CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Keith Getson is pumped to play tonight’s game as the Charlottetown Islanders look to extend their hockey season.
The Islanders host the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in Game 6 of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League semifinal at the soldout Eastlink Centre at 7 p.m. The Armada holds a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“What more could you ask for?” Getson said Sunday morning before the team’s optional skate. “At the start of the season, if you told us we’d be in Game 6 at home to take it to a Game 7 to go to the championship this year, I’m pretty sure we’d take it.”
All but a couple of players were on the ice this morning and the team is healthy heading into the must-win game. While the players know the significance of the game, they appear loose, but determined, as they have all season.
“It’s win or go home,” Getson acknowledged, “but I think you still have to be loose at the same time. You have to play the way, and act the same way, you have all season. If you act different then, the other team has the advantage.”
Head coach Jim Hulton echoed the assistant captain’s comment, noting the team is enjoying the ride and looking forward to tonight’s opportunity.
“We’re not looking at it as tension or nerves or anxiety, I think it’s the complete opposite: It’s fun,” he said. “To have the building pumping and rocking just adds to that excitement. You can feel the buzz in the community.”
And the Islanders have had their backs against the wall before. They went to the third period in a tie game with the Quebec Remparts in Game 7 of the first-round series only to score six goals and win 8-3.
“It teaches you to stay in the moment,” Hulton said. “What’s done is done, don’t worry about that.”
There has been little separating the Islanders and Armada this series. Four of the five games have been decided by a goal, including two in overtime at the Eastlink Centre, while the opener was a 3-1 final, but was 2-1 game with 1:15 to play when the Armada scored a power-play goal to seal the win.
“We know it’s going to be a close game tonight and we’re ready for that,” Getson said. “We’re ready for the challenge.”
Many hockey observers have noted the Eastlink Centre was the loudest it has been in recent memory for Games and 4. More of the same, if not a bit more, is expected tonight.
“The atmosphere here has been unbelievable and the atmosphere up there has been really good too,” Getson said, “so we need the fans to be going tonight and I’m sure they will be.”
Hulton said the key for his team is to feed off the energy, but stay within itself.
“We have to walk the line,” he said. “Our discipline has been extremely good in this series. . . discipline over emotion has to be the key phrase here tonight.”