CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Cam Askew went from a team in the basement to one of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s most surprising teams and he couldn’t be happier.
“It’s definitely exciting to get traded and move up the standings to a team that’s going to be in the playoffs and have a long run,” he said Wednesday after his first practice with the Charlottetown Islanders. “When I found out the news I was pretty excited to come back east.”
The Islanders (22-12-2-0) acquired the overage forward from the Shawinigan Cataractes (11-26-1-0) with the deal being announced on Tuesday. The former Moncton Wildcat power forward flew east and arrived in town on Tuesday.
“It was definitely good to get the first practice out of the way,” Askew said. “The guys made me feel welcome right away and (I’m) happy to be here.”
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While the lines will likely be juggled a bit during the next few games to see what chemistry develops, Askew skated with veterans Pascal Aquin and Keith Getson on Day 1.
“I think we had chemistry right away,” Askew said. “They’re two great players and I know from playing against them for three or four years that they work hard and they’re great players. I’m definitely excited to play with them.”
He won’t have to wait long to get into his first game as the Islanders host the Rimouski Oceanic Thursday night at 7 p.m. Askew admitted there might be a bit of nerves early in his first game, but nothing he hasn’t already experienced.
“I’ve been traded before, so I am just going to try and come in and play my game,” the six-foot-three, 212-pound Boston native said. “I like to use my size to my advantage. I also like to be reliable defensively, shoot the puck and just try to make the players around me better.”
The trade east also means Askew will get a chance to play his former club more often. The Isles host the Wildcats on Sunday before travelling to the Hub City on Sunday, Jan. 14.
“It’s definitely going to be weird,” Askew admitted after being on the opposite side of the rivalry. “I haven’t played in Moncton since I got traded from there. . . We had some crazy games when I was in Moncton.”
Notes – Isles defenceman Hunter Drew will serve a one-game suspension Thursday night for a staged fight with Acadie-Bathurst’s Jeffrey Truchon-Viel on New Year’s Eve. . . Defenceman Taylor Egan (shoulder) is out for this weekend. . . The team will recall Zac Arsenault from the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild major midget team.
