By Reegan MacAulay
To conclude October, a crazy and eventful weekend of Holland Hurricanes action is anticipated. It’s playoff time for women’s soccer, women’s rugby, and football, and the final meet for the women’s and men’s cross-country running squads, while volleyball, basketball, and women’s hockey are each set to commence their new seasons.
Here’s what to expect out of a busy three days for Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA), Atlantic Football League (AFL), and Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) competition between Friday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 27.
Women’s Soccer
The seven-time and defending champions of ACAA women’s soccer seek to defend their regional crown this weekend in the 2024 ACAA Soccer Championships at Crandall University in Moncton, N.B.
Despite ending the regular season on a rough note with two losses on home turf and dropping from second to third in the standings with a 5-3-4 record, the young Hurricanes will have nothing but revenge in their minds when they face the second-seeded University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils in semifinal action on Saturday, Oct. 26; UKC beat Holland 1-0 last Sunday. Holland went an overall 0-1-1 against UKC in the regular season and has yet to score against them; perhaps the third time’s the charm.
The winner of the sudden-death match will advance to the ACAA Championship Game on Sunday, Oct. 27 and face either the top-ranked Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics or the fourth-ranked University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves.
Saturday’s game is at 12:30 p.m. If Holland wins, they play at noon on Sunday. All games at the ACAA Championships take place at the Medavie Blue Cross Stadium on the Université de Moncton.
Head coach Jonathan Vos said the key to getting through the championships will be playing a full 90 minutes, which was a noticeable struggle last weekend.
“I think we have the ability (to play a full game),” Vos said. We’ve got the players, so just making sure that mindset is there for that 90 minutes of focus, and getting it done. A few little mistakes here and there have been costly for us, which other teams have taken advantage of. The girls have shown they can do it, and we just have to put it together.”
Watch the action on Saturday at www.acaa.tv.
Connect with the women’s ‘Canes at www.x.com/caneswsoccer and www.instagram.com/caneswsoccer.
Women’s Rugby
The women’s rugby Hurricanes begin their playoff push and the chase for back-to-back ACAA championships this weekend with a semifinal match against the Mount Allison Mounties on Sunday, Oct. 27.
Both teams tied for second in the standings, but the Mounties emerged with home-field advantage and will host the semifinal game in Sackville, N.B. The season series is currently tied 1-1, with Holland winning 19-15 on Sept. 15 and Mount Allison winning 36-28 on Oct. 10. A win on Sunday would give the Hurricanes their third consecutive ACAA Championship Game appearance, and that game is slated for Sunday, Nov. 3 against the top-ranked University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds in Fredericton, NB.
Sunday’s game time is at 2 p.m.
Connect with the women’s rugby ‘Canes at www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanesrugby.
Cross-Country Running
The women’s and men’s cross-country running Hurricanes wrap up their 2024 season with the 2024 ACAA Cross Country Running Championships hosted by Holland College at the Mark Arendz Provincial Ski Park in Brookvale, P.E.I. on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The most momentum will come out of the women’s squad as Shea Carefoot finished 11th overall in the last 6km individual run and seventh overall in the 8km individual run, followed by Katie Astley in ninth, while the men seek to improve upon their fifth-place overall team result from Oct. 5.
The women’s race will begin at 1pm on Saturday, while the men’s will follow at 2pm.
Full results will be available at www.acaa.ca.
Connect with the cross country running Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/hurricanesxc.
Football
The football Hurricanes are set to wage an all-out war against the UNB Reds in AFL semifinal action on Saturday, Oct. 26 in Fredericton, N.B. With the season series tied 1-1 and Holland being routed 51-2 in the last match between the two teams on Oct. 12; football fans will be treated to a game for the ages at the BMO Centre.
Both teams finished the regular season tied for second in the standings with 3-3 records, with the Reds claiming the tiebreaker and home-field advantage for the semifinals. While UNB has the most recent momentum thanks to a 58-20 win against the Saint John Falcons last weekend, Holland shouldn’t be counted out entirely as they recently came incredibly close to an upset against the league-leading Dalhousie Tigers but fell short in overtime 31-28.
If the Hurricanes win on Saturday, they will have a chance to get back at Dalhousie in the AFL Championship Game on November 2 in Halifax.
It’s been since 2015 that the ‘Canes have won an AFL championship, and they have two semifinal losses and a playoff DNQ in the last three years.
Saturday’s game time is at 1 p.m. and can be watched live at www.youtube.com/@unbreds.
