PEI Senators Alumni

Tony Cimellaro

"I loved PEI. You can't beat playing in a Canadian city with amazing people. Our home opener the first year was special because it was the first big league game on the Island. Also, I stay in touch with a couple of guys off that team so great friendship created."

Tony Cimellaro played 3 years of OHL hockey with his hometown Kingston Raiders/Frontenacs were he blossomed into a prominent scorer. In his final year of junior hockey, playing in Belleville, the undrafted prospect potted 39 goals and 83 points in only 48 games. His play garnered the attention of scouts and on July 30, 1992 he was signed as a free agent by the n

ewly iced Ottawa Senators hockey club.

Cimellaro spent the majority of the 92/93 season with Ottawa's AHL franchise, the New Haven Senators. He put up decent numbers and earned himself the thrill of a lifetime when he was called up for what would be the only 2 NHL games of

his career.

After putting up 34 pints for New Haven as a rookie, Cimellaro's sophomore year was a disappointment. In 19 games with the PEI Sens Tony only managed to squeak in

1 goal. When the opportunity for a fresh start arose he jumped at the chance. "I had been contacted by the team in Italy

a few years earlier and since I had my Italian passport and they were offering a decent contract and possibly playing for the National team I thought it would be a great opportunity." Cimellaro would spend the next 5 years circling around Europe with various clubs.

In 1998 he returned to North America as a player/coach for the Waco Wizards of the Western Professional Hockey League. He spent a year and a half with the club and when the league folded he was signed into the UHL. He finished the season, and ultimately his hockey career, with the Adirondack IceHawks.

In 2003 Tony was hired as Assistant Coach for his hometown Kingston Frontenacs. He remained in that position for 7 years and has just recently accepted a new post as Assistant Coach for the Queens University hockey team.

Guy Gadowsky

"I had a great time and really loved the area. Playing in the AHL in the maritimes was awesome. The people are very knowledgeable and appreciative of good hockey, and they treated all of the players very well."

When asked to describe what kind of player he was the Princeton Tigers hea

d coach replied, "one that was a better coach than a player."

Born in Edmonton, Guy elected to play college hockey in the United States. From 1985-89 he suited up for the Colorado College Tigers. He was a Western Collegiat Hockey Association All-Star 3 times and captained Colorado in his senior year, graduating with an economics degree.

Eager to keep playing hockey and explore the world, Gadowsky traveled to Sweden and played 3rd division hockey, scoring 32 goals in only 30 games. After a year in the Nordic country he returned to North America, making stops in San Diego, Richmond and St. John's. In 1993 Guy departed for Europe once again, this time playing in Austria.

During the 1994/95 season the PEI Senators were short of players due to numerous call ups from the Ottawa Senators. PEI head coach Dave Allison, who had coached Gadow

sky in Richmond, called Guy and asked if he would be willing to fill a spot on PEI roster. Gadowsky agreed and

arrived in Charlottetown just after Christmas. He finished the season in PEI, playing in 38 regular season games and 10 playoff contests. Guy went on to play one more season of pro hockey, in Fresno, before announcing his retirement.

Almost immediately after stepping off the ice as a player Gadowsky took his place behind the bench as a head coach. He coached the Fresno Falcons of the WCHL for 3 years and then moved to college hockey as bench boss of Alaska-Fairbanks. Both clubs saw overwhelming success under Gadowsky and he earned coach of the year honors in each league.

For the past 6 years Guy had been excelling in his biggest position yet, as head coach of the Princeton Tigers hockey team. In 2008 he lead the team to an Ivy League championship and won the league's coach of the year honors, giving him the award in every league he has coached in. The Princeton hockey program has flourished under Gadowsky and 21 of his players have gone onto play pro hockey, including 3 NHLers.

Carl Valimont

"I remember that my son, who is 15 now, was born in PEI in March of 1994. I remember getting stuck on the ferry and being iced in the harbor. It was a good team

although we missed the playoffs. Management was great. It was difficult to travel from PEI, so I was not surprised that the franchise did not last too long."

Carl Valimont was an incredible all around athlete. In high school he was named MVP of the soccer and hockey teams while also being and instrumental part of the lacrosse club. Every team finished with winning records, the hockey team going 22-2-2 and soccer team outscoring its opponents 44-15. His contributions didn't go unnoticed and he was recruited by the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. In the summer of 1985 he was drafted 193rd overall by

the Vancouver Canucks. Valimont decided to stay in University and patrolled the blue line for UML from 1984-88. In his final year with the club he captained the team to its first ever NCAA Division 1 tournament and was named a Hockey East All-Star. Valimont graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing to go along with his Most Valuable Defensive Player Award.

Carl entered the pro hockey scene with the Milwaukee Admirals and was a big presence on their blue line until 1993. he played in 393 games for the Admirals over his career, the fourth most in franchise history. Midway throug

h the 1993/94 season he was traded to the Senators. Carl played in 32 games for PEI and the following season he was signed away by the Houston Aeros. Valimont played 3 more pro seasons of hockey in North America before finishing his career in Germany. He never played an NHL game.

