Islanders select 15 players at 2014 QMJHL Draft

The Charlottetown Islanders selected 15 players during the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft in Sherbrooke, Que. today.

Among the 15 players drafted, 10 forwards, four defenceman and one goaltender were selected.

Here is a list of all picks:

RD	RK	Player	Pos.	DOB	H'T	W'T	Team/League	Hometown
1	7	Mitchell Balmas	F	3/19/1998	5'11	168	Cape Breton, NSMMHL	Sydney, NS
2	24	Samuel Guilbault	F	4/9/1998	5'10	180	Antoine-Girourard, QMAAA	Varennes, QC
2	34	Andrew Smith	D	3/18/1998	6'6	184	St-Eustache, QMAAA	Blainville, QC
3	48	Keith Getson	F	3/29/1998	5'11	178	South Shore, NSMMHL	Yarmouth, NS
3	55	Luke House	G	10/30/1998	6'2	165	Western, NLMMHL	Corner Brook, NL
4	63	Anthony Wojcik	F	5/29/1998	5'11	181	Charles-Lemoyne, QMAAA	Greenfield Park, QC
4	73	Frank Sullivan	D	2/29/1996	6'0	187	Wesminster Prep, USHS	Fairfield, CT
5	84	Lucas Sangster	D	4/11/1997	6'3	217	Weeks, NSMMHL	Amherst, NS
6	97	Ryan Brushett	F	6/14/1998	5'11	168	Lac St-Louis, QMAAA	Verdun, QC
8	140	Mathieu Jones	F	6/26/1998	5'11	164	Gatineau, QMAAA	Gatineau, QC
10	169	Hunter Luhmann	F	5/2/1997	5'11	197	Proctor Academy, USHS	New London, NH
11	187	David Comeau	D	2/25/1997	6'1	190	Fredericton, NBPEIMMHL	Fredericton, NB
12	205	Andrew Dumaresque	F	2/25/1997	5'11	175	Cole Harbour, NSMMHL	Bedford, NS
13	223	Brady Griffin-Hefford	F	8/2/1997	6'3	191	Western, NLMMHL	Corner Brook, NL
14	241	Ace Cowans	F	9/18/1996	5'7	145	Groton School, USHS	Beverly, MA

Eric Brassard dealt to Quebec Remparts

The Charlottetown Islanders traded goaltender Eric Brassard to the Quebec Remparts for the 55th overall pick the third round.

Brassard, 19, posted a 7-21 record with the Islanders posting a 3.56 goals against average and a 0.901 save percentage. He was a 2012 invite by Gatineau back in 2012.

With the 55th overall selection, the Islanders selected goalie Luke House of the Western Kings of the Newfoundland Major Midget Hockey League.

Islanders select Balmas with seventh overall pick

Mitchell Balmas. Chronicle Herald photo.

With the seventh overall pick, the Charlottetown Islanders selected forward Mitchell Balmas of the Cape Breton Tradesmen of the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League.

Balmas was ranked 11th overall in the final Central Scouting rankings. The five-foot-11, 168-pound forward scored 19 goals and 46 points in 29 games with the Tradesmen this past season.

“My dream was to play in the Q, now I’m one more step to get there,” said Balmas in an on-TV interview with MATV.

Balmas participated for Team Atlantic at the 2014 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge in Sydney, N.S. collecting two assists in five games. 

After his major midget season ended, Balmas suited up in four games for the Strait Pirates of the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League in the Don Johnson Cup scoring four goals and eight points. 

The 16-year-old joins Daniel Sprong and Alexandre Goulet as first round picks selected by the Islanders.

Draft picks update

Here is an updated list of the picks the Charlottetown Islander have at tomorrow's draft in Sherbrooke, Que.

