FIRST LOSS

Cape Breton forward Ty Fournier scores three times in big win in Charlottetown

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles blast Charlottetown Islanders 8-3.

The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles turned a one-goal deficit into a five-goal win in an 8-3 overrunning of the Charlottetown Islanders on Thursday in Charlottetown.

Much in thanks for a hat trick by the Eagles Ty Fournier, who scored in each period of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game, including robbing Isles d-man Pierre-Oliver Joseph of the puck and beating Blade Mann-Dixon in the first for his first goal.

Jake Cougher gave the Isles a 1-0 lead just :37 seconds into the first, but the Eagles countered with two goals in the frame and two more in the second period for a 4-1 edge.

Four more came in the third frame and brought the Eagles first won of the season.

Coughler added a second goal in the third for a team-high six goals, but he said the Islanders didn’t keep the pedal to the metal especially against a hungry team.

“We just let off the gas after we started off good. They were fighting for their first win,” said Coughler. “You can’t let a team (off the mat) like that.”

Cougher and Filip Chlapik netted Charlottetown goals in the third. Islanders assists went to Joseph (2), Kameron Kielly, Cody Donaghey and Balmas (2).

Cape Breton did a good job of not folding after the early goal, and took the play to the Islanders for much of the game after that.

Twice the Islanders scored to cut the lead to 5-2 and 6-3 and twice the Eagles re-established a four-goal lead, and cut into the Isles morale.

“For sure, you think that (goal) is going to be your momentum. It’s deflating, but that’s the game of hockey. We have to shake that one off and get our bodies ready for the next one. 2-2 is tough. Tomorrow is another day.”

Charlottetown dropped to 2-1, while Cape Breton (1-2) got its first win of the season.

And Fournier was happy to get that monkey of the team’s back and praised his teams mental toughness.

“We had that mentality after being down early. WE came back and proved we were ether better team (Thursday). I think we competed for 60 minutes, got contributions for everybody. Everybody worked really hard and we got rewarded for it,” said Fournier, who recorded his first QMJHL hat trick.

As for the hatty, Fournier shot the glory elsewhere.

“It’s something I wouldn’t have done without my teammates. I was just lucky enough to bury the goals.”

Mann-Dixon (1-1) faced 30 in the loss. Kyle Jessiman stopped 36 shots in the win.

Next up , the Isles face AcadieBathurst today in Bathurst, N.B. Game time is 7 p.m.

The next home game is Sunday versus the Halifax Mooseheads. Start time is 3 p.m. at Eastlink Centre.