A True Islander

A true Islander. That’s exactly what people will say when referring to Brett Budgell and his impact on the Charlottetown Islanders organization.

Unfortunately, the proud Newfoundlander’s Major Junior career is over, but those that know him best, know that he left every ounce of his being on that ice every time he laced them up.

There’s honest gritty players that play the game the right way, and then there’s Brett Budgell.

There’s full 200ft offensively gifted players and then there’s Brett Budgell.

Last, but certainly not least there’s leaders and then there’s Brett Budgell.

This all might sound too good to be true, but when it comes to Brett Budgell, he’s all of that and more!

You see he’s a true Charlottetown Islander through and through.

At 15 years old there was a lot of buzz and hype around the kid from the Rock and rightfully so.

I remember seeing him for the first time at the Gatorade Challenge and thinking, well this is kid is by far not flashy and might not have top end elite level skill like other projected 1st rounders. Nonetheless, the one thing I misjudged when I saw him early on or even before the Draft were the intangibles that he possessed. That’s one thing that scouts don’t see, is the what the player and person really is if you don’t take the time and effort to get to know the kid. You see a lot of Budgell’s opponents over the years underestimated his impact on the game on and off the ice. That would only happen once, because you knew you were in for a battle every night when Brett Budgell took to the ice. The fiercest of competitors Brett Budgell redefined the meaning of “tough to play against” during his time in the QMJHL.

He might not have been the flashiest top end player that every one projected, but his heart and character was as elite as they come.

Brett Budgell was one of a kind and will leave a lasting impression on the Charlottetown Islanders organization.

A true Islander. A true leader.

Brett Budgell left everything on the ice every time he put on an Islanders jersey.

It’s truly impossible to measure what a player like Brett Budgell meant to the Islanders organization, simply put, he’s a true Islander, a player that will go down as one of the best to ever do it for the organization.

Brett Budgell was born to wear the “C”, he was born to be an Islander!

His time in the QMJHL might be over, but his journey in the game will surely continue.