Cataractes vs. Islanders - June 4/22 - Game #1

[countryboy]

It almost seems surreal to be typing this. I'm sure I've probably posted somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000 game day threads. I'm not even sure how long I've been posting on the boards, but I know it's been for the better part of their existence.

It is the eve before our first appearance in the President's Cup final. We've got lots of fans of this hockey team that have been long time supporters of junior hockey on PEI for many, many years. We've experienced our fair share of disappointments and ups and down over the long haul, but the last few years have been a treat to be Islander fans.

But we enter new territory on Saturday night when the Islanders kick off the President's Cup final series. It's been a long time since I've been this pumped up and fixated on a hockey game at any level. The memories of the 2022 playoff run have been great and I hope we can continue to write the story of this team taking home the ultimate prize.

As for the hockey game.... if you look back at game #1 vs. Moncton, Bathurst, and Sherbrooke.... we've looked to kick the doors open in early first period. I think that we'll start with a frantic pace and try to build from the energy of the sold out crowd. Each team will be looking to show they can be dominant in the early minutes of the game on Saturday night.

It should be a fantastic atmosphere at the Eastlink Centre on a Saturday night. I, like most of you, can't wait to get this thing started.

Game time is 7:00. Be sure to soak it all in and enjoy the moment.

[switchback]

It’s like Christmas Eve majority of us posters have waited for what is it now 18 years for this chance. So happy to see both games sold out the players coaches and owners all deserve this and so do us the fans! Hope it’s rocking and hope the boys play Islander hockey missing Sim is going to be tough but I believe in this team and hopefully we the fans can finally be the 7th player these boys deserve go Islanders go!!

[bd]

I think the Islanders and Shawinigan are similar teams. Shawinigan never gave up and managed to come back from being down in multiple. Their 3rd period pushes are pretty impressive. The Islander's don't seem to have any quit in them either. The one time they really struggled they managed to tie and send it to overtime, though lost. They held on to take the series from Sherbrooke. This is going to be an excellent series.

Excited to be part of the atmosphere tomorrow night! Missing Simoneaux is brutal but it's next man up and I think the Islanders can weather the storm.

[yesisaiditfirst]

Energy can be a good thing but so is patience. Players are right to be nervous.

Both Hamilton & Edmonton lost their series openers last night. I'm sure Shawinigan has taken note. It's a 7 game series and game one at home they expect the home team to come out flying with that energy. This is where another team goalie can get hot (and he has been) by feeling his way quickly into game.

With back to back games in a span of 27 hours can be up 2-0 with a stranglehold, or in a deep hole 0-2 very quickly and in tough to recover.

But you gotta love this level of play.

[Deleted]

GAME 1 PREVIEW

The mindset of the visiting team in a best of 7 final using the 2-2-1-1-1 format is usually to go into the first 2 games looking for a split.

With Xavier Simoneau out for Game 1, and considering what he brings as a top line player who often doubles as the Islanders' best faceoff man, the odds are probably better to come in and try to get that win in the opener rather than in Game 2.

I expect the Islanders to come out like everybody else expects - with guns-a-blazin'.

The Islanders will have the energy of the sell-out crowd behind them and even the pregame warmup should be charged.

The Cataractes will very likely be looking to weather the storm - and hoping for an early PP to get the big first goal, but it'll take more than that to take the crowd out of it.

Odds are that the Islanders will win this game convincingly - in a 5-1 or 5-2 manner, but hockey can sometimes be so unpredictable.

Not many are giving the Cataractes a chance to win in the series with the current poll voting showing somewhere around 25-3 this morning - and I fall in that group who think the Islanders will win it in 5 games on home ice.

Strangely, I have a gut feeling that the Cataractes will pick up their only win of the series in Game 1.

"It's a great day for hockey" - Bob Johnson

[Score]

“For us to finally be there, it puts Charlottetown on the map when it comes to major junior hockey,” said Craig Foster, in his eighth year as Islanders president of operations.


Captain Brett Budgell, in his fifth year and the team’s longest-serving player, understands what it means for the Islanders to reach this point.

“It’s huge for the organization, it’s huge for the community and it’s great to see the support from the community,” said Budgell. “It’s going to be a really special series, and it’s important for a lot of people.”


