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Drakkar Hold the Fort at Home, Isles Drop First Game of Quebec Road Trip

December 7, 2019 - Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) - Charlottetown Islanders News Release

Quebec continues to haunt the Charlottetown Islanders this season.

16-year-old Ventsislav Shingarov would set the tone in his first career QMJHL start, making 24 saves for Baie-Comeau, while Christopher Merisier-Ortiz would add two goals, and the Isles would drop their sixth game in Quebec this season, a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Drakkar.

"As a team, we had the start we wanted but couldn't generate enough chances," said Islanders associate coach Guy Girouard. "Welsh gave us a chance and made several ten-bell saves, but it seemed that we were always second to pucks and battles."

The Islanders would draw first blood in the first period, and it would come off the stick of the team's hottest player. Thomas Casey would redirect a William Trudeau point shot past Shingarov for his 13th goal of the season, establishing a new career high in the process.

Charlottetown would hold that lead until midway through the second period when Baie-Comeau would battle back. In the midst of a relentless forecheck that often characterizes the Drakkar attack, Charles-Antoine Giguère would whack home a puck after multiple chances in front. For Giguère, that would be his fifth goal of the season.

Merisier-Ortiz would give the Drakkar the lead before the end of the second period. The 18-year-old leader on the point would fire a wrist shot from the blueline that would get through a pair of screens and past Matthew Welsh. The goal would give Merisier-Ortiz his fourth goal of the season and give the Drakkar a 2-1 lead heading in to the third period.

The Isles would push back in the third, but the Drakkar would play a suffocating style of defense that would wear down Charlottetown. Nathan Legaré would pounce on a rebound following a big save by Welsh for his 14th goal of the season, followed soon after by Merisier-Ortiz's second goal of the game, and the Drakkar would put the game on ice to add a much-needed victory after a rough November.

Welsh was no slouch in this game, making 33 saves in defeat, including a number of tough, high-quality saves. Kevin Gursoy and William Trudeau would add assists on the lone Isles goal; Gursoy is now tied with Nikita Alexandrov for the team lead with 23 points.

Girouard was quick to compliment that the Drakkar's tenaciousness on the puck throughout the game.

"Give Baie-Comeau credit, they come at with speed and are relentless on pucks." Girouard added.

The Islanders won't wait long for the next game of their Quebec road trip as they'll face their toughest task of the trip tomorrow at 5:00pm Atlantic against the nationally-ranked Chicoutimi Sagueneens. George Matthews and Norman Beck will have the call as always Ocean 100's Saturday Night Hockey!

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Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Stories from December 7, 2019


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