Islanders hit the ice in Saint John for opener
Islander fans the moment you’ve been waiting for is finally here. The 2021-22 QMJHL Regular Season gets underway tomorrow night as the Islanders make the journey to TD Station for a bout with the Saint John Sea Dogs.
Here are some key notes as we get ready for another year of protecting the bridge.
The Team: Jim Hulton will enter his 7th season manding the helm of the Charlottetown Islanders. Jim is the longest-tenured coach in franchise history and has had a very successful run with the team to date. The Islanders are looking to contend for another league championship this season as they finished 1st in the league last season. In a shortened season the Islanders managed to win 35 of 40 games.
This year the Islanders have another strong group of players led by NHL prospects Lukas Cormier, Xavier Simoneau, Oscar Plandowski, William Trudeau, Jakub Brabenec, and Ben Boyd. Veteran leaders and NHL camp attendees Brett Budgell and Noah Laaouan also return for their over-age season. Jacob Goobie will also be looking to establish himself as a starter this season after backing up Matthew Welsh and Colton Ellis the past two seasons.
Tickets: Single game tickets for all October home games are on sale now and can be purchased online, by visiting the box office at the Eastlink Centre, or by calling 902-629-6625.
Season Tickets and 15-Game Packs are on sale at the Islanders Team Shop. The Eastlink Centre is welcoming an increased number of fans and have introduced an updated list of fan protocols.https://bit.ly/3zY8AV5
Injuries and Roster: The Islanders are starting the season on a healthy note. Matt McQuaid is the only player currently listed as day-to-day.
The Islanders roster is also set as Ben Boyd was the final player to be released by his NHL team the Columbus Blue Jackets. He will be in the line-up for the Islanders opener tonight.
New Faces: Czech forward Jakub Brabenec will make his Islanders debut after returning from Vegas Golden Knights rookie camp. Brabenec was the Islanders top pick in the 2020 QMJHL Import Draft but was unable to make it to Canada last year due to the pandemic. Islanders 2021 Import Draft pick Oliver Satny makes his way to Prince Edward Island following his participation in the Buffalo Sabres training camp. Satny will team up with Jacob Goobie to form the Islanders goaltending tandem. 17-year-old forward and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native Jarrett Todd made the team out of camp as well as Mathis Aguilar, Matt McQuaid, Michael Horth, and Sam Archibald. Finally, 2021 first-round pick Matis Ouellet will make his Q debut tonight.
