Rocket Eliminated Forever; 2nd Round Set

It seemed somewhat appropriate that the team known as the “PEI Rocket” saw their season and history end, once again, in the first-round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs.

The Rocket have called PEI home since the 2003-04 season and only once – their first season – did they make it past the first-round. They've missed the post-season entirely twice and were eliminated in the opening round seven times. Given their history, it’s for the best that next season they will change their name to the “PEI Islanders.”

PEI saw their season come to an end this year with a triple-overtime loss to the Val-d’Or Foreurs in Game 6 last night. Yan Pavel Laplante had all three Rocket goals but it wasn’t enough as Cedrick Henley scored 1:03 into the third extra frame to give the Foreurs a 4-3 victory and a 4-2 series win.

Shots in the game were 63-58 in favour of PEI. There were only three penalties called in the entire game.

With the Rocket done, the Halifax Mooseheads are the only Maritime team remaining in this year’s playoffs. Here’s who is playing who in the second-round:

Gatineau Olympiques (13) vs Halifax Mooseheads (1)

Victoriaville Tigres (11) vs Baie-Comeau Drakkar (2)

Val-d’Or Foreurs (10) vs Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (3)

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (8) vs Quebec Remparts (5)

This was one of the best first-rounds the league has seen recently with three upsets and only two series’ ending in sweeps. Let’s hope that carries over into the quarter-finals.

Photo: Foreurs Facebook page