Under-18 Championships: McDonald gets nod against Swiss

Imatra, Finland - Charlottetown Islanders goalie Mason McDonald will get his third straight start as Team Canada plays Switzerland today in quarter-final action at the World Under-18 Championships.

The 18-year-old Halifax, N.S. native has started in three of Canada's four games and has gone 2-1 with a 1.26 goals against average and a 0.949 save percentage.

Today's game is at at 1 p.m. AST.

The winner of today's game will move onto the semi-finals on Saturday.

McDonald leads all tournament goalies in goals against average and save percentage.

Round 3 playoff update

Halifax Mooseheads vs. Val-d'Or Foreurs

It was an epic comeback for the Halifax Mooseheads last night in Game 3.

The hometown Foreurs held 3-0 and 5-1 leads and looked to be in full control with a 3-0 series lead until the Halifax Mooseheads took matter into their own hands, coming back to win the game in overtime.

Mooseheads rookie defenceman Jesse Lussier scored 8:24 into overtime to complete the comeback and the much-needed with for Halifax.

Anthony Mantha scored three times for the Foreurs, as Louick Marcotte and Phil Pietronrio scored signles. Defenceman Guillaume Gelinas chipped in four helpers. Goalie Antoine Bibeau made 34 saves.

Matt Murphy scored a pair for the Mooseheads as Jonathan Drouin (1-2), MacKenzie Weegar, Andrew Shewfelt and Lussier scored for Halifax. Kevin Darveau stopped 26 of 28 shots in relief of Zachary Fucale who was pulled after allowing three goals on four shots.

 Val-d'Or leads series 2-1. Game 4 is tonight at 8:30 a.m. at Centre Air Creebec in Val-d'Or, Que.

Baie-Comeau Drakkar vs Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
The Armada built a 3-1 first period lead and never looked back as they downed the Baie-Comeau Drakkar last night in Game 3 from Blainville, Que.

For the first time these playoffs, the Drakkar has lost a game. They have gone 10-1 through three rounds of playoff action.

Antoine Dufort-Plante, Marc-Olivier Roy and Guillaume Beaudoin scored first period goals for the Armada. Latvian Nikita Jevpalovs scored a late power play goal in the third period to seal the deal for the Armada. Etienne Marcoux made 30 saves for the win.

The Drakkar's lone goal came from Alexandre Ranger. Philippe Cadorette made 24 saves in the loss.

Baie-Comeau leads series 2-1. Game 4 goes tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST in Blainville.

World Under-18 Championships update

After Canada finished first place in Group A with a 3-0-0-1 record with 10 points, they will play the fourth placed Switzerland from Group B in quarter-final action on Thursday April 24.

Switzerland finished the preliminary round with a 2-2-0-0 (win-loss-overtime win-overtime loss) record with six points.

The Swiss are led by forward Kevin Fiala's three goals and eight points in four games. Swiss goaltender Gauthier Descloux has gone 2-1 with a 2.01 goals against average and a 0.928 save percentage.

Team Canada has been led by Jake Virtanen's two goals and four points in as many games. Charlottetown Islanders goalie Mason McDonald has provided stellar goaltending for Canada posting a 2-1 record with a 1.62 goals against average and a 0.936 save percentage.

Game time between Canada and Switzerland is 12 p.m. EST.

In other quarter final games taking place on Thursday, April 24, the United States play Slovakia at 6 a.m. in Lappeenranta, Finland; Russia plays the Czech Republic at 8 a.m. EST in Imatra, Finland; and host Finland plays Sweden at 9 a.m. EST in Lappeenranta.

Germany and Denmark are playing a best-of-three relegation series. Game 1 goes Thursday, April 24 at 4 a.m. EST; Game 2 goes Friday, April 25 at 9 a.m. and if necessary, Game 3 goes Sunday, April 27. All games will be played at Imatra Spa Areena.

McDonald makes 28 saves in Canada's shootout loss to Russia

Imatra, Finland - Team Canada took its first loss at the Under-18 World Championships, falling 3-2 in a shootout to Russia today.

