BOISBRIAND, QUE. - The best season in Charlottetown Islanders franchise history is over.
The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defeated the Isles 6-1 in Game 7 of their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League semifinal Tuesday in a packed rink in Boisbriand, Que.
The top-ranked Armada got off to a good start behind their raucous crowd, scoring twice in the first 5:04.
The Islanders got through the first period down 2-0, but Armada captain Alexandre Alain scored two goals in the first 1:41 of the second period to double the lead and then made it 5-1 at the midway point as hats were thrown onto the ice.
“I think it’s safe to say our tank is empty,” Islanders head coach Jim Hulton said. “We didn’t have the legs to defend early, and as soon as they got the momentum, they never let go.”
Liam Peyton from the doorstep scored for the Islanders 5:40 into the second period.
Drake Batherson made it 6-1 before the end of the second period while Samuel Bolduc opened the scoring.
Emile Samson made 24 saves for the win while Matthew Welsh stopped 34 shots in the loss.
Alain had five points and Barre-Boulet had four.
“There’s a reason why Barre-Boulet was the MVP and Alain just signed a pro contract,” Hulton said. “They came to play.”
The ninth-ranked Islanders turned heads all season. Fans, parents and alumni waited for the team outside the rink to congratulate them on a remarkable season that saw the team go on the deepest playoff run in franchise history. Not bad for a team many pundits said before the season would be one of two teams to miss the post-season dance.
“To push the No. 1 seed to seven games is something we’ll be proud of in time, but when you get this close, obviously, it stings,” Hulton said during the news conference.
It was the last junior game for Pascal Aquin, Olivier Desjardins and Cam Askew.
“Emotions are always very raw in the dressing room right after, particularly with your overages,” Hulton said. “They were such a big part of our group. There’s a lot of tears and a lot of emotion because they care so much.”
The Islanders flew home after the game.
The Armada will face the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, which includes Summerside native Noah Dobson and former Isles forward Mitchell Balmas, in the league final.
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Highlight reel
A look at the statistics from Tuesday’s Game 7 between the host Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and visiting Charlottetown Islanders.
Outcome
Islanders – 1
Armada – 6
Goals
Islanders – Liam Peyton
Armada – Alexandre Alain 3, Samuel Bolduc, Alex Barre-Boulet and Drake Batherson
Assists
Armada – Alex Barre-Boulet 3, Alexandre Alain 2, Pascal Corbeil 2, Charles-Antoine Giguere, Drake Batherson, Joel Teasdale.
Goalies
Islanders – Matthew Welsh, 34 saves on 40 shots.
Armada – Emile Samson, 24 saves on 25 shots.
Power plays
Islanders – 0-for-3.
Armada – 3-for-4.
Faceoff wins
Islanders – 28.
Armada – 30.
Attendance – 3,500.
