CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Mitchell Balmas just keeps on scoring.
The Sydney, N.S., native hasn’t missed a beat this season as the former Charlottetown Islanders’ first-round pick transitions from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) to the Atlantic University Sport conference.
Balmas, who turns 22 on March 19, had a goal and an assist in Wednesday’s 4-2 win over Acadia and was tied with UNB’s Tyler Boland for the conference lead in points with 39 before Friday’s games.
“The jump is similar to midget to junior hockey. You’re playing against guys who are four and five years older than you. They’re obviously older, they’re bigger and they’re stronger,” the gracious Balmas said Tuesday. “I credit a lot to the veterans on the team who kind of helped me ease into the situation.”
After back-to-back 40-goal campaigns in the QMJHL, Balmas is averaging an assist per game.
“I think I am still playing the same way,” he said, noting he tries to produce as much offence as he can while being a reliable 200-foot player. “Both of my linemates right now – (Stephen) Johnson and (Anthony) Repaci – are lighting the lamp.”
Huskies head coach Trevor Stienburg called Balmas a gifted goal-scorer and playmaker who works hard and has complemented his veteran linemates.
“Let’s face it, he’s got a nose for the net,” the veteran bench boss said. “The kid loves hockey. He would stay at the rink all day.”
Balmas spent the first 2 ½ seasons of his junior career in Charlottetown before being traded to Gatineau in the Alex Dostie deal in 2017. After a year with the Olympiques, Balmas was acquired by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and won the Memorial Cup in his 19-year-old season. He finished his junior career with his hometown Cape Breton Eagles.
Islanders head coach and general manager Jim Hulton had to make the choice to include Balmas in the deal as the team loaded up for the first time in recent memory.
“That was a trade that you knew was going to come back and haunt you at some point,” he said.
Balmas had five goals and 10 points as the Eagles eliminated the Islanders in a six-game, first-round series in the 2019 playoffs.
Hulton said it was gratifying to see Balmas win a Memorial Cup, complete his junior journey in his hometown and to continue to prosper with the Huskies.
“Good things happen to good people, and Mitch is a fantastic person,” he said. “I still think there’s doors that are going to open for him at the pro level.”
There’s a lot of water under the bridge since Balmas’ Islanders days, but he said returning to the Island is still special.
“I spent 2 ½ years in Charlottetown and I loved every little bit of it,” he said. “The amount of friendships I made there, my billet family (Jeremy and Kellie Davies of Stratford) is there that I am still really close with. It’s always nice to come back over that bridge ... and just kind of reminisce about the good ol’ days in Charlottetown.”
By the numbers
A look at Mitchell Balmas' stastics in his five-year major junior career and first year of university hockey.
Statistics
Season GP G A Pts
2014-15 56 5 6 11
2015-16 67 20 14 34
2016-17 67 21 30 51
2017-18 68 42 30 72
2018-19 64 43 39 82
2019-20 25 14 25 39
Related links:
• Getson, Balmas teammates against with SMU Huskies
• Dobson, Balmas, LeCouffe part of Acadie-Bathurst’s championship-winning squad
