QMJHL Charlottetown Islanders

Dramatics Take Hold as Islanders Defeat Sea Dogs Late

Published on October 3, 2020 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Charlottetown Islanders News Release


Lukas Cormier is doing his part to ensure he leaves no doubt as he enters the 2020 NHL Draft.

In his last showing before he heads to the draft, Cormier posted another goal and three assists, while Cedric Desruisseaux added a hat trick and and assist of his own, as the Islander defeated the Saint John Sea Dogs 6-5 in dramatic fashion, securing all four points on the opening weekend of the season.

"We managed to recover from a difficult third period with a huge powerplay goal to survive a crazy game," said Islanders head coach Jim Hulton on the victory. "The weekend was highly successful and provided us with a glimpse of our potential. We have lots of areas to improve, but it's a great start nonetheless."

The Islanders got off to a hot start thanks to Desruisseaux. The over-age forward kicked off his big game on the powerplay in the first period; off a faceoff, the puck worked quickly to Desruisseaux and he wired a wrister top shelf on Saint John starter Creed Jones for his first goal of the season.

Patrick Leblanc kept the goal scoring going before the period ended; the 18-year-old forward corralled a puck behind the net and threw it out front. The puck took a bounce off a Sea Dogs defender and got behind Jones, giving Leblanc his first goal of the season.

The Isles extended their lead in the second thanks to Cormier. The defender from Ste-Marie-de-Kent, New Brunswick took advantage of another powerplay, getting a shot off from the point that beat Jones cleanly. For Cormier, that would be his second goal of the season just two games in, and gave the Isles a 3-0 lead.

Desruisseaux would extend the lead before the end of the period; the speedy winger would streak down the wing and go backhand, handcuffing Jones for his second goal on the night.

Never out of it, the Sea Dogs would push back in the third period. Down 4-1, Saint John would rattle off three unanswered goals in the final stanza to tie the game up, capped off by Josh Lawrence's first goal of the season and third point of the night, a wrist shot from the high slot that beat a screened Colten Ellis cleanly.

Fortunately for the Isles, the Sea Dogs weren't done with their powerplay trouble. Charles Savoie would get caught on a slashing call with just under three minutes left to play, leading to another Islanders powerplay. The captain would take advantage; Thomas Casey would throw a pass on goal that Brett Budgell got a stick on and put past Jones, giving Budgell his first goal of the season and the Isles a 5-4 lead.

Desruisseaux would nab the hat trick with an empty netter, and despite a late Jeremie Poirier goal, the Isles would hold on to sweep Opening Weekend.

Colten Ellis would make 32 saves for the victory, while Jones made 29 saves in defeat. Oscar Plandowski would finish with two assists while Budgell also had a multi-point effort. Zac Beauregard would also add a single assist, his second in as many games.

The Islanders are back in action next weekend when they meet the Cape Breton Eagles in back-to-back games at Centre 200 starting Friday, October 9th at 7:00pm. Catch all the action on Fair Isle Ford Isles Radio and Ocean 100!

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2020


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