CORNWALL – Two players from the Evangeline area made an impact for the Charlottetown Islanders on Sunday afternoon.
Forward Evan Gallant of Abram-Village scored a goal and added an assist, and goaltender Chad Arsenault of St. Raphael stopped all 13 shots he faced in 29:15 of action as the Islanders dropped their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League pre-season opener 4-3 in overtime to the Moncton Wildcats at the APM Centre. Gallant and Arsenault played last season with the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild major midget program.
Summerside native Zach Thususka, who played last season with the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals of the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League), assisted on Gallant’s goal.
Forwards Cameron Roberts, who played last season with the Capitals, and Nick Reeves of Summerside were also in the Islanders’ lineup while defencemen Jordan Spence of Cornwall and Jacob Arsenault of Richmond played for the Wildcats. Spence assisted on the game-winning goal.
Thususka and Roberts, who is from Kensington, are also products of the Wild program while Reeves played with the Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Pride major midget team last season. Spence spent last season with the Capitals, and played with the Pride two years ago. Arsenault is entering his sophomore season with the Wildcats.
Players released
The Islanders issued a media release on Monday morning announcing the following players have been released from training camp:
Forwards Roberts, Reeves, Nathan Kelly, Keiran Gallant and Charles-Olivier Nadeau; defencemen Dell Welton and Nicolas Bourque, and goaltender Tommy Aitken. Forwards Wes Dobbin and Alex Power, along with goaltender Aaron Mercer, made the decision to leave camp.
The Islanders are back in action on Tuesday, when they visit the Wildcats.