Connect with the football ‘Canes at www.facebook.com/canesmfootball, www.x.com/canesmfootball and www.instagram.com/canesmfootball.
Women’s Volleyball
The women’s volleyball Hurricanes return to the McMillan Centre this weekend for the first time since February and begin their preparation for hosting the 2025 ACAA Volleyball Championships with a pair of regular season home-opening games on Friday and Sunday.
The team enters the 2024-25 season expecting an extremely competitive season across the region and expects to be competing near the top of the standings. After finishing fourth in the conference with an 11-7 record and losing in semifinal action last season, the two-time champions are hungry for improved results.
Craig Hoskins is back with the team for his third season as the head coach. He and the rest of the team are excited for what’s to come starting this weekend. “The team has been putting in a lot of work through the preseason and we’ve seen growth in our group on and off the court,” Hoskins said. “The energy in the gym has been great and we are eager to get the season started and see where we stack up against other teams.
“Our goal is to be competitive right from the start, but we’re also focused on getting better every game. This group has the potential to push deep into the playoffs if we stay disciplined and keep growing. The ACAA will be very competitive this season and the preseason showed us there will be no easy matches, and we will have to fight for every win. But this year’s Hurricanes are ready to embrace that challenge.”
Hoskins will be joined by assistant coaches Laura Ready, Kateia Barbenaba, and Mason Babey. Babey played for the team for the past two seasons.
An abundance of proven athletes are set to return and help the team claim their first ACAA crown since 2023. Myah Utrosa, Charlotte Sweetapple, Jenna O’Neill, and Abby MacDonald will return and are expected to use their leadership and experience to perform at a high level and help the squad win games. Morgan White and Hannah Power will add further high-skill and veteran leadership. Versatile rookies Jamie Spencer and Sam Payne join the team with prior experience playing for high-level college/university teams in Ontario. Hoskins said fans should enjoy watching them play.
The ‘Canes will play the Crandall University Chargers in a doubleheader this weekend, with Friday’s game starting at 5 p.m. and Sunday’s game starting at 1 p.m. Crandall enters the new season seeking redemption after finishing last season with a 6-12 record and a playoff DNQ.
Watch both matches live at https://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 back at the McMillan Centre this weekend to begin their new season, and will also get set to have a successful regular season ahead of hosting the regional championships, starting with games on Friday and Sunday.
The squad enters the 2024-25 season intending to build off a successful 2023-24 season, which saw them finish with an 11-5 record for second place in the conference but were then eliminated heartbreakingly in ACAA semifinal action. Excluding the 2020-21 season, the Hurricanes look for their first regional championship since 2019 and their first national appearance since 2020.
Former Hurricanes volleyball star Brett Butler returns to the team for his third season as the head coach. He expects a tight race to the finish across the league. “We are super excited to get the regular season going,” Butler said. “It’s been a long and gruelling preseason with lots of training and exhibition matches. Only four teams make the playoffs so we need to make sure we are ready to compete each weekend and play our best at the end of the season. We have a great batch of new players coming into the fold this year.”
Butler will have Brittany States, Kalie MacKinnon, and former teammate and graduating player from last year Marcus Lapointe assisting him this season.
Captain and last year’s ACAA top scorer in kills, Carson Gray, is back for his third year with the team and will be vital in utilizing his well-rounded game, defense and leadership abilities. He said the team will be fairly young but competitive. “We know it’s going to be a competitive year and our team is ready to put in the work and battle for a title on our home court. I look forward to playing with the new rookies, and, all in all, we’ve grown close together already, so it’s going to be very rewarding to be able to celebrate with my teammates as the wins start to come.”
Fellow returnees include third-year players Tyler McBride, Jonathan Hyndman, and Nathan Wills, and second-year players Brett MacAusland, Dominik Pineau and John MacKinnon. Notable freshmen include right-side Lucas Lavigne, who comes from Bathurst with high potential, libero Connor Daniels, who brings great energy to the backcourt from Australia, and P.E.I.’s very own Wason Bulpitt, a gifted middle.
Like the women, the ‘Canes will challenge the Crandall University Chargers in a doubleheader this weekend, with Friday’s game starting at 7 p.m. and Sunday’s game starting at 3 p.m. Crandall begins their new season hoping for a major bounce-back after winning just one of 16 regular season games last season.
Catch both games live this weekend at https://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 enter a new season starting this Saturday, Oct. 26 with a home-opening match against the defending ACAA champions, the UKC Blue Devils at the McMillan Centre.
