By Reegan MacAulay

The Holland Hurricanes approach another packed weekend of games, with Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (ACAA) basketball and action at home, ACAA volleyball action on the road, plus at home at the McMillan Centre, and one last Atlantic Collegiate Women’s Hockey (ACHA) doubleheader at the Eastlink Centre. Plus, let’s look back at the volleyball teams rare Wednesday night matches at home.

Here is everything you need to know for this weekend.

Women’s Volleyball

The women’s volleyball team heads into the weekend of Feb. 10-11 red-hot with a three-game winning streak coming off a rescheduled game at the McMillan Centre against the St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

The ‘Canes swept STU 3-0 on Wednesday at home. Each team swapped points in the first set, with Holland taking the early lead. STU called a timeout after a ‘Canes four-point run, but it wouldn’t do much as Holland extended its lead further and took the set 25-14 with a fiery kill from Myah Utrosa. The Tommies had a better start in the second set with a 6-2 lead, but Holland quickly came back to tie the score 8-8. After a STU timeout, the ‘Canes jumped out to the lead and took the set 25-16. Holland had a dominant start in the third set, but the Tommies slowly crawled back to close the gap to four points at 21-17. After another STU timeout, Holland scored four straight points and held on 25-18 to win the game.

Morgan White led the ‘Canes with 10 kills and six digs in the match. Jenna O’Neill recorded six kills and eight digs, with Myah Utrosa recording five kills and four digs. Charlotte Sweetapple and Mason Babey each recorded four kills and two digs in the win. Holland improved to 9-6, now two points behind the Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics, who are 10-3 and currently sit third in the conference with 20 points.

Now, the ‘Canes set their eyes on catching the Mystics with a game on the road in Halifax, N.S. on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2pm. This will be the first time Holland plays MSVU this season. Originally, the ‘Canes were supposed to play the Mystics at home on Sunday, Feb. 4, but weather postponed the game.  The ‘Canes will now also play MSVU on Sunday, February 18 at home in Charlottetown at 3pm.

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

Men’s Volleyball

The men’s volleyball team is now in a dog fight with the STU Tommies for second place in the conference after a 3-0 loss to STU in a rescheduled game at home on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

The game was tight right off the bat, with Holland barely edging ahead for most of the first set. That was until STU took a 17-16 lead and then forced a ‘Canes timeout with a 20-18 lead. Holland recorded one point after the timeout and STU held on 25-19.

The Tommies had a dominant start to the second set, jumping out to a 10-4 lead and forcing a ‘Canes timeout. Holland bounced back slightly and called another timeout while down 20-15, but the team had nothing for STU, who took the set 25-19. Holland made a valiant effort to force a fourth set, but after STU called a timeout while down 11-9, the Tommies came back and took the lead, eventually winning the set 25-15 and taking the game.

Carson Gray led the ‘Canes with nine kills, three digs, and one assist. Izumo Ueda recorded five kills, three digs, and one assist. Tyler McBride recorded 15 assists and one kill. Holland dropped to 7-5, while STU improved to 7-5. Both teams are now tied for second in the conference with 14 points each.

Now, the ‘Canes enter the upcoming weekend hoping to break the tie and get revenge on STU. Firstly, Holland will head to Moncton, N.B. on Saturday, Feb. 10 to play the Crandall University Chargers, who are 1-12 and have yet to beat Holland after three past attempts. Then, the ‘Canes will return home and welcome STU back to the McMillan Centre for a rematch on Sunday, Feb. 11, which is a game rescheduled from Sunday, Feb. 4. This will be the final home game of the 2023-24 season for the Hurricanes. Saturday and Sunday’s game times are at 3 p.m.

Also, for Sunday, the Hurricanes women’s rugby team will be honoured prior to the match.  They will receive and raise their banner after winning the 2023 ACAA Championship in November.

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

Women’s Basketball

The women’s basketball team enters the weekend with four wins in the last five games and is chasing after third place in the conference, currently two points behind the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils (18 points).

The squad, carrying an 8-7 record, will face a big challenge at the McMillan Centre this Saturday, Feb. 10, as the league-leading MSVU Mystics come to Charlottetown with an 11-1 record and a seven-game winning streak. The last time the two teams played each other, MSVU won a game in Halifax, N.S. on Nov. 11.

Athlete of the Week, Alexa Rancourt, will be on the minds of every MSVU player as a prime shutdown target, coming off an 18-point performance in a win at home against the Crandall University Chargers last Friday, Feb. 2. She currently leads the conference with 229 points, nine more than teammate Amy Plaggenhoef, and she’s currently third with 15.3 points per game, second with 10.2 rebounds per game, and second with a 54.8 field goal percentage. 

