The UPEI men's hockey Panthers will host archrival UNB Reds for their 2014-15 season home opener on Saturday, October 11, as released by the AUS earlier this week.

Head Coach Forbes MacPerson is excited about the season ahead. 'There's no better way to kickoff the season than to open against a perennial powerhouse, coached by fellow Islander Gardiner MacDougall. We have a strong nucleus, highlighted by returning all-stars, defencemen Reggie Traccitto and forward Chris Desousa,' said MacPherson. 'We have had a great recruiting season bolstered by two QMJHL stars and home grown talent in Darcy Ashley and Brent Andrews. We promise to have a fast aggressive ‘in your face' team who are determined to reach the CIS Championship.'

The Panthers schedule includes 14 regular season home games. New this season, the Panthers will host three PEI games away from the MacLauchlan Arena, starting with the October 11 home opener, which will be staged at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown. The Panthers will also play one game in Kings and Prince counties, with those details announced at a later date.

'We are pleased with the cooperation of coach MacPherson, and the CARI Centre, to be sharing the Panthers across Prince Edward Island in regular season play,' said UPEI Athletic and Recreation Director Bill Schurman. 'With our home opener scheduled on the Thanksgiving weekend, it provides the opportunity to move to a larger venue like the Eastlink Centre. Our goal is to attract 3,000 fans to experience one of the best rivalries in AUS hockey. The Kings and Prince county games will allow the Panthers to support local charities and community causes which will be announced in the very near future,' he added.

Panther season ticket packages are now on sale and are offered for adults, seniors, students, youth, and families. Season ticket packages include all 12 games played in Charlottetown. Season ticket holders will be provided with the option to purchase the Kings and Prince county single game tickets prior to public sale.

In 2013-14, the Panthers AUS regular season record was 15 wins, 10 losses, and three overtime losses, finishing in fourth-place overall. The team bowed out in round one of playoffs to the Saint Mary's Huskies.

The Panthers excelled both on-and-off the ice with one CIS All-Canadian, three AUS all-stars, nine Academic All-Canadians, and four players who were members of Team Canada and won the World Universiade Games this past December.

In the coming weeks, the Panthers will release additional recruits, an impressive exhibition schedule, and more details on 2014-15 games.

For more information, or to purchase season tickets, visit Panther Central (Sports Centre) at (902) 566-0368 or panthercentral@upei.ca, or visit www.gopanthersgo.ca.

For information:
Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

UPEI Men's Hockey Head Coach Forbes MacPherson is pleased to announce the addition of goaltender Connor Wilkinson for the 2014-15 season.

Wilkinson, 6'2 and 185lbs from Ajax, Ontario, starred for past two seasons with the Dieppe Commandos of the Maritime Hockey League. His outstanding play helped earn the Commandos a berth in the Kent Cup final, losing in six games to the Truro Bearcats. Wilkinson finished the playoffs with a .911 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average. He was named regular season and playoff MVP for Dieppe.

'Connor is big goalie who plays a very steady, relaxed style in the net and it seems like the bigger the game, the better he plays,' said MacPherson. 'In the MHL playoffs, he literally stole game after game for Dieppe and just about carried them to a league title. Connor has matured into a very strong, confident goalie and we are super excited to have him join our program.'

Wilkinson is looking forward to getting enrolled in UPEI this fall and feels very good about his decision to join the Panthers. 'The decision to come to UPEI was easy for me. It's a great school. The team plays in front of sellout crowds and they play a very responsible defensive style which is ideal for goalies,' said Wilkinson, who says he models his style of play after Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes. 'I don't try to be one of those goalies who makes the highlight reel save. I am at my best when I keep square with the shooter, stay big in the net, and right on my angles.'

With the graduation of Panther Wayne Savage to the pro ranks, Wilkinson will join fourth-year player Mavric Parks to make up the team's goaltending tandem. Wilkinson said his plan is to come to camp ready to play and to do everything he can to be part of a winning team. He added, 'If you look at the recent history of UPEI, they have had the best goaltending in the AUS. I want to continue that competitive culture. I want to work with (goalie coach) Jamie Blanchard and Mavric to make sure whoever is playing in nets, our team has a chance to win every night.'