After his retirement Valimont took up coaching and has been a successful high school hockey head coach in Wisconsin for the past 8 years.

Islanders in the 'Q'

Over a dozen Islanders appeared in Quebec Major Junior Hockey action this season.
Brandon Gormley: The most publicized Islander in the QMJHL, Gormley had another solid season with the Moncton Wildcats. In his second season with the club his offensive numbers skyrocketed and he was an instrumental part of the Wildcats team who won the QMJHL title and participated in the Memorial Cup tournament. He won the Mike Bossy trophy as the league’s top professional prospect and was also named a QMJHL second team All-Star. Brandon entered the NHL draft as one of the top prospects and was drafted 13th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes. Unless he has an unbelievable training camp for the Coyotes Gormley is expected to return to the Wildcats next season. He is also expected to received strong consideration from the 2010 World Junior Hockey Team selection committee.

Randy Cameron: The 2010 QMJHL champion Moncton Wildcats had another Islander who was a vital part of their success. In his last QMJHL season Cameron was a point per game player in both the regular season and playoffs. In Moncton’s run to the league championship he potted 13 goals in only 21 games. To go along with his superb offensive skill Cameron is also a good two way player and is praised for his defensive efforts. A 2007 Detroit Red Wing draft pick, Cameron was not signed by the team and his future remains uncertain.

Cole MacMillan: Younger bother of Anaheim prospect Logan and son of NHLer Bob MacMillan, Cole spent the majority of the season with the Summerside Capitals of the MJAHL. He was recalled by the Moncton Wildcats for 7 regular season games and tallied no points. When he was recalled again mid way through QMJHL playoffs he did not disappoint. With 4 points in 9 games he contributed to the Wildcats President Cup winning season. He also played a regular shift when Moncton challenged for the Memorial Cup. Cole is also a star soccer player, Wildcat coach Danny Flynn commented on his future, “we're hopeful that he'll make a full-time commitment to the Wildcats next season because he brings a lot of good things to the table. He's certainly indicated he's leaning towards dedicating himself to hockey." (Full Story)

Will Johnston: The 6'3", 210 lb tough guy made his QMJHL debut this year when he was recalled on two separate occasions by the Saint John Sea Dogs, playing in a total of 5 regular season games. He scored one goal and engaged in a fight with Kalin Paul of the Screaming Eagles, a match he won unanimously. The former Shawinigan Cataractes draft pick was acquired by Saint John this summer. He lead the MJAHL in penalty minutes this season with 224. Johnston also appeared in additional 9 post season games for the Sea Dogs putting up no points. With teams only allowed a limited number of 20 year olds on their roster it is unlikely that Johnston will play in the Q next year.

Brendan Wright: The PEI Rocket tough guy and fan favorite played 50 games this year tallying 85 penalty minutes. Wright scored 1 goal and 3 points all year but wasn’t expected to contribute offensively. The 6.01, 210 lb right winger played with his body and fists. He will be remembered for his bone crunching body checks and exciting fights. The Rocket already have a slew of over agers so expect to see Wright pounding away in another league next year.

Chris Doyle: Although Doyle put up solid offensive numbers this year his season was riddled with controversy when he was charged with assault in late September (Full Story). The long time PEI Rocket was traded to the Victoriaville Tigres midway through the season and put up 36 points in 29 games with his new club. He also helped the Tigres reach the third round of the QMJHL playoffs. Although he is a New York Rangers prospect his future remains uncertain largely due to attitude problems.

Josh Currie: The PEI Rocket rookie had an exceptional season. Injuries limited him to 49 games but he still netted 9 goals and 15 points. At times he was the best player on the ice and he will undoubtedly be back in Charlottetown next year. He has a bright future ahead of him in the Q.

Brent Andrews: This season was largely a learning experience for the Halifax Mooseheads rookie. Brent contributed 16 points while playing on a weak Mooseheads team. The 16 year old forward was invited to Team Canada’s under 18 training camp this summer. His role is expected to get bigger for Halifax as he continues to develop.

Jordan Costello: Jordan made his QMJHL debut with Halifax and played a minor role on the team. He was a healthy scratch for much of the season and appeared in only 32 games as he also suffered from a broken thumb that required surgery. The hard working left winger scored one goal and two points. With Halifax expected to ice a young team next season it is unlikely that Costello will return.

Dylan McGuigan: After breaking his hand during training camp McGuigan finally made his QMJHL debut late into the season. Dylan was recalled from the Truro Bearcats in January and played so well that he was immediately put on the roster for the remainder of the season. He did not score any points in his 14 games with the Mooseheads but impressed coach Cam Russell with his physical play. McGuigan’s debut also marked an interesting moment for the 3 Islanders on the Halifax team. McGuigan, Jordan Costello and Brent Andrews were not only teammates before playing in Halifax but they were all linemates for the Conrwall Thunder major midget team. McGuigan is expected to suit up for Halifax again next season.

Morgan Ellis: In his second season with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Ellis won the team’s most improved player award. He was a solid presence on the blue line all year and also contributed 29 points to the team’s offense. He capped off a great year by being selected by the Montreal Canadiens in this years NHL draft. A born leader, Ellis was already named Cape Breton’s team captain for next season.

