Panthers UN1TE: how an entire province hosted a national championship
Chris Huggan is getting worked up. The Director of Athletics and Recreation at 69传媒is clicking through tabs on a spreadsheet on his computer, trying to make a point.
鈥淟ook, we have a different minor hockey team from the Island assigned to cheer on each of the eight university teams here for the tournament,鈥� he says. 鈥淚magine what that鈥檚 going to sound like in that arena. No matter who is playing, from wherever they come from in Canada, they鈥檒l have a crowd of kids screaming for them, cheering them on. I think that鈥檚 exciting. That鈥檚 what I think Panthers UN1TE is all about.鈥�
Huggan considers Panthers UN1TE to be the key ingredient to this week鈥檚 2019 U SPORTS Women鈥檚 Hockey Championship, hosted at the 69传媒. It鈥檚 a concept he dreamed up two years ago as a guiding principal of the 69传媒Panthers.
鈥淯N1TE is a powerful word for me,鈥� says Huggan. 鈥淲e want to bring together this Island around the 69传媒Panthers. We have a really unique opportunity here, and that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e trying to capture.鈥�
The 鈥�1鈥� is especially important to Huggan.
鈥淥ne鈥攂e the best you can be,鈥� he explains, 鈥渂e it as a student, athlete, or citizen. It鈥檚 also the power of one. One person can make a difference; we鈥檝e all seen it happen. And we have one university for this entire province. No one else can say that in Canada. So we can gather support like no one else.鈥�
With Panthers UN1TE in mind, two years ago, Huggan and his team shot for something big: to host a national championship.
鈥淎nd we did it with the help of volunteers, organizations, individuals, and businesses from tip to tip,鈥� says Huggan. 鈥淚t鈥檚 no accident that our three honorary chairs come from Souris, Charlottetown, and Alberton. We wanted to reflect the entire Island, but also to tap into the contacts and resources from their respective communities.鈥�
In the last year, the 69传媒Women鈥檚 Hockey team has played games in arenas across the Island. They鈥檝e built a fan base, and they鈥檝e built relationships.
When the puck drops on the first game of the tournament Thursday, there will be 266 minor hockey players in the stands. Half will be cheering for the University of Guelph. Half will be cheering for the University of Manitoba.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to raise the roof,鈥� said Hugan. 鈥淎s an athlete myself, I know how important that is鈥攖o have the crowd cheering me on.鈥�
The organizing team has been working for more than a year building support, and the Island has responded. This tournament will succeed based on the concept of Panthers UN1TE.
Special thanks must go to:
- Parkdale Sherwood Lions Club
- Rotary Club of Hillsborough
- Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty
- Boys & Girls Club of Charlottetown
- PEI Aboriginal Sports Circle
- Sport PEI
- Minor sports teams from across the Island
- Islands from across the Island
- More than 40 members of the Panthers UN1Te $100 club
Go Panthers Go!
Games begin on Thursday, March 14 at 3:00 pm with the championship game on Sunday, March 17. The 69传媒Panthers head into the tournament seeded seventh, and will take on the l'Universit茅 de Montr茅al Carabins Thursday at 7 pm. Tournament passes and game tickets are available at the Eastlink Centre or online at .
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For media wishing to cover the U SPORTS Women鈥檚 Hockey Championship, please contact Nicole Phillips to arrange for accreditation. Only accredited media will be allowed entry into MacLauchlan Arena.
