Sprong signs entry-level contract with Penguins

Daniel Sprong. Photo by Darrell Theriault

Charlottetown Islanders forward Daniel Sprong signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.

The 18-year-old, Amsterdam, Netherlands native was Pittsburgh's first pick at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft at 46th overall.

Sprong led the Islanders in scoring last season with 39 goals and 88 points in 68 games. He added seven goals and 11 points in 10 playoff games.

Charlottetown drafted Sprong 13th overall in the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft. In two seasons with the Islanders, Sprong has collected 69 goals and 156 points in 135 regular season games.

The six-foot, 185-pound winger will suit up for the Penguins in the rookie tournament that takes places in London, Ont., from Sept. 10-13.

Islanders training camp: Sprong benefitting from Penguins development camp

Islanders forward Daniel Sprong says he learned a lot from the Pittsburgh Penguins’ development camp last month.

The Penguins drafted Sprong in the second round, 46th overall, in 2015 NHL Entry Draft in June.

Hearing his named called was something he said you work hard for, for a long time.

“You just hope to go to a team that really likes you and I’m very happy with Pittsburgh and they were very happy to have to me and hopefully in (main) camp I can show what I can do.”

Just two picks later, Sprong’s linemate Filip Chlapik was selected by the Ottawa Senators.

Sprong said he was very happy for Chlapik.

“We went through a lot together during the year being our draft year and even at the NHL combine. He’s a good friend of mine and he’s my roommate on the road.”

Sprong and other prospects of the Penguins attended the team’s development camp from July 14-18 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Penn.

It was a great experience for the Amsterdam, Netherlands native.

“It’s great being part of that organization and seeing everything there and how many tools you have. They guide you and ask for help. It’s an unbelievable organization and I’m very happy to be apart of it.”

With the Islanders, Sprong is participating in his third QMJHL camp after getting drafted 13th overall in the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Sprong was amongst the rookies at Pittsburgh’s camp but is now among the veterans at Charlottetown’s camp this Summer.

It’s a lot different being a veteran in one league and a rookie in another, said Sprong.

“Now being veteran here, you just try to learn from the veteran guys there.”

The six-foot, 183-pound frame has led the Islanders in scoring for the past two seasons. Last season he had 39 goals and 88 points in 68 games.

Handful of Islanders to attend NHL development camps

 Five Charlottetown Islanders players will attend NHL development camps this summer.

Daniel Sprong, Filip Chlapik, Kameron Kielly, Alexandre Goulet and David Henley will all attend development camps.

Sprong and Kielly will be attending the development camp of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sprong was Pittsburgh's 46th overall selection in 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old, Amsterdamn, Netherlands, native scored 39 goals and 88 points in 68 games this season.

Kielly, 18, went undrafted but received a call from the Penguins on Saturday to attend their development camp. Kielly scored 16 goals and 49 points in 67 games, maintaining a plus-one rating.

Kielly announced the news via Twitter.

Not the result I was looking for but still a great day with family and friends and excited to be heading to @penguins camp!

— Kameron Kielly (@Kielly11) June 27, 2015

Only two Islanders players taken in NHL Draft

Filip Chlapik and Daniel Sprong. Photo from Pittsburgh Penguins Instagram.

Only two Charlottetown Islanders players were drafted into the NHL this weekend.

Daniel Sprong and Filip Chlapik were the only two players from the Islands, out of a possible five, to hear their names called Saturday June 27, 2015 in Sunrise, Fla.

Both Sprong and Chlapik were second round picks and just two picks apart.

Pittsburgh Penguins photo.

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Sprong with the 46th overall selection. Sprong, 18, was ranked as the 20th overall North American skater in Central Scouting's final rankings. The Amsterdam, Netherlands native was Pittsburgh's first selection of the draft. Pittsburgh had four picks through seven rounds. Sprong led the Islanders in scoring for a second straight season, scoring 39 goals and 88 points in 68 games.

Two selections later, the Ottawa Senators grabbed forward Filip Chlapik with the 48th overall pick. Chlapik was ranked as the 18th overall amongst North American skaters in the Central Scouting's final rankings. Chlapik, 18, finished his QMJHL rookie season with 33 goals and 75 points in 64 games. The Prague, Czech Republic native's 33 goals and 75 points set a new franchise record for most goals and points in a season by a rookie.

