New faces in new places

Islanders bring many questions into new season as main training camp opens

It might be a year of transition for the Charlottetown Islanders, but the head coach of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club is set for the challenge.

“There’s going to be a lot more uncertainty in the lineup than in previous years, but it should make training camp more competitive.

“The level should be healthy,” said Jim Hulton, who doubles as Islanders general manager. “We’ll have to be more patient, do more teaching and I think the staff as a whole looks forward to the opportunity.” The Isles opened main camp Monday as the veterans returned. It had opened camp officially with rookie camp last week.

Last year’s team was built to win with a good mixture of 19-years-olds, younger players and solid 20-year-olds.

And win it did, tallying a franchise-high 46 wins and reaching the third round of the playoffs for the first time in team history.

This year, minus snipers Daniel Sprong (Pittsburgh) and Filip Chlapik (Ottawa) and solid vets in Kameron Kielly, Francois Beauchemin and Guillaume Brisebois (Vancouver), the squad will need younger guys like Keith Getson, Matthew Grouchy, Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Saku Vesterinen to take the lead.

And the 20s will make a difference, too. This year’s crop includes Will Bower, Adam Marsh, Dillon Boucher and Pascal Aquin.

Only three can remain on the roster when the season starts so one has to go. Bower aims for it not to be him, though he admits being in the position has mixed feelings between winning a roster spot and seeing a friend and teammate released or traded.

“Obviously it’s always in the back of your head, but you focus on playing your game. Be a good teammate, be mature and a leader through adversity. Coaches notice those things,” said Bower, a Saint John, N.B., native,

Bower joined the Islanders at the trade deadline from the Moncton Wildcats and finished with five goals and 23 points in 33 games while providing a physical presence at centre.

This season as a 20, he’d like to be of better use on the power play and ramp up his offence if nothing more than for what might come after the QMJHL ends.

“I never try to (think) about (numbers) I’d like to be better on the power play, have more of an offensive edge,” he said. “Keep my options open, have a good year and result in something in the off-season.” High-end prospects centre Brett Budgell and Brad Morrissey, both weighing NCAA options, are expected to make a decision soon on their intentions.

Hulton said he expects a choice from Morrissey this week and Budgell later as his father is away and Budgell wants to wait until he returns and talk with his entire family before making a decision.