PREVIEW | Isles weekend set in Cape Breton
By Kyle Cotton
The Charlottetown Islanders hit the road as they take on the Cape Breton Eagles Friday and Saturday night at the Centre 200.
The boys in black and gold are going for their second and third straight victories after taking down the Acadie-Bathurst Titan 5-3 on Sunday, Jan. 28th.
Carter Bickle (11-17) will get the start tonight. Bickle has been solid recently, posting an .894 save percentage and a 3.55 goals against average in 2024.
Aksels Ozols (8-12) is the probable starter on Saturday night. So far, through 23 appearances, Ozols is posting an .875 SV% and a 3.75 GAA.
Islanders report (19-24-3-2)
In 15 games since the Christmas break, Simon Hughes has been one of the top forwards for the Isles. He has nine goals and five assists for 14 points over that span. Most recently, he scored two goals in the 5-3 win over the Titan. The P.E.I. native has been red hot. He’ll be looking to continue that streak on the road.
Max Jardine has been a rock defensively since signing with the Isles from the Maritime Junior Hockey League’s Miramichi Timberwolves. Through 10 games, he has just one assist but has always made his presence known with his steady defensive play. It’s only a matter of time until some points start coming from Jardine.
Will Shields will be playing his first games against his former club this weekend. In 12 games since coming to Charlottetown, Shields has four goals, three assists for seven points, which is just one point back from the eight points he scored in 35 games with the Eagles prior to the trade. Don’t be shocked if he nets a goal against his former team.
Cole Huckins will be looking to kick February off with a bang. He scored six points in nine games over the month of January while dealing with an upper-body injury. Now, he’s fully healthy and will want to spark a goal streak after potting one against his former team in Bathurst last Sunday.
Leading Scorers
| Michael Horth | 24-15-39 |
| Giovanni Morneau | 15-22-37 |
| Marcus Kearsey | 5-31-36 |
Power play – 37/153 (24.18%)
Penalty kill – 37/143 (74.13%)
Goals for – 145
Goals against – 188
Eagles report (26-19-1-1)
Cape Breton has been surging lately as in their last 10 games they are 7-2-0-1. Most recently, they took down the Halifax Mooseheads 5-4 in overtime.
It was Island native Cam Squires who got it done for them in the extra frame against Halifax. Squires has led the Eagles in scoring this season with 47 points in 45 games. The New Jersey Devils prospect has seen success against his hometown squad this year. He has scored in every meeting these teams have had in the 2023-24 campaign, including a four point performance back on Nov. 19, 2023.
Lucas Romeo has been a perfect fit in Cape Breton since being traded for Shields before the QMJHL trade deadline. He has seven goals in 10 games with the Eagles and has been a large part in their recent success. The former Islander will be in the same scenario as Shields and will be hungry to score against the team that signed him out of Ontario.
Since being traded from Val-d’Or to Cape Breton, Tomas Cibulka has just three assists in seven games, all of them being from the last three games. Cibulka has seen success against the Isles this season with the Foreurs, scoring six points in two games against Charlottetown. If the past is any indicator of the present, the Isles will need to keep Cibulka in check.
Leading Scorers
| Cam Squires | 23-24-47 |
| Cole Burbidge | 11-31-42 |
| Olivier Houde | 18-22-40 |
Power play – 29/153 (18.95%)
Penalty kill – 27/160 (83.13%)
Goals for – 137
Goals against – 130
Quick notes – The teams have split the season series 2-2 so far. There are five more meetings before the end of the regular season.
The Isles are 14-5-2-0 in the last five years at the Centre 200, taking care of business on the road.
Puck drop at the Centre 200 is at 7 p.m. both nights. Fans can tune into the game at Max 93.1 FM.
