Eagles Set To Host Islanders For First Time In 2021-22
Everything old is new again as the Cape Breton Eagles host the Charlottetown Islanders tonight at Centre 200. While the Islanders made six visits between January and April of last season, it’s the first meeting between the two clubs in the 2021-22 with each club having made major changes in the off-season.
Charlottetown was the class of the Maritime Division last season, and began this season much the same with three straight wins. But since then, the Islanders have dropped four straight. The Isles have scored first in every win, and allowed the first goal in every loss. Charlottetown has a 1-2 record on the road this season.
The Eagles are searching for their first home win of the campaign, but the team has points in six of their eight games this season- and only one Eagle game has been decided by more than one goal thus far this October. Cape Breton is 2-2-4 on the young season, with a 0-2-2 record at home.
One key to any success the Eagles are experiencing this year is Jérémy Langlois. The 18 year old blueliner is currently on a six game point streak and was just named to the CHL’s team of the week.
Langlois is one of three players in tonight’s game that was recently given a “C” ranking by NHL Central Scouting (indicating a player is expected to be drafted between rounds four and six in the 2022 NHL Draft.). Also ranked are 17 year old Eagles defenseman FJ Buteau, and 17 year old Islanders forward Sam Oliver.
Both teams will be missing names up front. For the Eagles, Lucas Canning is not expected to return to action for the remainder of the month while alternate captain Connor Trenholm is uncertain for this evening’s game. For Charlottetown, overager Brett Budgell is expected to miss tonight’s action, while prized off-season acquisition Xavier Simoneau may not yet be ready to return to play.
Simoneau is one of five NHL draft choices on Charlottetown’s roster, the other three expected to suit up at Centre 200. Rugged forward Ben Boyd is a Columbus prospect, while half of the Islanders regular defense core are NHL draftees- William Trudeau (Montreal), Oscar Plandowski (Detroit), and potential World Junior player Lukas Cormier (Vegas).
As was the case with the Eagles and all other QMJHL teams, the Islanders had additions and subtractions in the off-season. Tonight will be the first appearance of Czech import Jakub Brabenec who has four assists in his first seven games.
Tickets for tonight’s game and all Eagle home games can be purchased at https://www.ticketmaster.ca/cape-breton-eagles-tickets/artist/891825. They are also available for purchase in person at the Centre 200 box office and by the phone at 902-564-2200