RD	PK	Original Team
1	7	CHI via GAT
2	24
2	34	BLB
3	48	ROU
4	63	CHI
4	73	RIM
5	84	ROU
6	97
8	140	GAT
10	169
11	187
12	205
13	223
14	241

Here is a complete listing of all picks by teams as of May 30, 3:15 p.m. Image courtesy of our friend Bryan Willett at Titan Nation.

OFFICIAL: Islanders land Summerside native MacKinnon from Oceanic

Ryan MacKinnon.

The Charlottetown Islanders have acquired 20-year-old defenceman Ryan MacKinnon from the Rimouski Oceanic.

In return, the Islanders send their 16th overall pick and a fifth-round pick in 2015 to Rimouski.

MacKinnon, a Summerside, P.E.I. native, was a fifth round pick in 2011 by the Oceanic. Last season the five-foot-11, 193-pound frame scored four goals and 22 points in 66 games last season. He has a career total of 10 goals and 57 points in 188 regular season games in three seasons. MacKinnon captained the Oceanic this past season.

MacKinnon will join the list as possibly 20-year-old candidates for next season's roster. Teams are only allowed to dress 20-year-old players per game.

The trade was made official today.

OFFICIAL: Islanders acquire Dexter Weber from Drummondville

Dexter Weber.

The Charlottetown Islanders have traded defenceman Kevin Laliberte to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in exchange for fellow defenceman Dexter Weber.

Weber, who turns 19 in December, was an invite of the Voltigeurs in 2012. In two seasons with the Voltigeurs, the Kitchener, Ont. native has scored four goals and 30 points in 116 games with a plus-six rating. Weber stands six feet and 185 pounds.

Laliberte, who turns 18 in June, was a second round pick of the Islanders in 2012 when they were known as the P.E.I. Rocket. This past season with the Islanders, the Bois-des-Filions, Que. native had 13 assists in 67 games with a minus-five rating.

The trade was made official today.

OFFICIAL: Islanders acquire Ross Johnston from Victoriaville

The Charlottetown Islanders have acquired forward Ross Johnston from the Victoriaville Tigres.

In return, the Islanders send a first-round pick in 2015 to the Tigres.

Johnston, a Charlottetown native, will join his third QMJHL team in four seasons and will return to the Maritimes Division.

He was originally selected by the Moncton Wildcats in the sixth round in 2011 and played two seasons with the Wildcats before playing for Victoriaville this past season.

The six-foot-five, 224-pound left-winger scored 10 goals and 25 goals in 60 games with Victoriaville. In 151 career QMJHL games, the 20-year-old has 24 goals and 59 points with a minus-13 rating.

The trade was made official today.

OFFICIAL: Islanders acquire Oliver Cooper from Saint John

The Charlottetown Islanders have acquired forward Oliver Cooper from the Saint John Sea Dogs.

In return, the Islanders end their 15th overall pick in this year's draft (originally belonging to Blainville-Boisbriand) and a first-round pick in 2016 to Saint John.

Cooper, who was drafted 19th overall in the second round by Saint John in 2011, led a young Sea Dogs team in scoring this past season with 28 goals and 57 points in 68 games.

The Fredericton, N.B. native was a member of the Sea Dogs when they won the President Cup in 2012.

The trade became official today.

BREAKING: Karabacek will remain in Gatineau

The Vaclav Karabacek saga is over for both the Charlottetown Islanders and Gatineau Olympiques.

It was reported earlier today that the Czech Republic native will not be going to the Charlottetown Islanders and will remain with the Gatineau Olympiques.

As compensation, the Islanders and Olympiques have swapped first-round picks. The Islanders receive Gatineau's seventh overall pick and Gatineau receives Charlottetown's 12th overall pick.

JF Plante tweeted the news earlier today.

Breaking. Vaclav Karabacek reste avec #olympiques. Gatineau flip son choix #7 de la 1re ronde pour le choix #12 de PEI 1re ronde. #ledroit
— jf plante (@jfplante_Droit) May 29, 2014

It was rumored the Islanders would receive Karabacek as compensation at the draft to complete a trade back on Jan. 7, 2013 which saw 17-year-old forward Alexis Pepin head to Gatineau for forward Curtis Scales and first-round picks in 2014 and 2015. The first-round pick in 2015 would be returned to Gatineau for Karabacek.