A largely recognizable squad will be back to chase the program’s first regional title since 2017. After successfully hosting the 2024 ACAA Championships last year, aside from falling short of a finals appearance by 10 points, the new year brings a lot of hope with former ACAA All-Stars ready to carry the fort and make sure the team goes beyond its five consecutive seasons of semifinal losses (excluding 2020-21).
Chris Connolly enters his fourth season as the team’s head coach and he’s looking forward to starting the season, especially against the elite Blue Devils. “Fans will recognize a large number of our players from last year’s team. We have nine returning and four new recruits. Having players like Alexa Rancourt and Lauren Armstrong makes for an exciting start to the season for us. We are looking forward to a good challenge on Saturday from the defending champions.”
Kassandra Little, Geoff Thomas, and Jay Mingrone join Connolly as assistant coaches.
Rancourt, the reigning ACAA Player of the Year and conference’s top scorer, and Armstrong, a first-team all-star last year, will be joined by other elite returnees including veteran guards Molly Steadman and Amy Plaggenhoef, and sophomore Robyne Driscoll. Rookie guard Karissa George seeks to carry her success from women’s soccer and make an immediate impact on the basketball court as well. She pioneers a rookie core which is entirely from Nova Scotia, featuring guards Vantaya Talbot and Nykeva Brown, and forward Allie Forbes.
Plaggenhoef shared her excitement for the upcoming season. “Our team has been working hard over the past two months to prepare for the upcoming weekend,” Plaggenhoef said. “We’re excited to be able to kick off the regular season at home in front of our home crowd. I look forward to playing with the new additions we have made to our team this year and I can’t wait to see them compete in the ACAA this season.”
Saturday’s game time is at 2 p.m. and can be seen live at https://acaa.tv.
Connect with the women’s basketball ‘Canes at www.x.com/caneswbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball Hurricanes also start their 2024-25 season this weekend with a home-opening match, also against the UKC Blue Devils at the McMillan Centre on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The men are coming off a season where things started horribly with only three wins within nine games and multiple injuries, but a fresh reset at the Christmas break, which included the addition of two key players from Ontario and Alberta, gave the team an energy boost for the ages in the second half, which included six wins in nine games. They then hosted the ACAA Championships and lost in the semifinals. Expected to be within the mix for an ACAA title once again, the eight-time champions will, like the women’s squad, bolster a roster filled with recognizable talents and some new, promising faces.
Former Island Storm head coach Tim Kendrick will be in charge of the program for the third consecutive season, and he anticipates a good season which will start against the heavily-improved Blue Devils. “Our league is looking very strong and balanced and should provide some great basketball action. We will be led again this season by multiple returnees and we are happy to have added some high-energy players as well. We believe we have added experience and depth to our roster and we are looking forward to the season.”
The rest of the coaching staff includes Lonnie States, Marvin Rhyno, William Muirhead, and former player Logan Rempel.
Returning for his fifth year in the ACAA will be a fan-favourite in last year’s regional leading scorer and first-team all-star Bryce Corless. Joining him will be sensational sophomores Aaron Simmons and Owen Parsons, and third-year guard Ryan MacKinnon. Forward Jahson Tomlinson and guard Jaidon Martin are some of the newest faces in the program.
Parsons is looking forward to building upon his rookie year and helping the team go on a deep playoff run. “I feel really good having last year under my belt and look for a strong season with our returning players and some talented new ones. Our team goal would be definitely to compete for an ACAA championship and qualify for nationals. I have set personal goals of averaging a double/double and being our rim protector and being top of the league in blocked shots. I’m also excited about having the opportunity for a bigger role. I like the chemistry that I’m developing with Bryce (Corless) and Aaron (Simmons) and I enjoy being a part of freeing up our top scorers in doing what they do best.”
Saturday’s game time is at 4 p.m. with the game available to view at https://acaa.tv.
Connect with the ‘Canes men’s basketball team at www.x.com/canesmbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.
Women’s Hockey
The chase for a three-peat in the ACHA begins this weekend for the women’s hockey Hurricanes, who will have no better way of beginning a new season than with a home-opening rivalry doubleheader against the Acadia University Axewomen on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27.
Having won the last two ACHA championships, both times against Acadia, the women’s hockey program continues to make strides, especially after the recent inaugural Island Cup collegiate women’s hockey showcase earlier this month, which featured the Hurricanes and four other teams from across Canada. While Holland went winless across four games, lots of promise was shown for a squad that went through yet another offseason shift both on and off the ice.
