Prince Edward Island athletes delivered an exceptional month of performances in March 2026, highlighted by international success, national team opportunities, and major individual honours across a wide range of sports.

Leading the way was wrestler Vanessa Keefe, who continued her remarkable season at Brock University. Keefe was named both Brock and OUA Athlete of the Week following her U Sports gold in February. She was then named as a finalist for Brock Women’s Athlete of the Year and named her team’s Leader of the Year.

Despite uncharacteristically breaking a pole in his first race of the week, Mark Arendz added to his storied career at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games by capturing a silver medal in the biathlon 12.5km and a bronze in the 10km cross-country event. He also recorded three additional top-five finishes, bringing his career Paralympic medal total to an outstanding 14.

On the national curling stage, Brett Gallant delivered a strong showing at the 2026 Montana’s Brier. Competing with Team Jacobs, Gallant was named a first-team all-star and helped lead the team to a third-place finish.

Basketball standout Alex Newson took a major step in her development pathway, earning an invitation to—and competing at—the U18 Women’s National Team selection camp from March 26–30 in St. Catherine’s, Ontario.

In the pool, PEI swimmers combined for one of the most dominant performances of the month at the East Coast Swimming Championships in Halifax, collecting 36 medals. Top performers included Simeon “Moni” Zlatev (3 gold), Ryan Reid (3 gold, 2 silver), Jack Smith (2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze), Levi Wilmot (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Veronica MacLellan (2 gold, 1 bronze), and Emily Gosbee (2 gold). Additional medalists included Ivy Ban (1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze), Erik Thompson (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, and qualification for National Trials), Ry Gorman (1 silver, 1 bronze), Kinley Scott (1 silver), and Avery Fleischhauer (1 bronze). Relay bronze medals were earned by the men’s 15–17 team (Erik Thompson, Jack Smith, Keegan MacDougall, Avery Fleischhauer), the women’s 13–14 team (Emily Gosbee, Nelina Ning, Kinley Scott, Eva Lyn Connor), and the Charlottetown Bluephins club’s overall performance was third best of the 35 teams in attendance.

At the U SPORTS Swimming Championships, Blake Kingston missed the podium but reset his own AUS record in the 100m breaststroke, continuing his rise as one of the region’s top swimmers.

In international competition, speed skater Jenna Larter placed seventh in the 100m at the prestigious Zilveren Bal event in the Netherlands, while triathlete Martin Sobey finished 14th at a World Triathlon Cup event in Haikou, China.

At the Paralympics, PEI was also represented behind the bench, as Grant Boswell earned a silver medal as equipment manager with Canada’s Para Hockey team.

On the soccer pitch, Maxime Dunphy, Jermaine Gonzales, and Hein Van Eck were invited to Canada Soccer’s U15 Men’s Integration Camp, while Aleah Craswell, Sadie Hansen, Addi Zver, and Kate Landry were selected as guest players with the Halifax Tides Academy for the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy Showcase.

In university athletics, Carson Gray capped off a strong season by being named both an ACAA All-Conference Men’s Volleyball selection and Holland College Male Athlete of the Year, while Atlantic field hockey MVP Kayla Batchilder was honoured as UPEI Female Athlete of the Year.

On the links, Brenda McIlwaine of Belvedere Golf Club received Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award, recognizing her long-time contributions to the sport.

At the Atlantic Wrestling Championships, Alexsa Matheson dominated her divisions, winning gold in both the U19 and U20 categories.

In figure skating, Brooklyn Spates (Pre-Novice Women) and Emma Li (Juvenile Women) each earned bronze medals at the Atlantic Figure Skating Championships.

From Paralympic podiums and national team selections to record-breaking swims and provincial honours, March 2026 highlighted the continued strength and depth of Prince Edward Island sport.

COMPLETE LIST

March 2 – Vanessa Keefe named OUA and Brock Athlete of the Week

March 2 – Holland Hurricanes’ Carson Gray named to ACAA All-Conference Men’s Volleyball team

March 2 – Alex Newson invited to final tryouts for U18 National Women’s Basketball team

March 7 – Brett Gallant named first-team all-star at the 2026 Brier and finishes third as part of Team Jacobs

March 11 – Jenna Larter finishes 7th in the 100m at the 10th Annual Zilveren Bal (speedskating event) in Leeuwerdan, Netherlands.

March 11 – Brenda McIlwaine of Belvedere Golf Club receives Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.

March 13 – Blake Kingston breaks own AUS record in the 100m breaststroke event at U Sports National Championships

March 15 – Mark Arendz finishes his fifth Paralympics Games with one silver (Biathlon 12.5km) and one bronze (Cross Country 10km) medal earned as well as three other top-5 finishes, bringing his career Paralympics total to 14 medals.

March 16 – Grant Boswell earns silver medal as equipment manager for Team Canada Para-Hockey at the 2026 Paralympics.

March 17 – Maxime Dunphy, Jermaine Gonzales, and Hein Van Eck invited to Canada Soccer U15 Men’s Integration Camp

March 21 – Martin Sobey finishes 14th at World Triathlon Cup event in Haikou, China

March 23 – Vanessa Keefe (wrestling) named a finalist for Brock Women’s Athlete of the Year.

March 23 – Aleah Craswell, Sadie Hansen, Addi Zver, and Kate Landry selected as Guest Players with the Halifax Tides Academy for the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy Showcase.

March 25 – Carson Gray (volleyball) named Holland College Male Athlete of the Year

March 27 – Kayla Batchilder (field hockey) named UPEI Female Athlete of the Year

March 29 – Eleven swimmers and two relay teams earn 36 total medals at the East Coast Swimming Championships in Halifax

• Ivy Ban – 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
• Avery Fleischhauer – 1 bronze
• Ry Gorman – 1 silver, bronze
• Emily Gosbee – 2 gold
• Veronica MacLellan – 2 gold, 1 bronze
• Kinley Scott – 1 silver
• Ryan Reid – 3 gold, 2 silver
• Jack Smith – 2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze
• Erik Thompson – 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze (qualified for National Trials in July)
• Levi Wilmot – 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
• Simeon “Moni” Zlatev – 3 gold
• Men’s 15-17 Relay team (Erik Thompson, Jack Smith, Keegan MacDougall & Avery Fleischhauer) – 1 bronze
• Women’s 13-14 Relay team (Emily Gosbee, Nelina Ning, Kinley Scott & Eva Lyn Connor) – 1 bronze
• Charlottetown Bluephins club – 1 bronze

March 29 – Brooklyn Spates finishes 3rd in Pre-Novice Women’s division and Emma Li finishes 3rd in the Juvenile Women division at the Atlantic Figure Skating Championships.

March 29 – Alexsa Matheson wins gold medal in U19 and U20 divisions at Atlantic Wrestling Championships.

March 30 – Vanessa Keefe named Brock Wrestling team’s Leader of the Year.