CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – A pair of Charlottetown Islanders have been there before.
Olivier Desjardins and Cam Askew, the oldest players on the team, have played in a combined three Game 7s during their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League career.
They are 2-1 so far and look to win another tonight when they play the Quebec Remparts in Quebec City at 8 p.m. Atlantic.
“They’re different because it’s do-or-die for both teams,” Desjardins said after arriving at the Videotron Centre this morning. “It’s the (team) that never gives up and works the hardest that’s going to win the game. It’s not going to be an easy one.”
Askew said Game 7s are exciting.
“It definitely has higher stakes than a normal game,” the forward from Boston said. “I’m sure there’ll be some nerves just before tonight, but it’s just a hockey game. We have to go out and play like we know how to play and I think we should be OK.”
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Desjardins, a defenceman from Drummondville, Que., played in Game 7 versus the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in Round 2 of the 2015 playoffs. His Val-d’Or Foruers won 4-3 in overtime on former Islanders forward Alexis Pépin’s series-winning goal. The Drakkar had won the first three games before the Foreurs won four straight to claim the series win.
Desjardins was part of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan last season that lost 7-1 in Game 7 to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the second round. The Titan had led the series 3-1. The Armada then defeated the Islanders to advance to the final.
“I think it helps a bit, knowing that I’ve been through a Game 7 before,” Desjardins said. “I can help the younger guys and guys that haven’t been through one before and just try to lead the way.”
Askew was part of the Moncton Wildcats team that defeated the Halifax Mooseheads in Round 2 of the 2015 playoffs. Halifax won the first two games before Moncton won three straight to take a 3-2 series lead. Halifax won Game 6 on home ice to send the series back to the Moncton Coliseum.
Ivan Barbashev gave Moncton a 1-0 lead in the first and Askew scored to make it 2-0 four minutes into the second after taking a pass from Conor Garland, who was behind the net.
“It was kind of lucky goal, honestly,” Askew recalled. “A big goal and I’m happy it went in.”
Stratford’s Zack MacEwen scored to make it 3-1 for the Wildcats who won the game 6-3.
Askew and Desjardins said it’s business as usual around the Islanders dressing room today.
“Everyone is laughing, joking around having a good time, listening to music,” Askew said. “No one is changing their routine.”
Desjardins and Askew said the Islanders want to continue to get a lot of shots and traffic in front of Quebec goalie Antoine Samuel.
“Stick to our game plan and everything is going to be alright,” Desjardins said. “We know we can beat them if we work hard and do everything we have to do.”
