By Reegan MacAulay
While the men’s and women’s soccer teams return to ACAA action and the baseball team hopes for better weather in upcoming ACBA competition, more fall sports are set to get underway for the Holland Hurricanes, including men’s and women’s cross country running in New Brunswick and the football and women’s rugby home-openers in Charlottetown.
Here is what’s to come this Saturday, Sept. 14 and Sunday, Sept. 15.
Football
The 2024 Atlantic Football League (AFL) season is set to begin for the Holland Hurricanes football program, and it all gets started this Saturday, Sept. 14 on home turf with a match against the five-time and defending champions, the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Reds. After a 2023 campaign that saw the team struggle and finish with a 30-26 loss to the Reds and an overall 1-5 record, the ‘Canes have been working hard over the off-season to get back to championship contenders.
With multiple key players back on the roster including wide receiver Aaron McCardle, offensive lineman Zack Goodsell, linebacker Owen McLeod, defensive lineman Josh Hartlen, and an elite recruit class including offensive lineman Keiran Richards and linebacker Isaac Webb, head coach Aaron MacIsaac knows 2024 will be a defining year for the program.
“We have had a strong recruiting year and many returning players. The offseason efforts of the coaching staff were second to none, and everyone was very energized entering camp,” said MacIsaac.
MacIsaac will have most of his coaching sidekicks back for 2024, with the addition of former St. FX (USports, AUS) champion and star Jeremy Pike.
The season-opener at UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place, is set to begin at 1 p.m. It will be a special one as it is “Back to School Day.” Holland College students and staff (with Holl Pass at entry) and pre-registered former Hurricanes football players will receive free admission and there will be prizes and contests on behalf of the Holland College Student Union.
You can watch Saturday’s home opener live on the Holland Hurricanes YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@GoCanesGo.
Connect with the football ‘Canes at www.facebook.com/canesmfootball, www.instagram.com/canesmfootballand www.x.com/canesmfootball.
Women’s Rugby
Joining the football team with a home-opening game this weekend, except on Sunday, Sept. 15 instead, is the Holland Hurricanes women’s rugby team, which has all of the momentum in the world after an undefeated 2023 season in Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) action. The pressure is on to replicate last year’s success, and it’ll be at an all-time high on Sunday as the Mount Allison Mounties come to P.E.I. for a 2 p.m. ACAA Championship rematch.
Head coach and 2023 ACAA Coach of the Year Craig Inward anticipates every game to be a challenge while in charge of a roster that features returning standouts Annik Whiten, ACAA all-conference centre Ella McLean, and a strong recruiting class featuring some AUS experience from across the Maritimes and Canada.
“All in all, we are feeling extremely positive about the upcoming season. It should be an exciting year with lots of parity in the league,” Inward said.
The coaching staff remains the same beside Inward as Keturah Fraser and Maegan Roche are eager to keep the momentum ship at full sail.
Connect with the women’s rugby ‘Canes at www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanesrugby.
Cross Country Running
Two sports? Make it three sports set to debut this weekend, as the Holland Hurricanes men’s and women’s cross country running teams have their first ACAA meet coming up at Crandall University in Moncton, N.B. on Saturday.
The women’s squad, who run at 12 p.m., will be led by returners Katie Astley and Louisa-Lucie MacKula-Theriault, both eager to improve upon a fifth-place finish in last year’s ACAA championship. The men’s squad, who run at 1 p.m., have Theophilus Nketsiah, Samuel Hulan, and Graham Gardiner back to attempt to get better than a bronze medal in 2023.
Head coach Michael MacKinnon sees a lot of potential in both teams for the upcoming season.
“We are looking forward to the running season ahead. I’m looking forward to working with all our student-athletes to reach new goals. We have great team spirit on the women’s side and lots of competition on the men’s side,” MacKinnon said.
Connect with the cross country running Hurricanes at www.instagram.com/holland_hurricanesxc.
Women’s Soccer
After an amazing start to the 2024 season with back-to-back shutout victories, the league-leading Hurricanes women’s soccer team hope to continue their surge this weekend with a pair of home games on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, the 0-1-1 University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves cross the Confederation Bridge hungry for their first win of the season. UNBSJ started the season last weekend with a 1-1 draw against MSVU and a 1-0 loss against UKC. Game time is at 1 p.m.