Russia's Kirill Pilipenko scored the lone in the shootout to give the Russians the win and a  1-0-2-1 (win-loss-overtime wins-overtime loss) record with eight points after the preliminary round. With the loss, Canada finishes the preliminary round with a 3-0-0-1 record with 10 points and first place in Group A.

The first period was scoreless but it was Russia out-shooting Canada by a 9-8 margin.

Canada broke the scoreless tie just 1:49 into the second period as Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67's, OHL) scored his second goal of the tournament from Travis Sanheim (Calgary Hitmen, WHL). Shots were 8-5 in favour of Russia in the second period.

In the third period, Russia tied things up at one just 27 seconds in with a goal from Ivan Nikolishin. Radel Fazleyev drew the lone assist. Canada regained the lead with Matt Barzal's (Seattle Thunderbird, WHL) second goal of the tournament at 7:40. Jared McCann (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL) and Sanheim drew assists. The Russians tied the game with 35 seconds to go while on the power play with a goal from captain Vladislav Kamenev. Pilipenko and Alexei Slepstov drew assists. Russia out-shot Canada for a third straight period by a count of 12-7.

Overtime solved nothing but shots were 5-2 in Canada's favour.

Connor Bleackley, McCann and Jake Virtanen were all scoreless in the shootout for Canada. Pilipenko scored on Russia's first shootout attempt as Kamenev was stopped.

Charlottetown Islanders goalie Mason McDonald made his third start of the tournament for Canada and made 28 saves on 30 shots. He was 1-for-2 in the shootout. Russian netminder Maxim Tretiak made 23 saves through regulation and overtime. Alexander Trushkov played the shootout for Russia.

Canada's next game will be in the quarter finals. The opponent is not yet determined.

Canada sticking with McDonald for tomorrow's game against Russia

Mason McDonald. Photo Credit: Jana Chytilova IIHF Images

Imatra, Finland - The undefeated Team Canada will go with Charlottetown Islanders goalie Mason McDonald in their last preliminary game against Russia tomorrow morning at the World Under-18 Championships.

Team Canada has a perfect 3-0-0 record going into tomorrow's match against Russia (1-0-1) and will look to make it four wins before entering the tournament's playoffs.

McDonald, 18, has helped Canada pick up two of its three wins allowing two goals on a total of 47 shots. He made 24 saves in Canada's win 3-1 win on April 17, before stopping 21 of 22 against the Slovaks in a 2-1 win on Saturday.

Game time for tomorrow's game is 10 a.m. AST and will be broadcasted on TSN.

We will have tomorrow's recap posted tomorrow afternoon.

Canada remains undefeated with 2-1 win over Slovakia

Imatra, Finland - Brendan Perlini scored twice and Mason McDonald made 21 saves as Team Canada downed Slovakia 2-1 this morning in World Under-18 action.

Canada improves to 3-0-0-0 in the tournament as Slovakia falls to 1-1-0-1.

Slovakia opened the scoring with a short-handed goal from Juraj Mily at 12:24 of the opening period. Mily's first of the tournament was unassisted. Shots were 9-6 Canada.

In the second period, Perlini (Niagara IceDogs, OHL) tied the game at 19:53 with his first of the game and of the tournament on the power play. Haydn Fleury (Red Deer Rebels) drew the lone assists. Canada outshot Slovakia a 10-7 in the middle frame.

In the third period, Perlini scored his second of the game at 13:21 to give Canada the 2-1 lead. Slovakia outshot Canada 9-6 but could not find the equalizer.

McDonald picked up his second win of the tournament making 21 saves. Adam Huska took the loss for Slovakia making 18 saves.

Canada plays Russia next on Tuesday, April 22 at 9 a.m. EST from the Imatra Spa Areena.

McDonald makes 24 saves in Canada win over Sweden

Imatra, Finland - Mason McDonald made 24 saves and Jake Virtanen scored twice for Team Canada as they beat Team Sweden 3-1 in their first game of the Under-18 World Championships this afternoon.

Team Canada picks up three points with the win and takes a 1-0-0-0 record in the tournament. Sweden falls to 0-1-0-0.