Matt Carter, a former professional hockey player who played in leagues such as the Ontario Hockey League, Atlantic University Sport, and East Coast Hockey League, is the team’s new head coach. He wrapped up his playing career two years ago and the 2024-25 season will be his first as a coach.
“I’m looking forward to this year and bringing some of the things I’ve learned over the years to help evolve the program,” Carter said. “Things have been fantastic so far. The work ethic and attention to detail (from the girls) have been good, everyone’s dialled in and eager to play. We will have to work on some things, but that’s sports for you. You go into every season with a focus on winning; we want to win, we want to work hard, and we want to put the best product on the ice. I know this group will put their best foot forward and be able to serve the college proud.”
Carter is joined by Maddy Koughan, a former Atlantic University Sport athlete and Andrew’s Hockey Growth Program coach, and Maria Mahar, a former Pownal Minor Hockey Association and Central Storm goaltender.
About half of the roster has returnees while the other half is new. Two players are back for their fourth year with the Hurricanes, defenseman and assistant captain Emma MacKinnon and goaltender Emma Arsenault, whose experience, leadership, and lively personalities will be critical for team success. Captain Kristyn Taylor and assistant captain Abbey Gordon will lead the way offensively along with speedy talents Livi Lawlor and Kailey Lutley, and versatile forwards Bri Hughes and Josée Allain. Joining MacKinnon on the backend with experience will be gritty assistant captain Hillary Quilty.
Taylor is excited to get the season started and apply the rookie experience to her new role as team captain. “Last year, we ended on a really exciting note with back-to-back championships, so I’m pumped to see what the new year brings. As the new captain, talking to the new rookies, making them feel comfortable, and getting to know them will be crucial. My personal goal this season is to give it my all for the full 60 minutes every game, and if I’m tired, just push through it.”
MacKinnon said it feels great to be back for one last ride with the Hurricanes. “Winning the last two seasons back to back, we’re obviously looking to do it again. Coming into this season, we have a whole new group of girls coming in here again, so looking forward to the opportunities we have this season. (Emma) Arsenault and I have played together for almost 10 years now, so our connection is really good and we try to take that as a leadership role on this team, welcoming the players into the Hurricanes family. So far, all of the girls have been great; great personalities and great work ethics, so we’re looking forward to strengthening the bonds we already have and creating new ones.”
High-end talents Adyson MacGillivray and Gabrielle LeBlanc joined the program from Nova Scotia, and both made an immediate impact at the Island Cup with multiple goals each. Fellow newcomers Emmy Parsons and Ella Marshall add physicality and an offensive touch on the backend while former North River Flames goaltender Olivia Holt returns to the ice for the first time in several years and Emma Carey comes over from the Northwest Territories as a former Canada Games player.
Marshall said committing to Holland was an easy decision. “Came (to P.E.I.) every summer for Andrews Hockey for development. I met Maddy (Koughan) through Andrews and she coaches me now, so it all comes full circle. The transition has been seamless and the coaches know what they’re doing. On the ice, I’m more of a thinker, I like to make plays, see the open ice, and be aggressive when I can be, and I want to earn the ice time and work for it.
Holt chose the Hurricanes program as her way of getting back into the sport after a short hiatus. “This program gives me an opportunity to do something outside of school and I’ve always wanted to play for a hockey team outside of minor hockey. Holland College gives me a chance to be close to home and see a lot of the girls I’ve played against before, so it makes me feel comfortable. “I haven’t been able to play for the past few years, so to get back into it is good. My 13-year-old self would be so proud if they saw me now. I’m still trying to knock the rust off, but I’d like to progress my play, really focus on playing the best that I can, and bring my all on and off the ice.
“As a goaltender, I take things pretty seriously because I find that, with goaltending, it’s more of a mental thing. Your skills are there no matter what, but if you’re not mentally strong enough to put yourself in front of the puck, it’s going to go in the net. Off the ice, I can be pretty quiet, but I can’t wait to meet some of the fans and I hope I’m a good role model for any girls that want to play college hockey, which is very important to me.”
Saturday’s game time is at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday’s game time is at 11:15 a.m.
You can watch both games online at www.youtube.com/@gocanesgo.
Connect with the women’s hockey ‘Canes at www.x.com/caneswhockey and www.instagram.com/caneswhockey.
For more information on the Holland Hurricanes, please visit www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.x.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.
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