CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – A look at three players for each team who could be difference makers during the Charlottetown Islanders-Quebec Remparts first round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs:
Quebec
1. Matthew Boucher led the Remparts in regular season scoring with 69 points (31 goals and 38 assists) in 66 games. The overage forward is the son of Remparts head coach and general manager Philippe Boucher, who played 748 NHL games as a defenceman with Buffalo, Los Angeles, Dallas and Pittsburgh. “If there’s an inspirational or emotional leader, I think, it’s Matthew Boucher,” Islanders head coach Jim Hulton said. “You’re probably not going to completely shut him down, but you’re going to make sure you can minimize his impact on the game.”
2. Antoine Samuel will be a familiar name for Islanders fans. He played against the Isles in last year’s first-round playoff series as a member of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. The overage goalie went 15-7 with a 2.29 goals-against average after being acquired during the trade period by the Remparts.
3. Pascal Laberge was acquired during the trade period from the Victoriaville Tigres. He was a second-round pick (36th overall) of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2016 and was the second overall selection in the 2014 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft. The six-foot-one, 183-pound centre had 27 points in 33 games for the Remparts after recording 20 points in 31 games for the Tigres.
Charlottetown
1. Pascal Aquin is an overage forward who caught the Islanders attention for the way he played for the Shawinigan Cataractes during its 2016 playoff series against Charlottetown.
He has to play the delicate balance of being a physical force without crossing the line. He is a committed leader who wants to go on a deep playoff run to end his major junior career.
2. Pierre-Olivier (P.O.) Joseph was a first-round pick in the NHL for a reason. He’s a mobile defenceman who can skate the puck out of trouble and lead his team. Expect to see Guy Girouard, who handles the Isles defence corps, call on Joseph and his D partner, Saku Vesterinen, a lot in key situations.
3. Brett Budgell is a rookie based on his birth certificate, but he’s met every test the team has given him this season. He scored 10 goals and had 22 points in 32 games and played some of his best games against the league’s best teams. He appears to be cool under pressure and a guy who enjoys the big moments.
Did you know? Marc-Olivier Alain, a defenceman the Charlottetown Islanders drafted in the first round (18th overall) of the 2016 draft at the Eastlink Centre, is a member of the Remparts. He was traded to Gatineau in December 2016 as part of the package that landed the Isles Nicolas Meloche, Jean-Sebastien Taillefer and Mark Grametbauer. Quebec acquired him in August 2017. He didn't register a point in 21 games this season with the Remparts.