“Just looking at the ticket sales and people lined up as soon as they went on sale (June 2), you could tell everyone is really excited,” said Islanders forward Owen Saye. “We are excited to get going.”


“This place is going to be loud, and we are going to make sure the fans get to experience something that they have never got to experience before,” said Foster. “It’s going to be an event, hopefully, a lot of people will not forget and, hopefully, they will cherish for a long time.”


Knocking at the door

This year marks the fourth time in five playoff seasons – the 2020 post-season was cancelled due to COVID-19 – that the Islanders reached the QMJHL’s semifinals. After losing two of those series in a deciding game, the Islanders defeated Sherbrooke in a four-game semifinal series May 30.

“The moment after we won, it was almost surreal,” said Foster. “We broke through to the finals and have a chance to win a championship.”

With the QMJHL champion advancing to the Memorial Cup in Saint John, N.B., June 20-29, the Islanders have an opportunity to write their own chapter in Charlottetown’s rich hockey history.

“You hear stories of the (Charlottetown Junior) Islanders back in the ‘60s and the stories of the UPEI Panthers back in the late ’80s, early ’90s,” said Foster. “Now the Charlottetown Islanders of the 2020s have been a pretty good team.

“I think a lot of people will look back with fond memories when it’s all said and done.”

[hfxfan09]

Lets Go Islanders bring the President's/Memorial cup back to the Maritimes; 18 year wait very similar to the Mooseheads in 2019 it took 19 years for us to win our first Presidents/Memorial cup. Enjoy the ride!

[ottawarocket9]

Go Isles Go! Old time PEI hockey, lets go! No turning back, pedal to the metal.

[Score]

Expecting huge games from a lot of our team
...Guay, Roy, Cormier, Laaouan, Lepenna.....and especially Budgell.

Longest serving Islander. 4 semi final appearances..... this kid is hungry and wants nothing more then a Championship.

Also, Hulton wants this Championship really really bad. He will have this team ready!

Main thing is, especially missing Simoneau tonight, the players needs much better discipline!!


Let's go Isles!!!!

[bd]

So the races are on tonight as well. With the races, the hockey game, and the tailgate party all happening, parking should be interesting.

[countryboy]

I expect Budgell will spend quite a bit of time on the ice with Bourque and Bourgault. Jim is not a big line matcher, but Budgell is so responsible a player it makes sense to have his line on ice the same time as this dynamic line….another reason we miss Simoneau, but it sounds like Elliot is moving up in the lineup in his absence.

Jun 4, 2022 11:13:31 GMT -4 Score said:

Expecting huge games from a lot of our team
...Guay, Roy, Cormier, Laaouan, Lepenna.....and especially Budgell.

Longest serving Islander. 4 semi final appearances..... this kid is hungry and wants nothing more then a Championship.

Also, Hulton wants this Championship really really bad. He will have this team ready!

Main thing is, especially missing Simoneau tonight, the players needs much better discipline!!


Let's go Isles!!!!

[Deleted]

Jun 4, 2022 11:37:09 GMT -4 bd said:

So the races are on tonight as well. With the races, the hockey game, and the tailgate party all happening, parking should be interesting.

Sounds like some might have a good buzz on before they even drop the puck. Fukk - I wish I was going!

Tailgate party starts at 4 PM - bar service available.

This is the Stanley Cup final of their careers for some of these players. Tickets or not - it should be a good time.

Islanders launch Tailgate Party for QMJHL Finals

Due to the high demand for tickets for Games 1 and 2 of the QMJHL President Cup Finals, the Charlottetown Islanders have announced an official Tailgate Viewing Party presented by Eastlink.

The Tailgate Viewing Party will be held outside the Eastlink Centre (located at the back side near Red Shores Racetrack) and will feature a large LED video board for fans to watch Games 1 and 2 amongst other fans.

In addition, the Tailgate Viewing Party will feature bar service for those that are 19 years or older. Entry to the Tailgate Party is free of charge and is open to all ages.

Picnic tables will be placed around the Tailgate Viewing Party and fans are welcome to bring a lawn chair.

[jordo999]

goodluck!

[countryboy]

Lineup is in....

Leblanc remains out (no surprise) and Simoneau is suspended. Jarrett Todd draws back in after missing the Sherbrooke series due to injury.


Elliott will be moving up the lineup in Simoneau's spot and will play alongside Budgell and Roy.

[Score]