Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Islanders/Rocket Finally Moving On

For the first time since 2004, the Charlottetown Islanders/PEI Rocket have advanced to the second round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs.

The Islanders booked their ticket to the league’s quarterfinals with a 4-3 overtime victory in Sherbrooke last night. Spenser Cobbold scored at 13:34 of OT to give the Isles a 4-2 series win over the Phoenix.


Making the series win even more impressive was that fact that goaltender Mason McDonald, a Calgary Flames prospect, hasn’t played since game three due to an injury. Backup Daryl MacCallum has been superb in relief.
Charlottetown was the lower seed entering the series but finished only three points back of Sherbrooke.

The series win has been a long, long time coming for the Islanders and their fans. The fact that the Sea Dogs didn’t even exist the last time Charlottetown/PEI won a playoff series is a good indication of that.

The Islanders feature former Sea Dogs Oliver Cooper and Will Thompson.

The only second round matchup that has been confirmed so far is Gatineau-Rimouski. The Olympiques, who were the league’s hottest team entering the playoffs, upset the No. 3 seeded Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in six games.

Moncton, Baie-Comeau, Val-d’Or and Charlottetown have all advanced but are waiting to see who their opponents will be. The first round ends tonight with two game sevens: Halifax is in Shawinigan and Cape Breton is in Quebec City.

The Screaming Eagles forced a game seven with a 4-3 overtime win last night.


The Remparts, this year’s Memorial Cup host, won’t play again until May 21 if they are eliminated tonight.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

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