Mooseheads snap Islanders four-game win streak with 5-1 win

It seemed as if there was only one team on the ice - for at least two periods.

The Halifax Mooseheads scored three quick goals in the second period to skate to a 5-1 win over the visiting Charlottetown Islanders in a New Years Eve matinee at Scotiabank Centre.

Charlottetown sees its four-game win streak come to an end, and are now 19-18-1-1 on the season. The Mooseheads move a point ahead of the Islanders with a 19-16-2-1 record.

Halifax held a 4-0 lead and a 28-8 shot advantage after two periods before the Islanders controlled the majority of the play in the final frame.

Jordan King opened the scoring for Halifax at the 6:11 mark of the first period with his second goal of the season. Danny Moynihan and Josh Fitzgerald picked up assists. Shots were 14-3 in favour of Halifax.

In the second period, Philippe Gadoury gave the Mooseheads a 2-0 lead with his 16th goal of the season just 1:52 into the period. Cavan Fitzgerald and Austyn Hardie drew assists. It was a 3-0 Mooseheads lead at 3:03 with Samuel Leblanc scoring his sixth of the season with Jesse Lussier drawing the lone assist.

Daryl MacCallum’s afternoon would be short lived after allowing three goals on 17 shots.

Halifax took a 4-0 lead with a power play goal from Vincent Watt for his eighth of the season at 6:35. Connor and Danny Moynihan drew assists. Shots were 14-5 in favour of Halifax.

In the third period, the Islanders put themselves on the board with Daniel Sprong’s 21st goal of the season at 6:54. Spenser Cobbold and Kameron Kielly drew assists.

Gadoury wrapped up the scoring with his second of the game at 18:31 into an empty net for a 5-1 Mooseheads lead. Shots were 15-5 in favour of Charlottetown.

McDonald made 14 saves on 15 shots in relief of MacCallum. Former Islanders goalie Eric Brassard picked up the win for Halifax, in his first Mooseheads start at home, stopping 22 shots.

The Islanders will travel to Cape Breton on Friday Jan. 2, 2015 to take on the Screaming Eagles for a 7 p.m. puck drop.

Islanders use third period to down Screaming Eagles

The Charlottetown Islanders scored six third period goals, including three from Oliver Cooper, as the Islanders skated to a 6-3 win over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Tuesday night for their fourth-straight win.

Cooper recorded his second career hat-trick and becomes the 32nd player in Islanders/Rocket history to record one.

“I don’t even know how to explain it,” said Cooper. “I guess it’s just one of those things that happen. They weren’t highlight reels by any means. They were my teammates helping me out and making the right plays and I was just fortunate to be at the right spot at the right time to be able to put the puck in.”

The Islanders have won back-to-back games since returning from the Christmas break and improve to 19-17-1-1 on the season. The Screaming Eagles fall to 12-19-2-3.

Mitchell Balmas scored the game’s winning goal at 13:39 against his hometown team.

“When I was growing up I was always hoping for the Eagles to win games but it feels even better to score one on them.”

Game day: Screaming Eagles @ Islanders

Date: Tuesday Dec. 30, 2014

Match: Cape Breton Screaming Eagles @ Charlottetown Islanders

Where: Eastlink Centre, Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Time: 7 p.m. AST

TV: Webcast

Live Tweets: IslesLive

Pre-game stats:

Last meeting this season:	Oct. 26, CAP 1 @ CHA 2
Next game between two teams:	Jan. 2 in Cape Breton
Head-to-head record this season:	Charlottetown 2-1-0-0, Cape Breton 1-2-0-0
Head-to-head record for 2013-14:	Cape Breton 7-1-0-1, Charlottetown 2-6-1-0
Last 5 years between teams:	Charlottetown 21-12-2-1, Cape Breton 15-19-0-2
Last 5 years at Charlottetown:	Charlottetown 12-3-2-0, Cape Breton 5-10-0-2

Islanders return from holidays with 4-1 win over Titan

A pair of goals 35 seconds apart into the second period gave the Charlottetown Islanders a boost in a 4-1 win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan Sunday afternoon at Eastlink Centre.

Charlottetown scored all its goals in the second period after the Titan tallied first in the opening frame.

