Five fresh faces look to cement their name in Islanders history
Lukas Cormier just made his NHL debut with the Vegas Golden Knights on January 6. Daniel Sprong is an eight-year NHL veteran currently pushing for the playoffs with the Detroit Red Wings. Jakub Brabenec was part of the 2023 Czechia World Juniors team that captured the country’s first World Juniors medal since 2001.
These players have two things in common, all played for the Islanders, and all won the organization’s Rookie of the Year award.
The award holds names that have accomplished both great things in their career and in the way they impacted the game here on Prince Edward Island. Ben Duffy is still a name you will hear echoes of around the Eastlink Centre. Matt Welsh was voted fan favourite four years in a row during his tenure. Brett Budgell was the QMJHL’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2021-22.
Now, it’s time for a new crop of young men to try and stake their name in Islanders’ history.
Matthew Butler was a highly touted QMJHL prospect during his draft year. However, due to hockey commitments in the United States, Butler slipped down the board. That was until the Islanders selected him 81st overall in the 2022 Entry Draft. After a season at Shattuck St. Mary’s which saw him post 63 points in 57 games, Jim Hulton got the commitment from Butler to join the organization for the 2023-24 campaign.
Since coming to P.E.I., Butler has 34 points in 57 contests. Those stats have Butler sitting in the top 10 of QMJHL rookies. Butler has yet to miss a game in his inaugural QMJHL season, cementing his role in the Islanders’ top-six. A Newfoundland native won the award last year, will Butler bring the trophy back to the ‘Rock’ for a second straight season?
Owen Conrad is a big-bodied left-shot defenceman. He was drafted 20th overall in the 2023 QMJHL Entry Draft by the Islanders. Conrad came into the QMJHL with a bang, scoring in four of his first five career games, which included back-to-back overtime winners. His 22 points rank him 5th among rookie defenders. He also had the honours in 2023 of representing his home province of Nova Scotia at the Canada Games, then, representing Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Conrad will look to be the first blue-noser to win the award since Matt Welsh in 2015-16.
The Islanders selected Anthony Flanagan 38th overall this past draft, the team’s following pick after Conrad. Flanagan has shown bursts of high-level speed and playmaking throughout his 48 QMJHL games. He was a true playmaker during his time with College Esther-Blondin Phenix in the QM18AAA where he notched 29 points in 40 games. With eight points on the season, he has shown he’ll be a solid player for the organisation both on and off the ice. Will Flanagan be the first Blainville native to claim the Rookie of the Year title?
Ondrej Maruna was chosen with the Islanders’ first-round pick in the 2023 CHL Import Draft. This season, the Piestany, Slovakia native has dressed for 46 games, posting six goals and fifteen points. After a hot start to the season which saw him average nearly a point per game in his first 10 QMJHL contests; the 6’3” winger has struggled to find the stat sheet since. Now, receiving consistent ice time, Maruna will look for a strong finish to the campaign in an effort to be the first Slovakian to win the Islanders’ Rookie of the Year.
Kyle Powers hails from Ottawa, Ontario. He went undrafted during his time eligible for the OHL Entry Draft and was playing in the CCHL, Ontario’s Jr.A league before receiving the invite for this year’s Islanders camp. Making his CHL debut this season, the recently turned 19-year-old has missed only one game all year. The power forward has centered the Islanders’ most consistently gritty line this year alongside Huckins and Hughes. The 6-foot centerman has been a steady presence in the Charlottetown lineup and added a respectable 24 points along the way. Now he’ll look to be the first Ontario-born player to have his name put on the Islanders’ Rookie of the Year trophy.
Five members who sport the black and harvest gold look to put their name on the trophy, but only one can go home with the Rookie of the Year title.
Cast your vote now and Go Isles Go!