Virtanen, of the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL, opened the scoring for Canada at the 6:45 mark of the first period with Rowland McKeown (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL) drawing the lone assist. Sweden outshout the Canadians 11-4.

It didn't take long for Canada to increase its lead in the second period as Virtanen added his second goal of the game just 1:03 into the period on the power play. The goal was unassisted. The Swedes cut the lead in half with Gustav Forsling scoring on the power play at 10:57 with Daniel Muzito and Axel Holmstrom drawing assists. Canada had a 10-4 shot advantage in the second period but Sweden led the shots 18-14 after two periods.

In the third period, Matthew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL) scored an unassisted goal at 3:07 to regain the two-goal cushion for Canada. Shots were 7-4 in favour of Sweden.

McDonald earned the win in goal for Team Canada making 24 saves on 25 shots. Linus Soderstrom took the loss for Sweden making 15 saves on 18 shots.

Canada plays Germany next on Saturday, April 19 at 10 a.m. AST.

In earlier tournament games today, Switzerland upset the U.S.A. 4-2; Russia used overtime to get by Slovakia 3-2; and Finland beat Denmark 6-1.

McDonald to start against Sweden

Charlottetown Islanders goalie Mason McDonald will be getting the start for Team Canada as they open up the Under-18 World Championships against Sweden this afternoon.

Game time is 1:30 p.m. AST at the Imatra Spa Areena in Imatra, Finland.

Stay tuned for a recap after the game.

McDonald named to Team Canada's Under-18 roster

Mason McDonald.

Charlottetown Islanders goaltender Mason McDonald has been named to Team Canada for the Under-18 World Championships in Imatra, Finland.

McDonald is one of five players, and one of two goaltenders, chosen from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to represent Canada.  Julio Billia of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens is the other QMJHL goaltender named to the team.

The tournament gets underway tomorrow.

McDonald, 18, represented Team Canada and won Gold at the Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Berclav, Czech Republic in August. Him and Billia where the goaltenders for Canada.

The Halifax, N.S. native was acquired by the Islanders on Dec. 29, 2013 from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. In 16 games played with Charlottetown, the six-foot-four, 186-pound frame posted a 5-10 win-loss record with a 3.35 goals against average and a 0.907 save percentage. Between the Titan and Islanders, McDonald finished with an 8-18 record with a 3.44 goals against average and 0.900 save percentage.

McDonald is the highest ranked Canadian Hockey League goalie by Central Scouting for the upcoming NHL Draft at No. 2 overall.

Among McDonald, here are the four other QMJHL players named to Team Canada: Julio Billia, G (Chicoutimi Sagueneens), Alexandre Carrier, D (Gatineau Olympiques), Clarke Bishop, F (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles), F Daniel Audette, F (Sherbrooke Phoenix).

McDonald will wear No. 30 with Team Canada.

Canada opens the tournament tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 p.m. EST against Sweden. It is reported McDonald will get the start.

For the complete roster, click here.

Video: Nevins drops the mitts twice in one AHL game

In his second American Hockey League game with the Hamilton Bulldogs, former Islanders captain Jack Nevins dropped the gloves twice - against the same guy.

Nevins fought Daniel Maggio of the Lake Erie Monsters twice last night in Lake Erie.

Video:

Armada eliminates Oceanic; final four all set

The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada had an epic comeback last night, beating the Rimouski Oceanic 8-7 in overtime in Game 7 to eliminate the Oceanic from the 2014 Playoffs.

The Armada trailed 4-0, 5-2 and 8-7 before storming back. With the win, the Armada finalize the final four in the QMJHL's semi-finals.

In the first semi-final series, the fifth-ranked Armada will face the No. 1 Baie-Comeau Drakkar with the series getting underway Friday April 18 in Baie-Comeau. These two teams met last year in the semi-finals and were famous for the team brawl at the end of the game. Former Islanders forward Matthew Bursey is part of the Armada but is out for the next six to 12 weeks due to injury.

In the other semi-final series, the No. 2 Halifax Mooseheads will battle the offensive powerhouse Val-d'Or Foreurs who finished third overall. It will be Jonathan Drouin versus Anthony Mantha who led Team Canada in scoring at the 2014 World Junior Championships. Val-d'Or has a pair of former Islanders in goaltender Antoine Bibeau and defenceman Ryan Graves. Former P.E.I. Rocket forward Louick Marcotte has been having a terrific playoff run with the Foreurs.

