Charlottetown Islanders

Last updated
Charlottetown Islanders
CharlottetownIslanders.PNG
City Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
League Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
DivisionMaritimes
Founded1999
Home arena Eastlink Centre
ColoursBlack, harvest gold and white
   
General manager Jim Hulton
Head coach Jim Hulton
Website charlottetownislanders.com
Franchise history
19992003 Montreal Rocket
20032013 P.E.I. Rocket
2013–presentCharlottetown Islanders

The Charlottetown Islanders are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, the Islanders play their home games at the Eastlink Centre, which has 3,717 arena seats.

Contents

History

Logo as the PEI Rocket PEI Rocket.svg
Logo as the PEI Rocket

Originally located in Montreal, Quebec, and called the Montreal Rocket, the team relocated to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in 2003. They were named after the legendary Maurice Richard (known as the Rocket) of the Montreal Canadiens, and their team crest depicted his number, 9.

In their first season on PEI, the Rocket won 40 regular season games and made it to the second round of the playoffs, where they lost in six games to the Moncton Wildcats led by goalie Corey Crawford.

After that, the franchise would not win a playoff series for another 11 years.

Beginning in the 2013–14 season, the Rocket rebranded as the Charlottetown Islanders. [1]

President and governor Serge Savard Jr. confirmed on April 17, 2013, that the QMJHL had contacted the Rocket two days earlier with a proposal to buy the struggling franchise. Savard said he intended to accept the offer, somewhere in the area of $3.5 million, unless he was able to find a local buyer or buyers for the team. Savard said league commissioner Gilles Corteau had given him until April 26 to secure a buyer. One interested group intended to relocate the team to Sorel, Quebec. [2]

However, an ownership group led by Geoff Boyle agreed to purchase the team, ensuring its future in Charlottetown for 2013–14 and beyond. The new Islanders logo and colour scheme was unveiled on May 27. [3]

In the 2014–15 season, for the first time since the franchise's inaugural season as the PEI Rocket, the Charlottetown Islanders advanced to the second round of the QMJHL playoffs, after defeating the Sherbrooke Phoenix 4–2 in the first round. However, in the second round, they were eliminated by the Quebec Remparts 4–0.

On June 29, 2015, the Islanders hired Jim Hulton as head coach after Gordie Dwyer was relieved of his duties as head coach.

On March 29, 2016, the Islanders set a new QMJHL record for most shots on goal in one period of a playoff game with 32. The previous record was 30, shared by four teams.

On June 4, 2016, the Charlottetown Islanders hosted the 2016 QMJHL Draft, after doing the same thing back in 2006 when they were named the P.E.I. Rocket.

On April 13, 2017, the Islanders advanced to the third round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, eliminating the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles four games to none in the second round.

On May 30, 2022, the Islanders won their third round series to make their first-ever franchise appearance in the President's Cup Final. This also marked the fourth time in the previous five playoffs that they reached the third round.

Players

Retired numbers

NHL alumni

Team captains

Yearly results

Regular season

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season GamesWonLostTiedOTLSLPointsPct %Goals
for
Goals
against
Standing
1999–00 72293265-690.4792763133rd West
2000–01 72243576-610.4242493104th West
2001–02 72233982-560.3891982434th West
2002–03 72322758-770.5352562613rd West
2003–04 70401956-910.6072511893rd Atlantic
2004–05 70243970-550.3931982604th Atlantic
2005–06 702538-43570.3732213047th East
2006–07 703628-26800.5142782504th East
2007–08 703036-22640.4252432877th East
2008–09 682632-55620.3822292436th Atlantic
2009–10 683525-26780.5152152244th Atlantic
2010–11 683326-36750.5512172204th Maritimes
2011–12 681943-24440.3242053206th Maritimes
2012–13 684123-31860.6322622293rd Maritimes
2013–14 682139-35500.368186256Tied 4th Maritimes
2014–15 683528-14750.5512262432nd Maritimes
2015–16 683526-52770.5662272324th Maritimes
2016–17 684618-40960.7063032142nd Maritimes
2017–18 683724-70810.5962092193rd Maritimes
2018–19 684021-43870.6402332112nd Maritimes
2019–20 643326-50710.5551972053rd Maritimes
2020–21 40355-00700.875197891st Maritimes
2021–22 684813-701030.7572831791st Maritimes
2022–23 682633-63610.4491892674th Maritimes

Playoffs

Season1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
1999–00 L, 1–4, Drummondville ---
2000–01 Missed playoffs
2001–02 L, 3–4, Hull ---
2002–03 L, 3–4, Sherbrooke ---
2003–04 W, 4–1, Quebec L, 2–4, Moncton --
2004–05 Missed playoffs
2005–06 L, 2–4, Acadie–Bathurst ---
2006–07 L, 3–4, Acadie–Bathurst ---
2007–08 L, 0–4, Saint John ---
2008–09 L, 1–4, Moncton ---
2009–10 L, 1–4, Saint John ---
2010–11 L, 1–4, Shawinigan ---
2011–12 Missed playoffs
2012–13 L, 2–4, Val-d'Or ---
2013–14 L, 0–4, Halifax ---
2014–15 W, 4–2, Sherbrooke L, 0–4, Quebec --
2015–16 W, 4–2, Rimouski L, 2–4, Shawinigan --
2016–17 W, 4–0, Baie-Comeau W, 4–0, Cape Breton L, 1–4, Blainville-Boisbriand -
2017–18 W, 4–3, Quebec W, 4–0, Halifax L, 3–4, Blainville-Boisbriand -
2018–19 L, 2–4, Cape Breton ---
2019–20 QMJHL playoffs cancelled
2020–21 Bye W, 3–0, Acadie–Bathurst L, 2–3, Victoriaville -
2021–22 W, 3–0, Moncton W, 3–0, Acadie–Bathurst W, 3–1, Sherbrooke L, 1–4, Shawinigan
2022–23 L, 0–4, Quebec ---