Jordan Moore: The defenseman made his Q debut this year when he played 45 games for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. He was a depth player for the Titan and tallied 3 points and 19 penalty minutes through his first major junior season. He was recently traded to the PEI Rocket were he will probably assume the same role as he did with the Titan, a depth player.

Matt Boyle: The 20 year old Defenseman played his final Q season for the Lewiston Maineiacs. The veteran of over a 100 games with the Moncton Wildcats was traded to Lewiston last August in order to make room for other overagers. In Lewiston he anchored the teams defense and also contributed 17 points through 62 regular season games. When the Maineiacs were eliminated from the QMJHL playoffs, Boyle was contacted by the Texas Brahmas of the Central Hockey League and played his made his professional hockey debut while he suited up in 6 playoff games for the club. His future remains uncertain but playing minor pro hockey is certainly an option.

Travis McIsaac: The centerman played his third season of hockey in Victoriaville. Since his rookie season with the club he has double his point production each season and this year he amassed an impressive 57 points in 68 games. He continued scoring into the post season and helped the Tigres make it all the way to the third round as he added 7 goals and 13 points in 16 games. McIsaac will be returning to PEI next year as he was recently traded to the Rocket. McIsaac will be expected to contribute leadership and put up strong offensive numbers next season.

MacMillan Traded To Flames

The Anaheim Ducks have traded Charlottetown native Logan MacMillan and their 7th round pick in the 2013 NHL draft to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Jason Jaffray and Vancouver’s 7th round pick in the 2013 NHL draft.
MacMillan was a first round pick of the Ducks in the 2007 NHL draft. The son of Island legend Bob MacMillan, Logan’s stock fell sharply this year with lackluster performance. After a unimpressive training camp he was sent directly to the ECHL to play with the Bakersfield Condors. Through 30 games in Bakersfield and 7 with the Abbotsford Heat of the AHL he only managed to put up 6 points. Poor play wasn’t the only problem MacMillan faced this year. In January he was arrested and charged for drunk driving. Full Story.
Hopefully Logan can put last season behind him and look at the trade as a fresh start. The Flames don’t expect him to challenge for a spot on the NHL roster but a good training could land him a spot in the AHL for further development.

Logan's Stats

Former Rocket: Riku Korpinen

Riku Korpinen came to the PEI Rocket via the 2004 European draft and dawned a Rocket jersey for 62 games during the 04/05 regular season. He responded to a few questions about his time on the Island.
What kind of hockey player would you call yourself?
I always considered myself as a defensive defenseman. I was never too good with the puck but I was a pretty good skater.

What was it like coming to PEI as a European? Was it hard adjusting to life in PEI and North American hockey?
At first I was pretty nervous about going to PEI for a hole season but the people there were so friendly and nice that I had no problems adjusting. The biggest thanks goes to my billet family. Their house felt like a home away from home straight away. The Hockey was were it got tricky. The hockey in North America is way faster and more physical than here in Finland. For the first couple of months it felt like I was never going to be as fast or as strong as the guys there but when I got used to it, it was ok.

What was your overall experience with the PEI Rocket?
The Rocket were a great team to play for. We had a lot of great guys playing for the team that year. The organization was fantastic also. It felt like I was playing for a professional team.

