CORNWALL, P.E.I. – The Charlottetown Islanders have added some experience to its roster as it looks to trim down for opening night.
The Isles acquired 19-year-old left-winger Kevin Gursoy from the Saint John Sea Dogs for a sixth-round pick in 2020. The Islanders also traded defenceman Antoine Leblanc, who had been previously reassigned, to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan for a sixth in 2020 that they will retain.
“A right-shot forward that comes with offensive pedigree,” Islanders head coach and general manager Jim Hulton said in describing Gursoy. “He was a pretty highly sought-after free agent from Ontario a year ago at this time.”
The LaSalle, Ont., native played midget in Windsor, Ont., and in Chatham of the GOJHL, a quality junior B circuit, before scoring 11 goals and setting up seven more for 18 points in 60 games last season with the rebuilding Sea Dogs a year ago.
Gursoy scored his first career goal in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League against the Islanders on Oct. 6 in Charlottetown.
He is a five-foot-11, 176-pound forward, who is good friends with Islanders forward Daniel Hardie from their time with the Sea Dogs. Gursoy is versatile to play any forward position and Hulton expects he can play anywhere in its top nine and on the power play while adding experience to the squad.
Leblanc, Charlottetown’s fourth-round pick (56th overall) in 2017, found himself in a number’s game at training camp.
“Fortunately for us, unfortunately for him, we have a lot of depth back there – especially at that age,” Hulton said. “This is an opportunity to do the right thing for the kid and keep him in the league.”
The acquisition of Gursoy adds another body to the mix up front and likely eliminates one of the jobs that was up for grabs before Sunday morning.
“It’s going to make for some difficult decisions to get to the final roster,” Hulton acknowledged.
The trade period closes Monday at 11 a.m. Atlantic.
The Islanders host the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles today at 4 p.m. at the APM Centre in Cornwall. Gursoy is travelling to Charlottetown and will not play in today’s contest.
