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Charlottetown Islanders

Gravel Stands Tall Once Again as Mooseheads Defeat Islanders

December 11, 2019 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Charlottetown Islanders News Release


Alexis Gravel is starting to like playing in Charlottetown.

The Chicago Blackhawks prospect was lights out for a depleted Halifax Mooseheads roster, making 47 saves as he lead his Moose to a 4-1 defeat of the Charlottetown Islanders.

"He was fantastic, he was the main storyline tonight," said Islanders head coach Jim Hulton. "With 48 shots, we really couldn't fault our guys for not putting shots on net."

Hulton acknowledged that his team had sea legs of sorts, playing just a few days after a grueling Quebec road trip.

"These mid-week games after a Quebec road trip are a nightmare for everyone involved. I don't think our energy was at it's peak; there's no way it could be, our guys got off a bus at 7 o'clock Monday morning. I thought we battled admirably, and any other night we might be in the win column."

The Mooseheads got on the board first thanks to a broken play off a faceoff in the Isles end. Jeffrey Burridge pounced on a loose puck in the slot and beat a surprised Jacob Goobie, giving Burridge his fourth of the year and a 1-0 Mooseheads lead.

The Isles would answer with a goal of their own not long after; on the powerplay, Cedric Desruisseaux would find Brett Budgell with a beautiful pass on a 2-on-1 break. Budgell would wait out Gravel before sliding it in on the open side. For Budgell, that continues a solid month of December with points now in four of five games. The goal is Budgell's twelfth of the season.

A physical second period was what the Isles hoped would swing the tide in their favour; unfortunately, it would be the Mooseheads who'd take the lead. On a 4-on-4 situation, Zack Jones would capitalize on a turnover in the neutral zone. He'd make a quick move all alone on Goobie and tuck it underneath the sprawling netminder, giving Jones his 7th goal of the season.

The Islanders would push hard in the third to get the game knotted up, but the Mooseheads would take advantage of their limited opportunities. Maxim Trepanier would score twice in the final stanza, including the empty netter, and the Mooseheads would steal two points from the Islanders.

Goobie put forth a solid game, making 23 saves in defeat. Hulton was happy with his rookie netminder's performance in the game. Desruisseaux and Thomas Casey each tallied the assists on the lone Budgell goal.

The Isles will look for revenge on Friday night in Halifax before returning home for their final game before the Christmas break on Saturday, December 14th against the Cape Breton Eagles. It's an action-filled day with the Wawanesa Toy Drive; bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Eastlink Centre and you could win an autographed jersey and a trip to the 2020 Kia Memorial Cup! It's also Cyber Saturday; use promo code GOOBIE to receive 35% off your ticket! Tickets are available at the Eastlink Centre box office, by phone at 902-629-6625, or online.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2019


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