QMJHL Charlottetown Islanders

Isles Snap Three-Game Skid with a 4-3 Win over Val-d'or

Published on November 4, 2023 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Charlottetown Islanders News Release


The Isles hold on for a 4-3 win in Val-d'or, snapping their three game losing streak.

Aksels Ozols was credited for the win, This was his ninth start of the season. It was his second day in a row tending the goal for the Isles as he relieved Carter Bickle last night in Rouyn-Noranda.

Charlottetown came out of the gates flying as they outshot the Foreurs 7-3 in the first 10 minutes of the game.

12 and a half minutes into the first period, Val-d'or defenseman Antoine Lagacé sent the Isles to the power play and Michael Horth capitalized. The captain buried his fifteenth goal of the season to open the scoring on the power play. Giovanni Morneau and Marcus Kearsey assisted on the marker on the man-advantage.

Four and a half minutes later, Kevin Walker tipped his first career QMJHL past Foreurs goaltender, Mathis Lussier. Anton Topilnyckyj shot the puck that was tipped and Kearsey added his second assist of the night.

After some good saves from Ozols, the Isles would take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. They were leading in shots 11-8.

Alexis Jacques opened the second period with a bang with ripping it on goal, deflecting the puck off of Lussier's glove into the back of the net, extending the lead to three goals. Ross Campbell had a helper.

Then three minutes later, upon returning to the ice with a stitches and a face mask, Giovanni Morneau scored his fifth goal of the season adding another insurance goal and putting the Isles up 4-0. Horth added his second point of the game on the goal with an assist.

That goal would prompt the Foreurs to pull goaltender Lussier. Émile Beaunoyer came in to finish the game in goal for Val-d'or.

That signified a switch in momentum. Val-d'or started pressuring Charlottetown in their defensive end.

They eventually broke the Ozols shutout as Tomas Cibulka danced around the defense to bury the puck into an empty net for Val-d'or's first goal of the game.

Not even two minutes later, the Isles' lead was cut in half. Charles-Antoine Pilote shot it from the blue line and it got through Ozols to bring the score to 4-2.

That's how it would stay leading into the third period.

Carl-Etienne Michel and Fredéric Potvin each received roughing penalties at the end of the second period, causing 4-on-4 play to open the third frame.

The Foreurs took the lead in shots 19-17.

Just 30 seconds into the period, Val-d'or forward, Alexander Gaudio, took a slashing penalty, sending the Isles to a 4-on-3 power play. Despite chances, Beaunoyer kept the door shut and the momentum began to swing back the other way.

Just over the half-way mark of the period, Alexandre Guy would score his eighth goal of the season to make it just a one-goal game.

The Foreurs kept pushing. Cole Huckins responded with an exceptional effort on the forecheck.

As the clock was winding down, Beaunoyer was pulled. The Islanders didn't let much in their end.

They were able to hang on for the 4-3 win.

Michael Horth was awarded first star for his two-point performance. He still leads the league with 15 goals.

Ozols turned aside 24 of 27 shots faced, while Beaunoyer stopped all seven shots he faced since relieving Lussier in the second period.

The Islanders return to the ice next on Friday, Nov. 10 at the Avenir Centre in Moncton to take on the Wildcats. Their season series is tied up at one game apiece. Puck drop will be at 7 p.m.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2023


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