BATTLE OF THE ISLANDS

Cape Breton wins battle of islands with 5-2 victory over Charlottetown

Screaming Eagles skate to 5-2 victory over the visiting Charlottetown Islanders.

Declan Smith notched the second hat trick of his major junior career to the lead the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles to a 5-2 win over the visiting Charlottetown Islands on Sunday.

The hardworking, 19-year-old forward, who was joined on the scoresheet by rookies Brooklyn Kalmikov and Egor Sokolov, scored both the game’s first and last goals in front of a Centre 200 crowd of 2,204.

“He brings it every shift, he doesn’t take a shift off, he just keeps going, keeps going, keeps going,” said Screaming Eagles head coach and general manager Marc-André Dumont.

“There are so many nights that he brings it and doesn’t get the rewards, so it’s nice to see him rewarded tonight with a hat trick.”

While Smith, who hails from the Antigonish area, took home first star honours, he was quick to give credit to his teammates.

“It feels nice to get the goals, but it was a team effort – our team has great chemistry and everyone gets along and that’s not always the case in this league,” said Smith, who also recorded a hat trick in a 7-2 win over the Wildcats in Moncton last January.

After having an 11-game point streak snapped in Friday’s 6-1 loss to the Titan in Bathurst, Cape Breton captain Phélix Martineau rebounded with a pair of assists.

Due to injuries and a suspension, the Screaming Eagles once again played with just five regular defenceman, with forward Gabriel Proulx filling out the rearguard corp.

Kyle Jessiman turned aside 17 of the 19 shots he faced, while Cape Breton directed 24 shots at Charlottetown goalie Dakota Lind-Cornish.

Cape Breton (13-11-1-1) had seven power play opportunities but was unable to score with the man advantage. The Screaming Eagles are back in action on Wednesday when they host the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies at 7 p.m. at Centre 200.

Notes: Injured forward Drake Batherson spent the first period intermission signing autographs in the Centre 200 concourse.

DAVID JALA/CAPE BRETON POST Screaming Eagles forward Declan Smith keeps his head up after dishing the puck into the slot area in front of the Charlottetown goal, while Islanders defenceman Brendon Clavelle chases down the play. The hard-working Smith scored three goals to lead...