PEI Rocket NHLers

Maxim Lapierre is undisputably the most successful player to come out of the PEI Rocket organization. Maxim has been a depth player in the Montreal Canadiens dressing room ever since he left PEI and has already amassed over 300 NHL games. If you watched the Canadiens Cinderella run during the 2010 NHL playoffs then you likely saw Lapierre banging away in the corners as he played all 19 playoff games, scoring 3 goals. Maxim was chosen by the Habs in the 2nd round, 61st overall, in the 2003 NHL entry draft. He was a fan favorite and scoring threat during his junior career with the Rocket and was captain of the team during his final year of junior. He joined the Hamilton Bulldogs, Montreal’s AHL farm club, for the 05/06 season and got his first and only taste of NHL action that season on February 15, 2005 when he was called up to play against the Florida Panthers. Lapierre was not a one game wonder and he would split time between the Bulldogs and their parent club until finally cracking the Canadiens roster towards the end of the 07/08 season. He has been a fixture on the team ever since and is currently negotiating a new contract with the club.
Marc-Andre Gragnani became the second PEI Rocket alumni to play in an NHL game when he suited up for the Buffalo Sabres on February 23rd, 2008 in a contest against the New York Rangers. Gragnani would go on to play in one more NHL contest that year and dawned the Sabres jersey 4 more times this season. Gragnani was chosen by the Sabres in the 3rd round, 87th overall, during the 2005 NHL entry draft. He would go on to play 2 more seasons of junior hockey after the draft to go along with the two he already had under his belt, all of these being with the PEI Rocket. Gragnani signed his first professional contract in the summer of 2007 and other than his brief call ups he has been a staple on the Sabres AHL team. An offensive defenseman in PEI, he was quickly switched to a forward position when he turned pro. Gragnani has been consistently putting up solid numbers in the AHL and the Sabres have high expectations for his future. If he has a strong camp this summer expect to see him play many more NHL games next year as the Sabres continue to have high expectations for him.
David Laliberte made his NHL debut on October 13th, 2009, with the Philadelphia Flyers were he made an immediate impact, scoring one goal and recording one assist in a 6-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Laliberte captained the Rocket during the 06/07 season and scored a team record 50 goals throughout the year. Injuries, however, forced him to take the long road to the NHL. A 4th round, 124th overall pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2004 NHL draft, Laliberte’s back injury limited him to only about half the games he should have played in his final three years of junior in PEI. The Flyers decided to send him to the ECHL to start the 07/08 season and with 24 points in 27 games as a rookie he was promoted to the AHL team were he continued to improve over the next two years. He played 11 regular season games for the Flyers his past season and even got a chance to play on the team’s first line along side Mike Richards and Dan Carcillo. He appeared in one first round playoff game against the New Jersey Devils and was on hand through the Flyers improbable run through to the Stanley Cup Finals. Laliberte has impressed the Flyers so much that he may land himself a roster spot on next years team.
Jonathan Boutin made his one and only NHL appearance with the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 25th, 2008 when he dressed as backup goalie against the Florida Panthers. Picked by the Lightning in the 3rd round, 96th overall, in the 2003 NHL draft, Boutin suited up for 50 games with the Rocket in parts of two seasons with the club. After graduating from junior hockey he played 4 seasons with 7 different North American minor league teams. His sole appearance in the NHL as a backup goalie came under interesting circumstances. Tampa Bay goalie Mike Smith sprained his knee during the morning of March 25th. The Lightning quickly recalled Marc Denis to backup Karri Ramo that night but Denis would not make it on time due to him being on recall waivers. So, on an emergency basis, the Lightning gave Jonathan Boutin the opportunity of lifetime. For 3 periods of NHL hockey he was awarded the best seat in the house as his services were never needed since Ramo and the Lightning cruised to a 3-1 win. Boutin was returned to Norfolk the next day. He currently plays in Europe and is unlikely to see time in the big leagues ever again.


Viacheslav Trukhno: The Next Rocket Alumni?

PEI Principal Reflects on time in the "Q"

Now Principal of Stonepark Intermediate School in Easter PEI, Norman Beck was once a pretty good hockey player. In an interview he reflects on his time as a player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League were he suited up for the Sherbrooke Castors and Laval Voisins.


Height: 6'0

Weight: 190 lbs

Position: Center / Left Wing

Date of Birth: 24 Jan 1961

Shoots: Left

How did you end up playing in the QMJHL with the Castors? Were you drafted or did you sign a contract? Do you remember any of the details?

Originally I got scouted by Sherbrooke at the Wrigley (National Midget Championships) in Moncton. Then when I played Junior A the following year, they spoke to me again in Halifax and interviewed me here later on in Charlottetown. At that time, the Maritime region wasn’t heavily scouted and they certainly had no such thing as Central Scouting, so the contact with the team was infrequent. They told me that they were going to draft me in the third round, but never did. They told me afterwards that they were scared off by my knee injury that I had that year in Junior. In the end, they offered me a tryout, and I went to camp and was successful in making the team. I also knew that if I wasn’t successful in Sherbrooke, I had an open invitation to go to Hull, but Sherbrooke was where I always wanted to play, so I was glad I made the team

What kind of player would you have described yourself as?

I was primarily a goal scorer. I had a hard slap shot that certainly served me well for many years. I was also a pretty good playmaker and took a lot of pride in setting up nice plays. I saw the ice pretty well and had good offensive instincts.

What was the highlight of your hockey career?

Certainly my first year in the league. We were predicted to finish ninth out of the ten teams in the league. We were supposed to be in a re-building year after losing a lot of big players from the previous year such as Rick Vaive, Mark Green and Ron Carter. However, in camp they decided to go with more younger guys like myself, Jean-Marc Gaulin and Andre Cote up front, Corrado Micalef in nets, and some younger defensemen on the blueline. We seemed to have pretty good chemistry and a good blend of youthful exuberance and talent mixed in with some veterans from previous years such as Serge Boisvert, Alan Haworth, Jimmy Mann and Louis Begin. We ended up finishing first in our division, swept Verdun and Chicoutimi in the first two rounds, but ended up losing to a very strong team from Trois Rivieres in the league final. We certainly created a buzz in a hockey mad town and “Beaver Fever” (La Fievre des Castors) was alive and well in Sherbrooke. It was pretty exciting for a young man from Charlottetown to be that close to making the Memorial Cup Championships in my first year, something that I had always dreamed of doing.

How did you end up with the Laval Voisins? If you were traded do you remember the players involved?

