Avon accepts his role
Second-year Islanders forward kills penalties, blocks shots and provides energy
Julien Avon does a lot of the less glamorous parts of hockey it takes to win games.
He kills penalties, blocks shots and gives his team energy from the fourth line. It’s a role he accepted from the start of the season.
“I am trying to do what I can to help the team,” Avon said. “I’m just here for the team, not for myself.”
The 19-year-old forward was acquired from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the final hours of last year’s trade deadline in the Jack Nevins’ deal.
Avon was a fourth-line player who killed penalties for the Huskies. His coach/general manger told him he might get more minutes after a trade to another organization.
He left a predominantly French club for a mostly English team. The transition was hard initially, but he quickly adapted to his surroundings.
“I really like it here. It’s a great spot,” he said, noting he has great billets and coaches and enjoys playing for the organization. “I feel welcomed here and everybody likes me.”
He watched closely as the team announced a number of trades during the offseason.
“I knew I could make the team, but I knew I had to push hard in the training camp to (earn) my spot,” he said.
Coach Gordie Dwyer said he and the staff spoke with Avon at the end of camp about his role and where they saw the fleet-footed forward fitting within the team.
“It takes guys understanding and accepting their role and Julien has done a good job of that,” Dwyer said. “His professionalism day in and day out, game in and game out certainly rubs off on his teammate.”
Many nights this season Avon has skated with two of the team’s three 16-year-old players (Mitchell Balmas, Keith Getson and Samuel Guilbault). Getson and Avon also have paired up to kill penalties.
“He’s an extremely hard worker, I definitely look up to him as a player,” Getson said.
Avon said it is a two-way street.
“Sometimes I give him some tips and also he’s been really good and I have learned from him.”
The Islanders host the Saint John Sea Dogs tonight and the Sherbrooke Phoenix on Friday. Both games are at 7 p.m. The Sea Dogs are the sixth-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League.
“We’ve played some of our best hockey against Saint John this season,” Dwyer said. “They come at you hard. They’re a physical team. They’re a fast team and we know what to expect from Saint John.”
The teams have played four times with two games going to a shootout and one to overtime.
Julien Avon
Who – A 19-year-old forward with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Size – Five-foot-11, 178 pounds.
Birthplace – Candiac, Que.
Did you know? Avon has won 46 per cent of his 192 faceoffs this season.
Coach Gordie Dwyer said: “He’s one of our quiet leaders on our hockey team on and off the ice. He’s an excellent student, a very mature individual and I think he’s a good role model for a lot of our younger players as well.”
Statistics
Season GP G A Pts.
2014-15 27 1 1 2
2013-14 47 2 4 6
2012-13 5 0 2 2
Islanders’ last five, next five
A look at the Charlottetown Islanders previous five games and upcoming five games.
Nov. 9
Charlottetown 8 Drummondville 3
Nov. 15
Charlottetown 2 Victoriaville 1
Nov. 16
Charlottetown 5 Drummondville 1
Nov. 22
Charlottetown 3 Saint John 2 OT
Nov. 23
Rimouski 8 Charlottetown 2
Tonight
Saint John at Charlottetown, 7 p.m.
Friday
Sherbrooke at Charlottetown, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Charlottetown at Moncton, 3 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5
Charlottetown at Halifax, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Moncton at Charlottetown, 7p.m.
Head-to-head meetings
Sept. 12
Charlottetown 3 Saint John 2 SO
Oct. 1
Saint John 5 Charlottetown 4 SO
Oct. 12
Saint John 4 Charlottetown 1
Nov. 22
Charlottetown 3 Saint John 2 OT
