Islanders dismiss GM Grant Sonier; head coach Jim Hulton takes dual role

The Charlottetown Islanders have terminated general manager Grant Sonier. Head coach Jim Hulton will be taking over the dual role of head coach and general manager, the team said in a release.

A native of Summerside, Sonier was with the team since the spring of 2013. He was one of the first people hired after a group of local investors purchased the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League franchise. The team was in danger of being moved to Quebec before the purchase.

Sonier has NHL experience as assistant general manager of the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League, and has scouted players for NHL teams. 

Sonier's contract was not renewed, which is effective immediately.

"On behalf of our ownership group and the entire Charlottetown Islanders organization, I would like to sincerely thank Grant for all of his hard work and the many contributions he made to our organization during his tenure," said Charlottetown Islanders President of Operations Craig Foster in the release.

Foster said a number of other small market teams have taken the approach of having the general manager also act as head coach.

"We are fortunate to have a person of Jim's caliber within our organization. He has a proven record as both a coach and a general manager," he said. "Having completed his first season, we feel it will be a smooth transition as he has built a rapport with the players he will be dealing with."

The Islanders made it to the second round of the QMJHL playoffs this season, losing to the Shawinigan Cataractes in six games. The team has failed to advance beyond the second round since the franchise relocated to the Island in 2003.