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QMJHL: Cape Breton Eagles at Charlottetown Islanders

Cape Breton Eagles at Charlottetown Islanders
February 6, 2021: Cape Breton caught Charlottetown flat-footed in this one, racing out to a surprising 3-0 lead in the first period. The Islanders battled hard to come back in the second and third periods, outshooting Cape Breton 30-12 over that stretch, but the Eagles hung on for a 5-4 win.


Cape Breton draft eligible players

Jeremy LangloisSt-Francois BlizzardQMAAALD6’0″170Cape Breton EaglesSte-Brigitte-de-Laval, QC20032021-2022: B+

Langlois produced some mixed results in this one. On the positive side, he skated the puck out of trouble with ease, and he made a number of nice passes to clear the defensive zone and hold the offensive blue line. On the negative side, he followed the puck carrier away from the net during an Islanders three-on-two in the second period, leaving the slot wide open for Charlottetown’s Cedric Desruisseaux to receive a pass and bury his league- leading 22 nd goal of the season. It was a case of poor awareness, as Langlois left the league’s top sniper all alone in the slot. That being said, Langlois has showed much improved play lately. He’s handling the puck with more confidence, and looks good playing the point on the Eagles’ power play. He’s also doing an improved job of neutralizing opposing forwards in front of the Cape Breton net. Rating: C+

Connor TrenholmCole Harbour WolfpackNSMMHLLF5’11”193Cape Breton Eagles | 2019Halifax, NS2003Not yet rated

This was the grittiest game Trenholm played this season, and it really complimented his skating and hockey sense. In the first period, with the Eagles’ under fire in their zone, Trenholm used his speed to force the Islanders’ defenseman into rushing a shot from the point. Trenholm then dropped to one knee and blocked the shot, then popped back up to coral the loose puck and clear the zone. On a similar play in the third period, Trenholm intercepted a pass at the defensive blue line before feeding linemate Dawson Stairs with a pass that led to the Eagles’ fifth goal of the night. Trenholm was very engaged physically in this game. He both threw and received some heavy hits, and was generally quite difficult to play against. Rating: B+


Charlottetown draft eligible players

Oscar PlandowskiSelects Academy U15T1EHL U15RD6’0″190Charlottetown Islanders | 2019Halifax, NS20032020-2021: B-

Plandowski made some nice plays with the puck, particularly at the offensive blue line when he helped the Islanders maintain possession and continue their comeback attempt in the second and third periods. But he also had some defensive lapses that led directly to Cape Breton scoring opportunities. He did not engage Eagles’ forwards physically in the defensive zone, allowing them too much time and space to make plays or pounce on rebounds. Rating: C+

William TrudeauSaint-Hyacinthe GauloisQMAAALD6’0″190Charlottetown IslandersVarennes, QC2020-2021: C

Much like his defense partner Plandowski, Trudeau struggled at times in this loss. In the third period, he and Plandowski allowed Cape Breton’s Matthew MacDonald to skate directly between them untouched on his way to a breakaway goal. Both d-men were caught napping on the play and failed to react quickly enough when MacDonald rushed the puck up ice. Trudeau did display his usual poise at times, however, such as in the first period when he picked up a bouncing puck behind his net while under heavy pressure from the Eagles. With no clear passing lanes available, he began carrying the puck up the left side boards, absorbed a hit from a charging Cape Breton forward, maintained possession and continued with the puck almost all the way to the blue line, before safety dumping it out of the zone and out of trouble. It was the only safe play available at the time, and Trudeau recognized the opportunity as soon as he corralled the loose puck behind his own net. Rating: C+

Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

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