Early in my second season with Sherbrooke, it was announced that the AHL was going to be moving into Sherbrooke the following year. Given that, it was felt that there was no room for a Q team as well as an AHL team , so this would supposedly be the last year for the Castors. We were a first place team at the time, but then the organization decided to unload all their young players for more seasoned veterans, in the hopes of loading up for a good run at the Memorial Cup. Gaulin and Cote got shipped off to Sorel and then the back-up goaltender and I ended up being traded to Laval for Bernard Gallant and a guy who I don’t remember. Gallant had played with Trois Rivieres the year before and scored 95 points, and Laval had previously acquired him in a big trade over the summer. He was a pretty hot commodity at the time. Unfortunately for Sherbrooke, the team had a ton of talent, but could never find the proper chemistry to succeed and ended up losing to Cornwall Royals, who had players like Dale Hawerchuk Marc Crawford, and Dave Ezard, in the finals once again.

Do you have any favorite moments or stories from you days in the QMJHL?

Scoring my first goal in the league with my parents up visiting me at the time was a memorable moment. It’s always nice to get that monkey off your back, but to score a really nice goal with my parents in the stands was neat. I hadn’t seen them since I left for camp in late August so it was a pretty nice reunion.
Something that was unique with our situation in Sherbrooke was that all the players lived together in a former nun’s residence. There was no other major junior team in Canada at the time, or none that I have heard of since, who had such an arrangement for their players. It was called “La Hutte des Castors” and was located across the street from our home rink Le Palais des Sports. We had a husband and wife team that served the roles of full-time cook and full-time housekeeper. We also had another guy who would take care of our schooling needs, checked us for curfew every night at 10:30, and served as a liaison between the players and management.
The upside to an arrangement like this was that you got to know your teammates very well and it really served to unite the team. The organization was extremely well run and they had very high expectations of their players, both on the ice and off the ice. We were well known everywhere in town and were constantly being watched. It was nice to be so recognized but at the same time it certainly put us under the microscope. Not a lot of people get that sort of opportunity, so I am very thankful to have had it, and to have played for such a classy organization as Sherbrooke.
Another highlight would have come from getting the chance to play with and against some highly talented players who would become excellent players in the NHL: Ray Bourque, Denis Savard, Guy Carbonneau, Dale Hawerchuk, Marc Crawford, Alan Haworth, Normand Rochefort, just to name a few.
Even though I am a staunch Bruins fan, I have to admit that it was pretty cool playing in the Montreal Forum, an arena so steeped in history and tradition.

Other than being named an all-star twice while playing for UPEI, did you receive any other awards or recognitions while playing?

I was voted Rookie of the Year my first year. Also, I was selected to participate in a pre-Olympic tournament over Christmas in Czechoslovakia in 1983. The Olympic team in 1984 was to have been selected from players on that team, as well as players from another Canadian team that played against a touring Russian team (the same team that ended up brawling in their game here at the Forum). However, I injured my knee in November and couldn’t go so I got replaced by Terry McKenna, a teammate of mine at UPEI. That would have been a special tournament to participate in, but I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. Still, it was nice to be considered among the final list of players for selection to the Olympic Team for Sarejevo.

You played with and against a number of future NHL players. Who was the player(s) you found stood out the most?

Ray Bourque had to be the classiest, and best, player I have ever played against. He could control a game like no-one else and truly excelled at all aspects of the game. What was remarkable about Bourque was that he played as physical of a game as anyone in the league, yet nobody would run him or cheap shot him - they all had such a deep respect for him, and he showed that in return to his competition. I can proudly say that my line was one of two lines assigned to shut him down in our semi-final series, a series which we won in four straight games, largely because we were able to shut down Bourque.
Denis Savard was, in a word, magical. He could do things with the puck that no-one else duplicate. He could bring you out of your seat while watching him from the bench, he was that exciting. Savard played with Le Junior de Montreal on a line called “Les Trois Denis”: Savard, Denis Cyr (who was drafted 8th overall by St. Louis and played with Savard in Chicago, but wasn’t nearly as successful), and Denis Tremblay, who did not progress to the pros but was still quite a good junior player. They were an awesome line and were a treat to play against. Equally intriguing was the fact that the three of them were all born on the same day in the same year- I believe it was Feb 24th, 1961.
Although he became a defensive specialist in the NHL, Guy Carbonneau was anything but as a junior with Chicoutimi. He ended up second in the scoring to Jean-Francois Sauve (Buffalo) both of my years there and was a very slick centreman. I always admired him for his offensive ability and creativity .The fact that he finished second was even more impressive, given that he had no-one with him on the team of any repute. He pretty much did it alone.
Even though he was a rookie, I knew that Dale Hawerchuk was going to be a special player. He had Gretzky like instincts, and a competitive edge that set him apart from players his age. He was a treat to watch and really brought a lot of credibility and respect to the Cornwall organization.

Norman Beck's hockey stats

Short Q & A With Shane Turner

Charlottetown native Shane Turner only played 2 seasons of professional hockey, both with the Indianapolis Checkers, the New York Islanders farm team. What makes his story so impressive is that he came very close to not only breaking into the NHL, but doing so with the best team in hockey at the time.
(Photo taken at NY Islanders training camp)

How did you end up in the Islanders organization?

I was playing hockey at the University of PEI and was scouted there by the New York Islanders. I negotiated my first contract myself.

