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QMJHL Charlottetown Islanders

Laaouan Plays the Hero, Ellis Stands Tall as Isles Win 13th Straight

March 27, 2021 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Charlottetown Islanders News Release


It's not very often that Colten Ellis has to be on the ball, usually able to rely on a bevy of offense from his teammates in front of him.

On Saturday night, however, the St. Louis Blues prospect was tested often and answered the calll. Ellis made 29 saves to help guide his team to their 13th straight victory. Noah Laaouan would score with 13 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Charlottetown Islanders a 3-2 overtime victory over the Halifax Mooseheads.

"It was awesome to get that big goal and hear everyone cheer loud, it brought lots of excitement to our bench," said Laaouan on the final seconds of the game. "It was a tight game, so it was good for us to get a win like that."

Ellis played the same style of hockey throughout this game that fans have grown accustomed to seeing: Consistent, calm play between the pipes. His close friend says it's the reason he's drafted and has signed a pro contract.

"I personally think he's the best goalie in the league... It's awesome to have such steady goaltending back there." Laaouan added.

Special teams has long been an advantage for the Isles this season and tonight was no exception. Charlottetown would put their league-best powerplay to work late in the first period and add to their powerplay totals. Brett Budgell would make a deft move to toe drag around a Mooseheads defender and bury a hard wrister on Alexis Gravel for his 12th goal on the season, giving the Isles a 1-0 lead.

The Mooseheads would tie it before the end of the period, however; on a powerplay of their own, Jordan Dumais would outmuscle an Islanders defender, wrestling the puck back into possession and going upstairs on Ellis, tying the game with just minutes left in the first.

As the intensity picked up and the teams traded shots physically, the powerplay would strike once again for Charlottetown. This time it was Thomas Casey taking advantage; Laaouan would unload a one-timer that caught the post, but the rebound landed right on Casey's stick, and he'd make no mistake into the wide open cage for his 27th goal on the season.

The Isles looked to have things in hand and en route to the victory late in third period; however, a bad bounce changed all of that in a split second. Attempting to send the puck cross-ice on a 2-on-1, Bobby Orr's pass would carom off Laaouan's stick as the defender sprawled out to break up the rush. The puck would dribble between the legs of an unsuspecting Ellis, tying the game with just minutes to go in regulation.

Fortunately for Laaouan, he earned his retribution. Charlottetown pressed incredibly hard throughout the extra frame, and it took until the dying seconds before Bailey Peach found Laaouan with a perfect pass and the Halifax product would make no mistake, one-timing it past Gravel to send the home crowd home happy.

"It was an unlucky bounce, for sure, but in overtime Budgy was able to win a big faceoff and Peacher made a nice move to the net and found me wide open," Laaouan said on his final few minutes of play. "All I had to do was put it in a wide open cage; they made it pretty easy for me."

Budgell, Casey, and Laaouan each finished with a goal and an assist while Peach, Lukas Cormier, and Cedric Desruisseaux each added single helpers. For Desruisseaux, he extended his point streak to 17 games, just one game back of former PEI Rocket Vyacheslav Trukhno for the second-longest streak in franchise history.

There's little time for turnaround for Charlottetown as they welcome the Cape Breton Eagles to town tomorrow afternoon at 4:00pm. All five viewing partners across town will be carrying the action, while George Matthews and Cory Arsenault will have the call on Fair Isle Ford Isles Radio on YouTube!

Season Ticket Holders are reminded that their arrival time will be in accordance with the adjusted time; if you regularly enter the arena at 6:30, you will enter at 3:30 instead.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2021


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