69´«Ã½

69´«Ã½Athletics and Recreation announced today that field hockey head coach Sheila Bell has requested a leave of absence from the 2013 season due to sustaining a workplace concussion in November of last year. During her time as head coach for the past four seasons, Bell guided the Panthers to a Maritime Field Hockey Championship, as well as three second-place finishes.

'Concussions need time to heal,' said 69´«Ã½Athletics and Recreation Director Bill Schurman. 'It's very important that Sheila takes the time she needs to recovery completely. We wish her well, and thank her for all of her efforts and expertise with our field hockey program over the years.'

69´«Ã½is pleased to announce this season's strong coaching staff of Charla Currie, Lacey MacLauchlan, and Barb Carmichael who will continue to build the 69´«Ã½field hockey program.

Currie, who has been an assistant coach with the team for the past four years, will take on the role of head coach. Currie also coached with Bell at the 2005 Canada Games and currently coaches the Colonel Gray High School field hockey team where she teaches physical education.

'I've enjoyed working closely with Sheila, and I look forward to building the program to win championships,' said Currie. 'We have a great group of entering and returning student-athletes who are very committed on the turf and in the classroom.'

MacLauchlan, former 69´«Ã½field hockey player, will join the coaching staff as assistant coach. For the past three years, she has coached the Charlottetown Rural High School field hockey team, winning PEISAA gold medals in 2011 and 2012.

Carmichael will continue on as general manager of the 69´«Ã½field hockey team.

'We congratulate Charla and Lacey on their new roles and we look forward to an exciting and competitive fall season in the Maritime Field Hockey League with a run toward the CIS Championships,' added Schurman. 'I also wish to thank Barb for her continued dedication and commitment to the 69´«Ã½field hockey program.'

This fall, 69´«Ã½will host one of three Maritime Field Hockey Tournaments on September 21-22.

69´«Ã½women's rugby head coach Shannon Atkins will be an assistant coach with the newly formed Team Atlantic senior rugby team competing in this weekend's National Women's League Championships in Vancouver.

'This has been a large commitment as the team is based out of Halifax and there have been trial and training weekends leading up to this event,' said Atkins. 'It's an excellent professional development opportunity for me personally, and provides an opportunity for athletes from all four Atlantic provinces to play at an elite level together.'

Five Island athletes made Team Atlantic's roster-Ashley MacDonald, Jean Baker, Ellen Murphy, Rebecca Chapman, and Jorie Rose.

MacDonald, a current national team player and assistant coach at UPEI, will add depth and experience as she's played at the top international level. 'This is an exciting opportunity to have the East coast represented on the West coast in Vancouver this week,' said MacDonald. 'I'm anticipating that our team will turn a few heads with the calibre of play we bring, and I'm looking forward to exceeding all expectations.'

Baker, who plays for the Saint Mary's Huskies, is also attending the FISU World University Championships' Rugby 7 tournament in Russia in July, and will add great power and speed to the back line of this weekend's Team Atlantic. Murphy, a Saint Francis Xavier rugby player, will bring size and strength to the tight five, while UPEI's Chapman will add agility and speed to the back row. Another notable addition is Saint Mary's Rose whose versatility at 8-man will complement a talented squad.

'This is a very deserving and wonderful opportunity for Shannon,' said 69´«Ã½Athletics and Recreation Director Bill Schurman. 'Coaching at the regional and national levels will be a valuable experience as Shannon prepares for the upcoming AUS Season here at UPEI.'

69´«Ã½is hosting the AUS Women's Rugby Championships, October 26-27 at UPEI's Alumni Canada Games Place.

69´«Ã½Athletics and Recreation announced this week the contract signing of men's basketball head coach Tim Kendrick to a three-year extension through to the end of the 2015-16 season.

'We're very excited to make this announcement,' said 69´«Ã½Athletics and Recreation Director Bill Schurman. 'Tim has done a great job turning the program around to take annual runs at both AUS and CIS Championships. We appreciate his support of student-athlete academic success, Panther Academy, and community engagement. We're very fortunate to have Tim as a member of our coaching staff.'

Coach Kendrick has led the Panthers to two successive AUS third-place finishes, and an AUS record of 26 wins and 14 losses, with an overall record (including exhibition games) of 35 wins and 27 losses.

'I'm thrilled to be here with the 69´«Ã½Panthers. I want to thank UPEI's Athletics and Recreation department staff and the University for making this possible for me,' said Kendrick. 'My family loves it here on PEI, and we're making this our home. A big thank you to the Green & White Club, and all other supporters for all that you do and continue to do for this great program,' he added. 'I promise that our team will not be outworked, and I want to ensure the great people of this Island that we will do our best to achieve great success-both in the classroom and on the court.'

As June comes to a close, Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino completes his 10-year appointment as the Canada Research Chair in Island Studies at the 69´«Ã½. Dr. Baldacchino becomes the first scholar at 69´«Ã½to complete the maximum two terms as a Canada Research Chair. His legacy in this position is one that will last for years to come.