Unfortunately for Islanders players Kameron Kielly, David Henley and Alexandre Goulet, they were not selected.

Kielly, 18, was ranked 83rd, Henley was ranked 95th and Goulet was ranked 166th.

Islanders Country Exclusive: The Sprong Show Highlight Video

Welcome to the exclusive premier of The Sprong Show, a video edited by Nathan A'Hearn.
 


The Sprong Show - Daniel Sprong from Nathan A'Hearn on Vimeo.

Copyright infringement not intended.

The Sprong Show Trailer

Welcome to an Islanders Country exclusive for a trailer of "The Sprong Show."

The Sprong Show is a video edited by Islanders Country's own Nathan A'Hearn who has put together a highlight package of never before seen clips of NHL draft prospect Daniel Sprong.

The full length video will be premiered exclusively on Islanders Country tomorrow at 11 a.m. ADT.

*Copyright infringement not intended*

Three Islanders invited to NHL Combine

Filip Chlapik is ranked No. 18 (North American) by Central Scouting. Photo by Darrell Theriault.

A trio of Charlottetown Islanders players, and NHL draft prospects, have been invited to the 2015 NHL Combine.

Forwards Daniel Sprong, Filip Chlapik and Kameron Kielly will participate in the NHL Scouting Combine which takes place June 1-6 in Buffalo, N.Y.

The three forwards are all ranked by the NHL's Central Scouting for the upcoming 2015 Draft in Sunrise, Fla.

In an earlier article published on NHL.com, NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr said Central Scouting selects the first 70-75 players and then the NHL clubs and scouting directors vote on the remaining players.

"Our goal is to have players at the Combine that the teams want to interview."

Remparts take 5-2 victory in Game 3

Matt Murphy scored the eventual game wining goal and Jerome Verrier scored two as the Quebec Remparts took a 5-2 decision in Game 3 Tuesday night at Eastlink Centre.

Holding a 2-1 lead after two periods, Murphy scored just two seconds after the Islanders killed off a double-minor high sticking penalty to Ross Johnston.

“I thought he fell pretty easily,” said Johnston. “I wasn’t even sure if it was my stick that hit him but anyways coming out of the box after a big kill it hurts. I thought we responded well, just a few bounces didn’t go our way.”

Johnston was called for the double minor with 1:05 left in first period and it carried over the second period.

The Remparts take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“It’s definitely not where we want to be,” said Johnston. “With that being said we are going to regroup and believe in our game come Thursday and take it game-by-game and see what happens.”

Islanders forward Daniel Sprong tallied both goal for Charlottetown. He said the team has faced lots of adversity in the series.

“They want to keep diving and we just got to play our game. We are going to put this behind us and get ready for Thursday night. We know what to do, we know what’s expected. We can’t touch them with our sticks because they’ll be flopping everywhere. We just got to play our game and stay out of the box.”

Handful of Islanders make Central Scouting final rankings

Five Charlottetown Islanders skaters have been listed in Central Scouting's 2015 final rankings among North American Skaters for the upcoming 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Filip Chlapik, Daniel Sprong, Kameron Kielly, David Henley and Alexandre Goulet have been named on the list which includes 211 skaters.

Chlapik is the highest ranked Islanders skater at No. 18. The 17-year-old Czech native set a new franchise record for most goals (33) and points (75) by a rookie in a single season. Charlottetown drafted the centreman with the 11th overall pick in the 2014 CHL Import Draft.

Sprong comes in two spots behind Chlapik at No. 20 overall. Sprong, who turned 18 last month, lead the Islanders in scoring for the second straight season with 39 goals and 88 points in 68 games.

Chlapik and Sprong are both potential NHL first round draft picks.

MacCallum plays hero in Islanders 5-2 win

Daryl MacCallum stood up to occasion making 30 saves to backstop the Charlottetown Islanders to a 5-2 win over the Sherbrooke Phoenix in Game 3 Monday night at Eastlink Centre.

Islanders starter Mason McDonald suffered what appeared to be a leg injury and left the game 4:57 into the contest and did not return. The Islanders had a 2-0 lead at that point.

MacCallum said he was pretty nervous because it was his first playoff game in the QMJHL.

“Once I made the first couple of saves I felt pretty comfortable in net and the team did a great job in front of me.”

