Forward Donovan Arsenault carries the puck into the offensive zone for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in a Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League game against the Charlottetown Islanders at Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown. After playing the last five seasons in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, Arsenault is excited to return to his home province and suit up with the UPEI Panthers for the 2025-26 Atlantic University Sport Men’s Hockey Conference season. Photo by Jason Simmonds /Guardian fileArticle contentDonovan Arsenault is thrilled to be returning home to play hockey.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 contentThe six-foot-two, 205-pound forward, from Richmond, P.E.I., has committed to the UPEI Panthers for the 2025-26 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Men’s Hockey Conference campaign. Arsenault played with five teams in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) over the past five seasons.Article contentArticle contentArticle content“I’m really excited,” Arsenault told The Guardian in a recent phone interview. “I’ve been off-Island for quite some time now, leaving my second year (U15), and then my Q career kind of had me all over Quebec.Article content“It’s really nice to be back on red dirt and I just hope I can bring some of my game to UPEI.”Article contentArsenault played with Rouyn-Noranda, Gatineau, Acadie-Bathurst (now Newfoundland Regiment), Baie-Comeau and Val-d’Or in the QMJHL. The move home is welcome news for Arsenault’s parents, Brian and Tracy.Article content“It’ll be good to see them more often,” said Arsenault. “My parents don’t usually miss a game. They’re usually watching it online and my grandparents as well.Article content“It’ll be nice to get to see them at the rink a little more often and just getting to see everybody from back home, too, is going to be nice.”Article content Forward Donovan Arsenault, 17, tracks the play as a member of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in a Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League playoff game against the Charlottetown Islanders at Eastlink Centre in March. The Drakkar recently traded Arsenault to the Val-d’Or Foreurs. Photo by Jason Simmonds /The GuardianArticle contentHigh-end playerArticle contentPanthers head coach Forbie MacPherson described Arsenault as a high-end player who UPEI showed a great deal of interest in recruiting.Article contentArticle content“The Arsenault family has a lot of hockey players in the stable there,” said MacPherson. “It’s a family I know pretty well, and I’ve tracked for a number of years.”Article contentArticle contentMacPherson said discussions with Arsenault went well right off the bat.Article content“When I sat down the first time with Donovan, he showed an extreme amount of interest to come back home to Prince Edward Island to play for a few years,” said MacPherson. “Our conversations went very well right from the start, and we are really excited, obviously, to get him on board.”Article contentSizeArticle contentMacPherson said the six-foot-two, 205-pound Arsenault will add much-needed size to the UPEI roster. As well, noted MacPherson, Arsenault has an ability to generate offence and score goals.Article contentArsenault is coming off his best season in the QMJHL, which included 24 goals and 54 points in 64 regular-season games with Val-d’Or.
P.E.I. player excited to join UPEI mens hockey team
