Kameron Kielly and Daniel Sprong each had a pair of goals to lead the Charlottetown Islanders to a 7-5 pre-season win over the Moncton Wildcats Sunday afternoon at the APM Centre in Cornwall.
The Islanders pick up their second straight pre-season win and improve to 2-2-0-0. The Wildcats fall to 2-2-0-0 in the pre-season.
Kielly also added a pair of assists for a four-point game.
"Our team brought a lot of character," said Kielly. "We are going to come out and compete every night and stick up for one another. Those are the three most important things and we brought it all tonight."
It was pretty physical affair as each team had 22 minutes in penalties. Kielly expected it to be a physical game.
“It’s a good rivalry with them. We’re stepping up every time we play them for sure.”
Islanders forward Oliver Cooper, who had a goal and an assist, said there’s always rivalries with Maritime teams, especially Moncton.
“They’re always in your face…so you got to respond to that and give it back to them. I think we did a good job of that today, sticking up for each other and sticking up for ourselves and not taking anything from them.”
Cooper said it was a good game.
"We still have a lot to work on over the season but everyone competed and there's lots of positives."
The Wildcats were quick to open the scoring as Liam Murphy scored his second of the pre-season just 56 seconds in.
Daniel Sprong replied for the Islanders ripping a wrist shot past Cats starter Alex Dubeau at 7:15. Cooper drew the lone assist. The Islanders took a 2-1 lead at 17:51 with a power play marker with Cooper. Kielly and Ryan MacKinnon added assists.
"Unbelievable passes by Kielly and Ryan," said Cooper on his goal. "I was just fortunate enough to be in the right spot...nothing special just right timing I guess."
In the second period, Kielly scored his first of the game and second of the pre-season at 1:29 to give Islanders a 3-1 lead. Will Thompson and Luc Deschenes drew assists. Kielly added his second of the game to give the Islanders a three-goal lead at 8:46 with Deschenes and Alex Goulet drawing assists. Sprong scored his second of the game at 18:05 to make it 5-1 Islanders. Kielly and Dexter Weber drew assists. Just 19 seconds later, Julien Avon scored his second pre-season goal to give the Islanders a five-goal cushion. Moncton was quick to respond as Kyle Tibbo made it a 6-2 game just 14 seconds later. Shots were 20-9 in favour of Charlottetown.
The Wildcats made it a three-goal game at 6:48 of the third period with a power play tally from Alexandre Jacob.
At the 9:52 mark, Kielly and Moncton Wildcats forward Connor Garland were both given 10-minute misconduct and were out for the rest of the game.
“Just a couple of words shared,” said Kielly. “I’m not supposed to like him, he’s a good player on that team. I was getting in his head a little…I guess the linesmen had enough.”
Spenser Cobbold gave the Islanders a 7-3 lead taking a beautiful pass from Sprong at 15:32. Lucas Sangster drew the second assist on the goal.
Moncton made it interesting at the 17:00 mark with Benji Curtis scoring his second of the pre-season before Lane Cormier scored at 18:46 on the power play to come within two of the Islanders.
Mason McDonald started for the Islanders and allowed one goal on 15 shots in 29:20 played. Chase Marchand allowed four goals on 21 shots in 30:40 played. Marchand was credited with the win.
Dubeau started for Moncton and allowed four goals on 24 shots in 29:20 played. Alex Kelly finished the game for Moncton going 14-for-17 between the pipes. Kelly was credited with the loss.
The Islanders will be unveiling its 2014-15 season roster on Aug. 30 during the Islanders Hockey Jambouree on Kent St.
Charlottetown’s next pre-season game is Friday Sept. 5 in Saint John at 7:30 p.m. and then return home Saturday Sept. 6 to host Saint John at the Eastlink Centre at 7 p.m.
Following today’s game, forwards Malik Johnson and Josh Shatford, along with defenceman Duncan McKie have been returned to their respective MHL teams.
View the box score here.
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