MacCallum calls the game the most special he has ever played.

“Playing my first playoff game meant a lot to me.”

The fans were behind him all game, said MacCallum.

“The fans were special. They kept chanting me on and giving me confidence.”

Islanders forward Daniel Sprong said MacCallum came up big.

“He hasn’t played a lot this season but when he plays he has stepped up for us. You never want to see Mase go down like that. He came in great and made great saves. We rallied around him and used it as momentum and we took the game.”

The Islanders now lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 with the next two games in Charlottetown.

Darcy leads Phoenix to 7-3 win to tie up series

SHERBROOKE, QUE. - Cameron Darcy scored five points, including three goals, to lead the Sherbrooke Phoenix to a 7-3 win over the Charlottetown Islanders in Game 2 Saturday evening at Palais des Sports Leopold-Drolet.

The best-of-seven series is tied 1-1 as the scene shifts to Charlottetown for Games 3, 4, and 5.

Daniel Audette enjoyed an offensive night scoring two goals and an assist.

Charlottetown ran into penalty trouble, some calls questionable, as the Phoenix capitalized three times on 10 power play opportunities.

Darcy opened the scoring for Sherbrooke at 5:46 with his first of playoffs. Julien Bahl and Evan Fitzpatrick drew assists.

The Phoenix took a 2-0 lead with Audette’s first of the playoffs at 13:08 with Darcy drawing the lone assist.

In the second period, Daniel Sprong got the Islanders on the board with a power play goal at 6:23 with his third goal of the playoffs. Bradley Kennedy and Ryan MacKinnon drew assists.

Sherbrooke re-gained the two-goal lead with Darcy scoring his second of the game at 14:21 with a power play marker. Jeremy Roy and Tim Wieser drew assists.

On another power play, Audette scored his second of the game at 18:15 for a 4-1 Phoenix lead. Carl Neill drew the lone assist.

Big second period leads Islanders to 8-2 win over Phoenix

SHERBROOKE, QUE., - The Charlottetown Islanders scored eight goals in the second period to tie a QMJHL playoff record for most goals in one period in an 8-2 win over the Sherbrooke Phoenix Friday night in Game 1 at the Palais des Sports Leopold-Drolet.

Charlottetown leads the best-of-seven series 1-0.

Both teams combined for nine goals in the second period after a scoreless first period.

Spenser Cobbold and Daniel Sprong scored pairs of goals for the Islanders as Oliver Cooper (1-2), Filip Rydstrom (1-2) and Ross Johnston (0-3) picked up three points in the win.

Carl Neill (1-1) and Tim Wieser (1-1) tallied goals for the Phoenix.

Sherbrooke was unable to capitalize on a 5-on-3 man advantage in the opening five minutes of the game.

Cobbold started the scoring fest in the second period at the 5:08 mark with his first career QMJHL goal. Quinn O’Brien and Filip Rydstrom drew assists.

Cobbold struck again at the 7:36 mark to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead. Bradley Kennedy and Kameron Kielly drew assists.

Charlottetown made it 3-0 with a power play marker from Sprong at 10:02. Kennedy drew the lone assist.

Islanders clipped 5-3 by Screaming Eagles

Two early second period goals set the tone for the visiting Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in a 5-3 win over the Charlottetown Islanders Friday night at Eastlink Centre.

The Islanders snap a four-game winning streak and remain in the No. 10 overall spot in the standings with a 32-28-1-4 record. The Eagles pick up its third win a row and improve to 30-29-3-3 on the season and are just three points back of the Islanders.

Cape Breton scored two goals in the opening 5:15 of the second period to break a 1-1 tie and then followed it up with the eventual game-winning goal in third period from Phelix Martineau.

Daniel Sprong led the scoring charge for Charlottetown with a goal and an assist. He said the bounces went Cape Breton’s way in the second period.

“We just came back hard in the third. We had chances in the third but unfortunately they couldn’t go in.”

Islanders forward Bradley Kennedy agreed it was lucky bounces for the Screaming Eagles.

“That’s what happens. When they’re up by two goals it’s hard to battle back.”

Daniel Sprong named second star of the week

Daniel Sprong. Photo by Darrell Theriault.

Charlottetown Islanders forward Daniel Sprong was named the second star of the week by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today.

