Baie-Comeau Beats the Isles in a Physical Battle 5-2
October 6, 2023 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Charlottetown Islanders News Release
The Isles dropped to 3-3-0-0, losing their first of the road trip 5-2 against the first place Drakkar.
Charlottetown was able to keep up with the intense speed and physicality of Baie-Comeau, but the Drakkar were able to run away with the game in the third period.
Carter Bickle tended the goal for the third time this season, stopping 27 of 32 shots in the loss.
The Drakkar were quick to the puck to start the game, using their strength and skill to keep the Isles from playing the puck early on.
Marcus Kearsey tried a no-look pass in front of Bickle, but the Drakkar forward couldn't calm the puck down and the Isles got away with the mistake.
Former Islander, Justin Gill, picked up a loose puck in front of Bickle, but he got his shoulder up enough to send the puck over the net.
Isles captain Michael Horth had a grade-A opportunity with a shot from the slot on Drakkar netminder Olivier Ciarlo, but he stuck with it and turned the shot away.
Both goaltenders looked sharp throughout the first period with both of them stopping all six shots in the frame.
Lucas Romeo, Cole Huckins, and Kyle Powers all had big hits in the period, setting the tone early for a physical game.
The Isles were quick to stop a Drakkar rush less than a minute into the second period and it sent Huckins the other way, ripping a shot glove side on Ciarlo, but just missed wide.
Alexis Michaud had an opportunity all alone not long after Huckins had his chance, but Ciarlo stayed strong.
Just over two minutes into the frame, they went to four-on-four hockey after penalties were given out behind the play.
The Drakkar opened the scoring just under five minutes into the second. Julien Lanthier shot a loose puck off of a whiffed shot in front of the goal, beating Bickle close to the post.
The Isles then took their first penalty of the game not long after the goal, but were able to kill it off.
Just as their penalty expired, they went on the power play as Kearsey drew a hooking call, but they didn't record a shot on the man-advantage.
Bickle then made a sprawling save, stopping Gill once again.
He had to stay strong as right after, Drakkar defenseman Niks Fenenko danced around the Isles defense, but Bickle closed the door.
The puck went back the other way and Marcus Kearsey sent the puck to the net with a no-look between the leg shot. It went off Giovanni Morneau's skate, off of Ciarlo's pad, right to the captain who added his sixth goal of the season, tying the game at one goal apiece.
The period would end with the score tied 1-1, with the Drakkar outshooting the Islanders 19-12.
One minute into the third period, Huckins would be sent to the box for not wearing his neck guard while on the ice.
On the penalty kill, Bickle made another big-time stop with his blocker, but just after, Michaud and Ross Campbell got mixed up, leaving Raoul Boilard wide open for the shot. He didn't take the chance for granted, burying the shot from near the blue line, giving back the lead to the Drakkar.
The Drakkar kept up the pressure as Justin Poirier fed a pass to Jabez Seymour who made a fancy little move in tight on Bickle then burying the puck, doubling the lead.
Marcus Kearsey would then take a high sticking penalty, and on the penalty kill the legs stopped moving. Fenenko then scored his first of the season, getting his revenge on Bickle for shutting the door on him earlier in the game.
The Islanders' fourth line got to work, getting the puck in the offensive end. The call-up, Alexis Jacques then scored from the blueline, marking his first wearing the black and gold, bringing the game back within two.
But it was too little too late as Fenenko scored his second of the game putting it in the back of the empty Islanders net.
Charlottetown dropped the contest against Baie-Comeau 5-2. The Drakkar doubled up on the Islanders shots 32 to 16.
The Isles will look to add a win tomorrow as they roll into Chicoutimi. Puck drop at the Centre Georges-Vézina is at 5:00 p.m.
Tune into the game by listening to MAX 93.1FM.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from October 6, 2023
- Baie-Comeau Beats the Isles in a Physical Battle 5-2 - Charlottetown Islanders
- Moose Rally for Fourth Consecutive Win - Halifax Mooseheads
- Eagles Top Armada 5-3 for First Home Ice Win of New Season - Cape Breton Eagles
- Scholastic Players for the Month of September 2023 Named - QMJHL
- Weekend Set against Baie-Comeau and Chicoutimi Gets Underway Tonight - Charlottetown Islanders
- Armada Make Lone Visit to Centre 200 on Friday Funday - Cape Breton Eagles
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