Director of Athletics and Recreation Bill Schurman welcomed the addition of Wilkinson to the Panther fold. 'I am very proud that Connor has chosen to be part of the student-athlete family at the University of Prince Edward Island,' said Schurman. 'I am very familiar with the Dieppe Commandos and the type of character individuals that develop in their system. Connor Wilkinson is a tremendous goaltender and an even better person. He will be great addition to our campus.'

In the coming weeks, the UPEI Panthers will release the names of additional recruits, an impressive exhibition schedule, and more details on the October 11th home opener at the Eastlink Centre. For more information, or to purchase season tickets, visit Panther Central (the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre), phone 566-0368, e-mail panthercentral@upei.ca, or visit www.gopanthersgo.ca.

For information:
Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991
annear@upei.ca

A PhD student from the University of Prince Edward Island took home a silver award at the CIHR National Student Research Poster Presentation at the 2014 Canadian Student Health Research Forum in Winnipeg. Michel Arsenault's poster outlines his research into the factors that contribute to the development of a healthy kidney.

'More than 41,000 Canadians were living with kidney failure in 2012, and more than half of those patients were receiving some form of dialysis,' said Arsenault, who is supervised by Dr. Sunny Hartwig in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. 'Stem cell-based strategies aimed at kidney regeneration, to prevent and reverse the effects of kidney disease, have great potential to revolutionize the treatment of kidney disease. However, these strategies are in their infancy and require a better understanding of kidney development at the cellular and molecular level under both normal and disease conditions.'

Arsenault's research examines the factors that lead to the development of a healthy kidney, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to the appearance of kidney disease within specific animal models.

'We're extremely proud of Michel's research, and especially that he was recognized with this award,' said Dr. Robert Gilmour, UPEI's Vice-President Research and Graduate Studies. 'His nomination to attend this conference recognized that he is within the top 5 per cent of graduate students within a health-related field in the entire country. That he should distinguish himself even further within that group is a real accomplishment. Congratulations.'

The Canadian Student Health Research Forum, now in its 27th year, provides a venue for health research trainees from across Canada to present their work, network, and be recognized for the excellence of their contributions. It also features research poster days, awards of excellence, tours, and social events, as well as a symposium on a cross-disciplinary scientific theme by some of the world's leading scientists.

The University of Prince Edward Island Board of Governors recently accepted the recommendation of the Search Committee for the Vice-President Academic and has appointed Dr. Christian Lacroix for a term through to June 30, 2016.

Dr. Lacroix has been serving in this capacity since July 1, 2012 and prior to that served as Dean of Science since 2006 and a full-time faculty member in the Department of Biology since 1990. He was granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor in 1995 and became full professor in 2003. His field of specialty is developmental plant morphology and he currently teaches plant-science-related and first-year Enquiry Studies program courses.

UPEI President and Vice Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz said, 'I have enjoyed working with Dr. Lacroix for the past three years as part of the senior leadership team. I look forward to continuing our work together to help our students, institution, and community reach their full potential.'

Board of Governors Chair Tom Cullen added, 'I've known Dr. Lacroix for many years and respect his integrity and dedication to the University. The Board is looking forward to his continued contributions as Vice-President Academic.'

During his time at UPEI, Dr. Lacroix has served as Chair of the Biology Department and as a member of numerous university committees including Senior Management Group, Academic Review and Planning, Senate, Internationalization, and Professor Emeritus Evaluation. He has acted as UPEI's representative and scholarship liaison officer with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and is the editor of Botany, a leading monthly international journal in biology. As Vice-President Academic, Dr. Lacroix has represented the University on the board of the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission and is a member of the MPHEC Academic Advisory Committee.

Dr. Lacroix added, 'I am committed to making UPEI a better place for our students, faculty, and staff. I look forward to continue serving as Vice-President Academic and working with the President, Vice-Presidents, Deans, and colleagues to support an excellent learning and teaching environment at the University.'