Newcomer Quinn O’Brien, who assisted on the game’s winning goal by Spenser Cobbold, said it was amazing to get the win in his first game with the Islanders.

“I’m really happy about it. It was a good team performance.”

He said the team came out slow.

“You got to expect that after the holidays. We just came out and played a game and found a way to win.”

O’Brien was happy to pick up a point in his Islanders debut.

“I just picked up the puck and I saw a black jersey and it just happened to be a nice pass. It feels very nice and it’s just a beginning.”

Game day: Titan @ Islanders

Date: Sunday Dec. 28, 2014

Match: Acadie-Bathurst Titan @ Charlottetown Islanders

Where: Eastlink Centre, Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Time: 3 p.m. AST

TV: Webcast

Live Tweets: IslesLive

The QMJHL resumes its action this afternoon after breaking for Christmas. The Charlottetown Islanders return from its Christmas break to host the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

Both teams have met each other four times this season, with Charlottetown winning three games and Bathurst winning the last meeting on Oct. 19.

Quinn O'Brien will make his Charlottetown Islanders debut after being acquired from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on Dec. 19. The six-foot-three winger will definitely add some more size to the Islanders roster. Filip Chlapik will return to line-up after missing four games with Czech Republic's world junior camp, which he was cut from on Dec. 15.

Pre-game stats:

Last meeting this season:	Oct. 19, CHA 3 @ BAT 4
Next game between two teams:	Jan. 23, 2015 in Charlottetown
Head-to-head record this season:	Charlottetown 3-1-0-0, Bathurst 1-3-0-0
Head-to-head record for 2013-14:	Bathurst 6-3-0-0, Bathurst 3-5-0-1
Last 5 years between teams:	Bathurst 21-13-3-0, Charlottetown 16-16-1-4
Last 5 years at Charlottetown:	Bathurst 10-8-0-1, Charlottetown 9-9-0-1

Ex-Rocket Gragnani to play for Canada at Spengler Cup

Marc-Andre Gragnani.

Former P.E.I. Rocket defenceman Marc-Andre Gragnani will represent Team Canada at the 2014 Spengler Cup.

The annual event which takes place in Davos, Switzerland by host team HC Davos, will begin its 88th edition runs from Dec. 26-31.

Team Canada has participated in the Spengler Cup since 1983 and have played in the finals 19 times games, winning the championship 12 times. The most recent championship was 2012.

Gragnani has been playing with Bern of the NLA in Germany and has seven goals and 25 points in 31 games.

The Montreal, Que., native was originally drafted in the fourth round, 52nd overall, by the P.E.I. Rocket in 2003.

Gragnani spent four seasons with the Rocket from 2003-2007 scoring 50 goals and 193 points in 256 regular season games. He also added six goals and 18 points in 24 playoff games.

After the QMJHL, Gragnani has spent time in the American Hockey League with Rochester, Portland and Charlotte playing 325 games while also skating in 74 NHL games with Buffalo, Vancouver and Carolina.

Team Canada plays host HC Davos on Friday Dec. 26.

A Look at Quinn O'Brien

Quinn O'Brien. La Frontiere photo.

The Charlottetown Islanders recently acquired forward Quinn O'Brien from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on Friday, but we don't know too much about him.

Let's take a look at everything.

Quinn O'Brien
Age: 19 (Born Jan. 4, 1995)
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height: Six-foot-three
Weight: 210 pounds
Birthplace: Campbell Bay, Que.
QMJHL Draft: 2011, Round 5, 74th overall by Rouyn-Noranda
Jersey Number: 22 (with Rouyn-Noranda)
Twitter: Q_OBrien22

Stats:
2012-2013
GP: 47
G: 4
A: 3
PTS: 7
PIM: 46
+/-: -3

CONFIRMED: Islanders acquire O'Brien from Huskies

Quinn O'Brien. Acadie-Nouvelle photo.

The Charlottetown Islanders have acquired Quinn O'Brien and a draft pick from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

In return, the Islanders send 16-year-old prospect Anthony Wojcik to the Huskies. Charlottetown also receives a 10th-round pick in 2017 in the deal.

