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Charlottetown Islanders

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Charlottetown Islanders
Islanders de Charlottetown
CityCharlottetown, Prince Edward Island
LeagueQuebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
DivisionMaritimes
Founded1999
Home arenaEastlink Centre
ColoursBlack, harvest gold and white
     
General managerJim Hulton
Head coachJim Hulton
Websitecharlottetownislanders.com
Franchise history
19992003Montreal Rocket
20032013P.E.I. Rocket
2013–presentCharlottetown Islanders

The Charlottetown Islanders are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They are members of the Maritimes Division, and play their home games at the Eastlink Centre.

History

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Logo as the PEI Rocket

Originally located in Montreal, and called the Montreal Rocket, the team relocated to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in 2003. They were named after Maurice "Rocket" Richard of the Montreal Canadiens, and their team crest depicted his number, 9.[1]

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 future NHL star goaltender Corey Crawford.[2]

Beginning in the 2013–14 season, the Rocket rebranded as the Charlottetown Islanders.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

On June 29, 2015, the Islanders hired Jim Hulton as head coach after Gordie Dwyer was relieved of his duties as head coach.[7]

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.[8]

On June 4, 2016, the Charlottetown Islanders hosted the 2016 QMJHL Draft, a first for the franchise since 2006 when they were known as the P.E.I. Rocket.[9]

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.[2]

On May 30, 2022, the Islanders won their third round series to make their first-ever appearance in the President's Cup Final. This also marked the fourth time in the previous five playoffs that the team reached the third round.[10]

Players

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Retired numbers

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  • 9 Maurice Richard (Montreal Rocket, DNP)
  • 22 Pierre-André Bureau (P.E.I. Rocket, 2000–2005)[11]

NHL alumni

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The following players have played in at least one National Hockey League (NHL) game as of the 2023-24 season:[12][13][14]

NHL first round draft picks

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List of first round selections in the NHL Entry Draft:[15]

Year # Player Nationality NHL team
2017 23 Pierre-Olivier Joseph (D) Canada Canada Arizona Coyotes

Season-by-season results

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  • 1999–2003 Montreal Rocket[16]
  • 2003–2013 P.E.I. Rocket[17]
  • 2013–present Charlottetown Islanders[18]

Regular season

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OTL = Overtime loss
SL = Shootout loss

Season Games Won Lost Tied OTL SL Points Pct % Goals
for
Goals
against
Standing
1999–00 72 29 32 6 5 - 69 0.479 276 313 3rd West
2000–01 72 24 35 7 6 - 61 0.424 249 310 4th West
2001–02 72 23 39 8 2 - 56 0.389 198 243 4th West
2002–03 72 32 27 5 8 - 77 0.535 256 261 3rd West
2003–04 70 40 19 5 6 - 91 0.607 251 189 3rd Atlantic
2004–05 70 24 39 7 0 - 55 0.393 198 260 4th Atlantic
2005–06 70 25 38 - 4 3 57 0.373 221 304 7th East
2006–07 70 36 28 - 2 6 80 0.514 278 250 4th East
2007–08 70 30 36 - 2 2 64 0.425 243 287 7th East
2008–09 68 26 32 - 5 5 62 0.382 229 243 6th Atlantic
2009–10 68 35 25 - 2 6 78 0.515 215 224 4th Atlantic
2010–11 68 33 26 - 3 6 75 0.551 217 220 4th Maritimes
2011–12 68 19 43 - 2 4 44 0.324 205 320 6th Maritimes
2012–13 68 41 23 - 3 1 86 0.632 262 229 3rd
Telus Maritimes
2013–14 68 21 39 - 3 5 50 0.368 186 256 Tied 4th
Telus Maritimes
2014–15 68 35 28 - 1 4 75 0.551 226 243 2nd Maritimes
2015–16 68 35 26 - 5 2 77 0.566 227 232 4th Maritimes
2016–17 68 46 18 - 4 0 96 0.706 303 214 2nd Maritimes
2017–18 68 37 24 - 7 0 81 0.596 209 219 3rd Maritimes
2018–19 68 40 21 - 4 3 87 0.640 233 211 2nd Maritimes
2019–20 64 33 26 - 5 0 71 0.555 197 205 3rd Maritimes
2020–21 40 35 5 - 0 0 70 0.875 197 89 1st Maritimes
2021–22 68 48 13 - 7 0 103 0.757 283 179 1st Maritimes
2022–23 68 26 33 - 6 3 61 0.449 189 267 4th Maritimes
2023–24 68 26 34 - 6 2 60 0.441 208 267 5th Maritimes

Playoffs

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Season 1st round 2nd round 3rd round Finals
1999–00 L, 1–4, Drummondville
2000–01 Did not qualify
2001–02 L, 3–4, Hull
2002–03 L, 3–4, Sherbrooke
2003–04 W, 4–1, Quebec L, 2–4, Moncton
2004–05 Did not qualify
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 Did not qualify
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 due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
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
2023–24 L, 0–4, Baie-Comeau

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Charron, Cam (August 22, 2012). "Prince Edward Island hockey team no longer named after Montreal legend". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "A third round we have been waiting for". Canadian Hockey League. Charlottetown Islanders. April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "New Era Begins with Charlottetown Islanders". Canadian Hockey League. May 27, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  4. ^ 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 October 14, 2014.
  5. ^ "Charlottetown Islanders unveiled at news conference". Pictou County News. May 27, 2013. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  6. ^ "Remparts sweep series". Canadian Hockey League. Charlottetown Islanders. April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "Hulton named as Head Coach". Canadian Hockey League. Charlottetown Islanders. June 29, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "Charlottetown Islanders break QMJHL record for shots in a period with 32". Imgur. March 30, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  9. ^ Malloy, Jason (June 5, 2015). "UPDATE: Charlottetown to host 2016 QMJHL Draft". Saltwire. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Isles make franchise history as they secure their spot in the President Cup Finals". Canadian Hockey League. Charlottetown Islanders. May 31, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "The Rocket retire Pierre-André Bureau's #22". CHL.ca. February 8, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  12. ^ "Montreal Rocket (QMJHL) Alumni". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  13. ^ "Prince Edward Island Rocket (QMJHL) Alumni". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) Alumni". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  15. ^ "Charlottetown Islanders Drafted Player History". Hockey-Reference. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  16. ^ "Montreal Rocket Statistics and History [QMJHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "Prince Edward Island Rocket Statistics and History [QMJHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  18. ^ "Charlottetown Islanders Statistics and History [QMJHL]". HockeyDB. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
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