NHL Hockey in Summerside

Although not a fan of the Florida Panthers, nor the New York Islanders, I can tell you I am still excited about watching this NHL Exhibition game in Summerside. You do not really appreciate how fast or talented these players are until you see them live. An exhibition game for Summerside is a huge feather in the cap for Credit Union Place and the community. Although I am a Habs fan, certainly there are great players on both teams I look forward to seeing. Mike Comrie of the Islanders is a great player to watch and I was always a Richard Zednick fan (former Hab now with panthers). I suspect the game to be rough as Wade Belak, former Leafs tough guy, is now signed to a contract with Florida. Someone from the Islanders will want to take him on I am sure. I assume this will sell out fast so get tickets soon.

Islanders, Panthers to play pre-season game in Summerside
The Guardian
SUMMERSIDE — The New York Islanders and Florida Panthers will play an NHL pre-season game at the Credit Union Place in September.The game, officially announced Wednesday, is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m.Tickets go on sale today at 12 p.m., and range in price from $76 to $99, including all taxes and surcharges. Tickets are available online at www.city.summerside.pe.ca, by calling 432-1234 or at the Credit Union Place box office, open seven days a week from 12-8 p.m. This is the second visit to Summerside for the Islanders and Panthers.The Islanders played an inter-squad Blue and White game to a sold-out crowd at Credit Union Place in September 2007, while the Florida Panthers held their 1996 training camp at Cahill Stadium. This will however, be the first time that an National Hockey League exhibition game has been played on Prince Edward Island. “The New York Islanders organization is excited about returning to Summerside,” said Garth Snow, general manager of the New York Islanders. “The team enjoyed great fans and hospitality there last year, and we look forward to facing the Panthers in pre-season action in Summerside.” The Islanders are coached by former coach of the year and ex-Moncton Wildcats bench boss Ted Nolan. Assisting Nolan are former NHLers, both with Summerside roots, Gerard “Turk” Gallant and John Chabot. The Islanders lineup is led by Bill Guerin, a veteran of over 1,100 NHL games, who is closing in on a career total of 400 NHL goals and offensively talented players such as Mike Comrie and Miroslav Satan.In goal for the Islanders is former No. 1 overall draft pick from 2000, Rick DiPietro. The Florida Panthers are coached by former NHL coach of the year Jacques Martin and led by several top-five NHL draft picks including Olli Jokinen (1997), Nathan Horton (2003), Jay Bouwmeester (2002) and Stephen Weiss (2001). The Panthers coaching staff includes Prince Edward Island native Andy O’Brien, who serves as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.The New York Islanders will also play their Blue and White game for the second annual Oyster Cup, at Credit Union Place. More details on the Blue and White game will be released at a later date.