O'Brien, who stands six-foot-three and 210 pounds, is in his third QMJHL season. He currently has five goals and seven points in 34 games with the Huskies as one of the team's assistant captains. He has also racked up 82 penalty minutes. O'Brien was a fifth round pick by the Huskies in 2011.

Wojcik was a fourth round, 63rd overall, pick by the Islanders in 2014 and is currently playing Midget Triple A with College Charles-Lemoyne. He has five goals and 14 points in 31 games.

The trade will be made official today by the QMJHL. The trade period comes to a close Jan. 6, 2015.

Trade Period Flashback, 2012-13

Troy Vance

The trading period begins today, Islanders Country will take a look at previous trade period movement made by the Rocket/Islanders.

Please note, seasons 2006-07 and beyond are archived by the QMJHL with full trades.

We will take a look at the 2012-13 trade period.

The trading period opened on Dec. 22, 2012 and came to a a close on Jan. 8, 2013. The Rocket had a 20-14-2-0 record at the start of the trading period.

Only three trades were made the Rocket.

The first trade was made on opening day sending forward Kelly Bent, 17, to Gatineau straight-up for defenceman Anthony Cortese, 18.

Rydstrom, third line powers Islanders to 8-2 thumping over Mooseheads

Filip Rydstrom scored two goals and added three assists to lead the Charlottetown Islanders to an 8-2 thumping over the visiting Halifax Mooseheads Thursday night at Eastlink Centre.

The third line of Rydstrom, Ross Johnston (0-4) and Oliver Cooper (2-2) combined for 13 points and four of the team’s eight goals.

“It feels unreal,” said Rydstrom on his first career five-point game. “It’s a real nice feeling. To finally get something out of it playing with Ross and Cooper, I think we played good for a while and got credit for it now.”

Rydstrom becomes the third Islanders player to pick up five points in a singe game this season.

Cooper said the line kept it simple, which contributed to its success.

“We played our game, just tried to take the puck to the net and we were fortunate enough to get a couple of goals.”

Rydstrom said the line is big and goes out every shift to get better.

“We just tried to play well and the goals rolled in so that’s real nice.”

It is a big win heading into the Christmas break, said Cooper.

“Having a little bit of confidence and feeling good about ourselves. That’s what we wanted to do and we did it so we’re pretty happy right now.”

Cooper enjoyed a four-point game with a pair of goals and assists. He said it felt pretty good.

“I can’t remember the last time I had a four-point night…it’s finally a relief to have one of those games. Just happy we got the win.”

The Islanders head into the Christmas break with a 17-17-1-1 record. The Mooseheads fall to 17-15-2-1 on the season. Charlottetown also won its first game at home against Halifax since Sept. 13, 2013 - last season’s home opener.

RUMOR: Islanders to acquire big forward from Huskies

Quinn O'Brien. Acadie-Nouvelle photo.

The La Frontiere is reporting that the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies will trade 19-year-old forward Quinn O'Brien to the Charlottetown Islanders tomorrow when the trading period opens.

In return, the Huskies will receive 16-year-old prospect Anthony Wojcik and a 10th-round pick.

O'Brien, who stands six-foot-three and 210 pounds, is in his third QMJHL season. He currently has five goals and seven points in 34 games with the Huskies as one of the team's assistant captains. He has also racked up 82 penalty minutes. O'Brien was a fifth round pick by the Huskies in 2011.

Wojcik was a fourth round, 63rd overall, pick by the Islanders in 2014 and is currently playing Midget Triple A with College Charles-Lemoyne. He has five goals and 14 points in 31 games.

The trade period opens tomorrow and comes to a close on Jan. 6, 2015. The trade should be made official tomorrow by the league.

Trade Period Flashback, 2011-12

Matthew Hobbs.

The trading period is approaching so in preparation, Islanders Country will take a look at previous trade period movement made by the Rocket/Islanders.

Please note, seasons 2006-07 and beyond are archived by the QMJHL with full trades.

This edition, we will take a look at the 2011-12 trade period.

The 2011-12 was the Rocket's worst season since moving to Charlottetown. The trading period opened Dec. 19, 2011 and the Rocket was sporting a 8-24-2-2 record. The period came to a close on Jan. 7, 2012.