Several weeks ago, Plante reported a story of Gatineau General Manager Benoit Groulx not wanting to part ways with the 17-year-old European Import. A french article of the story can be read here. English readers can use Google Translate.

Handful of Islanders trades to be finalized tomorrow

Four Charlottetown Islanders trades will be finalized tomorrow when the 2014 QMJHL Draft trading period opens up.

The Islanders are set to acquire four players; two forwards and two defenceman.

Up front, the additions of Ross Johnston and Oliver Cooper will become official, and blue-line additions of Ryan MacKinnon and Dexter Weber.

Ross Johnston.

The Islanders are expected to send Victoriaville's first-round pick in 2015 back to the Tigres for 20-year-old Ross Johnston. The trade will finalize the trade back on Dec. 22, 2013 which sent forward Yan Pavel Laplante and defenceman Julien Leduc to Victoriaville for first-round picks in 2015 and 2016. Victoriaville's first-round pick in 2016 was returned on the last day of the Christmas trading period for defenceman Luc Deschenes.

Johnston, a Charlottetown native, had 10 goals and 25 points in 60 games with the Tigres this past season.

Secondly, Charlottetown is expected to send their 15th overall pick in the upcoming draft and a first-round pick in 2015 to the Saint John Sea Dogs for 19-year-old Oliver Cooper. The Fredericton, N.B. native was a second round pick, 19th overall, by the Sea Dogs in 2011. This past season, the six-foot-three, 203-pound left-winger led the Sea Dogs in scoring with 28 goals and 57 points in 68 games.

Ryan MacKinnon.

On the back-end, the Islanders are expected to acquire Summerside native Ryan MacKinnon from the Rimouski Oceanic. In return, the Oceanic receives first- and fifth-round picks. The year of the picks will be made official tomorrow.

MacKinnon, who turns 20 on Sept. 5, scored four goals and 22 points in 66 games with the Oceanic this past season. The five-foot-11, 193-pound defenceman captained the Oceanic.

Finally, the Islanders are expected to send defenceman Kevin Laliberte to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in-exchange for fellow defenceman Dexter Weber.

Weber, 18, of Kitchener, Ont. will play as a 19-year-old for the upcoming season. In 62 games with the Voltigeurs this past season, he scored two goals and 22 points with a plus-15 rating.

The draft takes place Saturday May 31 in Sherbrooke, Que. 

Charlottetown Islanders are one-year-old today

The re-branded Charlottetown Islanders are one-year-old today.

Back on May 27, 2013, the new ownership group unveiled the team's new name and new logo at a press conference. The P.E.I. Rocket name was finally put to rest. The jerseys were unveiled a few weeks later at the 2013 QMJHL Draft.

The next day, the Islanders hired Grant Sonier as the team's general manager and the future of the Islanders was underway.

Here are the Top 6 (yes, six) moments from the Charlottetown Islanders inaugural season.

1. Winning season home opener
What a way to start the 2013-2014 season. The re-branded Islanders began the season with a 5-2 home win over the defending Memorial Cup Champions Halifax Mooseheads on Friday Sept. 13, 2013 at Eastlink Centre.

Hometown boy Kameron Kielly had the game-winning goal on the power play at 14:52 of the third period. Darryl MacCallum, filling in for Bibeau and Eric Brassard who were at NHL camps, made 26 saves for his first and only QMJHL win.

2. Daniel Sprong and Alex Goulet
What a season for both Daniel Sprong and Alex Goulet. Sprong, who was 16 during the season, led the team in scoring with 30 goals and 68 points in 67 games. He was in fact the only 16-year-old in the entire CHL to score 30 goals.

Goulet, who played his rookie season at 17,  finished second in team scoring with 26 goals and 48 points in 66 games. He centered Sprong for a majority of the season.