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League</span> Sports league in Canada

The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League. Officially the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League until 2023, the league includes teams in Quebec and the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordie Dwyer</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Gordon Rick Dwyer is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played five seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens. He is the head coach and General Manager of the Acadie–Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moncton Wildcats</span> QMJHL team in Moncton, New Brunswick

The Moncton Wildcats are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1995–96 season, known as the Moncton Alpines for one season, and as the Wildcats since. The team played at the Moncton Coliseum from 1995 until 2018, and moved into the Avenir Centre for the 2018–19 season. After winning the 2005–06 QMJHL championship, the team hosted the 2006 Memorial Cup. The Wildcats also won the 2009–10 QMJHL championship, which sent the team to compete in the 2010 Memorial Cup in Brandon, Manitoba. They were eliminated from contention after going winless in the round robin portion of the tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laval Titan</span> Ice hockey team

The Laval Titan was one of the names used by a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) franchise that played in Laval, Quebec, Canada, between 1971 and 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. John's Fog Devils</span> Former Canadian junior ice hockey team

The St. John's Fog Devils were a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 2005 to 2008. They were based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and played at Mile One Centre. The QMJHL expanded to St. John's to fill the void created by the departure of the American Hockey League's St. John's Maple Leafs, when the Maple Leafs moved to Toronto, Ontario, as the Toronto Marlies after the 2004–05 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montreal Rocket</span> Ice hockey team in Montreal, Quebec

The Montreal Rocket were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for four seasons from 1999 to 2003, based out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team was named in honour of Montreal Canadiens great Maurice "Rocket" Richard. The smoke from the rocket in the logo forms the number 9, which was Maurice Richard's jersey number.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxim Lapierre</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Maxim Lapierre is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. Drafted out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), he was selected 61st overall in 2003 by the Montreal Canadiens. He spent parts of his first three professional seasons with the Canadiens' minor league affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL), before playing his first full NHL season in 2008–09.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc-André Gragnani</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Marc-André Gragnani is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played with Djurgårdens IF then of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He spent four-and-a-half seasons playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Portland Pirates. He also played half a season with Vancouver before signing with Carolina as a free agent. On July 3, 2015, Gragnani signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New Jersey Devils for whom he appeared four times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlottetown Abbies</span> Ice hockey team in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

The Charlottetown Abbies were a Junior "A" team based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They played in the Maritime Junior Hockey League. Their home rink from 2003 to 2008 was the MacLauchlan Arena on the campus of UPEI. Before then, it was the Charlottetown Civic Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Laliberté</span> Ice hockey player

David Laliberté is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played 11 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) while a member of the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2009–10 season.

The 2003–04 QMJHL season was the 35th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league continued to expand to new eastern markets, with teams relocating to Maine and Prince Edward Island. Conferences were abandoned and teams were divided into three divisions by geography. Sixteen teams played 70 games each in the schedule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1969–70 QMJHL season</span>

The 1969–70 QMJHL season was the first season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Eleven teams formed the new league, ten from Quebec and one from Ontario. Eight teams came from the Quebec Junior Hockey League, the Drummondville Rangers, Quebec Remparts, Saint-Jérôme Alouettes, Shawinigan Bruins, Sherbrooke Castors, Sorel Éperviers, Trois-Rivières Ducs and Verdun Maple Leafs; two from the Metropolitan Montreal Junior Hockey League, the Rosemont National and Laval Saints; and the Cornwall Royals from the Central Junior A Hockey League. The teams played 56 games each in the schedule.

The 1972–73 QMJHL season was the fourth season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The summer of 1972 saw the departure of the Saint-Jérôme Alouettes and the Verdun Maple Leafs from the league, reducing the circuit to eight teams. In an off-season lawsuit between the QMJHL and the OHA, the QMJHL gained a team, when the Montreal Junior Canadiens transferred leagues.

The 2009–10 QMJHL season was the 41st season of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The regular season, which consisted of eighteen teams playing 68 games each, began on September 10, 2009, and ended on March 14, 2010.

The 2012–13 QMJHL season was the 44th season of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The regular season consisted of eighteen teams playing 68 games each, began on September 20, 2012, and ended on March 17, 2013. This was the Sherbrooke Phoenix's first season in the league.

The 2013–14 QMJHL season is the 45th season of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The regular season consisted of 18 teams playing 68 games each, beginning on September 12, 2013, and ending on March 15, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Sprong</span> Dutch ice hockey player

Daniel Sprong is a Dutch professional ice hockey forward for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Sprong was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft after playing two seasons with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and made the Penguins immediately after being drafted, though he would return to the QMJHL and play two more seasons with the Islanders. He played parts of four seasons with Pittsburgh and their American Hockey League affiliate before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks in 2018, where he spent two seasons before being traded to the Washington Capitals in 2020. He was traded to Seattle in 2022. He signed with the Detroit Red Wings in 2023.

Guillaume Brisebois is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

The 2020–21 QMJHL season was the 52nd season of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The regular season began on October 2, 2020, and ended on April 18, 2021.

The 2021–22 QMJHL season was the 53rd season of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The league returned to a full 68-game regular season beginning on October 1, 2021, and ending on May 1, 2022.

References

  1. Reid, Nolan (September 21, 2012). "Rocket Thrash Wildcats 6–2 in Home Opener". P.E.I. Rocket. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
  2. Reid, Charles (April 17, 2013). "Savard family hangs for sale sign on P.E.I. Rocket". Cape Breton Post . Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
  3. "Charlottetown Islanders unveiled at news conference". Pictou County News. May 27, 2013. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved 2014-10-14.