In a losing season, the Rocket only made two trades during the trade period and made one trade mid-November and another at the beginning of December. We will start from there.

Game day: Mooseheads @ Islanders

Date: Thursday Dec. 18, 2014

Match: Halifax Mooseheads @ Charlottetown Islanders

Where: Eastlink Centre, Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Time: 7 p.m. AST

TV: Webcast

Live Tweets: IslesLive

Pre-game stats:

Last meeting this season:	Dec. 5, CHA 0 @ HAL 5
Next game between two teams:	Dec. 31 in Halifax
Head-to-head record this season:	Halifax 4-1-0-0, Charlottetown 1-3-1-0
Head-to-head record for 2013-14:	Halifax 8-1-0-0, Charlottetown 1-7-1-0
Last 5 years between teams:	Halifax 29-8-0-1, Charlottetown 9-25-2-2
Last 5 years at Charlottetown:	Halifax 15-4-0-0, Charlottetown 4-11-2-2

Regular Season Stats	Halifax Mooseheads	Charlottetown Islanders
Record	17-14-2-1	16-17-1-1
Points	37	34
Standing	3rd Maritimes/9th QMJHL	4th Maritimes/14th QMJHL
Goals For	113	107
Goals Against	125	132
Last 10 games	8-2-0-0	4-6-0-0
Streak	3-0-0-0	1-0-0-0
Last game	Dec. 17, 3-2 W vs. Acadie-Bathurst	Dec. 14, 5-2 W @ Rimouski
Home record	11-5-1-1	9-7-1-0
Road record	6-9-1-0	7-10-0-1
Record scoring first	10-4-2-0	12-4-0-0
Giving up first goal	7-10-0-1	4-13-1-1
Power play	15th - 34/181, 18.8 %	12th - 31/157, 19.7 %
Penalty kill	18th - 114/155, 73.5 %	8th - 128/161, 79.5 %
Points Leader	Nikolaj Ehlers (16-31-47)	Filip Chlapik (16-24-40)
Goals Leader	Timo Meier - 21 G	Daniel Sprong - 18 G Alexandre Goulet - 18 G
Assists Leader	Nikolaj Ehlers - 31 A	Filip Chlapik - 24 A
PIM Leader	Kelly Bent - 78 PIM	David Henley - 71 PIM
Rookie Leader	Maxime Fortier (3-13-16)	Filip Chlapik (16-24-40)
Goalie, Best GAA	Kevin Resop - 4.04 GAA	Mason McDonald - 3.30 GAA
Goalie, Best Save %	Kevin Resop - 0.862 Save %	Mason McDonald - 0.898 Save %

*Zachary Fucale is currently with Team Canada for the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship

Islanders duo to compete in Top Prospects Game

A pair of Charlottetown Islanders forwards have been named to Team Cherry for the 2015 BMO Top Prospects Games in St. Catharines, Ont.

Daniel Sprong and Filip Chlapik are two of 40 CHL players who will participate in the annual event competing in the game who were chosen by the 30 NHL clubs and divided into teams by NHL Central Scouting. This season’s event marks the 20th annual showcase of the CHL’s top-40 NHL Draft eligible players featuring talent from the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League competing before hundreds of NHL scouts in attendance.

The even takes place Thursday Jan. 22, 2015.

Chlapik and Sprong are No. 1 and 2 respectively in team scoring. Chlapik has 16 goals and 40 points in 32 games, while Sprong has 18 goals and 38 points in 35 games.

The pair were both given 'A' ratings as first round NHL Daft prospects by NHL Central Scouting in their November ‘Players to Watch’ list.

Trade Period Flashback, 2010-11

Alex Noel. Acadie-Nouvelle photo.

The trading period is approaching so in preparation, Islanders Country will take a look at previous trade period movement made by the Rocket/Islanders.

Please note, seasons 2006-07 and beyond are archived by the QMJHL with full trades.

We will take a look at the trades the P.E.I. Rocket made during the 2010-11 trade period.

The trading period opened up approximately around Dec. 20 2010 and came to a close on Jan. 6, 2011.

