Recap: Offensive Talent Powers Islanders Past Cataractes

Rory Arthur

Feb 12, 2026

Mike Bernard

Feb 12, 2026

The Islanders' big guns had big nights, and gave the team a much-needed win.

Week 22 of the 2025-26 season started Wednesday with three QMJHL games, including a big performance from Charlottetown's top line.

Zoomed In: Shawinigan (3) - Charlottetown (6)

Islanders players salute the crowd at the Eastlink Centre after a commanding victory over Shawinigan. (Photo: Mike Bernard)

The Charlottetown Islanders may just have some of the best top-end talent in the league when they're really going. But, at times, it feels like it doesn't all come together, even if they put up gaudy point totals.

Tonight was one of the nights where you could see the potential when it all works.

Carolina Hurricanes top prospect Ivan Ryabkin, who missed Charlottetown's game Saturday, returned with a bang, opening the scoring 1:04 in. That set the tone for the rest of the period, where Nathan Leek scored his 35th and 36th goals of the season, putting him third in the QMJHL in goals.

That took the Islanders into the dressing room holding a 3-0 advantage after the first. Ryabkin once again wasted no time in the second period, this time taking 85 seconds before extending the lead to four on the man advantage.

Will Shields then made it 5-0 soon after before Jiri Klima broke the dam for Shawinigan on the power play, as the second ended 5-1 in favour of the hosts.

In the third, Jude Herron gave the Islanders their five-goal lead back, while Klima potted his second of the night and Louis-Felix Gagnon scored his first career QMJHL goal with 23 seconds left, as the score finished 6-3 Charlottetown.

Leek and Ryabkin both finished with two goals and two assists apiece, while Herron (1+1) and Marcus Kearsey (0+2) posted multi-point efforts. Donald Hickey stopped 21 of 24 Cataractes shots and picked up the victory