Sprong was the Islanders’ 13th overall pick and Goulet was selected 19th overall in 2013.

3. 10-2-0-1 start, making CHL Top 10 rankings four weeks in a row
The Islanders were rolling to start the season. It looked like fans were finally in for a competitive season. Charlottetown cracked the CHL BMO Top 10 rankings four weeks in a row and the highest they were ranked was the No. 4 spot.

It was after this start when the Islanders found themselves in several multi-game losing streaks.

4. Islanders acquire Mason McDonald
Right after the Islanders traded starting goalie Antoine Bibeau to Val-d’Or for three picks during the Christmas trading period, the Islanders quickly went after Mason McDonald from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan for Rimouski’s first-round pick in 2014, and two fourth-round picks in 2014.

McDonald is a backbone for the Islanders moving forward. In 16 games with the Islanders, the now 18-year-old posted a 5-10 win-loss record with a 3.35 goals against average and a 0.907 save percentage.

The Halifax, N.S. native is the No. 2 ranked North American goalie for the upcoming NHL Draft and is the highest ranked CHL goalie.

McDonald is the man to get the job done for the Islanders.

5. Kameron Kielly acquired from Gatineau
Sonier's first big move came on Aug. 19, 2013 when he acquried Charlottetown native Kameron Kielly, fifth- and eighth-round picks in 2015 from the Gatineau Olympiques for Alexandre Chenier-Allard, a fourth-round pick in 2016 and a first-round pick in 2014.

Kielly, who had two goals and six points in 60 games during his rookie season, seemed like an overpayment at the time. Kielly was Gatineau's first round, 18th overall pick in 2012.

This past season, Kielly scored 10 goals and 31 points in 66 games.

6. David Henley acquired from Val-d’Or
On trade deadline day, the Islanders made their final trade in sending 18-year-old defenceman Ryan Graves to the Val-d’Or Foreurs for 16-year-old defenceman David Henley and Ukrainian defenceman Vladisalv Lysenko.

Henley, now 17, stands six-foot-four and 181 pounds and will help anchor the blue line for the Islanders for the next few seasons. The Val-d’Or, Que. Native played the top pairing with overager Troy Vance for the remainder of the season, and was given lots of ice time. In 25 games with the Islanders, Henely scored two goals and four points.

MEMORIAL CUP: Edmonton Oil Kings crowned 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup champs

The Edmonton Oil Kings are the 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup champions.

After scoring three un-answered goals in the second period, the Oil Kings skated to a 6-3 victory over the Guelph Storm Sunday afternoon at the Budwesier Gardens in London, Ont. to claim the biggest prize in junior hockey.

Henrik Samuelsson led the way for the Oil Kings with two goals and three assists as tournament MVP Edgars Kulda had a goal and two assists.

Guelph opened the scoring exactly one minute into the game with Robby Fabbri scoring his second goal of the tournament from Kerby Rychel and Zack Mitchell. The Oil Kings responded with a power play goal at 9:38 from Cody Corbett. The goal was his first of the tournament and Samuelsson and Griffin Reinhard drew assists. The Storm took a 2-1 lead with Stephen Pierog scoring his first of the tournament at 16:36 from Pius Suter and Zach Leslie.

In the second period, Tyler Robertson tied the game at two for the Oil Kings at 1:58 with his first of the tournament, and second goal since the beginning of the WHL playoffs. Cole Benson drew the lone assist. The Oil Kings took their first lead of the game as Kulda buried his fourth goal of the tournament at 6:06 on the power play. Ashton Sautner and Samuelsson drew assists. Mitchell Moroz gave the Oil Kings a 4-2 lead at 14:19 with his second goal of the tournament from Kulda and Samuelsson.