Dr. Baldacchino's 10 years at 69´«Ã½has advanced a broad research agenda that established island studies as a credible and exciting area of research. He mentored nearly 80 graduate students in the master's of Island Studies program. He worked with dozens of students and scholars, culminating in more than a dozen edited books and special journal issues.

'I conceived and launched Island Studies Journal as a peer-reviewed, open-access journal, now abstracted and indexed in Web of Science,' said Dr. Baldacchino. 'With a research portfolio that includes singing, economic development, migration, struggles for political independence, tourism, heritage management, and entrepreneurship, my work as CRC has certainly not been boring.'

Dr. Baldacchino is a highly sought-after keynote and guest lecturer by universities and institutions across the globe. He has served as a distinguished visiting professor in places such as Australia, Barbados, Denmark, Finland, France, Greenland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United States.

'I started my appointment as Canada Research Chair in July 2003,' recalled Dr. Baldacchino. 'My first international engagement was shortly after, in Iceland. As a matter of pure coincidence, my last international engagement as CRC was just this month, again in Iceland, when I had the pleasure of securing the bid for bringing the next North Atlantic Forum to Summerside, PEI, in 2015.'

Dr. Baldacchino says the highlights of his time as Canada Research Chair include inaugurating the first master's of arts in Island Studies intake at 69´«Ã½in 2003, and being elected vice-president of the International Small Islands Studies Association in 2009.

UPEI's vice-president of research, Dr. Robert Gilmour, said Dr. Baldacchino's tenure as Canada Research Chair represents the spirit of integrity and curiosity of the growing research community at UPEI.

'Through his position as the Canada Research Chair in Island Studies and his tremendous record of scholarly work and outreach, Godfrey has established Island Studies as an internationally recognized field of study and brought global renown and visibility to PEI,' said Dr. Gilmour. 'Given his expertise in a range of social science disciplines, his work is allowing PEI to critically examine its initiatives, development, and social condition in a global context.'

Dr. Baldacchino remains at 69´«Ã½as a faculty member in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

Since 2000, the Canada Research Chair program has appointed and funded research chairs at institutions across the country in an effort to make Canada one of the world's top countries in the area of research and development.

69´«Ã½Athletics and Recreation announced Scott MacDonald will join the men's basketball program as an assistant coach, effective immediately. The position opened recently when former assistant coach Pat Havard was selected as Crandall University men's basketball head coach.

MacDonald brings with him plenty of coaching experience at various PEI levels-ten years in the PEISAA at the intermediate level, which led him to a provincial title and three silver medals during his time coaching at East Wiltshire Intermediate School. MacDonald also coached the Canada Games Team PEI for five summers, and coached at the 2001 Canada Games against 69´«Ã½head coach Tim Kendrick who was on Team Nova Scotia's coaching staff.

'We're pleased to have Scott join our program. Our players are very familiar with him and they're excited that he'll now play a greater role with our team,' said Kendrick. 'I expect him to have a positive impact on the Panthers.'

Aside from coaching, MacDonald has held positions with Basketball PEI, including a term as president. He's also been involved in the Charlottetown Minor Basketball program and the 69´«Ã½Green & White Club.

As a lifelong Panther fan, MacDonald is excited to be a part of the program. 'I'm truly excited about joining such a seasoned coaching staff. Having known Coach Kendrick for several years, I think we share the same traits and anything I can contribute to the team will be a bonus,' said MacDonald. 'Being around the team the past two seasons, most of the players are familiar with me, and I look forward to working with them and being one of the best teams in the AUS and the CIS.'

'On behalf of the 69´«Ã½, I wish to welcome Scott to the Panther coaching staff,' said 69´«Ã½Director of Athletics and Recreation Bill Schurman.

69´«Ã½men's hockey head coach Forbes MacPherson is pleased to announce the addition of right winger Cody McNaughton, who scored 81 career goals with the Ontario Hockey League's Guelph Storm.

McNaughton, a 5'10,' 180-lb native of Pembroke, Ontario, is the Storm's career leader in games played. His high-energy and feisty style made him a fan favourite in Guelph where he was voted as the fan club's most popular player for 2012-13. He says 69´«Ã½hockey fans can count on him to bring that same style and attitude to the Island.

'I pride myself on being the ultimate team guy. I try to give my very best every shift and do whatever it takes to make the team successful,' said McNaughton. 'From everything I have learned about the team and the fans, that is the way the Panthers are built, and I expect to fit right in this fall.'

Coach MacPherson believes McNaughton is a solid two-way player who isn't afraid to mix it up. 'Cody doesn't mind getting his nose dirty, he is very responsible defensively and, as his numbers suggest, he can score big goals,' said MacPherson. 'The fans in Guelph loved him because he's an energetic player who comes to play. I expect that will endear him to the Panther faithful at MacLauchlan Arena.'

McNaughton said the decision to join 69´«Ã½came down to two main factors, conversations with the coaching staff and a commitment to winning.