On Sunday, the 0-0-2 STU Tommies take their shot at giving the Hurricanes their first loss (pending Saturday’s result) and earning their first win of the season. STU began the season last weekend with 1-1 draws against UKC and MSVU. Game time is at 1 p.m.
The players to keep an eye on include recent ACAA Player of the Week and Holland Hurricanes Female Athlete of the Week Hayden Chaisson, who scored four goals in two games last weekend, Kristyn Taylor, who scored two goals across the two season-opening games, and Allison Rutt, who earned both of last weekend’s wins with zero goals against.
You can watch both Saturday and Sunday’s games live on ACAA TV at www.acaa.tv.
Connect with the women’s soccer ‘Canes at www.instagram.com/caneswsoccer and www.x.com/caneswsoccer.
Men’s Soccer
The men’s soccer team, sitting in fourth place, will join the women with their own pair of home games this weekend and seek to build upon their big 3-1 win against the Dalhousie Rams last Sunday by going on a winning streak.
On Saturday, the 1-0-1 men’s UNBSJ Seawolves visit P.E.I. with the goal of remaining undefeated in terms of points-earning results. UNBSJ started the season last weekend with a 2-1 win against MSVU and a 3-3 draw against UKC. Game time is at 3:15 p.m.
On Sunday, the 1-0-1 men’s STU Tommies battle the ‘Canes on Holland turf with the same goal as UNBSJ (pending their result against Dalhousie on Saturday). STU started the season last weekend with a 2-2 draw against UKC and a 4-1 win against MSVU. Game time is at 3:15 p.m.
The players to keep an eye on include recent Hurricanes Male Athlete of the Week Vinicius Boyd, who had one of his best career clutch performances last Sunday with two goals, including the game-winner, in Holland’s 3-1 win against Dalhousie, and rookie goalkeeper Nolan Kowal, who put in strong efforts in his first two career starts in a ‘Canes uniform last weekend, going 1-1.
You can watch both Saturday and Sunday’s games live on ACAA TV at www.acaa.tv.
Connect with the men’s soccer ‘Canes at www.instagram.com/canesmsoccer and www.x.com/canesmsoccer.
Saturday’s games, both women and men, will be part of “Hurricanes Soccer Alumni Day,” where there will be a 2-for-1 ticket special for Holland College alumni (must be pre-purchased) and free admission for all former Hurricanes soccer players (must be pre-registered).
On Sunday at the Terry Fox Sports Complex, the ‘Canes will be hosting “Community Day”. The game offers free admission to our community heroes (police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, nurses, hospital staff and other medical professionals, active-duty service members, veterans, Maritime Electric utility workers and more!). Those looking to take advantage of this are asked to pre-register by emailing dccudmore@hollandcollege.com.
The game also offers a family ticket special of 2 adults and 2 children’s tickets for just $15 – take advantage of this by pre-purchasing by Friday at 4pm by emailing dccudmore@hollandcollege.com.
Baseball
After weather forced the Hurricanes baseball team to wait another week for their 2024 Atlantic Collegiate Baseball Association (ACBA) campaign to get underway, the ‘Canes’ patience gets rewarded with the new season-opening doubleheaders set for this Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, the Hurricanes welcomes the undefeated UNB Reds to Victoria Park for Holland’s home-opening doubleheader. UNB is coming off a 2023 campaign where their championship-winning streak came to an end at the hands of the Acadia Axemen. To opens the season, UNB earned 3-2 and 5-4 victories last Sunday versus the Saint Mary’s University (SMU) Huskies, after Saturday’s games were cancelled due to rain. Game times on Saturday in Charlottetown are at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the winless SMU Huskies come to the Island ready to battle for their first wins of the season; they sit at 0-3 after losses to UNB and Dalhousie early in the regular season. Game times on Sunday at Memorial Field at Victoria Park are at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Connect with the baseball ‘Canes at www.instagram.com/hollandcanesbaseball and www.x.com/hcanesbaseball.
Connect with the Holland Hurricanes at www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes,www.x.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.
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