CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The upcoming season provides an opportunity that only comes around every three seasons.
The Halifax Mooseheads will host the 2019 Memorial Cup, meaning two Quebec Major Junior Hockey League squads will be amongst the field of four to play for the Canadian Hockey League’s top trophy.
The Islanders made it to the third round for the second straight season and can return a large portion of its roster.
“It’s exciting to think we were that close with a big nucleus coming back, but (there’s) lots of work to be done,” head coach and general manager Jim Hulton said. “Lots can change and hockey is not about paper, it’s about (what happens on the) ice.”
Teams hosting the Memorial Cup traditionally load up and many pundits expect the Herd do just that. The Drummondville Voltigeurs are also rumored to be adding significant pieces to a lineup that added Joseph Veleno at Christmas time.
What other teams do won’t change the Isles plans.
“I don't think anybody is ready to anoint Halifax or Drummondville as a runaway leader. I think there’ll be a few of us that’ll be tailing them most of the year,” Hulton said.
“There’s four to six teams every year that can win (the President Cup) and this year was another perfect example,” he added. “Most years there can only be one guy at the top of the mountain, next year there’s going to be able to be two.”
