Family and friends of Colten Ellis will have more opportunities to see him play next season now that he's a member of the Charlottetown Islanders and playing in the QMJHL's Maritime division.
-by Bill Dunphy
There are two times in a year when Major Junior hockey teams let it be known that they are a contender or rebuilding: the January trade deadline and the June entry draft.
The Charlottetown Islanders, of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, made a bold statement on Saturday when they traded for a blue-chip goaltender – Colten Ellis.
Ellis, of River Denys, played the last three seasons with the Rimouski Oceanic. Last year he was a third-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues in the NHL entry draft.
Ellis said the move came as a bit of a surprise.
“Anything can happen on draft day, but going to a great city like that is super exciting for me, especially going to a contender.”
The Oceanic were considered a contender last season, led by Alexis Lafrenier, who is expected to go first overall in this year’s NHL draft. However, like every sports league in North America, the season was ended in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I can’t say enough great things about my time in Rimouski,” said Ellis. “We had a great team and were set to do damage. It was disappointing to see it end the way it did – it put a lot of teams in tough situations.”
Ellis has had a star-studded career to date. He will be forever remembered at home for leading the 2016-17 Cape Breton West Major Midget Islanders to a national Telus Cup victory in Prince George, British Columbia.
Drafted by Cape Breton that season, the Eagles shuffled Ellis off to Rimouski.
In his first season with the Oceanic, Ellis was named to the all-rookie team and was awarded the Raymond Legacé trophy for defensive rookie of the year.
And in 2018, he represented Canada at the U18 World Championships in Russia.
In his three seasons in Rimouski, Ellis has a 78-30-4 won-lost-tied record, averaging 2.41 in goals against and a save percentage of .909.
In acquiring Ellis, Charlottetown gave up a third-round pick on Saturday, plus their first- and second-round picks in 2021.
However, the uncertainty of how hockey at all levels will play out in the coming months puts the future in doubt for all players.
If the NHL manages to pull off its 24-team playoff schedule, it would likely crown a champion sometime in October, a time when training camps would come to an end.
There is also talk that the QMJHL will play a shortened schedule that would begin in January.
And should Ellis end up signing with the St. Louis Blues or its American Hockey League affiliate, that would probably be sometime in November, leaving Charlottetown high and dry on their blockbuster trade.
“With all the uncertainty going on, nothing is for sure at the pro level,” Ellis said. “There are a lot of conversations to be had at every level. But you have to prepare, even if it’s going to be delayed at the earliest. Now’s the time to gear up.”
Ellis has built a reputation of having a strong work ethic and diligent game preparedness.
“We’re all waiting to see when we can get on the ice again. Until then, I’ll be working out at home,” he said.
“I think I’ll be hungrier not being on the ice. There will be a lot of motivated people going to camp. It’s hard to say what’s going to happen, so my plan is just to work hard and let whatever happens, happen.”
Colten is the son of Joanne and Brian Ellis.
