PEI native excited to play in front of friends and family
Luke Coughlin grew up like many on P.E.I. He played minor hockey and would go to the old Civic Centre to watch the P.E.I. Rocket play. Except now his family and friends don’t cheer for the home team when they come to the rink.
Coughlin was drafted fourth overall in the 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft by the Rimouski Oceanic. Growing up playing games in rinks all across the Island, now, he only plays in an arena on the Island once a year.
Come tomorrow night in the Eastlink Centre, with Oceanic jerseys invading the seats of our rink, Coughlin will get to feel right at home.
“It’s amazing. On the road, you never have many friends in the arenas, but when I come back to the Island there is always lots of noise from people in the crowd cheering for me and my team as well,” said Coughlin.
Born in 2005 and coming to Rocket and Islanders games before his hockey life got too busy, Coughlin recognizes there’s something extra special about playing here.
“Playing here does bring back a lot of memories. Watching the Rocket games when I was really young and then watching the Islanders play, it seems crazy that I’m now the one on the ice the young kids are watching. It’s not a feeling that hits me too often other than when I’m home in Charlottetown,” said Coughlin.
Family plays a large role in all minor hockey players’ lives, from 6 a.m. practices to weekends away for tournaments, family makes that happen. Coughlin recognizes that but he also credits a certain former Charlottetown Islanders defenseman for influencing his game.
“I looked up to my parents and my grandparents. They were always good role models and were by my side through my hockey journey. A player I looked up to and loved to watch was Lukas Cormier when he played for the Islanders. He was just easy to watch and that’s what I wanted to look like to other kids out there.”
Such is the case for many 16-year-old QMJHL draft picks, you’re likely going to have to leave home to join the team that selects you.
“The draft was a lot of emotions. I was super excited to be drafted so high by an unreal organization, but also letting the realization sink in that in a few months I’d be leaving home to play hockey. Now, looking back, it wasn’t such a big deal but for a young 16-year-old it was sure a lot of emotions,” said Coughlin.
Coughlin has grown up in the league, he went from being a 16-year-old leaving home for the first time, to being drafted in the NHL. The 5’10”, 172 lbs defenseman was taken 191st overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers. He hasn’t signed a contract yet but has attended the Panthers rookie camp. Coughlin now joins a short list of Prince Edward Island natives to be drafted in the NHL and the chance to become one of the fewer ones to play in the NHL. To date, only 35 Island-born players have suited up for an NHL game.
Coughlin and the Oceanic roll into town tomorrow night for a 7 p.m. puck drop at the Eastlink Centre. Through 33 games in his third Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League season, Coughlin has posted 18 points and two goals.
Rimouski currently sits fourth in the East Conference with a record of 20-17-3-0. Winners of four of their last five games, the Oceanic will play in Saint John tonight before coming to town in their first of three games in three days.
Brett Arsenault will also make his return to the Eastlink Centre Friday night after being traded by the Islanders to Rimouski for an eighth-round pick in 2025. Arsenault suited up for 84 games in the black and harvest gold.
Fans can get tickets to tomorrow night’s game by calling 902-629-6625 or going to the Eastlink Centre’s website.
Go Isles Go!
