CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – There’s a new kid in town for the Charlottetown Islanders as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club added left-winger Liam Peyton to the roster on Monday.
Peyton played sparingly with Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League before the Rangers put the 17-year-old on waivers last week.
He cleared waivers Monday. For Peyton, whose father and mother are from Goose Bay, N.L., and Halifax, respectively, it’s a new start and a chance to play. Kitchener is 15-9-2 and third overall in the OHL.
“Here, I’m looking forward to the opportunity. Kitchener is a good team and (there wasn’t much room for me). I want to play a bigger role,” said Peyton.
Kitchener drafted Peyton in the sixth round, 118th overall, in the 2016 OHL draft. The Orleans, Ont., native, had no points and two penalty minutes in three games this season and one goal in his only game last year.
He spent most of last season playing junior A hockey with the Glouchester Rangers where he had seven goals and 10 points in 38 games.
It’s not a bad time for him to arrive either, with forward Adam Marsh leaving the team to attend a personal matter, an injury to rookie Nikita Alexandrov (bruised ankle) and a three-game suspension dished out to defenceman and captain Pierre-Olivier Joseph on Monday after a slashing penalty in Cape Breton on Sunday led to a game misconduct.
And Peyton just might work in the Isles lineup of plucky grinders if the six-foot-one, 190-pound forward’s self-described game is as advertised.
“I’m physical, fast, a bigger guy. I can be offensive and play a full game,” he said.
He gets the chance to show that tonight versus the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Game time is 7 p.m. at Eastlink Centre.
“Peyton brings size, grit and youth. He fits our identity,” said Jim Hulton, the Isles head coach and general manager.
