CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Cédric Desruisseaux has accomplished something no other sniper in Charlottetown Islanders’ franchise history has ever achieved.
The 20-year-old Victoriaville, Que., native scored a goal in his 10th straight game in Saturday’s 6-4 win over the Moncton Wildcats. The previous record of seven was shared by Benjamin Casavant (2008-09) and Filip Chlapik (2016-17). Five other players are tied for fourth with six straight games with a goal.
“That’s an honour,” Desruisseaux said after Saturday’s victory. “There’s … a lot of good players who (have played here). … All the credit goes to my teammates. They are doing a huge part – beautiful passes make it easy for me.”
Record book
A look at the Charlottetown Islanders’ all-time leaders in consecutive games with a goal. Record goes back to franchise’s beginning in Montreal in 1999.
Player Season Record
1. Cédric Desruisseaux 2020-21 10*
2. Benjamin Casavant 2008-09 7
2. Filip Chlapik 2016-17 7
4. Alain O’Driscoll 1999-00 6
4. Cory Urquhart 2002-03 6
4. Michaël Lambert 2003-04 6
4. Greg O’Brien 2005-06 6
4. Daniel Sprong 2014-15 6
4. Daniel Sprong 2016-17 6
* Denotes ongoing record
Desruisseaux, a five-foot-eight, 166-pound left-winger, leads the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in goals (14) and is tied for the points lead (21) with Cape Breton’s Shawn Element.
Islanders’ head coach and general manager Jim Hulton summed up the overager’s start to the season with one word – unbelievable.
“There’s hot and then there’s inferno hot and I think he definitely falls into that category,” he said. “He consistently, night in and night out, gets quality looks, gets high quality shots and he’s burying them right now.”
Desruisseaux, who tallied twice Saturday, has 14 goals in 11 games. He didn’t score in the Isles’ first game of the season but had an assist. He has scored in every game since as the first-place Islanders have started the season 9-2-0-0.
Desruisseaux is finding the back of the net on 25 per cent of his 57 shots.
He has as many goals in 11 games this season as he did in 56 contests a year ago. Desruisseaux said he got looking ahead a year ago.
“This year, I am just focusing on game per game. It’s … way easier. I don’t see like a big hill.”
His career high is 24 goals scored in 2017-18.