'The Panthers have a proud tradition of success. Forbie and the staff have this team moving in the right direction and I just want to do everything I can to help this team win a championship,' added McNaughton. 'At this point in my career, I want to focus on getting a quality education and improving as a hockey player.'

McNaughton will see a couple of familiar faces in the Panthers' dressing room as he reunites with former Guelph teammate Matthew Maione and fellow incoming freshman Brock Beukeboom.

'The addition of Cody will make our men's hockey team even tougher to play against,' said 69´«Ã½Director of Athletics and Recreation Bill Schurman. 'Character, talent, and commitment to winning are special traits and Cody's got them all.'

The Panthers finished the 2012-13 season ranked ninth in CIS standings.

Friends of Men's Hockey will host the annual banquet July 4 at UPEI's Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall. Guest speaker will be Dr. Bill Montelpare, a leading researcher in reducing the risk of concussions and increasing the accuracy of determining when an athlete who has suffered a concussion is ready to return to play. Tickets are on sale now.

They are as connected to the Prince Edward Island identity as red pigtails and sandy beaches-lupine flowers burst into colourful blossoms just as the Island summer hits its peak. A 69´«Ã½research project is looking for input from the public to help answer questions about the genetics of this iconic flower.

'We're accustomed to seeing big patches of lupines along the roads of Prince Edward Island in June and July,' said Dr. Karen Samis, a plant geneticist and assistant professor of biology at UPEI. 'One question we're examining is: why are the purple flowers more prominent than the pink or white?'

Dr. Samis conducted a small survey last year to examine some of the differences between plants of different flower colours, including their ratios within populations, and the number of seeds produced by stems of each colour.

'The fruits were particularly telling, because one would think that, since purple-flowered plants were the most common, they might produce the most seeds,' explained Dr. Samis. 'We found quite the opposite. Pink, by far, creates more seeds per stem. That raises a number of new questions we're now investigating.'

Dr. Samis said this could suggest an ebb and flow of flower-colour distribution among lupine patches over time.

'Perhaps, in a number of years, pink will become more prominent than purple. Purple may respond by creating more seeds, and then purple will become more prominent.'

Dr. Samis invites the public to help answer these questions by submitting their photos of lupine patches at upei.ca/lupines.

'We're hoping that people have, over a number of years, taken photos of a particular lupine patch several times,' said Dr. Samis. 'We'd like to compare these and see if there has been a change over time from one colour to the next, or if what we saw last year is always true; that purple is always more common than pink and white.'

The public can submit their photos to , and answer a few simple questions about the patch of lupines, and where they are located on the Island.

'I'm hoping people see the fun in this and look back through their family photos,' said Dr. Samis. 'Perhaps there is a patch of lupines near their house or cottage that they like to take a photo of every year. Maybe there's a patch in the background of a family portrait that's been taken several times over the years. Any way we can get them, we'd like to see these photos.'

69´«Ã½Athletics and Recreation announced this week the extension of women's basketball head coach Greg Gould to an additional three-year contract, through to the end of the 2015-16 season. Gould joins men's basketball head coach Tim Kendrick as the second coach this year to sign a three-year extension at UPEI.

'Having Greg sign for a longer term to lead the women's basketball program is a major step for Panther sport-not only for great results in the AUS, but to provide a positive student-athlete experience-which is a priority for us at UPEI,' said Director of Athletics and Recreation Bill Schurman. 'Greg is a proven winner and tactician who cares for his players a great deal. He understands the importance of community engagement, alumni, pride, and giving back. We're very pleased to have Greg and his family commit to 69´«Ã½for three more seasons.'

Gould took over the program last year and led the Panthers to their best season in the last four years-finishing sixth in the league with 20 points. Gould helped to establish the team as a hardworking team and plans to continue to strive for excellence for his athletes both on and off the court. Last year's women's basketball team had five members receive CIS Academic All-Canadian mentions. Gould enjoys living on PEI, and with this extension, he and his family are now able to look forward to establishing long-term roots in their community.

'I'm excited to be in charge of the 69´«Ã½women's basketball program for the next three years. I would like to thank our athletics department, the University, the Green & White Club, alumni, and friends for showing their confidence in my leadership,' said Gould. 'I look forward to working together as we move the program forward to the top of the AUS conference.'

UPEI's Panther Academy will deliver a week-long soccer camp at Three Oaks High School in Summerside, July 29-August 2.

The full-day camp will be led by 69´«Ã½soccer head coach Lewis Page and will feature drills, a skills challenge, mini world cup, and a player assessment. The Panther Academy soccer camp offers everything a young player needs in order to improve and advance.

The cost of the camp is $175, and with the Panther Academy PEI Soccer Club rebate program, $20 will be donated to the Summerside United Club for Summerside United registered campers.

'We're really excited to be able to take our camp on the road,' said Page. '69´«Ã½is PEI's university, and it will be great to work with young players in the Summerside area who may be future students and future varsity athletes.'

To register, visit or call Panther Central at (902) 566-0368.