A second half goal for Charlottetown Islanders
It’s a little ways past the halfway point of the season and a young Charlottetown Islanders team looks to stay consistent and improve every day for the second half.
Charlottetown currently sits third in the Maritimes Division with a 23-19-1-3 record for 50 points.
Islanders Head Coach Gordie Dwyer describes this season as a continuation of its youth movement from last year.
“A lot of new faces here in the lineup and a lot of young players but we’re excited about the players we have in our dressing room and the future of the direction with this hockey club.”
There have been a lot of new faces indeed.
In the off-season the Islanders acquired overage players Ryan MacKinnon and Ross Johnston, as well as 19-year-old forward Oliver Cooper. The team also brought in 19-year-old defenceman Dexter Weber and 17-year-old defenceman Will Thompson. Also coming in were European picks Filip Chlapik, 17, and Filip Rydstrom, 18.
Johnston’s debut was sidelined until mid-November after suffering a broken jaw at the New York Islanders training camp in September. He has spent most of the season on a line with Rydstrom and Cooper.
“The addition of Johnston has really helped our hockey club in more than one way,” said Dwyer. “We’ve really developed an identity since his return as a team. Sometimes one player has that influence.”
MacKinnon, 20, has been wearing the “C” for Charlottetown this season. He said with all the new faces it took some extra time to mold together.
“It’s not just on-ice stuff, its off ice as well,” said the Summerside, P.E.I. native in his last season of junior hockey. “After Christmas, these past few games we’ve really shown we can compete with teams. We’re coming to practice working hard and it’s paying off for sure.”
The Islanders have had a tendency to be streaky throughout the course of the season. They have had several losing streaks followed by several winning streaks.
Charlottetown enjoyed its first four-game winning streak from Nov. 9, 2014 to Nov. 22, 2014 before taking an 8-2 loss at home to Rimouski on Nov. 23. The team would then pick up only win in its next six games before picking up another four-straight wins from Dec. 14, 2014 to Dec. 30, 2014.
“When you’re young it’s hard to be consistent in this league,” said MacKinnon. “It’s such a competitive league but as of late the young guys aren’t so young anymore. They’ve had their experience and half a season in.”
It’s a matter of just paying attention to the little details, added MacKinnon.
“Preparation is huge every night. Once we can find that consistent way to doing we will be better off for sure.”
The Islanders are hot off a three-game road trip in which it won all three games in Sherbrooke, Victoriaville and Quebec City this past weekend. A first since the 2003-2004 season.
Goaltender Mason McDonald is settling in during his third QMJHL season. The 18-year-old, Halifax, N.S., native was drafted 34th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2014.
He currently posts a 19-17 (won-lost) record with a 2.99 goals against average and a 0.904 save percentage and one shutout.
He’s a guy that gives the team a chance to win every night, said Dwyer.
“He’s played well for us this season. He’s a guy that’s very low maintenance, top-end goaltender. He comes ready to play and battle every day.”
McDonald’s preparation is what sets him apart, said Dwyer.
“He takes his craft seriously. He wants to be the No. 1 goaltender and he wants to be the best goaltender on the ice every night.”
MacKinnon can’t say enough about his goaltender.
“He comes to work every single day…he’s the type of guy where you got to lock the doors because he works hard and he’s been the backbone of this team.”
During the recent trading period, the Islanders were fairly quiet only making three deals, compared to last year when they made 12 trades.
The Islanders opened the trade period by acquiring 19-year-old forward Quinn O’Brien and a 10th-round pick in 2017 from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies for prospect Anthony Wojcik.
O’Brien was a player the team targeted since last season, said Dwyer.
“We’re happy to get him. He fits right into our mold. He’s a big guy that skates extremely well, hard on the fore-check and heavy player to play against. We felt that was an area we could continue to improve on, especially with so much youth in our lineup.”
He has come as advertised, said Dwyer.
“He’s a real good addition to our lineup and we’re happy to have here in Charlottetown.”
The Islanders shipped Julien Avon, 19, to Drummondville for a 12th-round pick in 2016 and acquired goalie Nicholas Dawe from Chicoutimi for a ninth-round pick in 2015.
There are only 22 games left of the Islanders’ season and MacKinnon said the team is aiming to have home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
“That’s a huge stepping stone for the way we want to go. We’re just focused on the hockey we have to play right now.”
As for Dwyer, the team looks to improve every day as the season end nears.
“We believe in the guys in our dressing room and we believe in the process. It’s about continuing to develop and get better on a daily basis and that’s our focus on the second half.”