Nolan's predictions:
Drakkar in six games.
Mooseheads in six games.

Nevins picks up first point in pro debut

Former Charlottetown Islanders captain recorded an assist in his pro debut with the Hamilton Bulldogs on Saturday April 12.

The 20-year-old Stittsville, Ont. native played in his first game with American Hockey League team after being assigned to the Bulldogs after finishing his QMJHL season with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Nevins assisted on Joonas Nattinen's third period goal at 5:07. Hamilton lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Rochester Americans.

Nevins finished the game with a 0 rating and three shots on goal. The Bulldogs travel to Lake Erie on Tuesday April 15 against the Monsters.

Former Islanders captain Nevins assigned to Hamilton Bulldogs

Jack Nevins with Charlottetown Islanders.

Former Charlottetown Islanders captain Jack Nevins was assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League today.

Nevins' junior career ended last night when the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies lost Game 4 to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in quarter final playoff action.

The 20-year-old played in 41 games with the Islanders this season scoring 14 goals and 36 points with a plus-nine rating and 98 penalty minutes before being traded to Rouyn-Noranda on the last day of the trading period on Jan. 7.

Jack Nevins scoring with Rouyn-Noranda.

In 23 games with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Nevins scored five goals and 12 points. He added five goals and eight points in nine playoff games.

The Islanders received Julien Avon, Blainville-Boisbriand's first-round pick in 2014 and third- and fifth-round picks in 2014 from Rouyn-Noranda in the trade.

Nevins began his QMJHL journey last season with the P.E.I. Rocket signed him as a free agent from the OHL's London Knights.

The Stittsville, Ont. native signed a three-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens back on Dec. 13, 2013 while playing in Charlottetown.

Hamilton posts a 32-34-1-6 record this season and have three games remaining in the regular season. They host the Rochester Americans on Saturday April 12 before traveling to Lake Erie on Tuesday and then ending the season at home versus the Syracuse Crunch Saturday April 19.

CHL Announces 2014 SUBWAY Super Series Hosts

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League in association with SUBWAY® Restaurants along with the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today announced five of the six Canadian host centres for the 2014 SUBWAY® Super Series to be played Nov. 10-20, 2014.

The six-game series, which features regional teams of Canadian National Junior Team candidates competing against the Russian National Junior Team, opens for the first time with two games hosted by the WHL beginning in Saskatoon, SK, home of the Blades, on Monday Nov. 10, with the second WHL host site for Game 2 on Tuesday Nov. 11 still to be determined.  The series shifts to the OHL who will maintain the middle leg of the series with Game 3 to be hosted by the Peterborough Petes on Thursday Nov. 13, followed by Game 4 hosted by the Kingston Frontenacs on Monday Nov. 17.  For the first time next season the competition will end in the QMJHL with Game 5 hosted by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Tuesday Nov. 18, followed by the Game 6 series finale to be hosted by the Rimouski Oceanic on Thursday Nov. 20.

“On behalf of the Canadian Hockey League we look forward to bringing the SUBWAY® Super Series to CHL communities for the 12th straight season next November,” said CHL President David Branch.  “The CHL would like to thank title sponsor SUBWAY® Restaurants and partner Hockey Canada for their continued support as well as broadcast partners Sportsnet and TVA Sports as we showcase many of the league’s best players to CHL fans across the country in advance of the World Junior Championship hosted by Montreal and Toronto.”

The SUBWAY® Super Series has been an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada for the past 11 years prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.  In each of the last four seasons the series has been decided in the final game with the CHL emerging victorious for the ninth time in 2013 winning by a 10-8 margin in points.  Team Canada also faced Russia for the fourth straight time at the World Junior Championship this season in Malmo, Sweden, with Russia earning the bronze medal with a 2-1 victory over Canada.  Russia’s roster featured 10 players from the 2013 SUBWAY® Super Series along with Mikhail Grigorenko who participated in the event in 2011 and 2012, while Canada’s roster included 21 players from last year’s series along with Mathew Dumba who also played for Team WHL in 2011 and 2012.

