17吃瓜

The 17吃瓜 Men鈥檚 Hockey Panthers are thrilled to welcome PEI native and former captain of the Charlottetown Islanders, Keiran Gallant, to their team for the 2023鈥�24 season.

The prospect of wearing 17吃瓜 Panthers green was something that the 20-year-old forward often dreamt about growing up. His eyes would light up as he watched his hometown heroes battle on the ice while representing their school and province with pride. Now he鈥檒l finally get the opportunity to do so this fall.

Like Gallant, the Panthers are also beginning a new chapter, as many of the key players who thrilled fans during a U CUP run have since moved on. So, it seems fitting that an Islander is the first recruit to usher in a new era of 17吃瓜 hockey.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a big honour to play for the Panthers. Growing up in PEI, I always heard of the Panthers, and dreamt of someday being among those players,鈥� Gallant said. 鈥淚 feel proud that I get to play for my home province again.鈥�

Gallant has already made a name for himself on home ice, as he spent the last four seasons with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 186 games with the Charlottetown Islanders, Gallant posted 30 goals and 58 assists. This season was his best yet, as he captained the team and finished the year with 39 points (15G, 24A) in 67 games.

Head coach Forbes MacPherson wants his team to continue to play fast, while constantly pressing the opposition, and Gallant is the first piece of that puzzle.

鈥淲e like our team to play fast with the puck and faster without it,鈥� MacPherson said. 鈥淜eiran plays that way, so he will not only fit right in, but he鈥檒l help us incorporate this style of play to a new group.鈥�

More importantly, MacPherson was drawn to Gallant鈥檚 workmanlike approach to the game, which is exactly what the team needs in a transitional year.

鈥淜eiran is an extremely hardworking player with strong character,鈥� MacPherson said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been on a team that has had a lot of success and is well coached. He鈥檚 been used in many situations and has been in a leadership position, so he checks a lot of boxes for us.鈥�

That workhorse mentality is critical to Gallant鈥檚 game, as the forward won鈥檛 overpower the opposition with his five-foot-eight frame. But what he does bring is speed and a high hockey IQ. And in a tougher league like Atlantic University Sport (AUS), that could give him a leg up.

鈥淚鈥檓 a fast, tenacious player who never quits,鈥� Gallant said. 鈥淚 know the step up from junior to university is a big change, but I鈥檓 going to give it everything I have and hopefully have a great season with the team.鈥�

Gallant is one of the few who get live out a dream, and like many Panthers before him, the next dream is to bring a championship back home.