Charlottetown’s QMJHL team still faces a big hill to climb to get back into contending statusPublished Apr 05, 2025 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 4 minute readRimouski Oceanic defenceman Luke Coughlin, 10, controls the puck during a Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoff game against the Charlottetown Islanders at Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown on April 2. Photo by Mike Bernard /QMJHLThe Charlottetown Islanders made the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) playoffs this past season and might have made this series with Memorial Cup host Rimouski a more competitive one had they not been missing the heartbeat of the team, Ross Campbell, for most of the final series.Unfortunately, a healthy Campbell was not going to stop the lopsided four-game sweep, which came to an end here April 2.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentHead coach and GM Jim Hulton and his associates did well to make the playoffs with a young, inexperienced club, but this series showed the imbalance between the two clubs.Rimouski had 10 players – six forwards and four defencemen, including P.E.I.’s Luke Coughlin – who are NHL draft picks. Coughlin is a standout defender while the Islanders had zero.The Islanders had no first-round pick in Coughlin’s draft year – that’s sometimes the price of a winning-now philosophy. The fact the Islanders challenged for sixth place in early March and were vastly improved from the Christmas break to the end of the season tells me that Hulton and Co. did a commendable job.To draft higher, however, the club will likely have to finish at the bottom of the standings and that’s at the risk of losing fan support and we know from experience how fickle hockey folks can be.Two weeks ago, when the club was battling for sixth place, the crowd neared the 3,500 mark. I’d suggest the Game 3 loss on April 1 was witnessed by about 2,000 fans and on April 2, the figure was a soft 1,700. Many stayed home to watch the Leafs and Florida!Article contentThe Islanders have done well in growing their fan base but to maintain it while losing consistently is a tough act and is what makes major junior such a painful business.The Islanders have some valuable pieces for next year but there’s a big hill to climb to get back into contending status.NHLOn the NHL front, the Toronto Maple Leafs shaded Florida Panthers 3-2 at home April 2 to maintain their hold on first place in the Eastern Conference. Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay have games-in-hand over the Leafs and, in the final week of the regular season, Toronto visits Florida for games against the Panthers and Tampa Bay.The Montreal Canadians are very much alive in the playoff race and I’m hoping for a Toronto versus Montreal first-round series.Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are off to a good start, splitting with Baltimore and sweeping three games from Washington. As, I said previously, the Blue Jays have better pitching than most American League East clubs with the exception of Tampa Bay, which has five solid starters.Article contentThe Jays have a solid bullpen, too, and if Vladimir Guerrero and Anthony Santander start hitting, the Jays will finish no worse than third place.I would like to see George Springer play centre field on a regular basis. He’s a better and smarter outfielder than any of the other ballhawks and has a stronger arm, so let’s not start trying Daulton Varsho in centre.Varsho has a weak throwing arm and is best suited for left field. In addition, why manager John Schneider insists on batting the little tuna, Alejandro Kirk in the fifth spot makes no sense.Kirk has three speedy guys behind him – Ernest Clement, Will Wagner and Alan Roden – and he’s a double-play candidate with men on base. Kirk should be slotted in the No. 8 spot.Clement is the real deal at third, and Springer has rebounded from 2024 and should stay in centre field. Did you notice manager Schneider took in a reliever for his first major-league appearance in a 3-2 game against Washington on March 31 with two experienced relievers in the bullpen?Article contentDon’t ask me why!Harness racingESS RACINGIn harness racing news, the P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners Association’s annual banquet and awards night is April 5 at the Charlottetown Hotel. Shannon (Sugar) Doyle, from Summerside, the popular voice of Western Fair in London, Ont., will be guest speaker. Welcome back to the Island Sugar.The race card at Mohawk was cancelled after eight races on March 29. Earlier in that card, Tobins Chester handled the $24,000 class with ease. On April 5, the Tobin horse has the rail in the $36,000 top class against last year’s colt rival, Merigo Magic – the hottest horse in Ontario right now. Odds On the Capitalism is listed at 2-1 but the Merigo horse gets driver James MacDonald, who loved him last time he drove him.We regret to report the passing of veteran Nova Scotia horseman Robert Phillips, who had been racing on the P.E.I. circuit and stabled at Pinette. He originally looked after horses for the Kevin Harvey stable, but in recent years had a stable of his own. To his wife, Myrtle, and all those connected to this gentleman, our condolences.Fred MacDonald’s column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at fiddlersfacts@hotmail.com. Article content
Charlottetowns QMJHL team still faces a big hill to climb to get back into contending status.
