By Noel Arnason
It’s the biggest weekend yet for the Holland Hurricanes, with the football team competing in the AFL Championship and the men’s and women’s soccer teams heading to the ACAA playoffs. The weekend also features the men’s volleyball home opener and costume night for women’s volleyball.
For the first time since 2019, the Hurricanes have a chance to win the Moosehead Cup and are looking to capture their fifth championship. The last time Holland won the Moosehead Cup was in 2015, but standing in its way are the defending champions, the Dalhousie Tigers, who have won the title six times.
Holland hasn’t beaten the Tigers since 2019, when the teams met in the AFL semifinals. On the bright side, the Hurricanes were the first team to score against the undefeated Tigers this season.
The ’Canes are riding high into the championship after a 39-10 win over the UNB Reds, which featured John MacGillivray forcing five turnovers on defence. On offence, Grayson Fox has remained undefeated at quarterback since winning the starting job in the final week of the regular season and is looking to continue that success this weekend.
This is a game fans won’t want to miss, as the championship could come right down to the wire in Halifax.
The Hurricanes are organizing a fan bus to the game, with tickets costing $75. Reserve a seat by sending an e-transfer to cmhenderson@hollandcollege.com and including contact information in the transfer message. Payment must be received by Thursday night.
Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at Wickwire Field.
The Hurricanes women’s soccer team heads into the ACAA playoffs in Saint John as the fourth and final seed. Holland is matched up against the top-seeded STU Tommies, whom the Hurricanes handed their first loss of the season during the second-last week of the regular season.
Karissa George is leading the Hurricanes into the playoffs. The third-year midfielder finished tied for second in the league in points, with 22, after scoring 12 goals in 12 games. Goalkeeper Tasha Kowalchuk will look to maintain her strong play in net after finishing with an .831 save percentage, good for second in the league.
Semi-finals are at 12:30 p.m. at Canada Games Stadium.
Like the women’s team, the Hurricanes men’s soccer team heads into the playoffs as the fourth and final seed. Holland will face the top-seeded UNBSJ Seawolves.
Both of Holland’s games against the Seawolves this season were decided by one goal, setting up a close matchup as the Hurricanes look to spoil UNBSJ’s plans of winning a championship at home.
Harrison Munro will look to continue his offensive production this weekend after recording 10 points, including five goals, in 12 games. Goalkeeper Kole MacWilliams is expected to return to net after missing time due to injury. He finished second in the league with an .862 save percentage in six games. If MacWilliams is unable to play, the Hurricanes will turn to Liam Boswall, who helped them clinch a playoff spot with a shutout against the Dalhousie Rams last weekend.
Semi-finals are at 3:30 p.m. at Canada Games Stadium.
After opening the season 2-0 against the UKC Blue Devils without losing a single set, the Hurricanes turn their attention to the Dalhousie Rams on Saturday for their only game of the weekend.
The Rams currently sit at 0-1 after losing in three sets to the STU Tommies.
Holland is led by fifth-year Abby MacDonald, who recorded 14 kills on 19 attempts, seven solo blocks and seven service aces last weekend. Fourth-year Maria Moores was also an offensive threat. She sits second in the league in kills, with 25, and kills per set, at 4.17. MacDonald and Moores also rank first and second in the league in hitting percentage, at .684 and .583, respectively.
Tip off is at 3 p.m. at the MCCE.
The Hurricanes men’s volleyball team enters the season after a strong off-season recruiting effort as it prepares to host the CCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championship this season. Holland opens its campaign against the Dalhousie Rams, who went winless last season.
The Hurricanes welcome back three key players, including male athlete of the year Carson Gray, who will look to continue his dominance in the league, alongside Tyler McBride and Brett MacAusland.
Holland has also added new faces this season, including transfers Kalan Billard, who comes from Lakeland College, and Jakob Curtis, who joins the team from Fanshawe College.
Make sure to come out this weekend and support the Hurricanes in their home opener as they begin their pursuit of CCAA gold.
On Saturday, tip off is at 5:30 p.m. and 11 a.m. on Sunday at the MCCE.
The Hurricanes women’s hockey team enters the season looking to defend its ACHA championship for a fifth consecutive year.
Holland also has several key players returning, including captain Kristyn Taylor, Cassie Gordon, Bri Hughes, Hannah Whalen, Adyson MacGillivray, Josee Allain and goaltender Olivia Lowe.
The Hurricanes open the season against the Acadia Axewomen at the Eastlink Centre on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m.
The Hurricanes cross-country team heads to STU for its final meet of the season, the ACAA Championship. Runners Emilie Doucette and Ben Perrin will look to claim medals after strong regular seasons. The women’s race begins at noon, shortly followed by the men’s race at 1:15 p.m.
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