PHOTO: MLB.com
It is an excited time for some West Kelowna Warriors alumni as Max French, Josh Monk, Jonathan Desbiens and Liam Blackburn will be partaking in a schedule of nine outdoor games in a span of 10 days at the legendary baseball grounds of Fenway Park beginning on Thursday night in an event titled Frozen Fenway.
Though 82 days of the year are scheduled for Boston Red Sox baseball, this time of the year is reserved for hockey at America’s most beloved ballpark. Fenway, which was built in 1912, is one of baseball’s oldest facilities and has hosted the event since it’s upbringing in 2010.
The four-game schedule for the annual Frozen Fenway outdoor games will begin on Thursday night when the Bentley Falcons take on the Army Black Knights to open the 2017 version of the festivities that spans over a three-week period. Many games will be played in the prestigious ballpark as high-school and college teams grace the open-aired atmosphere with minor hockey days scheduled in as well as public skates.
The game Thursday will feature a pair of of Warriors alumni as forwards Max French and Jonathan Desbiens will suit up for the game as the Falcons take on the Black Knights. French, 24, is captaining the Falcons in his final season of collegiate hockey and leading the team in points with 7 goals and 18 points in 17 games this season. Desbiens, 20, is in his freshman season at Bentley and has 3 goals and 5 points in his first 16 games of college hockey.
For the 20-year-old freshman Desbiens, it’s a chance to play in a unique environment, “It’s a great opportunity to play in one of the greatest sports venues in the world,” quoted the Bentley rookie and former 44-goal scorer for the Warriors.
In the third game held at Frozen Fenway and the 2nd of a double-header on Saturday, January 7th will be the Boston College Eagles taking on the Providence Friars. Senior defensemen and former Warriors d-man Josh Monk will be playing in his 2nd Frozen Fenway game and the Providence captain currently sits with a goal and 10 points in 14 games played this season for the Friars.
For Monk, who has been with the Friars for four seasons, the excitement has been brewing all season long, “I’m really excited for it, it’s a game we’ve been looking forward to all year,” said the former Warrior of 71 games and 177 total BCHL games, “Being able to play outside at one of the most historic ballparks ever is going to be a lot of fun.”
The final game of the Frozen Fenway collegiate events takes place on Saturday, January 14th when the University of New Hampshire Wildcats take on the Northeastern Huskies with Warrior alumni Liam Blackburn dressing for the Wildcats. The freshman 20-year-old forward has six goals and 11 points in 17 games this season with UNH and will be the final event before the rink is opened up for public skating.
The Prince George native Blackburn, he’s looking forward to the chance at playing in such a fun atmosphere, “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to play an outdoor game in such a historic field,” quoted the freshman forward, “I am definitely looking forward to experiencing such an amazing event.”
For a full schedule of all the games and events happening at Frozen Fenway, click HERE. Follow along with the Warriors Twitter and Facebook to keep up with all the Warriors news on current players and alumni!