UPEI Women's Soccer coaches Graeme McDonald and Glenn Smiley are looking forward to officially kicking off the 2014 AUS season on September 5 against Acadia in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

'We are excited to introduce a new attacking philosophy, incorporating a system with patterns of play to be more creative and score more goals,' said McDonald.

Since taking over the women's program in April, McDonald and Smiley have met with the team, are overseeing off-season development programs, and looking after sport operations. McDonald is reaching out to the corporate community to create partnerships, providing businesses with exposure opportunities at the UPEI Turf Facility and at Panther Soccer home games.

McDonald and Smiley are also busy running their Soccer 1 Academy programs, and recently led their U18 Boys soccer team to an Atlantic Championship.

Most of the 2013-14 players are returning for the upcoming season, with AUS All-Star and UPEI Female Athlete of the Year midfielder Sarah Stanley and AUS All-Star striker Maria Scichilone leading the pack.

Preparations are also underway for the third annual Mulligan Cup, August 30-31. New this year will be a soccer festival component for families to enjoy. In the coming weeks, the 2014 soccer season pass ticket sales will be launched. For more information on Panther Sport and the UPEI Women's Soccer team, visit www.gopanthersgo.ca

For information:
Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

The University of Prince Edward Island announced a partnership today with Andrews Hockey Growth Programs Inc. The Memorandum of Understanding gives youth who are attending the internationally-known, Charlottetown-based hockey school the opportunity to participate in a groundbreaking research study that investigates the several areas of concussion assessment and return to play after a concussion injury.

Once accepted as a common and even expected event within sport, concussion has emerged as a prominent sports-related injury at all levels of physical activity, especially where the risk of head trauma is prevalent. Concussion has gained attention especially in hockey because it is linked not only to acute and current trauma, but because the concussion condition has also been linked to post-injury depression and long-term dementia.

Currently, there is no single comprehensive strategy for establishing baseline estimates against which recovery from concussion injuries will be compared; and likewise, there is no comprehensive single strategy for establishing return to play following a concussion injury.

The inaugural Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health at UPEI, Dr. William Montelpare, who leads the research team, said, 'Andrews Hockey Growth's philosophy is entrenched in evidence-based research and recognizes the value of our work and how it can benefit athletes. We are very excited that they are assisting us by inviting their hockey players to participate in our study.'

Andrews Hockey Growth will invite its athletes aged 9 and over to participate in the research. Parents and/or guardians must register online at upei.ca/concussion, sign a letter of consent, and in return will receive a report of baseline measurements from four concussion screening tests evaluating memory, attention, reaction time, and balance.

'Our development programs stress the importance of healthy living for successful growth as a hockey player. Understanding more about concussion injury is part of this,' said Andrews Hockey Growth President and founder Allan Andrews. 'We are excited to partner with UPEI and to offer our athlete participants the chance to contribute to this research that will lead to better, science-based decision making about an athlete's return-to-play following a concussion.'

UPEI Men's Basketball Head Coach Tim Kendrick is pleased to announce local Charlottetown Rural High School hoops star Noah Giddings will be joining the Panther roster in September.

Giddings is a six-foot-four forward, starter, and key contributor to the Raiders in the last two consecutive PEISAA championships. He has also represented PEI at Nationals with the U-15 and U-17 programs, including the 2013 Canada Games team.

Coach Kendrick is pleased to add Giddings to the roster. 'Noah is a big, strong young man, and has a tremendous upside. He is another great character piece, and we know he will work hard to improve his game,' he said. 'I am really excited about the fact that he is another player coming to us with high level playing experience, and is a proven winner. I am sure that this young man will give us his best attitude and effort in the classroom and on the basketball court.'

Giddings is very excited to be joining his hometown team. 'I believe that playing for the Panthers will be a great fit for me, for a variety of reasons,' he said. 'I intend to work hard in the classroom and on the court, and prove that I can contribute and be a good fit for the team.'

'We welcome Noah to the University of Prince Edward Island,' said UPEI Athletics and Recreation Director Bill Schurman. 'We look forward to Noah's contribution to the Panthers both on-and-off the court.'