It was actually a fairly quiet trading period for the Rocket, as they made three trades during the trading period and made a trade one week prior.

On Dec. 13, the Rocket acquired 18-year-old forward Olivier Croteau from the Gatineau Olympiques for a 12th-round pick in 2011.

During the first day of the trading period, the Rocket traded forward Cody Linteau, 18, a fifth-round pick in 2012 a first-round Import pick in 2012 to Gatineau for fellow 18-year-old forward Alex Noel, a sixth-round pick in 2012 and a first-round Import pick in 2012.

Ex-Rocket defenceman picks up first pro point

Jimmy Oligny. Photo by The Guardian (Jason Malloy).

Former P.E.I. Rocket defenceman Jimmy Oligny picked up his first professional point last night with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League.

Oligny drew an assist on the game's first and eventual winning goal scored by Viktor Arvidsson at the 17-minute mark of the first period. Oligny was also a plus-two rating in the game.

The Miluakee Admirals are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Nashville Predators and signed Oligny to a one-year AHL contract on June 11, 2014.

In 18 games with the Admirals this season, Oligny has the one assist and a plus-two rating with 23 penalty minutes.

The Rocket drafted Oligny seventh overall in 2009. Oligny played four full seasons with the Rocket from 2009 to 2013, scoring 22 goals and 87 points in 241 games. He played for the Rimouski Oceanic last season scoring seven goals and 36 points in 61 games.

Trade Period Flashback, 2009-10

Marco Cousineau. Sun Journal photo.

The trading period is approaching so in preparation, Islanders Country will take a look at previous trade period movement made by the Rocket/Islanders.

Please note, seasons 2006-07 and beyond are archived by the QMJHL with full trades.

We will look at movement made during the 2009-10 deadline.

At the start of the season the Rocket looked like they were finally ready to contend with an off-season acquisition of Presidents Cup champion and overager Samson Mahbod from the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Their intentions were also clear when they traded a first-round pick in 2011 to the Volts again for overage goalie Marco Cousineau, who was named the Memorial Cup's goaltender of the tournament just months prior.

The 2009-10 season trading period opened up Dec. 19, 2009 and came to a close on Jan. 7, 2010. The Rocket was icing a 20-13-1-3 team at the time of the trading period.

Czechs cut Chlapik

Filip Chlapik scores a shootout goal on Sept. 12, 2014. Darrell Theriualt photo.

Charlottetown Islanders forward Filip Chlapik will be returning to the Islanders.

The 17-year-old was cut from the Czech Republic's national junior team today.

Czechs cuts Zboril, Chlapik, Indrak, Jenys, Prikryl & Vopelka from #WorldJuniors roster. http://t.co/kzOL7lEFP4
— IIHF WJC (@iihf_wjc) December 16, 2014

Chlapik leads the Islanders in scoring with 16 goals and 40 points in 32 games this season. It is going to be huge relief for the Islanders to have its leading scorer back. Fellow QMJHLer Jakub Zboril of the Saint John Sea Dogs was also cut.

It is unknown at this time if Chlapik will be in the line-up on Thursday against Halifax.

Trade Period Flashback, 2008-09

Joel Champagne.

The trading period is approaching so in preparation, Islanders Country will take a look at previous trade period movement made by the Rocket/Islanders.

Please note, seasons 2006-07 and beyond are archived by the QMJHL with full trades.

We will take look at movement made during the 2008-09 trade period.

The trading period opened up on Dec. 20, 2008 and closed on Jan. 8, 2009. At the time of the trading period, the Rocket had a 12-19-3-5 record.

The Rocket’s first deal came on Dec. 20 when they dealt defenceman Danick Malouin, 18, to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan for a third-round pick in 2009.

Malouin was third round pick by the Rocket in 2006 and played in 124 games in two and a half seasons scoring five goals and 22 points.

The next deal, on the same day, saw the Rocket trade 17-year-old Raphael Neiderer to Val-d’Or for 18-year-old defenceman William Beaudoin.

Neiderer was acquired at the previous season’s deadline and played 48 games collecting no points.

Beaudoin finished the season pointless in 23 games with the Rocket and did not play with the team the following season. Their are no recorded stats for where he played in 2009-10.

