Increased workload
Islanders trade Lund-Cornish to Sherbrooke to give him a chance for more ice time
Dakota Lund-Cornish is looking forward to the opportunity to play more.
The Charlottetown Islanders traded the 18-year-old netminder to the Sherbrooke Phoenix on Wednesday for a pair of draft picks.
“It will be a good chance for me to get into some games and . . . prove myself,” the Upper Tantallon, N.S., native said Wednesday.
The Islanders received a fourthround pick in 2020 and BaieComeau’s ninth-round selection in 2019. Lund-Cornish found out about the deal after Wednesday’s practice. It’s the first time he’s been dealt during his career.
“It’s kind of exciting and scary at the same time,” he said. Lund-Cornish has backed up Matthew Welsh for the past 1 ½ seasons in Charlottetown and was likely to see a similar role for the foreseeable future.
“It’s been a lot of fun playing with Matt and on this team. I learned a lot from him,” LundCornish said while noting he is grateful for the Phoenix for giving him a chance to play more regularly. “It’s nice to have someone that kind of believes in you and knows what you’re capable of.” Lund-Cornish spoke with Phoenix general manager Jocelyn Thibault, a retired NHL goalie, and was in the process of making plans to get to Sherbrooke, Que. The Phoenix leave this morning for Rouyn-Noranda and LundCornish said he is hoping to be on the bus. Lund-Cornish was a thirdround pick (47th overall) of the Islanders during the 2016 draft in Charlottetown. He returned to his Halifax major midget team the following season before making the jump to junior as a 17-yearold. “Dakota is a kid that’s been stuck behind Welshy, and he will be for the next year-and-a-half,” said assistant general manager Guy Girouard. “It gives him a chance to go to another team and get some games in.”
The team is planning on Welsh, who has played the past 3 ½ seasons with the Isles, being one of its three overage players next season.
“Dakota is such a good kid, and he’s been a great soldier. He’s never bitched and moaned, he just came to work every day,” Girouard said. “If anybody deserves a chance, it’s him, so we were able to make that happen.” Girouard said Lund-Cornish was a great teammate and student and always willing to assist in the community for the Isles.
“He’s a really good kid. He’s the kind of guy you want your daughter to marry.” Charlottetown is 23-10-2-1, fourth in the Eastern Conference, while Sherbrooke is 22-13-1-1, third in the Western Conference. Lund-Cornish and 17-year-old Tommy Monette are expected to be the Phoenix goalie tandem moving forward.
The Islanders called up Isaak Pelletier, who was playing junior A in Campbellton, N.B., to fill the backup role. The Isles signed the 17-year-old in November.
“He is someone that has caught our eye this year,” Girouard said. “With this move, it allows us a chance to see what he can do.”
Pelletier, a Saint-Quentin, N.B., native, is 10-3 with a 2.40 GAA and a .924 save percentage this season.
The six-foot-two, 174-pound netminder played major midget with Miramichi and Northern. He has split time with Tristan Gray in the Campbellton crease this season.
The trade window closes on Sunday. Girouard said the team is willing to list if there’s a deal that make sense for the squad.