QMJHL Charlottetown Islanders

Gursoy and Johnston Make Immediate Impact in Return, Isles Defeat Cataractes

Published on March 1, 2019 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Charlottetown Islanders News Release


Health has been a concern as of late for the Charlottetown Islanders. The team has been dealing with a number of injuries to key forwards over the past few weeks, and still aren't at full strength on the ice.

The injury struggles haven't deterred the Isles though heading down the stretch. Heading in to one of the most important stretches of hockey on the season, Charlottetown would kick off their final Quebec road trip of the season with a 3-1 victory over the Shawinigan Cataractes.

The Isles received good news this week when Drew Johnston and Kevin Gursoy were both deemed ready to return to the lineup following stints on the shelf with injuries. Johnston's return would pay immediate dividends; the 17 year-old would get Charlottetown on the board early, getting a pass down low from Zac Beauregard and burying it on Cataractes starter Justin Blanchette for his third goal of the season.

Shawinigan would tie the game before the end of the first period, however, thanks to Mavrick Bourque. The high-scoring 16 year-old would one-time a shot on net that would take a funny deflection in front and trickle between the legs of Matthew Welsh for his 20th goal of the season, good for first among all 2002-born players.

The second player returning from injury would get in on the action in the 2nd period to give the Islanders the lead. Kevin Gursoy, streakin down the right wing, would tip a Beauregard pass past Blanchette for his 15th goal of the season and a 2-1 lead for Charlottetown.

Brett Budgell would extend the lead in the third period, corraling a rebound off of a Patrick Leblanc shot and wiring it on goal just before the net came off it's moorings. For Budgell, that would be his 18th of the season, giving the Islanders a 3-1 lead.

The Isles would be in tough defensively for a big part of the third period, as Hunter Drew was assessed a 10-minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct. Despite being down a key part of their defense corps, the Isles would hold the two-goal lead, something they've had trouble with over the past month, and take a crucial two points.

Beauregard's two assists would be the first multi-point game of his career. Matthew Welsh was relatively uncontested, making 13 saves for the victory.

The Islanders will play their second game of this Quebec road trip tomorrow night in Blainville, as they look for revenge against the Armada for a loss just last week. Catch all of the action with George Matthews and Darcy Cudmore on Fair Isle Ford Isles Radio and Ocean 100's Saturday Night Hockey!

Check out the Charlottetown Islanders Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2019


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.

OurSports Central