Islanders to play Remparts

First round matchups set for QMJHL playoffs

The Charlottetown Islanders will play the Quebec Remparts in the first round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs.

It means Remparts forwards Gregor MacLeod and Matthew Grouchy will play against their former teammates. They were dealt to Quebec on Jan. 2 for Derek Gentile and a thirdround pick, which was subsequently flipped to Shawinigan for overage forward Cam Askew.

“You never know what transactions are going to circle back around, so it’s definitely a subplot that adds to (the series) and I’m sure extra incentive for all three kids,” Islanders head coach and general manager Jim Hulton said Sunday night. “We hope that both Gregor and Matthew have good series, but not that good.”

The Islanders took Sunday off and return to practice today.

“They’ll be pretty fired up,” Hulton suggested. “The enthusiasm level will be through the roof. A day of rest and (now) it’s finally here.”

The Islanders knew for the past week they were likely going to play either Quebec or Rouyn-Noranda in Round 1 and were watching tape on both clubs.

With a full week off, the longest stretch since Christmas, the Islanders will have a chance to gradually implement their game plan. Quebec (40-22-3-3) finished eighth in the regular season standings, five points ahead of ninth-place Charlottetown (37-24-7-0).

The Islanders were 1-0-1-0 against the Remparts this season, losing 6-5 in overtime in Charlottetown on Oct. 7 and winning 3-2 in a shootout on Dec. 2 in Quebec.

The Islanders are the only team not to lose in the shootout this season (4-0).

The last time the two teams met in the playoffs was 2015 when the Memorial Cup-hosting Remparts swept the Islanders in the second round.