Two days later, the Rocket traded Mathieu Tousignant and a sixth-round pick in 2009 to Chicoutimi for Joel Champange, 18, defenceman Christopher Guay, 19 and a sixth-round pick in 2010.

Tousignant, who was acquired the previous season, had 14 goals and 38 points in 35 games with the Rocket. Champagne was a Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick and had 10 goals and 21 points with the Sagueneens. He would score 14 goals and 40 points in 24 games with the Rocket that season and, like the last two deadlines, was traded the following trading period. Guay would score two goals and 14 points in 28 games with the Rocket.

On Dec. 31, the Rocket traded captain Matthew Lachaine, 20, and 18-year-old Jeremiah Coon-Come to Val-d’Or for defenceman Jason Legault, 20, and 19-year-old forward Maxime Levesque.

The final deal came during on deadline day when the Rocket traded a second-round pick in 2009 (Rouyn-Noranda) and a third-round pick in 2009 (Acadie-Bathurst) to Rouyn-Noranda for forward Jarrad Struthers, 18.

Analysis:
It wasn't really a strong trading period for the Rocket. They once again managed to sell and buy at the same time.

As mentioned earlier, Champagne would be traded at the 2009-10 trade period, so Rocket would only get two halves of a season out of Champange. Guay was one of P.E.I.'s three overage players the next season and was let go after 41 games and 15 points. Tousignant went pro the following season.

The best trade made this deadline was acquiring Struthers. Struthers played a very gritty game with the Rocket but also had the hands to put the puck in the net. In 21 games to finish off the season with P.E.I., Struthers scored eight goals and 23 points. Sruthers stuck around the entire year in 2009-10 and scored 26 goals and 45 points in 67 games before being moved to Rimouski in the 2010-11 season.

Legault finished his overage season with the Rocket scoring six goals and 17 points in 23 games. Levesque was named an assistant captain, played 26 games scoring eight goals and 18 games. The following season he played CIS.

Neiderer form Beaudoin was no big loss. Neither defencemen turned out great.

Stay tuned for the 2009-10 edition of Trade Period Flashback.

Islanders finish up trip with 5-2 win over top-ranked Oceanic

Daniel Sprong scored a pair of goals to lead the Charlottetown Islanders to a 5-2 win over the league’s best, Rimouski Oceanic, Sunday afternoon at Colisee Financiere Sun Life.

The Islanders end a three-game road trip with a 1-2 record and improve to 16-17-1-1 on the season.

Kameron Kielly and Dexter Weber each chipped in with two assists as Alexandre Goulet, David Henley and Julien Avon also scored goals for the Islanders.

Alexis Loiseau and Samuel Laberge scored for Rimouski.

Charlottetown opened the scoring at the 16:57 mark of the first period with Sprong’s 17th goal of the season. Kielly and Samuel Guilbault drew assists. Shots were 10-7 in favour of the Islanders.

Just 1:03 into the second period, Sprong netted his second goal of the game and 18th of the season for a 2-0 Islanders lead. Kielly and Weber drew assists. Shots were 10-7 once again for Charlottetown.

The Islanders took a 3-0 lead just 50 seconds into the final frame with Avon scoring short-handed for his second tally of the season. Goulet made it 4-0 at 1:45 with his 18th goal of the season. Keith Getson drew the lone assist.

Game day: Islanders @ Oceanic

Date: Sunday Dec. 14, 2014

Match: Charlottetown Islanders @ Rimouski Oceanic

Where: Colisee Financiere Sun Life, Rimouski, Que.

Time: 5 p.m. AST

TV: Webcast

Live Tweets: No Live Tweets

Pre-game stats:

Last meeting this season:	Nov. 23, RIM 8 @ CHA 2
Next game between two teams:	No more games between teams
Head-to-head record this season:	Rimouski 1-0-0-0, Charlottetown 0-1-0-0
Head-to-head record for 2013-14:	Rimouski 2-0-0-0, Charlottetown 0-2-0-0
Last 5 years between teams:	Rimouski 7-4-0-0, Charlottetown 4-6-0-1
Last 5 years at Rimouski:	Rimouski 4-1-0-0, Charlottetown 1-3-0-1