Giddings is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Program and will be majoring in Biology.

Go Panthers Go!

For information:
Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

UPEI Women's Rugby Head Coach Shannon Atkins is pleased to welcome Island native Alysha Corrigan to the Panther rugby program for the 2014-15 season.

'Alysha was the top scorer in the PEI high school league this spring, and I am very excited to add her speed and agility to the Panthers,' said Atkins. 'It will be nice for her to play with her sister Sidney again, too.'

The Charlottetown Rural graduate who played fullback for the Raiders in the PEISAA is looking forward to joining the Panthers. 'I chose UPEI for a few reasons-to be close to home, because I enjoy rugby, and also because I look forward to rejoining my sister on the same team,' said Corrigan. 'I'm also on the Team PEI ringette team, and this allows me to be a dual athlete and better prepare and train for the upcoming Canada Games this winter. Sidney also mentioned how fun the team is, and how it is a great way to meet new people, so I am really looking forward to the experience,' she added.

UPEI Athletics and Recreation Director Bill Schurman welcomes Corrigan to UPEI. 'We are pleased to welcome Alysha to the Panther Family of student-athletes. We look forward to her contribution in the classroom, community, and in competition,' he said.

Corrigan has enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration program at UPEI.

For information:
Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

With the adoption of the UPEI Strategic Plan 2013-2018 earlier this year, the University is poised to become a leader in offering experiential learning opportunities. UPEI has looked at a variety of ways to best support students in seizing these opportunities and has decided to group several existing functions under a centralized office.

Vice-President Academic Christian Lacroix is excited to announce that the Centre for Life-Long Learning is expanding to take on these additional functions, and effective immediately, will be known as the Office of Skills Development and Learning.

In addition to maintaining offerings for adult learners, professional development programs, the Explore program, and e-learning services, the new Office of Skills Development and Learning will incorporate Career Services, previously housed at Student Affairs, and centralize the administration of Co-operative Education programs (currently offered in the School of Business and Faculty of Science).

The Office expects to announce several further initiatives this fall.

For more information, contact the Director Pat MacAulay, Office of Skills Development and Learning at phmacaulay@upei.ca.

UPEI Women's Rugby Coach Shannon Atkins is very pleased to announce that Lauren Sheidow is joining the Panthers for 2014-15.

'Lauren is a powerful player that will add strength to the scrum,' commented Coach Atkins. 'It is really important for UPEI to have the top Island players, like Lauren, playing for us to maintain the competition level necessary for success.'

The seventeen-year-old daughter of Jeff and Marcia is from Summerside and recently graduated from Three Oaks Senior High School where she was awarded 'The Heather Moyse Award for Outstanding Achievement in Athletics and Community Involvement,' sponsored by the City of Summerside.

'I am thrilled to be attending UPEI this fall,' commented Sheidow. 'Along with rugby, I made my choice to attend UPEI based on the school's great reputation and its quality Faculty of Science program; along with the wonderful educational and sports facilities and the Celebrating Student Achievement Scholarship program.'

Sheidow added, 'I have a genuine love for the sport of rugby including, including the physicality, the competiveness, the strategy involved, the necessary team work required and the long lasting friendships that are formed as a result of being involved in the sport.'

Sheidow was a member of the TOSH school rugby program for three years, was selected a league All-Star this spring and helped the Axewomen win the provincial high school championship. Sheidow was named Co-MVP for TOSH. In 2013/2014, Sheidow was a member of the provincial Under-18 rugby team.

UPEI Athletics and Recreation Director Bill Schurman welcomes Sheidow to the UPEI family. 'I have seen Lauren compete for the green and gold, it will be a pleasure to see her in the green and white! We are pleased to welcome Lauren to the Panther family of student-athletes. We look forward to Lauren's contribution in the classroom, community, and in competition!'

Sheidow has enrolled in the Faculty of Science with interest in studying Kinesiology.

Go Panthers Go!

About UPEI Athletics and Recreation
• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
• Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas