Preview: October 27 vs. Chicoutimi
October 27, 2022 – Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) – Charlottetown Islanders News Release
Sometimes, the remedy for a tough stretch is bonding on the road. The Charlottetown Islanders will hope that’s the case this week.
The Islanders have made their first venture into Quebec in the 2022-2023 season, beginning a three-game weekend with an 8:30pm matchup tonight against the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.
Charlottetown (4-5-1-0) didn’t have the smoothest sail this past weekend, losing three straight games including a 4-0 loss in their most recent game to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Despite the loss, there were plenty of positive takeaways, most notably a strong performance by rookie netminder Jack Flanagan in his first taste of QMJHL regular season action. The 17-year-old made 24 saves on 28 shots, including 15 categorized by the league as Dangerous Shots. Flanagan will surely have an opportunity to build on the lessons learned against the Huskies at some point this weekend.
On the injury front, it remains to be seen whether the infirmary bay has cleared up at all for Charlottetown. Last weekend the likes of Jeremie Biakabutuka, Jacob Squires, and Will Allen all sat out on Sunday due to injury. Biakabutuka, to his credit, took reps in a warmup against the Huskies before it was ultimately deemed best that he sit out. It’s safe to expect him back on the ice this weekend.
Meanwhile, Chicoutimi (5-8-0-0) are starting to heat up after a slow start to the season. The Sagueneens have won two straight games, including a 4-3 victory over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar just last night. Chicoutimi rattled off three straight goals in the second period to pull ahead and never looked back.
Chicoutimi is one of the younger teams in the QMJHL, led by the 3rd overall pick in this past QMJHL Draft, Maxim Massé. The impressive 16-year-old has already racked up 13 points in 13 games to start the season, including a goal and an assist just last night.
It was hopeful that the Islanders would see a familiar face tonight in the form of Zachary Roy. The 20-year-old forward was traded to Chicoutimi this past offseason in exchange for Will Allen and a 6th round draft pick; however, Roy has been dealing with an injury that has kept him out of the lineup all season long. Roy, along with forward Emmanuel Vermette, represents two players who sat out injured last night for the Sagueneens against the Drakkar.
Catch all the action in tonight’s game live on Max 93.1 with George Matthews and Cory Arsenault! The game preview will start at 8:15pm featuring an interview with Islanders head coach Jim Hulton!
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