It was an all-around positive weekend for the Holland Hurricanes, picking up nine wins and just one loss in ten regular season games around the region on Saturday and Sunday.

Women’s Basketball

Saturday | Hurricanes 77, STU 58

The ‘Canes were at home for two big matchups with the St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies over the weekend in Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) regular season action. They would start off the weekend strong, earning the 19-point win over the Tommies.

The ‘Canes held leads of 23-19 after the first quarter, 38-29 at the half, and 55-41 after three.

Lisa Bolander led all scorers with 25 points for the Hurricanes to go along with three rebounds, two assists, and five steals. Amy Plaggenhoef had 14 points and five rebounds while Karla Benitez had 11 points and nine rebounds in the win.

Sunday | Hurricanes 68, STU 62

The rematch on Sunday between Holland College and STU did not disappoint, as both teams battled for four quarters, with the ‘Canes sweeping the weekend with the six-point win. 

The ‘Canes led 26-19 after the first quarter and would stretch their lead to 40-31 at the half.  They would see their lead increase to 54-44 entering the fourth quarter before securing the victory.

Lisa Bolander once again led all players with 26 points while also adding four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block. Karla Benitez added 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

Lauren Armstrong had a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with eight points, four assists, and three steals.

It was two important wins for the Hurricanes (9-3) as they now sit in a tie for first place with the Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics (9-2).  This sets up an important matchup next Sunday in Halifax between the two teams as they battle for top-spot as the regular season winds down.

First, the ‘Canes will visit the University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils (4-8) next Saturday at 1pm in Halifax before Sunday’s matchup with MSVU at noon.

The ‘Canes next home game takes place on Sunday, February 12 versus the Mount Allison University (MTA) Mounties at noon at the McMillan Centre in Charlottetown.

Connect with the women’s basketball Hurricanes at www.twitter.com/caneswbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

Men’s Basketball

Saturday | Hurricanes 96, STU 91

The STU Tommies were in town this weekend facing the men’s basketball Hurricanes for two big games in the ACAA.  The Hurricanes would pick up the win in the first meeting, leading 26-24 after the first quarter, increasing their lead to 56-52 at the half, and further increasing their lead to 75-64 after three quarters, before earning the five-point win.

Kyree Thompson and Jalen Menzies both had 25 points for the ‘Canes to lead all scorers. Thompson added seven rebounds, two assists, and four steals with Menzies adding four rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Logan Rempel added 14 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Sunday | Hurricanes 92, STU 101

The rematch on Sunday showcased how close the competition is within the ACAA, as the Tommies rebounded to earn the nine-point victory.

The Hurricanes led 24-23 after the first quarter, and 48-46 at the half.  The ‘Canes would continue to lead entering the fourth quarter, ahead by a score of just 72-71, before STU came up big in the final quarter and earned the win.

Jack MacAulay had 24 points off the bench for the Hurricanes to lead all scorers. Jalen Menzies added 23 points with four assists and five steals. Kyree Thompson recorded a double-double with 19 points and ten rebounds in the loss.

The ‘Canes, now 9-3, continue to lead the ACAA standings, holding two-point leads over MSVU (8-3) and Crandall (8-4).

On Saturday the Hurricanes will be in Halifax to take on the UKC Blue Devils (2-10) before a big matchup with the MSVU Mystics on Sunday.  The Hurricanes next home game takes place on Sunday, February 12 versus the MTA Mounties at the McMillan Centre in Charlottetown.

Connect with the men’s basketball Hurricanes at www.twitter.com/canesmbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

Women’s Hockey

Saturday | Hurricanes 5, CBU 1

The Hurricanes hosted their final two Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) regular season home games over the weekend at the Eastlink Centre when they welcomed the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers to Charlottetown.

Goals from Gabrielle MacDonald and Jessica Desautels put the ‘Canes up 2-0 after the first period, with Maddy Clapham adding a goal in the second to increase their lead to 3-0 through two.  Goals from Livi Lawlor and Clapham, split by a lone Capers goal, gave the ‘Canes the 5-1 win.

Emma Arsenault was solid in goal for the Hurricanes in the victory.

Sunday | Hurricanes 5, CBU 2

It was another solid effort by the ‘Canes on Sunday versus the Capers.