Your experience at the NY Islanders training camp,

I attended three training camps with the Islanders. My first year I came the closest being the last forward sent to the farm team in Indianapolis. I had led trainig camp in scoring that year. (which is kind of misleading as the veterans only play a few games while the rookies, such as I played them all).

What kind of player would you have described yourself as?

I was a very good skater, was very fast and had a great shot.

The Checkers were a high caliber hockey team with many players going on to play in the NHL. What kind of experience was it like playing on such a team? Do you have any favorite moments or stories?

Playing three games in four night in three different cities. Leagues wouldn't allow that to happen today but I was lost didn't know what city I was in, it was a world win of a time.

What was the highlight of your hockey career?

Playing with Kevin Devine, Garth MacGuigan and Dave Cameron, three other PEislanders.

Shane's Hockey Stats

Peter Williams

With Ellerslie native Morgan Ellis recently getting drafted by the Montreal Canadiens here’s the story of another Islander defenseman who, in 1972, was picked by the other historic Canadian hockey club, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Born: March 13, 1952 - Charlottetown
Position: Defense
Height: 6.00
Weight: 192

Peter Williams junior hockey experience was a memorable one. From 1968-71 the offensive minded defenseman patrolled the blue line for the powerful Charlottetown Islanders of the Maritime Junior Hockey League. In Williams final year with the team they made it all the way to the Centennial Cup, now the Royal Bank Cup, championship game losing in a heartbreaking 4-2 game to the Red Deer Rustlers. In his last year of junior eligibility he played for the UPEI Panthers were he put up a respectable 19 points in 27 games. Retired Hall of Fame goalie Johnny Bower, a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs, was impressed by Williams play and on June 1972 Tulsa Oilers GM Ray Miron informed Peter that the Leafs had drafted him with their 8th round, 123rd overall pick. This would be the highlight of Williams’s hockey career.
Prior to the 1972 NHL season Williams was invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp where he signed his first pro contract worth $15 000 year with $6 000 in signing bonuses. The Leafs sent him to the Tulsa Oilers where he played the full 72/73 season garnering only 14 points while adjusting to the new level of play. The following season he followed Toronto’s farm team when they moved to Oklahoma City and were renamed the Blazers. After only one year with the Blazers William’s career with the Maple Leafs organization came to an end.
In 1974 Peter was recruited by Forbes Kennedy to play with the Winston-Salem Polar Twins of the Southern Hockey League. Playing with fellow Islanders Jamie Kennedy, Bob MacGuigan and Don MacAdam he enjoyed an exceptional season racking up 36 assists and 42 points. After one more year with the Polar Twins Williams retired from pro hockey. He returned to PEI and played senior hockey in Charlottetown until hanging up his skates for good.

Evan Cheverie

Evan Cheverie is an example of a Charlottetown native who chose a different route in professional hockey. After a brief stint in the AHL, Cheverie packed his bags and headed to Europe. Here is what he had to say about the experience,
I am enjoying the European hockey so far. I have played in England, France, Norway and have played against teams in Germany, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The hockey in Europe is quite different from North America. The ice surfaces are larger so the games are generally faster skating and the players have higher skill level. Also the hockey over here is not as physical, clean body checks are sometimes mistaken for dirty hits and unwarranted penalties are called. There season consist of less games typically 40-50 regular season games instead of 70-80. Also the travel is typically much easier in Europe.

Most memorable hockey moment,

I have had many memorable moments in my hockey career. It is hard to single out one as the best. I guess scoring my first AHL goal, that was something special. I scored another goal later in that game, it was a confidence builder to score at that level. I also remember scoring an OT winner when I played at Miami Univ. There was only 7 seconds on the clock, the fans went nuts it was exciting.

Biggest influence,

I have had a lot of coaches, teammates, friends and of course my family especially my Mom and Dad who have had a positive impact my career. My parents have been the biggest help by guiding and supporting me along the way. They helped build the foundation, making sure i had a strong work ethic and positive attitude. What else can a young aspiring hockey player ask for.

Why Europe?

I had many offers to play in various parts of Europe early in my career. I chose to go to Europe after i played three years splitting time in the AHL and ECHL. I had an opportunity in 2005-2006 to play pro hockey in England for the Coventry Blaze. I was able to obtain a M.B.A at Coventry Univ. during my stay in Coventry. It was a great way to see another part of the world, play a high level of hockey and further my education. That's how my European career started.

PEI Senators Reflect on Time in PEI

Graeme Townshend
“It was great. The people, the arena and city were great!”

Guy Gadowsky
“I had a great time and really love the area. Playing in the AHL in the Maritimes was awesome. The people are very knowledgeable and appreciative of good hockey, and they treated all of the players very well.”

Brad Treliving
“I really enjoyed PEI. We had a great group of guys and really liked the area.”

Tony Cimellaro
“I love PEI. You can’t beat playing in a Canadian city with amazing people. Our home opener the first year was special because it was the first big league game on the island. Also I stay in touch with a couple of guys off that team so great friendship created.”