With three games remaining until the 2024 ACAA Basketball Championships in Charlottetown, it’ll be a matter of keeping the momentum going for both Rancourt and the rest of the team to grab a higher spot in the standings and head into the championships with confidence.

Saturday’s game time is at 2 p.m.

Connect with the women’s basketball ‘Canes at www.x.com/caneswbball and www.instagram.cm/hurricanesbball.

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball team will be chasing after second place in the conference with five wins in the last six games, currently tied with the Crandall University Chargers (16 points each) and two points behind MSVU (18 points).

The squad, carrying an 8-7 record just like the women’s team, will look to tie the red-hot MSVU Mystics for second place with a game at the McMillan Centre on Saturday, Feb. 10. MSVU comes to Charlottetown with a 9-3 record and is 2-0 against Holland so far this season, previously winning 87-62 at the McMillan Centre on Nov. 25.

ACAA points leader, Bryce Corless, and Athlete of the Week, Diangelo Woodside, are the players to keep an eye on as they come off a combined 47-point performance in a 104-101 win at home against Crandall last Friday, Feb. 2. Corless also leads the conference with 21.8 points per game, while Woodside is second with 9.1 rebounds per game and tied for 10th in the conference with 188 points. Aaron Simmons is Holland’s second top scorer with 204 points, seventh in the conference. Rookies, Zachary Dawkins and Topaz Kana, hope to continue proving why they were the acquisition steals of the holiday break.

Three games remain until the ACAA Basketball Championships in Charlottetown, and with how hot the team has been, an 8-1 second-half record (compared to a 3-6 first-half record) is very possible. But it’ll be quite a feat to accomplish with two top teams coming to Charlottetown for the next two weekends.

Saturday's game time is at 4.

This Saturday, PEI basketball players will receive free admission when they attend the men’s and women’s basketball games at the McMillan Centre wearing their jerseys.  This offer extends to all Basketball PEI and PEI School Athletic Association (PEISAA) High School and Junior High players.

Connect with the men’s basketball ‘Canes at www.x.com/canesmbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

Women’s Hockey

The defending Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) champions will conclude their regular season this weekend with a home-game doubleheader at the Eastlink Centre on Saturday, Feb. 10 and Sunday, Feb. 11 against the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers.

The ‘Canes enter the weekend with a 4-1-1 record, currently riding a four-game winning streak and recently defeating the Acadia University Axewomen, 1-0 and 2-1, in Wolfville, N.S. on the weekend of Jan. 27-28. The Capers visit Charlottetown with an 0-6-0 record and seek their first win of the season. The last time they played the ‘Canes, Holland won 2-0 and 7-2 in a doubleheader in Sydney, N.S. on the weekend of Dec. 2-3.

Notably between those two games, rookie forward and former UPEI Panther star, Taylor Gillis scored a hat trick, veteran goaltender Emma Arsenault recorded a 17-save shutout, and rookie goaltender Bella Scott recorded her first win as a Hurricane. In the team’s recent wins against Acadia, game one saw veteran Jacy McMillan score the game-winning goal with 30 seconds remaining, and game two saw veterans, Gabby MacDonald and Madison Tingley, come in clutch in Holland’s comeback win.

Other goal scorers this season include veterans Elizabeth Lirette and Abbey Gordon, and rookie Kristyn Taylor. Watch out for other elite players such as veteran Livi Lawlor and rookie Kailey Lutley to contribute on the scoresheet.

The Hurricanes currently trail the Acadia Axewomen (5-2-1) for first place in the standings by just two points.  A single win over the weekend will give the Hurricanes the regular season championship ahead of the 2024 ACHA Championship in Wolfville, Nova Scotia on March 1-3.

Saturday’s game time is at 7 p.m. and Sunday’s game time is at 11:15 a.m.

This weekend, all participants and their families of the North River Minor Hockey Association (NRMHA) Sweetheart Tournament will receive free admission to the games.  Also, on Sunday, PEI Minor Hockey players will receive free admission to the game by wearing their jerseys.

Lastly, Saturday evening the Hurricanes will celebrate their past during Hurricanes Women’s Hockey Alumni Night.  Former players from the Hurricanes are invited to attend the game as special guests, with a pre-game ceremonial puck-drop planned.

Connect with the women’s hockey ‘Canes at www.x.com/caneswhockey and 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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