UPEI and City Celebrate Sports Partnership This Weekend
UPEI and the City of Charlottetown are teaming up this weekend to present a jam-packed sports schedule at the university that will highlight some of the best student athletes in the province and offer an exciting opportunity for Islanders to show their support.
"We invite the public to come and enjoy an incredible line-up of games and some extra special events as well," says Ron Annear, UPEI Athletic Director. "It's going to be a real celebration of PEI sport and a great opportunity to recognize the partnerships that help our athletes on their way to the top."
The weekend kicks off Friday with the Women's/Men's soccer hosting MtA at 6:30/8:30 pm. At half-time of the women's game there will be special ceremony to honour 2005 CIS Player of the Year Amy Connolly by retiring her Number 8 jersey.
Events continue at 8:20 pm with a ceremony to celebrate the community benefits of the new artificial turf field. Representatives of the City of Charlottetown, UPEI, the PEI Soccer Association and the PEI School Athletic Association will strut their soccer stuff by taking a ceremonial kick on the new turf.
"The partnership between the City and UPEI has given us a top quality surface that enables Charlottetown to host provincial, regional, and national events," says Mayor Clifford Lee. "The playing season has been extended for soccer, field hockey, and football by allowing the sports to gain access to a field earlier in spring and later in the fall. The City of Charlottetown is pleased to have partnered in the construction of the artificial turf field venue, which has enabled us to host a number of sporting events since it opened in October 2005."
At the MacLauchlan Arena, play gets under way at 7:30 pm on Friday when the men's hockey Panthers take on StFx.
The Road to UPEI: PEI School Athletic Provincial Championships get going at 10 am on Saturday with the Senior Women's Soccer Gold event, followed by the Senior A Men's Soccer Gold at noon. Competitions continue in the afternoon with Field Hockey Bronze at 2 pm and Gold at 4 pm. The Senior AA Women's Soccer Gold is scheduled for 6 pm and the Senior AA Men's Soccer Gold kicks off at 8 pm.
There are two Panther hockey games scheduled for Saturday. The women's team plays StFx at 2:30 pm and the men meet Dalhousie at 7:30 pm. On Sunday, the weekend winds up with the women soccer Panthers against UNB at 1 pm, the men's hockey Panthers against Dal at 2:30 pm, and the men's soccer Panthers against UNB at 3 pm.
"It's going to be an amazing weekend and we invite everyone to come out to support sports excellence in the community and at the university," says Ron Annear. For more information on the schedule of events go to upei.ca/athletics.