Although CBU took the early lead, just one-minute in, the Hurricanes bounced back with goals from Jacy McMillan and Elizabeth Lirette to hold the 2-1 lead through the first period.  They added goals from McMillan and Desautels in the second, with the Capers scoring once, putting Holland College ahead 4-2 through two.  A Livi Lawlor goal in the third secured the 5-2 win for the ‘Canes.

Avery Bradley earned the win in goal for Holland College.

With the two weekend victories the Hurricanes improve to 3-2-1 on the season, sitting in second behind the 5-0-1 Acadia University Axewomen; CBU drops to 1-7-0, concluding their regular season in third.

The ‘Canes will now head to Wolfville, Nova Scotia this weekend to challenge the top ranked Axewomen; first at 5:30pm on Saturday, before a 2pm game on Sunday to end the regular season.

The Hurricanes will then host the 2023 ACHA Championship at the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre in Montague, PEI.  The championship schedule is as follows.

Connect with the women’s hockey Hurricanes at www.twitter.com/caneswhockey andwww.instagram.com/caneswhockey.

Women’s Volleyball 

Saturday | Hurricanes 3, UNBSJ 1 - Set scores were 21-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-20

After an opening set scare, the Hurricanes bounced back to take the match in four-sets versus the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves on Saturday on the road.

Morgan White led the attack with 17 kills for the ‘Canes with Jenna O’Neill adding six and Charlotte Sweetapple four. Finley Plandowski had 18 assists while O’Neill led the defensive effort with ten digs. Kateia Barenaba added three kills, two assists, three aces, and two digs in the win.

Sunday | Hurricanes 3, Crandall 0 - Set scores were 25-14, 25-16, 25-23

The ‘Canes made the trip from Saint John to Moncton for Sunday’s match with the Crandall University Chargers.  The ‘Canes took the win in straight sets.

Charlotte Sweetapple led the way for the ‘Canes offensively, recording nine kills and a dig, while Jenna O’Neill handled things defensively, recording nine digs, seven kills and a service ace.

Ella Hickey led the way with 26 assists, two kills and two digs, while Kateia Barenaba and Morgan White each recorded four service aces in the win.  Barenaba added four digs, while White added four digs, a block, and an assist.

It was two big wins for the ‘Canes as they improve to 9-4 on the season and are tied with MSVU for second in the ACAA. The ‘Canes will be back in action on Friday when they visit the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus (Dal AC) Rams (4-9) at 7pm in Truro, Nova Scotia before returning home to host UKC (8-5) on Sunday at 1:30pm at the McMillan Centre in Charlottetown.

Connect with the women’s volleyball ‘Canes at www.twitter.com/caneswvball and www.instagram.com/caneswvball.

Men’s Volleyball

Saturday | Hurricanes 3, UNBSJ 0 - Set scores were 25-18, 25-14, 25-11

The ‘Canes continued to have the Seawolves number as they earned the straight sets win over UNBSJ on Saturday on the road.

Cameron Calhoun led the way with 11 kills, seven aces, and six digs while Kiefer Sinclair added 20 assists, and four aces in the win.

Sunday | Hurricanes 3, UNBSJ 0 - Set scores were 25-21, 25-20, 25-19

It was another straight sets win for the ‘Canes as they defeated the Seawolves on Saint John for the second straight day; the ‘Canes have defeated UNBSJ in all five meetings this regular season 

Cameron Calhoun led a balanced offensive effort with seven kills with Nathan Baker adding five and Chase Parsons with four. Calhoun added 13 digs. 

Kiefer Sinclair recorded 21 assists and 12 digs with Tyler McBride leading the defensive effort with 15 digs.

With just three games remaining in the regular season, the ‘Canes improve to 7-5 and now sit in a tie for second with the STU Tommies, both of whom are just two points back of the top ranked Université de Sainte-Anne (USTA) Dragons who are 8-3.

The ‘Canes will visit STU next weekend for a pair of crucial games in Fredericton, first at 8pm on Saturday before a noon matchup on Sunday.  The Hurricanes will conclude their regular season at home on Saturday, February 11 at 5pm at the McMillan Centre in Charlottetown versus the USTA Dragons.

Connect with the men’s volleyball Hurricanes at www.twitter.com/canesmvball and www.instagram.com/canesmvball.

For more information on the Holland Hurricanes, please visit www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.twitter.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.

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