Carl Valimont
“I remember that my son who is 15 now was born in PEI in march of 1994. I remember getting stuck on the ferry and being iced the the harbor. It was a good team although we missed the playoffs. Management was great. It was difficult to travel from PEI, so I was not surprised that the franchise did not last long.”

Jean-Francois Labbe
“The AHL was a lot of fun. It was a great learning time for me. I really enjoyed my time in PEI.”

Craig Woodcroft
“I remember it being very cold and snowy. The people were extremely friendly and supportive of the team. One story was when the bus got trapped on the ferry because there was to much ice between the boat and the dock. We were stuck there for hours at the time, it wasn’t funny, but in hindsight it was quite the experience.”

Darren Rumble
“I really enjoyed my year in PEI and can’t wait for a chance to return some day.”

Jarmo Kekalainen
PEI is a beautiful place, franchise was new there and fans were great! I really enjoyed my time, outstanding seafood!”

Coach Don MacAdam
“The Senators were not a very talented team and the Ottawa organization was only in its second year. So, it was frustrating not being able to put a quality team on the ice for the Island fans. We had one Island player on the team, Kent Paynter from Summerside. He was also the team captain and one of our best players. The only player that made a name for himself in the NHL off that team was Pavel Demitra.”

Peter Allen
“When I got called up from Richmond, Virginia, we were on a road trip. So, when I showed up, all I had were a couple of shirts and a track suit, which doesn’t do much against the cold of PEI in the middle of the winter. I had a great time and the people were really friendly.”


Much more on the PEI Senators to come!

Historical Night For PEI Hockey

This historical game was played in California on Wednesday, January 1 - 1974. The game featured 3 Prince Edward Islanders, Al MacAdam, Bob Stewart and Errol Thompson along with goalie Gary Simmons who was born in Charlottetown but grew up elsewhere. Even more impressive is that all 3 islanders had lengthy and successful careers in the NHL. MacAdam played 864 NHL games and was awarded the 79/80 Bill Masterton Trophy. Stewart patrolled the blue line in the NHL for 10 years while Thompson scored 43 goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 75/76 season.

Bob Whitlock

Born: July 16, 1949 - Charlottetown
Position: Center/Left Wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 5.10
Weight: 175

The son of PEI hockey legends Roy “Buck” Whitlock, Bob Whitlock showed magnificent hockey skills of his own at a very early age. As a teenager Bob instantly stood out from the other players and at only 15 he left the Island to pursue a hockey career. In two seasons with the Halifax Jr. Canadians Whitlock scored an astonishing 128 goals and 271 points in only 115 games. For his last year of Junior hockey Bob left the Maritimes to suit up for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHA were he would again be a point per game player.
Although he went undrafted Bob’s skill was enough to impress the scout and in October of 1969 the Minnesota North Stars signed him to a $12 000 contract. Bob spend the majority of the 69/70 season with Minnesota’s farm team, the Iowa Stars of the CHL. He netted a respectable 26 goals and 54 points in 63 games with Iowa be highlight of his first professional season was a one game call up to the National Hockey League. Sporting the number 26 Bob failed to notch any points in the game but he did blast 3 shots on net and finished the game as a +1. Bob not only lists the game as the highlight of his hockey career but as the “greatest moment of my life.”
After playing the 70/71 season for the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League Bob joined the Pheonix Roadrunners of the WHL. It was in Pheonix were Bob exploded into a hockey star. He tallied 33 goals and 79 points during the season and won the 1971/72 WHL Rookie-Of-The-Year Award. It was also during this season in which he would began to earn a reputation for his powerful slap shot that was frequently known to break the plexi glass.
In the year 1972 the World Hockey Association was formed. The WHA brought new opportunity for many players and Whitlock was no exception. On February 12, 1972 the newly formed Los Angeles Sharks drafted Bob in the 10th round of the General Player Draft. Five months later the Sharks dealt Bob to the Chicago Cougars. Whitlock dressed for 75 games with Chicago for inaugural season of the Rebel League. He accumulated 23 goals and 51 points with a slap shot that was said to be one of the best in all of hockey.
52 games through his second season with the Cougars Bob found his way back to the team that originally drafted him, the LA Sharks. He was a point per game player during his stint in Los Angeles but the team relocated at the end of the year and Whitlock was transferred to the Michigan Stags then quickly claimed by the Indianapolis Racers in the 1974 expansion draft. The 74/75 season with the Racers was Bob’s best in the WHA. He lead the team in goals in goals,31, and points with 57. Indianapolis, however, sported the worst record in the league with only 18 wins through 75 games.
Whitlock left the Racers midway through the 75/76 season to join the Mohawk Valley Comets of the North American Hockey League. The following year he split the season between the Erie Blades and Johnstown Jets, the team that would be the model for the Charlestown Chiefs of the famed movie Slap Shot. For the next 3 years Bob suited up for the Trail Smoke Eaters of the Western International Hockey League. After a dozen 20+ goal seasons he retired from professional hockey.
Bob Whitlock currently resides in Trail, British Columbia were he owns a succesfull insurance company. He visits PEI from time to time and was recently inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame.