The week is for the period of March 2 to 8, 2015.

Sprong, 17, scored six goals for 11 points in four games, but held a minus-two rating. On Monday March 2, Sprong scored a pair of goals and an assist in a 5-4 shootout loss at home to the Moncton Wildcats. Then on Wednesday March 4, Sprong scored a goal and an assist in Cape Breton. Sprong added another goal and an assist on Friday March 6 in Halifax. Sprong wrapped up the week with two goals, including the overtime winner, and two assists in Acadie-Bathurst on Sunday. It was the first-four point game of Sprong's career.

The native of Amsterdam, Netherlands leads the Islanders in scoring with 35 goals and 78 points in 63 games, which sits him 18th overall in league scoring.

Nikolaj Ehlers of the Halifax Mooseheads was named the first star of the week and Chicoutimi Sagueneens' netminder Julio Billia was named the third star of the week.

Mooseheads take two important points from Islanders

The calls just weren’t in the favour of the Charlottetown Islanders in a 2-1 loss to division rival Halifax Mooseheads Saturday night at Eastlink Centre.

With the loss, the Islanders fall two points and a spot back of the Mooseheads in the Maritimes Division with a 28-25-1-3 record. The Mooseheads improve to 28-23-4-2 on the season and are now third in the Maritimes Division.

“You can’t really bank on games that don’t go your way with the ref,” said Islanders captain Ryan MacKinnon. “That’s something you can never control.”

It is tough and frustrating, said the 20-year-old, Summerside, P.E.I., native.

“That stuff gets you away from your game and that’s what killed us tonight. Once we focused on our game I felt we executed well. A lot of negatives but we can take a lot of positives out of the game too. We have to be optimistic about it.”

It was a tough loss, said Daniel Sprong who scored the Islanders’ lone goal.

“That means Wednesday when we play Moncton we just got to win and get those points back. We just have to keep playing Islanders hockey and we should be fine.”

Taking a look At Islanders' impressive January: Part 1

Last Month Keys To Success Check

1) Improved Save Percentage - Check

2) Keep out-shooting opposition early - Check

3) Veteran players continue to take pressure away from first line - Check

Month By Month Performance

Feedback: 

Islanders hockey is coming off of its best statistical month this season.  The power play has improved for the fourth consecutive month.  Penalty killing for the third, and the best GF/GA differential this season.  January also boasts the first month where the Isles consistently out-shot its opponents in the early going with a Estimated Fenwick Close of 53.154.  The question, however is how much of this can be sustained going forward.

Shot & Saves Analysis

The differentials are slimmer than what they were in December but that is not cause for alarm.  This team has been shifting from routinely getting out shot to one that is doing more of the shooting, even on losses.  Shooting percentage was down this month from its' season average of 10.48 per cent. 

Trend: Save percentage

Mason McDonald saw his best month as a QMJHL goalie in January.  Posting numbers of 2.30 goals against average and .922 save percentage including one shutout.  McDonald played a key role in reducing this teams goals against average which helped them gain points on eight of eleven games.

PIM & HIts

Charlottetown averaged almost nine less penalty minutes a game in January with an average of 14 and saw the number of hits increasing to 18.54 (Up 2.3).  Less penalty minutes means less work for the penalty kill crew had a great month.

Special Teams

Power Play

Sprong - Chlapik - Goulet - Kennedy - MacKinnon

Johnston - Kielly - Cooper - Deschenes - Weber/Thompson

The Power Play has been very respectable the last two months.  Utilizing the opportunity to play four forwards against the lessened risk of a goal against has allowed coach Gordie Dwyer the opportunity to have forward Daniel Sprong play among the best offensive facilitators this team has to offer.  The first power play unit has been very successful this past month while the second has chipped in on occasion. The result?  Charlottetown now has the seventh best power play in all the QMJHL

Penalty Kill

Getson - Quinn - MacKinnon - Rioux - Legault

Quinn - Rydstrom - Henley - Weber

Cobbold/Getson - Quinn - Thompson/MacKinnon - Henley

As mentioned earlier,  Charlottetown for at least one month was able to significantly diminish the amount of penalty minutes occurred by the team.  The result?  A penalty kill that works more effectively because it works less often. The penalty kill has almost always been respectable unless it is at home.  Charlottetown owns the sixth best Penalty Kill in the QMJHL and is first overall on the road. 

