By Charles Reid
The Guardian
Wednesday was a good day for Travis McIsaac even before he laced up his skates for P.E.I. Rocket training camp.
Eric Lavigne, head coach of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team, revealed to the 20-year-old Uigg native he was team captain for 2010-11.
“It’s pretty exciting. Eric told me this morning,” McIsaac said Wednesday after Rocket practice. “It’s definitely a privilege.”
He’s one of four named to wear the Rocket letters. Assistants named Wednesday were defenceman Matthew Hobbs, 19, and forwards Jonathan Bonneau, 20, and newcomer Philippe Paradis, 19.
The quartet will be in pre-season action tonight versus the Saint John Sea Dogs (2-2) as the Rocket (2-1-0-1) plays its lone exhibition game at the Civic Centre. Start time is 7 p.m.
P.E.I. finishes its pre-season schedule on Saturday versus the Mooseheads in Halifax. Game time is 7 p.m.
But before then the squad will introduce its roster for this season on Friday at noon during the second annual P.E.I. Rocket Street Hockey Festival in downtown Charlottetown.
McIsaac replaces Jean-Philippe Mathieu, who was traded to Drummondville in the off-season, and joins Geoff Walker (second half of 2008) as the only Island-born captain on the Rocket.
And Lavigne was confident Wednesday the team's choices can lead to a strong team chemistry. Selection was a mix of player votes and organizational meetings.
“We think we have a very solid new captain. He’s really mature and has a (great) work ethic. He represents what we want from the team,” said Lavigne. “We’re comfortable with the group we have. Hobbs was an assistant last year, he's very mature. Bonneau brings a lot of energy and he’s good in the dressing room. Paradis has a lot of experience."
McIsaac helped Victoriaville to a fourth-overall 46-19-1-2 record last season and reach the President’s Cup semifinals. Paradis went to the league finals with Shawinigan in 2009.
So that experience is something the Rocket, which hasn’t passed the first round of the playoffs since 2004, can lean on.
Although don't expect anything fancy from the grounded McIsaac.
“Try not to change too much. You don’t have to make any Braveheart speeches,” he said. “Just be a guy that works hard every shift, one guys can look to.”
Evan Mosher (1-0) starts for the Rocket in goal tonight and should play the entire game. Defenceman Kevin Boyer (shoulder) is a game-time decision.
Hobbs leaves Sept. 7 for the Ottawa Senators rookie tournament in London, Ont., while Paradis (Chicago), defenceman Adam Polasek (Vancouver) and right-winger Andrej Nestrasil (Detroit) leave for pro camps Sept. 9.
P.E.I. opens the regular season Sept. 10 versus the Sea Dogs in Saint John. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
The Rocket opens at home Sept. 17 against the Moncton Wildcats. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
creid@theguardian.pe.ca
