CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Charlottetown Islanders have set their opening night roster.
Kevin Gursoy will be the Islanders’ third overage player. The team released Will Sirman on Thursday. The Ontario forwards, who were battling for the same spot, each had a goal and an assist in their only pre-season game.
Gursoy is a little bigger than Sirman and fit a need with his righthanded shot.
“Kevin is a little closer to being a top-six guy but the right shot was the tipping factor,” head coach and general manager Jim Hulton said. “When Kevin is producing offence, when his confidence is high, he can be that top-six player. To me, he just has to stay consistent and I thought that improved over the course of last season.”
The Islanders acquired Gursoy on Aug. 27, 2018, from the Saint John Sea Dogs for a sixth-round pick in 2020. Sirman was a free agent acquisition.
Gursoy, a Windsor native, had 16 goals and 24 assists for 40 points in 62 games last season while Sirman, an Oshawa native, had four goals and 15 assists for 19 points in 49 games last season.
Sirman plans on exploring his options both in Ontario and the Maritimes between junior and university.
Gursoy joins goalie Matthew Welsh and defenceman Brendon Clavelle as the Islanders’ three overage players.
