Marcu 8, 2005

The Final Regular Season Games

Vanessa MacDonald Sports Reporter

The weekend of Feb. 26", UPEI went to UNB to play the last two games of the basketball regular season. The ladies had a disappointing weekend, losing both games, despite a close call on Saturday. UNB started off with a 20-12 lead and was 29-19 by half time. UPEI trailed by 1 shot for most of the game but, in the second half, UNB pulled ahead by a huge margin, although both teams put together a tremendous effort. For Melissa Campbell especially, it was an excellent effort put forth. While UNB was ahead by 21 points, Melissa Campbell single- handedly brought UPEI back with 15 points trailing UNB by 12. The men finished the first night of play with UNB gamering a close, 96-81, win.

Feb. 27" was a disappointing night for both of our Panther teams. The men lost an extremely close game to UNB, 91-87. The women lost to UNB 79-44 and at half time were behind 44- 23. It seemed the game was decided from the tip off.

In much happier news, Katherine Walters and Lindsay Coade were selected for the Women’s 2" All- Star team this year, as well as Tyler Wood for the Men’s 1* All-Star team

and Jeff Walker for the 2™ All-Star |

team.

Both teams will compete for the AUS Championship. The UPEI Women’s Panthers will play in the quarterfinals at UNB at 8 p.m. March 4" and the Men’s team will play in the quarterfinals at the Halifax Metro Center on March 10", although the opponent will not be decided until the end of this weekend.

Excellent job ladies and gentlemen and best of luck in the AUS Championship!

Cadre Players of the Week

Liam McKenna Sports Editor

The Cadre Players of the Week are Melissa Campbell of the women’s

basketball Panthers, and captain Joel

Ward of the men’s hockey team.

Campbell exhibited her fine play last weekend in a losing effort against UNB, struggling against odds to reduce her team’s deficit in the second half and recording 15 points for her efforts. Campbell’s relentless and tenacious attack in the face of defeat earned her the Player of the Week award. Campbell lists Trevor Whihams, Dean Smith, and Jack Archaumbault as having the greatest effect on her career, also quoted “I’ve never spoken to the sports editor before in my life. We have a sports section?”

Joel Ward earned Player of the Week status despite the hockey team’s current status in the off season. Ward earned the scoring title, Most Valuable Player award, and the sportsmanship award for AUS hockey this year. Ward, who quoted “Give me the Cadre Player of the Week award or I will beat you

_up,” aspires to play pro hockey later

on, having already had two tryouts with the Detroit Red Wings.

Update: Lady Panthers Advance in

‘AUS Playoffs

In the first round of the playoffs, the Panther women overcame adversity to stun a UNB Varsity Reds team that had defeated them twice in regular season play the previous weekend. The Panthers won the game by a close 67- 64 margin, and now advance to play Memorial on Saturday in the semifinal.

Scoring details were not available at press time.

Students trying to “just get their hockey fix” suffer another

defeat

Zac Kurylyk Contributor

Engineering students missing the NHL were given another setback March 3 when yet another Engineering Classic hockey game ended in a loss for UPEI. .

The annual match-up features players from the UPEI Engineering program on one side, with professional engineers (P. Eng) making up the other team. UPEI lost 5-3.

After the game, Frank “Old Guy” Chiasson of the P. Eng team had advice

for the students to help them win next.

year.

“We suggest they take a surveying course, because they don’t know how to row up at the blue line,” he joked. “We thought they played it pretty good, but they lost it at the end, they don’t have the legs we have.”

Coach Steve Matheson of the student team attributed his team’s failure to a lack of alcohol at the end of the game.

“We played a good game, made a bit ofa comeback in the second period, but we ran out of beer in the third so we ran out of steam.”

Notall players agreed with the beer theory.

“The collective intoxication in no way helped us,” said defenseman Barret Kurylyk.

The game started with both

| teams appearing evenly matched, but

the P. Eng team took advantage of a few weak shifts and racked up a quick 3-0 lead. Pat Keefe scored UPEI’s first answering goal, but the professionals replied, making it 4-1.

The students fought back with further goals by Josh Collins and Tim McCardle, but their efforts in the final minutes were not enough to win the

Tue CADRE « 12

game. Coach Steve Matheson pulled

goalie Glen Howatt with 1:25 left in the game but even with the additional skater UPEI couldn’t produce the extra needed goal. With 2 seconds left on the clock, the professionals managed to slip a puck into the empty net, with two players sliding in behind it ina last. ditch attempt to save team pride. °

Although the annual game is all in fun, UPEI players said they don’t plan on losing next year.

Men’s Hockey Panthers Garner -Numerous Awards Liam McKenna Sports Editor

The UPEI Men’s Panthers saw two players secure positions on the all-

_ Star teams announced this week, with

forward Luc Chaisson and Captain Joel Ward being named to the second and first team, respectively.

Chaisson, a forward, was second in scoring for his conference as well as third overall in the nation with 41 points in 28 games. Chaisson also tied all-star teammate Ryan Lauzon of St. Mary’s for game winning goals, with five. es

Ward, named to the first team, led the conference in both scoring and assists with 44 points and 28 assists on the year. He finished the 28 game season as the leading scorer of his conference and placed second in scoring nationally.

In addition to his prestige as an all star, Ward also found himself recipient of the conference MVP and sportsmanship award. In addition to leading the AUS in scoring, Ward also boasted a league-best nine power play goals. Ward was the first Panther to win the award since 1990-91. Ward should also be proud of his winning the sportsmanship award despite the constant grind on the UPEI captain from opponents who recognize and attempt to contain his skill. Ward’s discipline and skill are central to his winning of these awards.