Charlottetown 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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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, a first for the franchise since 2006 when they were known as 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 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.

Players

Retired numbers

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

NHL alumni

The following players have played in at least one National Hockey League (NHL) game as of the 2023–24 season:

* Nikita Alexandrov
* Antoine Bibeau
* Samuel Blais
* Guillaume Brisebois
* Filip Chlapik
* Ryane Clowe
* Lukas Cormier
* Josh Currie
* Hunter Drew
* Marc-André Gragnani
* Ryan Graves
* Ross Johnston
* Pierre-Olivier Joseph
* Maxime Lagace
* David Laliberté
* Maxim Lapierre
* Pascal Leclaire
* Nicolas Meloche
* Andrej Nestrasil
* Louis Robitaille
* Daniel Sprong

NHL first round draft picks

List of first round selections in the NHL Entry Draft:

Season-by-season results

*1999–2003 Montreal Rocket
*2003–2013 P.E.I. Rocket
*2013–present Charlottetown Islanders

Regular season

OTL = Overtime loss

SL = Shootout loss

Playoffs

See also

* List of ice hockey teams in Prince Edward Island

References

External links

*

QMJHL Arena Guide profile

{{Charlottetown

2003 establishments in Prince Edward Island
Ice hockey teams in Prince Edward Island
Ice hockey clubs established in 2003
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League teams
Sport in Charlottetown