Faculty-staff team upset UPEI Women’s Hockey team in a thrilling shootout
Before a solid crowd of over 100 people that featured fans ringing cowbells and cheering on their favourite teams, UPEI Women’s Hockey was feeling the pressure when the players took to the ice at MacLauchlan Arena on March 14, looking to defeat a team made up of, for the most part, much older faculty and staff.
The game, which was a fundraiser for the varsity team, was organized by Drs. Etienne Myette-Côté and Dany MacDonald, kinesiology faculty members; Ron Annear and Jane Vessey, UPEI Athletics and Recreations; and Sean Fisher, head coach of the UPEI Women’s Hockey team.
The faculty-staff team were the first to score, but then the Panther squad turned it on, and for the rest of the game, the score seesawed back and forth. After three 15-minute periods of regulation time, the match was tied 5-5.
Experience won out over speed as the UPEI employee team, coached by Interim President Greg Keefe, ultimately beat the Panther squad in a shootout, which had people at the edge of their seats as both teams struggled at first to get the puck past the Panther netminders.
“Both teams were very intense, and the game featured all the elements of a great, fun, competitive hockey game—some mild chirping and well-called penalties, great rushes, and nice goals,” said Keefe. “My prediction is that this will develop into quite a rivalry going forward.”
The winning team, with representation from a variety of UPEI faculties and departments, was presented with the Paderno Cup, which was originally created for a women’s recreational hockey tournament that also raised money for the UPEI Women’s Hockey program and was recycled for this inaugural series. The next game between these stellar teams will take place in September, after which it will become an annual tradition every fall.
For those who missed the game, donations to UPEI Women’s Hockey or any varsity team can be made anytime at upei.ca/donate by designating Athletics and Recreation and the program of choice.
Many thanks go out to organizers, players, and volunteers.
