Isles Hit the Road with a Three Game Set Through Québec
November 30, 2023 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Charlottetown Islanders News Release
The Islanders hit the road for a three-game set through Québec with stops in Sherbrooke, Shawinigan and Québec City.
First, they take on the Phoenix in Sherbrooke. The Isles haven't bested Sherbrooke in five years outside of the playoffs, losing their last six regular season games to them.
Charlottetown is riding a five-game losing streak, most recently dropping their season finale against the Val-d'Or Foreurs 3-2 in overtime.
The Phoenix have a losing streak of their own. It stands at four games, most recently losing to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 3-2 in overtime.
Carter Bickle will start in Sherbrooke. He's looking to bounce back from his performance against Baie-Comeau where Aksels Ozols relieved him.
Puck drop at the Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet is at 7 p.m. EST and 8 p.m. AST.
Then, on Friday Dec. 1, the Isles roll into Shawinigan to take on the Cataractes who are on a four game losing streak as well.
Shawinigan has a record of 8-14-2-0 and are sitting in seventh place in the Western Conference.
Before the Islanders arrive, the Cataractes have a matchup with the Victoriaville Tigres.
Ozols will get the nod against Shawinigan. He has lost four straight but will be hungry to come out with a win.
Sam Bowness is also expected to return to the lineup against the Cataractes. He had missed significant time due to concussions.
Once again, puck drop at the Centre Gervais Auto will be at 7 p.m. EST and 8 p.m. AST.
Then, the road-trip finale will be in Québec City as the Islanders will take on the reigning Memorial Cup Champions, the Québec Remparts.
The Remparts, who sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, are posting a record of 10-15-0-0.
Québec has won five out of the last six matchups with Charlottetown over the course of the last five years.
This one starts three hours earlier as puck drop at the Centre Vidéotron is at 4 p.m. EST and 5 p.m. AST.
Keys to victory
Recently, the Isles have been taking unnecessary penalties. It was their downfall against Val-d'Or and they got lucky while playing Baie-Comeau taking seven penalties, but their penalty kill unit was perfect in the loss.
Charlottetown's special teams have been lackluster and head coach Jim Hulton called them out for it. The Isles have gone just 1/7 on the man-advantage in their last two games and they allowed two power play goals against Val-d'Or and it's simply not good enough. They will have to get better in order to snap their losing streak.
Players to watch
CHA - Simon Hughes is coming off of a two-point performance against the Foreurs. With him being on arguably the Islanders' most noticeable line with Cole Huckins and Kyle Powers, he is going to be given every opportunity to get a point streak going.
Owen Conrad's rookie campaign has been special. With 12 points in his first 16 games in the black and gold, he is on pace for 51 points over a full 68 game season. Conrad will look to continue his stellar rookie season.
Import draftee Ondrej Maruna started his season strong with eight points in his first nine games, but recently he has struggled to find the scoresheet. Maruna's 6'4" frame should be able to help him get back on the scoreboard.
SHE - Andrew Belchamber has three goals, four points in his last four games. He's on a two game goal-streak as well. The Isles defense can't give Belchamber any room because when the hot-hand shoots, chances are it'll go in.
SHA - Since being traded from the Rimouski Océanic, Jan Sprynarhas an assist in each of his first two games. His sophomore season hasn't started the way he had hoped with just 13 points in his first 25 games, but so far it seems to be a good fit in Shawinigan. He will be hungry for his first goal with his new club.
QUE - Vsevolod Komarov has gone pointless in his last three games despite his hot start to the season. He had just five points in 10 games over the month of November as opposed to his point-per-game pace over 11 games in the month of October. He will be looking to start December hot against the Islanders.
Fans can tune into all three games at MAX 93.1FM.
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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 30, 2023
- Isles Hit the Road with a Three Game Set Through Québec - Charlottetown Islanders
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