“For the sixth year running, SUBWAY® Restaurants  will join hockey fans across Canada in cheering on our country’s top major junior players,” said Kathleen Bell, Director of National Marketing, SUBWAY® Restaurants of Canada. “As the Official Training Restaurant of the CHL, we are delighted to lend our support to the SUBWAY® Super Series and continue to fuel CHL fans and athletes across the country.”

2014 will mark the first time that Kingston and Acadie-Bathurst will host a SUBWAY® Super Series contest.  Rimouski hosted in the first year of competition back in 2003 with Oceanic star Sidney Crosby earning player of the game honours with three assists for Team QMJHL in the 6-3 victory.  Peterborough and Saskatoon both hosted the event in 2005 with a pair of hometown heroes leading their respective leagues to victory.  The Petes’ Liam Reddox scored two goals as player of the game in a 5-1 OHL win, and the Blades’ Devin Setoguchi scored a hat-trick as player of the game for Team WHL in the 9-2 triumph.

All six games of the SUBWAY ® Super Series will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.  The 2014 SUBWAY® Super Series is supported by CHL associate sponsors Bank of Montreal and Old Dutch.

2014 SUBWAY® Super Series Schedule of Games:
Game 1 – Monday November 10 at Saskatoon, SK
Game 2 – Tuesday November 11 at TBD
Game 3 – Thursday November 13 at Peterborough, ON
Game 4 – Monday November 17 at Kingston, ON
Game 5 – Tuesday November 18 at Bathurst, NB
Game 6 – Thursday November 20 at Rimouski, QC

For more information please visit www.subwaysuperseries.ca.

Source: http://www.subwaysuperseries.ca/article/chl-announces-2014-subway-super-series-hosts/161680

Troy Vance update with Elmira

Elmira Jackals

An update on former Charlottetown Islanders defenceman Troy Vance.

After playing his last QMJHL game on Thursday March 27 in Game 4 against the Halifax Mooseheads, he was re-assigned to the Elmira Jackals of the East Coast Hockey League by the Dallas Stars several days later.

The Goshen, N.Y. native has played in four games so far with Elmira scoring a goal and adding an assist.

Vance, 20, made his debut with the Jackals on Wednesday April 2 in a home game against the Kalamazoo Wings wearing No. 17. He was pointless and a minus-one rating with one shot on goal. The Jackals lost the game 6-3.

On Friday April 4, Vance picked up an assist and was a plus-one in a 5-1 win over the Orlando Solar Bears.

Vance scored his first goal the next night against the Evansville IceMen, scoring the first goal of the game at 7:43 of the first period with assists going to Rob Bellamy and Mike Vaskivuo.

The Elmira Jackals are next in action Friday April 11 at the South Carolina Stingrays.

Goulet, Laliberte and McDonald crack CSS final rankings

Three Charlottetown Islanders players have made the cut on to the NHL Central Scouting Service's final rankings for the upcoming NHL draft.

Alexandre Goulet and Kevin Laliberte were ranked among North American skaters, as goaltender Mason McDonald was ranked among North American goalies.

Mason McDonald.

McDonald, 17, is ranked No. 2 among North American goalies behind Thatcher Demko of Boston College. The Halifax, N.S. native is the top-ranked CHL goalie after completing his second QMJHL season split between Acadie-Bathurst and Charlottetown.

The six-foot-four, 186-pound frame posted a 5-10 win-loss record in 16 games with the Islanders and posted a 3.35 goals against average and a 0.907 save percentage. This season with both Acadie-Bathurst and Charlottetown, McDonald has posted an 8-18 record with a 3.57 goals against average and a 0.900 save percentage. He was originally drafted in the second round, 20th overall, by Acadie-Bathurst in the 2012 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Alexandre Goulet

Ranked at No. 65 among North American skaters is rookie forward Alexandre Goulet. The Disraeli, Que. native enjoyed his first QMJHL season scoring 26 goals and adding 22 assists for 48 points in 66 games. He finished with a plus-one rating and 26 penalty minutes. In four playoff games, he added a goal and three helpers. Goulet, who just turned 18 on April 5, played the majority of the season on the top line with fellow rookie Daniel Sprong.

