ISLANDERS ROOKIE GOALIE READY FOR DEBUT
Rookie Dakota Lund-Cornish makes his first start Friday for the Islanders
The Eastlink Centre is starting to hold a special meaning to Dakota Lund-Cornish.
The Charlottetown Islanders drafted the Upper Tantallon, N.S., native in the third round of the 2016 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft, which they hosted, and the rookie goalie found out Wednesday morning he will get his first junior start Friday on home ice against the Saint John Sea Dogs. Game time is 7 p.m.
“It was pretty cool when I got drafted here, and now I get to play my first game here. It’s really awesome,” Lund-Cornish said.
“It’s definitely something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time, ever since I got drafted, just getting the first (game) under the belt.”
Lund-Cornish, 17, attended training camp last season before going back to play for the Halifax McDonalds major midget squad.
“I think it definitely helped. I learned a lot about myself and grew mentally stronger,” he said.
Lund-Cornish was one of Jim Hulton’s first draft picks after adding the duties of general manager to his head-coaching role.
Hulton said he had a good season in midget hockey last year and earned his spot on the roster this season with a good training camp. The team’s coaches decided to get Lund-Cornish his first start in the friendly confines of the Eastlink Centre as opposed to on the road last week.
“We wanted him to get a few more practice reps and we think he’s ready,” Hulton said.
At six-foot-four and 196 pounds, people have drawn some comparisons between Lund-Cornish and another Halifax netminder, who manned the Isles’ crease.
“From a distance, he certainly looks like Mason (McDonald),” Hulton said. “He’s a big guy that covers a lot of net. He’s very sharp and crisp in his movements.”
Lund-Cornish has been on the bench for the first five games this season as third-year Matthew Welsh has carried the load. He has a 1.99 goals-against
average and a .926 save percentage this season.
“He responded with flying colours. He’s played extremely well,” Hulton said.
Welsh knew Lund-Cornish from working with the same goalie coach in Halifax and training at the same gym.
“I’ve seen him progress a lot since the start of camp, so I’m excited for him and I think he’s going to do just fine in his first game,” Welsh said. “He’s really skilled for his age and he has a lot of potential.”
Welsh said he remembers being very excited, yet nervous, during his first start in the league, which resulted in a 20save shutout of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Sept. 12, 2015.
“When the puck drops, you’re really anxious to get that first save,” Welsh said.
Lund-Cornish is appreciative of having a supportive coaching staff and a veteran like Welsh to lean on.
“He’s definitely a really good role model,” he said.
“I’ve seen him progress a lot since the start of camp, so I’m excited for him and I think he’s going to do just fine in his first game. He’s really skilled for his age and he has a lot of potential.” Matthew Welsh on fellow Islanders goalie Dakota Lund-Dakota