FIDDLER'S FACTS: Charlottetown Islanders will bounce back from big loss

The Charlottetown Islanders (5-5-2, 12 points) meet the Shawinigan Cataractes at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.

Although Shawinigan is at the bottom of the standings (2-4-1, 5 points), they’ve played just seven games.

The Islanders were embarrassed at home with a lopsided 10-0 shutout at the hands of Val-d’Or (7-1-1), which looked every bit like the best team in the entire Q. The Islanders had numerous glorious chances early in the game but once the score reached 4-0 at the end of the opening period, fans realized this was a far better club than any the Islanders faced this season.

Charlottetown was flying high, but this game brought them back to earth. I felt bad for both goaltenders Don Hickey and Seth Ronan, who have played well thus far this season. But for the final two periods, Ronan was left on his own alone against a team loaded with talent and experience after Val-d’Or scored four goals on Hickey in the first period.

I noticed many NHL scouts at the game, and they had to be impressed with Val-d’Or and with a number of young Islanders, who are just a year or two away right now. All teams, including the NHL, pro ranks, QMJHL and everywhere, have bad games. It’s part of the journey, and I’m sure the Islanders will bounce back.

The World Series is shaping up to be one very few baseball fans expected with the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers on the sidelines after the upstart Milwaukee Brewers swept the defending-champion Dodgers in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series.

The Brew Crew received great pitching, solid defence and timely hitting while the Dodgers slumped, especially Shohei Ohtani, who looked terrible at the plate. His shoulder and knee hampered his swing and overall game.

The Cleveland Guardians nipped Tampa Bay 3-2 on Oct. 15 to take a 2-1 series lead in the ALCS. This could be an upset as well.

The Milwaukee Brewers made it to the World Series in 1982, losing 4-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals, so this is their first appearance World Series appearance in 44 years. Milwaukee did win a World Series back in 1957, but it was the Milwaukee Braves, a club that featured the pitching of Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette and the hitting of Henry Aaron. Regardless, it‘s a long wait for Milwaukee.

Major League Baseball hopes to finalize a new contract in November, but many teams are clamouring for a salary cap, claiming the big-budget teams are dominating playoff baseball. That’s a tough sell right now with the Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and those “Bums from Brooklyn” (aka, the Dodgers) on the sidelines and looking like also-rans against low-budget clubs like Milwaukee, Cleveland and Tampa Bay.

Local baseball is still not finished as this weekend the Holland College Hurricanes and UPEI are among the teams participating in the six team ACBA championship, at Memorial Field in Charlottetown.

Holland College hosts the tournament with defending-champions UPEI, UNB, Acadia and St. F.X.

Regardless of the outcome, UNB and UPEI will participate in the national tournament next week in Ottawa.

The NFL heads into Week 6 and lets take a look:

The Rams (2-3) host Arizona (1-4) this week and are looking to avenge that ugly loss to Buffalo on Oct. 11. Rams in a rout.

The Buffalo Bills (4-1) travel to the Las Vegas Raiders (3-2), who have given up 100 points in the last three games. Josh Allen should have a field day with the porous Raiders defence.

The L.A. Chargers (2-3) travel to meet unbeaten Kansas City (5-0) and QB Patrick Mahomes. The Chargers are weak defensively. Ouch, a wild high-scoring Chiefs win.

Carolina (2-2) at Philadelphia (2-3): The Eagles gave away the game on Oct. 11, allowing a kickoff return and final-second field goal versus Jacksonville. Philly fans be careful – Eagles are without QB Hurts, RB Barkley and there are key injuries on the O line. Could be an upset.

Dallas (2-3) at Green Bay (3-2): The Cowboys find ways to lose and Packers QB Jordan Love looked great last week in the drubbing of the Bears. Dallas has a porous pass defence. Looks like another Dallas high-scoring loss.

Windemere Skye and Woodmere Rock It put their winning streaks on the line this afternoon on the 10-dash Maritime breeders card. Skye, who has the rail in Race 8 for $25,875, is unbeaten in 25 starts over two years and is the track record holder for age and gait for driver Marc Campbell and trainer Earl Watts. Woodmere Rock It has Post 5 in Race 9 for $27,00. Sunday’s-14 dash card at 12:30 p.m. features a $7,150 feature with Armitrage Hanover, Air Force Hanover, Twin B Tuffenuff in a field of six.

The Breeders Crown, the pinnacle of harness racing in North America, gets underway on Oct. 17 with eliminations at Scioto Downs, outside Columbus, Ohio. Redland Rocket Man and Beau Jangles, plus all the big boys of the sophomore division, are in action.

The $44,000 open mares at Mohawk on Oct. 17 has Charlottetown’s Jason Ryan behind co-fave Carrera Sunset N vs. Lets Enjoy N, Wise Professeur and six others. Tough field.

In harness racing news, lots of familiar faces buying at the two-day Western Fair Sale, which concluded Oct. 14. James Perrot of Stratford collared Redland Marshall, a Lawless Shadow colt, a brother to One Wicked Man for $22,000.

Dr Ian Moore shelled $70,000 for another Lawless Shadow colt. Ian also purchased a Green Manalishi colt for $90,000, Wayne MacRae parted with $41,000 for a Bulldog Hanover colt, Pownal Bay Tom, consigned by Ian Smith, and a brother to Pownal Bay Bobbi, went to Mark Stacey for $17,000.

Saul Lanagan shelled $30,000 for a Cattlewash filly. Arnold Hagen and Redland Farms parted with $27,000 for a Lawless Shadow filly; Wayne Whebby paid $60,000 for a Cattlewash colt; Marcel Barrieau purchased Hip 203, a King of the North colt for $70,000. More on this sale next week.

Fred MacDonald’s column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at fiddlersfacts@hotmail.com.