics in Charlottetown.

Watch Saturday’s action live at www.acaa.tv.

Connect with the women’s basketball Hurricanes, visit www.twitter.com/caneswbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball Hurricanes remain on the road once more this weekend with a game on Saturday, Nov. 18 in Moncton, New Brunswick.

The ‘Canes are coming off a roller coaster weekend on Nov. 11 and 12, when they lost 109-71 to the MSVU Mystics on Saturday and defeated the UKC Blue Devils, 84-82, on Sunday.

The ‘Canes will face the Crandall Chargers this Saturday, who have a 2-1 record and are currently sitting in the fourth seed. This is the first meeting between these two rivals this season.

Bryce Corless will have plenty of momentum heading into game day as he has the most points per game in the ACAA and is fifth in the conference in rebounds per game. He had 33 points in Holland’s close win last Sunday.

Game time is at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Watch the action on Saturday at www.acaa.tv.

Connect with the men’s basketball Hurricanes, visit www.twitter.com/canesmbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

Women’s Hockey

The defending Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) champions are ready to defend their crown and begin the 2023-24 season this weekend with home-opening games at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown on Saturday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov. 19.

This weekend will be a 2023 ACHA Championship game rematch (times two) as the Acadia University Axewomen come to town. Acadia is coming off their own home-opening doubleheader weekend against the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers, where they won both games.

The ‘Canes are coming off a 2022-23 season where they went 3-3-1 in the regular season and went undefeated in the 2023 ACHA Championship, defeating Acadia 2-1 in a thrilling championship game.

This season’s ‘Canes team is noticeably different both on and off the ice. With the latter, a new head coach at the helm in Brody Irving, a Hurricanes Physiotherapy Assistant who replaces Meagan Ferguson, who served as head coach between 2020 and 2023.

“Our focus is to just keep improving right now, keep building on our practices and our fitness,” Irving said.

On the ice, Jacy McMillan, Elizabeth Lirette, and Livi Lawlor are back to carry the offense. Madison Tingley, Emma MacKinnon, and Hillary Quilty will pioneer the defense once more. Emma Arsenault is in her final year of goaltending and will be key to keeping the puck out of the Holland net.

The crop of rookies features some recognizable names from the Hockey PEI system. Forward Kailey Lutley and defenseman Kayla Batchilder are two talented recruits from last season’s Eastern Stars team in the Maritime Major U18 League. Goaltender Bella Scott joins them and will have a great mentor in the outgoing veteran, Arsenault.

One notable newcomer is former UPEI Panthers top scorer Taylor Gillis, one of the biggest additions to the ‘Canes team in years. The Summerside native played four seasons with UPEI, scoring a total 66 points in 101 regular-season games and a total 11 points in 15 playoff games.

Irving expects Gillis, Lutley, and Batchilder to make an immediate impact.

“The major-U18 league has really improved, so the girls come in with great hockey knowledge and skating skills. Gillis will be heavily relied on for gameplay impacts,” Irving said.

With Acadia coming into the weekend with two wins, Irving predicts a competitive doubleheader.

“From what I’ve seen, Acadia looks like a good team. It should be a good matchup. I think we have forwards that can consistently play in their zone. Hoping for two wins.” Irving said.

This weekend will be the only opportunity until February to witness the new talents of the women’s hockey Hurricanes on home ice. Saturday’s game is at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday’s game is at 11:30 a.m.

Watch both games this weekend at www.youtube.com/@gocanesgo.

Connect with the women’s hockey ‘Canes at https://twitter.com/canesWhockey and https://www.instagram.com/caneswhockey

For more information on the Holland Hurricanes, visit www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.x.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.

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