MONCTON, N.B. —
P.E.I. players make huge contributions to their teams Friday
MONCTON, N.B. – It was a big night for the Charlottetown Islanders and Prince Edward Island players in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Friday.
The Islanders scored four unanswered goals to erase a two-goal deficit en route to a season-opening victory over the Moncton Wildcats while Rouyn-Noranda Huskies forward Donovan Arsenault of Richmond, Saint John Sea Dogs defenceman Charlie DesRoches of Days Corner and Acadie-Bathurst Titan goaltender Chad Arsenault of St-Raphael and defencemen Zach Biggar of Portage and Cole Larkin of Mermaid all made contributions to their respective teams.
Islanders 4 Wildcats 2
In Moncton, N.B., the Wildcats, who jumped out to a 2-0 lead, took a 2-1 advantage into the dressing room after 20 minutes and the teams went into the second intermission tied 2-2.
Charlottetown native Thomas Casey (2) and Lukas Cormier (1-1), who scored the game-winning goal unassisted at 13:16 of the third period, led the Islanders. Keiran Gallant of Covehead also scored for Charlottetown while Cedric Desruisseaux, Felix Tremblay, Zachary Bernard and Brett Budgell added assists.
Vincent Labelle scored both goals for the Wildcats. Former Summerside Western Capitals defenceman Jordan Spence of Cornwall contributed an assist for Moncton.
Winning goaltender Colten Ellis stopped 20 of 22 shots while former Islander Dakota Lund-Cornish gave up four goals on 28 shots for Moncton.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Lukas Cormier (Islanders), 2. Vincent Labelle (Wildcats), 3. Thomas Casey (Islanders).
Titan
In Bathurst, N.B., it was a day to remember for Chad Arsenault.
The 18-year-old goaltender’s QMJHL rights were traded from the Islanders to the Titan in the morning. He then won his first regular-season start in the Q that evening, making 33 saves in the Titan’s 4-3 overtime decision over the Sea Dogs.
Larkin was also a key contributor, assisting on Riley Kidney’s game-winning goal with 15 seconds remaining in overtime.
Biggar earned his first QMJHL point – an assist – for the Titan while DesRoches contributed an assist. DesRoches has been appointed an assistant captain in his second season with the Sea Dogs.
Donovan Arsenault
In Rouyn-Noranda, Donovan Arsenault scored his first career goal in the QMJHL in the Huskies’ 5-3 loss to the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
Arsenault’s unassisted effort at 16:59 of the second period tied the game 2-2.
Arsenault was named the game’s third star.
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