The 5-11, 190-pound centreman was drafted in the first round, 19th overall by the Islanders in last Summer's draft.

Lastly, defenceman Kevin Laliberte is ranked 175th among North American skaters. The 17-year-old completed his second QMJHL season with the Islanders and picked up 13 assists in 67 games along with a minus-five rating and 37 penalty minutes. He was pointless in 36 games with the P.E.I. Rocket in his rookie season.

The Bois-des-Filions, Que. native was the Rocket's 33th overall selection in 2012.

Former Islanders' forward, Alexis Pepin, is ranked 110th among North American skaters.

The highest ranked QMJHL player is Halifax Mooseheads superstar Nikolaj Ehlers at No. 13. Ivan Barbashev, Moncton Wildcats, is second at No. 18. Samuel Bennett of the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL is ranked No. 1.

For a list of complete listings, click here.

QMJHL Playoffs Round 2 update

The second round of the playoffs kicked off on Thursday April 3 and each series are now two games old.

Let's take a look at the progress of each series.

No. 1 Baie-Comeau Drakkar vs. No. 10 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
As expected, the mighty Drakkar has a 2-0 series lead on the Huskies after 4-1 and 5-2 wins in Games 1 and 2 respectively. Baie-Comeau came off an easy sweep against the Shawinigan Cataractes, as Rouyn-Noranada upset the No. 7 Quebec Remparts in five games.

In Game 1, Maxime St-Cyr, Gabriel Verpaelst, Alexandre Ranger and Charles Hudon scored for Baie-Comeau as former Islanders captain Jack Nevins scored for Rouyn-Noranada.

In Game 2, St-Cyr (2), Frederic Gamelin, Valentin Zykov and Alec Jon Banville put the Drakkar on the board, while Nevins and Marcus Power had goals for Rouyn-Noranda.

The series continues tonight in Rouyn-Noranda for Game 3.

No. 2 Halifax Mooseheads vs. No. 8 Gatineau Olympiques
Just like Round 1, Halifax is continuing its dominance on the power play. Halifax is  seven-for-15 so far on the power play in Round 2. The Mooseheads were powerful on its power play in the first round against the Charlottetown Islanders and that does not seem to be a fluke. The Mooseheads took Games 1 and 2 by 4-1 and 6-2 scores.

In Game 1, Andrew Ryan scored a pair (power play and short-handed) as Philippe Gadoury and Brent Andrews added power play goals for Halifax. Jonathan Bourcier added a power play goal for Gatineau.

In Game 2, Halifax had power play goals from MacKenzie Weegar, Nikolaj Ehlers (2) and Gadoury. Andrew Shefelt and Matt Murphy scored even strength for Halifax. Gatineau had goals from Martin Reway and Vincent Dunn (power play).

The series shifts to Gatineau tonight for Game 3.

No. 3 Val-d'Or Foreurs vs. No. 6 Drummondville Voltigeurs
The Foreurs swept the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in Round 1 and the Voltigeurs beat Victoriaville in five games. After the first two games going to overtime in this match-up, the series is tied 1-1. Jerome Verrier was the overtime hero in Game 1 for Drummondville in a 4-3 win, as Louick Marcotte returned the favour for Val-d'Or in a 4-3 win.

In Game 1, Frederick Gaudreau (2), Alexandre Grand-Maison and Verrier scored for the Voltigeurs. Guillaume Gelinas and Anthony Mantha's pair put Val-d'Or on the board.

In Game 2, Anthony Richard, Anthony Beauregaurd, Olivier Galipeau and Marcotte scored for the Foreurs as Joey Ratelle, Matthew Boudens and Olivier Caouette scored for Drummondville. 

The series shifts to Drummondville tonight for Game 3.