Guelph made it a one-goal game just 3:23 into the third period as Mitchell scored his second goal of the tournament on a nice feed from behind the net from Rychel. The one-goal lead didn't last long as Samuelsson made it 5-3 Oil Kings at the five-minute mark with his third goal of the tournament. Kulda and Moroz drew assists. Samuelsson capped off the scoring with an empty-net goal at 18:34.

Tristan Jarry made 32 saves in the winning goal for Edmonton. Justin Nichols made 39 saves in the loss for Guelph.

The 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup will be hosted by Quebec Remparts in Quebec City, Que.

Memorial Cup Update

The 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup got underway on Friday, May 16 at the Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont.

The host London Knights, are playing in their third straight Memorial Cup Championship. Also competing are the WHL Champions Edmonton Oil Kings, OHL Champions Guelph Storm and QMJHL Champions Val-d'Or Foreurs.

Here is the schedule
Friday, May 16 - Val-d'Or 1 vs. London 0
Saturday, May 17 - Guelph 5 vs. Edmonton 2
Sunday, May 18 - London 2 vs. Edmonton 5
Monday, May 19 - Guelph 6 vs. Val-d'Or 3
Tuesday, May 20 - Edmonton vs. Val-d'Or
Wednesday, May 21 - London vs. Guelph
Thursday, May 22 - Tie-breaker if needed
Friday, May 23 - Quarter-Final
Sunday, May 25 - Memorial Cup Final

Islanders picks for 2014 QMJHL Draft

The 2014 QMJHL Draft is just 15 days away and excitement is starting to build up. This is a list of what picks the Charlottetown Islanders have at the draft.

Please note that the list is not including trades rumored to be made on May 30 or on draft day.

RD	#	From
1	12	Gatineau
1	15	Blainville-Boisbriand
1	16	Val-d'Or
2	24
2	34	Blainville-Boisbriand
3	47	Rouyn-Noranda
4	72	Rimouski
5	83	Rouyn-Noranda
6	96
8	139	Gatineau
10	168
11	186
12	204
13	222
14	240

The draft takes place May 31 in Sherbrooke, Que.

Former Islanders win President Cup with Val-d'Or

Val-d'Or celebrates their President Cup win. QMJHL photo.

Three former Charlottetown Islanders players won the President Cup with the Val-d'Or Foreurs last night after they defeated the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 4-3 in Game 7 at the Centre Henry Leonard in Baie-Comeau, Que.

The Val-d'Or won its third title in franchise history. They had previously won it in 1998 and 2001.

Goaltender Antoine Bibeau and Ryan Graves started the season with the Charlottetown Islanders before being dealt to the Foreurs during the Christmas trading period. Former P.E.I. Rocket Louick Marcotte was also part of the Foreurs squad.

The Foreurs have also earned their ticket to the Memorial Cup in London, Ont. which begins Friday, May 16.

Anthony Mantha was the hero for the Foreurs, scoring with game winning goal with 52 seconds remaining in regulation to break a 3-3 tie.

Mantha led the way for Val-d'Or with a goal and two assists. Louick Marcotte (1-1), Samuel Henley and Randy Gazolla scored for the Foreurs. The Drakkar had goals from Jeremy Gregoire (1-1), Gabryl Paquin-Boudreau and Felix Girard.

The Foreurs opened the scoring with Henley's eighth goal of the playoffs at 8:57 from Jeremie Fraser and Guillaume Gelinas. Baie-Comeau held an 18-6 shot advantage.

In the second period, the Foreurs took a 3-0 lead with goals from Marcotte and Gazolla. Marcotte's 12th of the playoffs came at the 1:39 mark as Mantha and Anthony Richard drew assists. Gazolla's fourth of the playoffs came at 13:08 as Mantha drew the lone assist. Val'dOr was out-shot 11-8.

The Baie-Comeau Drakkar finally got on the board as Paquin-Boudreau scored his second of the playoffs at 9:41. Frederic Gamelin and Nicolas Meloche drew assists. Felix Girard then cut the Foreurs' lead to just one with his fourth of the playoffs at 16:07 from Alexandre Chenevert and Gregoire.