Islanders drop Foreurs 4-3

The ‘Road Warriors’ were back at it again - this time in Val-d’Or, Que.

Kameron Kielly scored a goal and an assist to the lead the visiting Charlottetown Islanders to a 4-3 win over the Val-d’Or Foreurs Saturday evening at Centre Air Creebec.

The win is Charlottetown’s sixth-straight while on the road in Quebec and has compiled an 8-3-0-0 record when playing on the road in Quebec. Charlottetown also improves to 27-21-1-3 on the season. Val-d’Or falls to 22-22-3-5.

The first period ended scoreless with the Foreurs leading in shots 14-8.

Fast forward to the 5:36 mark of the second period where Daniel Sprong’s 27th goal of the season opened the scoring to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead. David Henley and Kameron Kielly drew assists.

Henley was playing in his hometown for the first time since being traded by the Foruers last season.

Val-d’Or tied the game at 11:17 with former Islander Alexis Pepin netting his 14th goal of the season. Jan Mandat and Yan Dion drew assists.

Islanders begin road trip with 5-1 win over Cataractes

Daniel Sprong’s three points and Mason McDonald’s 39 saves led the visiting Charlottetown Islanders to a 5-1 victory over the Shawinigan Cataractes Thursday night at Centre Gervais Auto.

Charlottetown picks up a win in its first game of a three-in-four road trip and improve to 26-21-1-3 on the season. The Cataractes fall to 27-20-1-2.

It didn’t take long for the Islanders to draw first blood as Oliver Cooper found the back of the net just 16 seconds into the contest for his 12th of the season. The goal was unassisted.

The Islanders increased their lead at the 11:44 mark with Ross Johnston’s eighth goal of the season. Spenser Cobbold and Cooper drew assists.

Shawinigan held a 20-8 advantage in shots.

Shawinigan replaced starting goaltender Antoine Samuel with 20-year-old Marvin Cupper to begin the second period.

The Cataractes cut the Islanders lead in half with a power play goal at 6:50 from Gabriel Slight for his 12th of the season. Alexis D’Aoust and Anthony Beauvillier drew assists.

McDonald’s 40 saves not enough for Islanders in 6-2 loss to Sagueneens

The bounces weren’t in the Charlottetown Islanders’ favour Friday night in a 6-2 loss to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens at Eastlink Centre.

“It sucks,” said Islanders netminder Mason McDonald who made 40 saves in the loss. “Coming out with some momentum from last night we expected big things. We came out flat and I didn’t think we played to our full potential.”

The Islanders fall to 25-21-1-3 on the season after beating the league’s fourth best team 24 hours earlier. The 16th place Sagueneens improve to 20-21-3-2.

Islanders forward Daniel Sprong scored a pair of goals for the Islanders. He said Chicoutimi isn’t a bad team.

“They work hard and we knew that coming in. They’re in 16th place but they don’t play like a team that’s in 16th place. We got outworked today and that’s it.”

McDonald said the loss wasn’t a case over confidence for the Islanders.

“I think we just came out flat. After that third goal it took the momentum out of the team and the building and from there it went down hill.”

It’s a disappointing atmosphere in the dressing room after a loss like that, said Sprong.

“We got embarrassed at home. They outworked us. We got to to get back to work and get ready for our Quebec road trip.”

Islanders skate to 5-1 win over Drakkar

A four-goal second period and some lucky bounces helped the Charlottetown Islanders to a 5-1 win over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar Thursday night at Eastlink Centre.

Islanders defenceman Guillaume Rioux-Legault scored the game winning goal at 12:40 of the second period to help the Islanders improve to 25-20-1-3 on the season. The Drakkar snaps a five-game winning streak and falls to 27-14-5-2.

The win feels good, said Rioux-Legault.

“We just came back from a big road trip in Quebec and feels good to come out with a big two points tonight.”

The team started off slow in the second period but rebounded at the mid-way point, said Rioux-Legault.

“We just talked and said we should go back to simple things and it worked.”

Coming into the game, the Drakkar was ranked No. 10 in the most recent BMO CHL Top 10 Rankings.

Rioux-Legault said it is a huge win and shows a lot of character from the Islanders.

“We can beat any team in this league so far.”