CORNWALL, P.E.I. — The Charlottetown Islanders have whittled down its roster with returnees joining the mix on Sunday.
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team released the following 13 players after Saturday’s game:
Goalies
• Nolan Boyd
• Isaak Pelletier
Defencemen
• Jack Tucker
• Dell Welton
• Zac Arsenault
• Matt McQuaid
Forwards
• Landon Clow
• Max Chisholm
• Alex Graham
• Curtis Fabbro
• Daniel Kline
• Nathan Kelly
• Sam Chabot
Head coach and general manager Jim Hulton credited the scouting staff.
“There was a lot of difficult decisions,” he said. “It’s not a fun day, but by the same token it’s nice to get down to a workable number.”
Pelletier, who played the second half of last season with the Islanders, was released while Boyd will go back to the Grand Falls Rapids and play for former Islanders’ assistant coach Brad MacKenzie.
“Nolan had a terrific camp. He was outstanding,” said Hulton, who noted the goalie position was its bright spot of camp.
Welton is going to report to Truro’s junior A camp while Arsenault was going to take some time to absorb the situation before making a decision. His junior A rights are owned by Miramichi.
Tucker, who the Islanders acquired for a fifth-round pick from Acadie-Bathurst during the off-season, has been made available for trade by Charlottetown.
The trade window closes Monday at 10 a.m.
“There is league interest in Jack, so we’re hoping something materializes before that,” Hulton said of the 19-year-old blue-liner. “If not, he becomes subject to obligatory waivers next week.”
Moving forward to the main camp are goalies Jacob Goobie and Chad Arsenault, defencemen Anthony Hamel, Oscar Plandowski and William Trudeau, plus forwards Keiran Gallant, Justin Gill, Gaetan Jobin and Patrick LeBlanc.
It will leave the Islanders with three goalies, seven defenceman and 15 forwards.
“We thought Hamel and Trudeau were ready to play,” Hulton said, noting his D is set for the regular season.
Hamel impressed the team a year ago, but club officials wanted to see if his skating improved and it did. Hulton said he is a stocky and strong blue-liner who has a physical presence.
Trudeau was acquired in the deal that sent Pierre-Olivier (P.O.) Joseph to Drummondville. Hulton said the team’s scouts really liked him but he and assistant general manager Guy Girouard were getting their first in-person views of him during the past couple of weeks.
“I was really impressed with his poise and his positional play throughout the camp,” Hulton said.
Up front, Jobin was a lock while Gill and LeBlanc were both high draft picks that many suspected would be in the mix for main camp. Less was known about where Gallant, a 13th-round pick in 2018, fit in.
The 17-year-old Covehead native, who played for the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild a year ago, showed his speed and tenacity and was involved in the play.
“He drove the engine on a lot of plays throughout camp and deserves to be here,” Hulton said.
Gallant, listed as five-foot-eight, 143 pounds, didn’t back down and got his nose plenty dirty in the pre-season play.
“He doesn't really care about his size, he’s a competitor,” Hulton said. “He just battles and gives you everything he has a on shift-to-shift basis.”
The Islanders have 25 players in camp and will have to make a couple of decisions before setting its roster. One will be the third overage player with Kevin Gursoy and Will Sirman the two options in camp. The team has already committed to goalie Matthew Welsh and defenceman Brendon Clavelle for the other two overage spots.
Hulton said they could carry 23 players this year, but noted the final number would be determined based on the play in camp.
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