It is another busy weekend for the Holland Hurricanes as the end of the 2022-23 season draws near.  The volleyball and basketball teams complete important games with the playoffs approaching, while the women’s hockey ‘Canes host the Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Championship in Montague.

Women’s Hockey

The Hurricanes will open the 2023 ACHA Championship this Friday at 8pm when they host the top-ranked Acadia University Axewomen at the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre.

The Hurricanes finished the regular season as the second-best team with a record of 3-3-1, while Acadia finished at 6-0-1.  In three matchups with Acadia during the regular season, the Axewomen earned wins on November 27 (2-1) and February 5 (2-1) while the teams tied on November 26 (1-1).

The action continues Saturday morning when the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers (1-7-0, third) take on Acadia at 9:10am.

The Hurricanes will face CBU at 1:50pm in the final round-robin game of the championship.

The ‘Canes faced the Capers four times during the regular season, winning three times (3-1 on December 3, 5-1 on January 28 and 5-2 on January 29) and losing once (3-2 on December 4).

The top two teams from the round robin will play for the 2023 ACHA Championship on Sunday at 1:10pm at the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre.

All games can be viewed live at www.youtube.com/@gocanesgo.

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

Women’s Volleyball

Two big matches await the Hurricanes as the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) playoffs approach. The Hurricanes enter the weekend at 10-4 and in second in the conference, winning their last three matches. They’re set to face the Mount Allison University (MTA) Mounties on Saturday at the McMillan Centre in Charlottetown; first serve is scheduled for 3pm. This is the final home match of the season for the Hurricanes.

The Mounties enter the match at 9-6 and in a tie for fourth in the standings. They’ve won their last four matches.  In two matches with the ‘Canes this season, the Mounties earned the straight sets win on November 12, while the ‘Canes won in three on January 22.

The action continues Sunday at 2pm in Halifax versus the Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics. The Mystics have won their last three matches but dropped their only match versus Holland College this season: a four-set loss on December 4 in Charlottetown.

Every set will count coming down the stretch as the teams fight for the highest seed possible entering the playoffs.  The top six teams will qualify for the ACAA Championship in Halifax on February 24-26, hosted by the MSVU Mystics, while the top two will receive byes to the semi-finals.

After this weekend the ‘Canes will have just two regular season matches remaining.  A pair of matches on February 17 and 18 in Truro, Nova Scotia versus the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus (Dal AC) Rams (4-10, seventh).

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

Men’s Volleyball

The ACAA men’s volleyball regular season concludes this weekend, and the Hurricanes are looking to secure home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs.  They enter at 8-5 and in second place, having won their last three matches.

The ‘Canes will square off with the top-ranked Université de Sainte-Anne (USTA) Dragons at 5pm on Saturday in their final home regular season match.  The Dragons, 11-3 and in first in the ACAA, enter the match having won their last five.

This season the ‘Canes have won one-of-four versus the Dragons, the most recent matchup on January 22 in straight sets; the Dragons won the previous three on November 5 (3-0), November 6 (3-2) and January 21 (3-0).

The Hurricanes regular season will conclude on Sunday at 4:30pm in Fredericton, New Brunswick versus the St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies.

The Tommies, 7-6 and in third, have struggled at the wrong time this season, entering the weekend having lost their last three matches.

The Hurricanes and Tommies are even on the season series, exchanging wins on October 29 (STU wins 3-2), October 30 (Hurricanes win 3-2), January 25 (STU wins 3-2) and February 5 (Hurricanes win 3-1).

Sunday’s match will be a first-round playoff preview, as the Hurricanes and Tommies will square off in the best-of-three semi-finals.  This weekends matches will determine who has home-court advantage based on who finishes second in the standings.  The ‘Canes enter with a two-point advantage.

Follow the action all weekend by connecting with the men’s volleyball ‘Canes at www.twitter.com/canesmvballand www.instagram.com/canesmvball.

Women’s Basketball

The Hurricanes are set for a battle for first place on Sunday at the McMillan Centre in Charlottetown when they take on the MTA Mounties at 1pm.

The ‘Canes, 10-3, take on the Mounties, 10-2, for the third time this season.  The Hurricanes won the first meeting on November 4, 94-70, while the Mounties won the second meeting on January 22, 70-64.

The Hurricanes enter having won their last three, while the Mounties have racked up eight wins in a row.

Also tied at the top of the ACAA standings with the Hurricanes and Mounties with 20 points is the MSVU Mystics; the Mounties have a game in hand over the other two teams.

After Sunday’s matchup, the Hurricanes will play three straight on the road on February 19 (at STU), February 22 (at UKC) and February 24 (at UNBSJ) before concluding their regular season at home versus the UKC Blue Devils on February 26 at 1pm.

Every game matters at this point of the season with the top two teams in the conference receiving a bye to the semi-finals.

Stay up to speed with all of the action from this weekend by connecting with the women’s basketball ‘Canes at www.twitter.com/caneswbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

Men’s Basketball

The ‘Canes will look to create some breathing room atop the ACAA standings this weekend as they host the MTA Mounties on Sunday afternoon at 3pm.

The Hurricanes, 10-3, Sunday after getting back into the win column last weekend, defeating the MSVU Mystics on the road, 113-101. They take on the 7-5, MTA Mounties, who have won their last two games.

After a Hurricanes win earlier this season by a score of 116-103 on November 4, the Mounties avenged the loss with an 88-85 upset win in Sackville, New Brunswick on January 22.  The ‘Canes will look to earn the win on Sunday and take the season series.

Like the women, the men’s Hurricanes will conclude their regular season with road games at STU, UKC, and UNBSJ, before hosting the Blue Devils on February 26 in Charlottetown at 3pm.

The Hurricanes will aim to clinch first place and put themselves in the best possible position for the 2023 ACAA Basketball Championships on March 3-5 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, hosted by the STU Tommies, where the top two seeds will receive byes to the semi-finals.

Connect with your men’s basketball Hurricanes by visiting www.twitter.com/canesmbball and www.instagram.com/hurricanesbball.

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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