Charlottetown Islanders
CityCharlottetown, Prince Edward Island
LeagueQuebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
DivisionMaritimes
Founded1999
Home arenaEastlink Centre
ColoursBlack, harvest gold and white
     
General managerJim Hulton
Head coachJim Hulton
Websitecharlottetownislanders.com
Franchise history
1999–2003Montreal Rocket
2003–2013P.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.

History

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

  • 9 Maurice Richard Montreal Rocket
  • 22 Pierre-André Bureau P.E.I. Rocket (2000–2005)

NHL alumni

Team captains

  • 1999–2000 Edo Terglav (42 games); Francis Emery (15 games); Yann Joseph (9 games)
  • 2000–01 Edo Terglav (70 games); Michael Lambert (1 game); Jordan Trew (1 game); Jean-Michel Boisvert (1 game)
  • 2001–02 Marc Villeneuve
  • 2002–03 Pierre-André Bureau
  • 2003–04 Pierre-André Bureau
  • 2004–05 Maxim Lapierre
  • 2005–06 David Laliberté
  • 2006–07 David Laliberté (67 games); Marc-André Gragnani (1 game)
  • 2007–08 Pierre-Luc Lessard (37 games); Bryan Main (21 games); Geoff Walker (8 games); Matthew Lachaine (5 games)
  • 2008–09 Matthew Lachaine (27 games); Maxime Provencher (25 games); Joël Champagne (16 games)
  • 2009–10 Jean-Philippe Mathieu
  • 2010–11 Travis McIsaac
  • 2011–12 Matthew Hobbs, Josh Currie
  • 2012–13 Josh Currie
  • 2013–14 Jack Nevins (41 games)
  • 2014–15 Ryan MacKinnon
  • 2015–16 Quinn O'Brien, Oliver Cooper
  • 2016–17 Guillaume Brisebois
  • 2017–18 Pierre-Olivier Joseph
  • 2019–20 Brendan Clavelle
  • 2020–21 Brett Budgell
  • 2021–22 Brett Budgell
  • 2022–23 Keiran Gallant
  • 2023-24 Michael Horth

Yearly results

Regular season

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

SeasonGamesWonLostTiedOTLSLPointsPct %Goals
for		Goals
against		Standing
1999–0072293265-690.4792763133rd West
2000–0172243576-610.4242493104th West
2001–0272233982-560.3891982434th West
2002–0372322758-770.5352562613rd West
2003–0470401956-910.6072511893rd Atlantic
2004–0570243970-550.3931982604th Atlantic
2005–06702538-43570.3732213047th East
2006–07703628-26800.5142782504th East
2007–08703036-22640.4252432877th East
2008–09682632-55620.3822292436th Atlantic
2009–10683525-26780.5152152244th Atlantic
2010–11683326-36750.5512172204th Maritimes
2011–12681943-24440.3242053206th Maritimes
2012–13684123-31860.6322622293rd Maritimes
2013–14682139-35500.368186256Tied 4th Maritimes
2014–15683528-14750.5512262432nd Maritimes
2015–16683526-52770.5662272324th Maritimes
2016–17684618-40960.7063032142nd Maritimes
2017–18683724-70810.5962092193rd Maritimes
2018–19684021-43870.6402332112nd Maritimes
2019–20643326-50710.5551972053rd Maritimes
2020–2140355-00700.875197891st Maritimes
2021–22684813-701030.7572831791st Maritimes
2022–23682633-63610.4491892674th Maritimes

Playoffs

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

See also

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.
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