Friday Night Wrap Up

5 teams had a chance to move on to the second round.  Four accomplished it, one hung one and one kept the upset watch alive. In the process one team said farewell to its home before relocation and there was a near- record setting overtime. 

Moving on:

In a series that was not expected to produce much excitement, Rouyn-Noranda closed out their series against Gatineau with a goal scoring bonanza. Huskies Left Wing Antonin Vereault led the charge with 4 points (2G, 2A) in a game that was over early in the second period, when the home team notched its 6th goal en route to an 8-4 win. Gatineau would add 3 goals in the final period and a half, but it was a case of too little too late. Huskies move on after a 4-1 series win.

When the Shawinigan Cataractes traded Felix Hamel at the deadline, it was a calculated risk. In the end, Mathys Fernadez proved the gamble was worth it as the 20-year old kept up his regular season greatness (2.78 GAA, 0.910%) with a stingy first round performance. Friday night, Fernandez limited Val d’Or’s high octane offense to two goals while a balanced offense, led by Matvei Gridin, provided the support at the other end of the ice as the team from the Mauricie capped off the series with a 5-2 win. Cataractes move on after a series 4-1.

As the teams in the middle of the pack, the Phoenix and the Armada made for excitingly close games each night, and Friday was no exception. When Sherbrooke forward Hugo Primeau netted the game winner in OT (2-1 final) it was also the series winner. Phoenix move on after a 4-1 series win. 

The Chicoutimi Sagueneens 5-1 win over the home team Acadie Bathurst Titan ended more than just the series. When the final horn sounded, it brought to an end the 27 year QMJHL history at Centre KC Irving and the town of Bathurst, NB. Emmanuel Vermette’s 2 goal performance for the Sags was all it took to usher out the QMJHL era as the Titans franchise now heads to Saint Johns, Newfoundland while the Sagueneens move on to round two. Sagueneens move on after a 4-1 series win. 

Hanging on:

Baie Comeau had a chance to move on, but Cape Breton refused to go quietly into the night…and morning. When Angelo Fullerton scored at 1:42 of the 5th overtime, it bought the Eagles another chance to claw their way back into the series. It also brought to an end the second longest game in QMJHL History. Much of this historic night was due to another 2nd most in league history stat as Jakub Milota stopped 84 shots. The game (2:21:42 ice time) was just under 5 minutes shy of the record set by Hull & Victoriaville (2:26:31) in 1999. Only Victoriaville’s Pierre-Luc Therrien’s 86 saves that night top Milota’s 84.  The two teams meet again on Monday in Baie Comeau with the Drakkar leading the series 3-2.

Keeping on:

Just when it seemed #1 seed Drummondville had solved Halfiax, the Herd proved otherwise. The Voltigeurs brought plenty of firepower putting 31 shots on net, with an abundance of quality scoring chances, but the game’s #1 star Jacob Steinman continued to make highlight reel saves. Veterans Brady Schultz and Braeden MacPhee steadied an offense that scored 4 times in route to a 4-2 win and 3-2 series lead. Tensions flared after the final horn, but order was maintained as the series returns to Drummondville Sunday afternoon with a chance for the Mooseheads to pull off the upset. Conversely, the Voltiguers will need wins Sunday and Tuesday to avoid the early exit.  Mooseheads lead the series 3-2.