With 1:59 left in regulation, the Drakkar tied the game on Gregoire's ninth of the playoffs with Dominic Poulin and Meloche drawing assists but it wouldn't be enough to send the game to overtime.

Mantha's 24th goal of the playoffs would come just 1:07 later and would stand as the winner. Marcotte drew the lone assist on the goal.

Antoine Bibeau made 40 saves in the win for the Foreurs and was awarded the Guy Lafleur Trophy. Philippe Cadorette made 18 saves in the loss.

The Foreurs open up the MasterCard Memorial Cup on Friday against the host London Knights. Game time is 8 p.m. AST.

Islanders Country would like to send a big congratulations to Graves, Bibeau and Marcotte on this well deserved achievement. Couldn't have happened to better guys. Good luck in the Memorial Cup. 

Below is a video of Mantha's game-winning goal.

Central Scouting unveils final list for 2014 QMJHL Draft

The QMJHL Central Scouting Services unveiled its final player rankings yesterday, for the upcoming QMJHL Draft.

The draft is Saturday, May 31 at the Palais des Sports Leopold-Drolet in Sherbrooke, Que.

This list includes players from Quebec, the Atlantic Provinces and New England. At the top of the list is Pascal Laberge of the Chateauguay Grenadiers from the Quebec Midget AAA League.

To see the entire list, click here.

REPORT: Islanders trade Laliberte, acquire Weber

It has been reported that the Charlottetown Islanders have traded defenceman Kevin Laliberte to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in-exchange for fellow defenceman Dexter Weber.

Mickael Lalancette of TVA Sports tweeted the trade earlier this afternoon.

Kevin Laliberté échangé aux Voltigeurs. Dexter Weber prend la direction de Charlottetown. #LHJMQ
— Mikaël Lalancette (@MLalancetteTVA) May 6, 2014

Laliberte, who will turn 18 on NHL Draft Day of June 29, was a second round pick, 33rd overall, by the P.E.I. Rocket in 2012. He was pointless in 36 games during his rookie season but this past season, the Bois-des-Filions, Que. native picked up 13 assists in 67 games.

Weber, 18, will turn 19 in December and will be considered a 19-year-old in the league next season. In 62 games with the Voltigeurs this past season, the Kitchener, Ont. had two goals and 22 points. He was an invite by the Voltigeurs in 2012 and had two goals and eight points in 54 games in the 2012-13 season.

Weber will join the recent acquisition of Ryan MacKinnon on the Islanders blue line.

The trade will not become official until May 30. The QMJHL Draft is May 31 in Sherbrooke, Que.

REPORT: Islanders acquire defenceman Ryan MacKinnon

Ryan MacKinnon. Photo credit: lavantage.qc.ca

The Charlottetown Islanders have reportedly acquired 20-year-old defenceman Ryan MacKinnon from the Rimouski Oceanic.

Mickael Lalancette of TVA Sports tweeted the news just moments ago. In return, the Oceanic receives a first-round pick and a fifth-round pick. It is not reported what year the picks are that are going to Rimouski in return.

Les Islanders de Charlottetown ont un nouveau joueur de 20 ans : Ryan MacKinnon. Rimouski va recevoir des choix de 1er et 5e tours.
— Mikaël Lalancette (@MLalancetteTVA) May 5, 2014

MacKinnon, a Summerside, P.E.I. native, was a fifth round pick in 2011 by the Oceanic. Last season the 5-11, 193-pound frame scored four goals and 22 points in 66 games last season. He has a career total of 10 goals and 57 points in 188 regular season games in three seasons. MacKinnon captained the Oceanic this past season.

MacKinnon will join the list as possibly 20-year-old candidates for next season's roster. Teams are only allowed to dress 20-year-old players per game.

The trade will become official on May 30 when the trade period officially opens. The QMJHL Draft is May 31 in Sherbrooke, Que.