QMJHL Charlottetown Islanders

Islanders Lock Horns with Sea Dogs in First of Back-To-Back Series

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


With things beginning to heat up in the QMJHL's Eastern Conference standings, the Charlottetown Islanders and Saint John Sea Dogs battle in a pair of back-to-back games with standings implications in the Maritime Division.

The Islanders (21-13-5-0) are currently in the thick of things in the top half of the Eastern Conference standings, sitting third overall; however, they've played more games than any of the teams surrounding them in the standings. They're coming off the final stretch of games in 2019 that saw them take 3 out of a possible 6 points, having lost 4-0 to the Cape Breton Eagles on Tuesday afternoon. It was the third time the Isles have been shut out this season and only the eighth time since the start of the 2017-2018 season.

Despite the goose egg on the scoresheet, Charlottetown's offense has been slowly coming along as of late, scoring three goals or more in four of their last seven games. The offense this past weekend came from Drew Elliott, who recorded four points in his first two games as an Islander.

One player who consistently found points last month was Brett Budgell. Now the team's leading point-scorer, Budgell recorded a six-game point streak in the month of December, and has 28 points on the season. The 18-year-old is well on his way to establishing a new career high in points after recording 33 in his sophomore season.

The Sea Dogs, meanwhile, have quickly ascended the Eastern Conference standings over the last stretch. At one point second-last in the conference, the Sea Dogs (19-18-1-0) have won 8 of their last 10 games and now sit sixth overall in the Eastern Conference, just four points back of the fifth place Cape Breton Eagles.

One of the catalysts offensively this season for Saint John has been 17-year-old forward Brady Burns. The Port Williams, Nova Scotia native has been on a tear since the start of November, consistently finding a way to get on the scoresheet. Burns was held pointless just three times since the start of November, and already has 21 goals and 39 points to this point of the season.

In goal, Zachary Bouthillier has taken his game to another level, along with the rest of his team. The 20-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick is coming off a 43 save shutout on Sunday afternoon, and posted a sterling .951 save percentage in four December games.

Don't forget that as always you can catch all the action on Fair Isle Ford Isles Radio with George Matthews and Cory Arsenault. Click HERE to catch the call at 7:00pm tonight!

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2020


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