No. 4 Rimouski Oceanic vs. No. 5 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
The Oceanic swept its first round series against Chicoutimi as Blainville got by the Moncton Wildcats in six games. In this series, Rimouski holds a 2-0 series lead after 4-2 and 3-0 wins in Games 1 and 2 respectively. Unfortunate news for Blainville, as former Islander Matthew Bursey left Game 1 on a stretcher and did not return. It is reported he has a hairline fracture in his c3 vertebrae and is in a neck brace for the next six to 12 weeks.

In Game 1, Frederik Gauthier, Alexis Loiseau and Michael Joly (2) scored for Rimouski. The Armada had goals from Philippe Sanche and Daniel Walcott.

In Game 2, Oceanic goaltender Philippe Desrosiers picked up his third shutout of playoffs with 40 saves as Anthony DeLuca, Patrik Zdrahal and Michael Joly scored for Rimouski.

The teams are in Blainville-Boisbriand tonight for Game 3.

Islanders to host live edition of "Inside the Islanders"

Charlottetown Islanders fans are invited to an open mic question and answer with Head Coach Gordie Dwyer and General Manager Grant Sonier, hosted by George Matthews on Sunday April 13.

The event will take place place at Eastlink Centre at 1 p.m.

"There have been many changes in the organization since June, both on and off the ice. The season featured a successful 2013 draft and numerous trades throughout the year. Now that the season has come to close it is time to look to the future," a team release said.

"You, the fans, will also have the opportunity to ask your questions in an open mic question and answer form. We ask you to join us this Sunday not only for the opportunity to hear our vision going forward, but also the chance to share and have your questions answered."

McDonald invited to Team Canada's Under-18 training camp roster

Mason McDonald in playoff action.

Charlottetown Islanders goaltender Mason McDonald was invited to Team Canada's Under-18 training camp roster on Saturday.

The training camp takes place in Toronto, Ont. from April 5-8.

McDonald, 17, was acquired by the Islanders via trade from Acadie-Bathurst during the Christmas trade period. In 16 outings with Charlottetown, the Halifax, N.S. native posted a 5-10 win-loss record with a 3.35 goals against average and a 0.907 save percentage. In total with Charlottetown and Acadie-Bathurt, McDonald posted an 8-18 win-loss record with a 3.44 goals against average and a 0.900 save percentage.

The six-foot-four, 186-pound goaltender was drafted in the second round, 20th overall, by Bathurst in 2012.

The players invited to camp, born in 1996 and 1997, were selected by Hockey Canada head scout Ryan Jankowski, in consultation with head coach Kevin Dineen (Toronto, Ont.) and assistant coaches Trevor Letowski (Thunder Bay, Ont./Sarnia, OHL) and Gord Murphy (Willowdale, Ont.). Jankowski evaluated the players during the 2013-14 season, following them along with numerous other candidates during league play, as well as during the 2013 and 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenges.

The camp roster includes eight players from the Western Hockey League, eight from the Ontario Hockey League and six from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In total, 13 players (three goaltenders, three defencemen and seven forwards) competed at the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Victoriaville and Drummondville, Que., and eight players (two defencemen and six forwards) competed at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Cape Breton, N.S.

The roster also includes nine players (Sam Bennett, Julio Billia, Clark Bishop, Haydn Fleury, Mason McDonald, Roland McKeown, Brayden Point, Jake Virtanen and Spencer Watson) who helped Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team win the gold medal at the 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia last summer.

Hockey Canada has invited select under-age players that will travel to Finland and play in pre-competition games to get added experience playing international competition, before returning to Canada prior to the start of the world championship. Players that have been eliminated from the CHL playoffs will be added to complete the roster for the tournament.

Canada will play two pre-tournament games before the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship, April 11 against Finland and April 14 against Denmark. Canada opens the tournament April 17 against Sweden.

The entire roster can be found here.

Quebec Remparts to host 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup

The MasterCard Memorial Cup being hoisted.

The Quebec Remparts are going to host the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

The announcement was made today at a press conference at the Hyatt-Regency Hotel in Montreal, Que. by Paul Wilson, the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup selection committee president.

In a press release, Wilson said the selection committee rigorously analyzed each candidacy and made a decision based on the evaluation grid.