3 Defenseman Bring PEI Touch to 2010 NHL Draft

Brandon Gormley: When Murray River native Gormley "fell" out of the top 5 Pheonix Coyotes GM Dan Maloney tried trading up to draft the defenseman, so when Gormley was available at pick 13 the Coyotes organization was estatic to have the opportunity to pick someone they had ranked much higher. "This was a very good pick," Maloney said. "I would say this was as good as we could ever expect." Although Gormley admitted to being nervous as he waited through 12 other picks he was still happy to join the Coyotes organization. "It wasn't a big deal to me," he said. "Regardless of the number you get, it's what you do after the draft. There's a lot of work to be done, and I couldn't be happier going to Phoenix." If one things for sure its that Pheonix will give Gormley the opportunity to develop at his own speed with little criticism coming from the press.

Morgan Ellis: While Gormley was drafted into the desert Morgan Ellis was drafted into the real hockey hotbed of North America, the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs chose the Ellerslie native with only their 3rd pick in the draft, 117th overall. Ellis, who was recently named captain of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles was “really happy to be drafted by Montreal,” and noted their generosity during an interview which “put them in a class of their own.”

Adam Polasek: With their 5th round, 145th overall pick the Vancouver Canucks picked PEI Rocket defenseman Adam Polasek. A member of the QMJHL’s All-Rookie team this season Polasek joins a Vancouver organization with a relatively small number of defensemen on their depth chart. With a lot of work Polasek, who has strong raw potential, could get his best shot at the big league with the Canucks.

Dave Hastings

Born: December 17, 1952 - Charlottetown
Position: Goaltender
Height: 5.10
Weight: 165
NHL Draft: 1972, 87th overall to the Philadelphia Flyers

Two Islanders were recently chosen in the 2010 NHL entry draft. Islanders have been hearing their name called at the draft for decades. Here's a look back to the first ever Prince Edward Island born goalie chosen.

Dave Hastings split the 1971/72 season between the Charlottetown Islanders of the MaJHL and Acadia University Axemen. His performance between the pipes was exceptional and the Philadelphia Flyers drafted him 87th overall in the 1972 entry draft. One of only a handful of PEI born goalies ever drafted to the NHL, Dave graduated from Acadia university in 1974 and excelled in both sports and studies as he was on the University’s Dean’s list. Hastings never pursued a career in hockey and retired from the game after graduating. He was later named to Acadia’s Hockey Honor Roll, the Hall of Fame in hockey for the institution. He currently resides in Fall River, Nova Scotia.

Jamie Kennedy

Born: September 7, 1946 - Charlottetown
Position: Center
Height: 5.08
Weight: 175

A feisty forward and brother of Forbes, Jamie Kennedy scored 321 goals and 630 points in only 588 professional hockey games.
Jamie entered the hockey scene in 1967 when he participated in the Memorial Cup tournament with the Halifax Jr. Candians, a team that included Islanders Bob Whitlock and Errol Thompson as well as future NHLer Bobby Sheehan. His solid performance earned him his first professional hockey contract in 1968 with the Jersey Devils of the Eastern Hockey League. He racked up 40 goals in his first season with the club followed by 49, 46 and 50 goals seasons.
In 1972 the newly formed World Hockey Association brought new opportunity for many players and Kennedy was among them. He was selected in the Rebel League’s 1972 General Player Draft by the New York Raiders. On July 12 of the same year Kennedy signed a contract with the team and would suit up for 54 games with the short lived Raiders hockey club. The remainder of Jamie’s season was spent with New York’s farm team in the IHL. In his first and only season in the WHA Jamie potted an unimpressive 4 goals. The Raiders could not compete with the New York Rangers, whom they shared Madison Square Gardens with, and were sold at the end of the year. Kennedy’s career in the WHA was over after only part of one season.
The Easter Hockey League in which Kennedy had played his first 5 season of professional hockey for with the Devils folded in the summer of 1973. Its death gave birth to two new leagues, the North American Hockey League and the Southern Hockey League. Kennedy would play in each during his final three seasons of pro hockey. His first stop was with the NAHL’s Syracuse Blazers. The league that inspired the movie Slap Shot, the NAHL was a rough league and 3 of Jamie’s teammates compiled 280+ penalty minutes. One of those players was Bill Goldthorpe, the man who Ogie Ogilthorpe’s character was based after. The rough play didn’t slow Kennedy down and he netted 44 goals and 90 points during the season helping his team capture the regular season title. With 13 goals in the post season he lead the league and was instrumental in helping the Blazers capture the Lockhart Cup as league champions.
Jamie played his final two years of pro hockey with the Winston-Salem Polar Twins of the SHL and tallied 59 goals and 132 points during that span. The 1974-75 Polar Twins iced and impressive 4 PEIers as Don MacAdam, Peter Williams and Bob MacGuigan skated for club coached by Jamie’s brother Forbes. The following season another Islander in Angus Beck would team up with Kennedy.
Following the 1975-76 season Kennedy left pro hockey in the United States and returned back to Prince Edward Island were he would lace up for Charlottetown’s Senior hockey team for years to come, even leading them to a Hardy Cup as Canadian Senior A champions in 1981.