"The committee’s decision to select Quebec to host the event is based on the fact that their bid had all the elements from top to bottom to convince us that they would present an excellent 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup: great hockey team, good organizing committee and superior installations. Moreover, we felt that the whole community was behind the bid. Each organization was well-prepared and made very professional presentations.”

Milos Vranesevic, Vice President and Head of marketing for MasterCard Canada, congratulated the Remparts on hosting the 2015 event and said it will be an incredible experience for Quebec City.

"We are proud that for more than a decade we’ve been the title sponsor of the MasterCard Memorial Cup, and we look forward to an exciting game in Quebec in 2015."

The Chicoutimi Sagueneens were the other QMJHL team to put in a bid to host the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

A QMJHL team has won the MasterCard Memorial Cup in the last three years. The Saint John Sea Dogs won it in 2011, the Shawinigan Cataractes won it in 2012 as hosts and most recently the Halifax Mooseheads won it in 2013. 

Sprong and Goulet named to all-rookie team at Golden Puck Awards

Daniel Sprong. Charlottetown Islanders photo.

Charlottetown Islanders rookie forwards Daniel Sprong and Alexandre Goulet were named to the QMJHL all-rookie team at the Golden Puck Awards in Montreal, Que. Wednesday night.

Sprong, who just turned 17 in March, was nominated for the RDS Cup - Rookie of the Year (won by Nikolaj Ehlers of the Halifax Mooseheads) and the Frank J. Selke - most sportsmanlike player (won by Frederick Gauthier of the Shawinigan Cataractes). In 67 games this season, Sprong scored 30 goals and put up 68 points. He would then add four goals and an assist in four playoff games.

Sprong scores his first career QMJHL playoff goal. Chronicle Herald photo.

The native originally from Amsterdam, Netherlands but grew up just outside of Montreal, was the only 16-year-old in the Canadian Hockey League to score 30 goals. Connor McDavid, Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, scored 28 goals but had 99 points in 56 games.

Alexandre Goulet. Charlottetown Islanders photo.

Goulet, 17, scored 26 goals and put up 48 points in 66 games this season. The Disraeli, Que. native scored a goal and added three helpers in four playoff games. Goulet was Charlottetown's first-round, 19th overall pick in 2013.

For the full list of award winners, click here.

Troy Vance reassigned to ECHL's Elmira Jackals

Charlottetown Islanders defenceman Troy Vance has been reassigned by the Dallas Stars to the Elmira Jackals of the East Coast Hockey League.

The 20-year-old finished up his final year of major junior eligibility this season with the Islanders. In 59 games this season, the six-foot-five, 220-pound defenceman scored eight goals and 29 points. Vance scored a power play goal during his last QMJHL shift against the Halifax Mooseheads on March 27 in an 11-3 Game 4 loss.

Troy Vance, GM Grant Sonier and David Henley.

Vance was originally acquired by the P.E.I. Rocket during the 2012-2013 via trade with Victoriaville. He scored a goal and helped on seven others in 28 games when joining the Rocket. Vance spent two and a half season with Victoriaville before joining Charlottetown.

The Goshen, N.Y. native was drafted in the fifth round, 135th overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Former Islander Laplante signs ATO with Portland Pirates

Yan Pavel Laplante as a Charlottetown Islander.

Former Charlottetown Islanders forward, Yan Pavel Laplante, has signed an amateur tryout contract with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League.

Laplante, 18, played two and a half season with the Islanders/Rocket scoring 21 goals and 52 points in 107 games. He was dealt to the Victoriaville Tigres on Dec. 22 and scored 13 goals and 24 points in 31 games with the Tigres.

The Ste-Martine, Que. native was drafted in the third round, 62nd overall, by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. 

Laplante was limited to only 18 games during the 2012-2013 season due to a shoulder injury. In the 2013 playoffs with the Rocket, he scored three goals (all in Game 6 versus Val-d'Or) and two assists. With Victoriaville, Laplante put up three goals and six points in five games during this year's playoffs.

The six-foot, 184-pound centreman, served as an alternate captain this year with the Islanders prior to being traded along with defenceman Julien Leduc.

Charlottetown received defenceman Luc Deschenes, 16, a fourth-round pick in 2014 and a first-round pick in 2015.