QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — In a game where the work ethic made the difference, the Blainville –Boisbriand Armana won their second game of their history, their first in Quebec. The Armada fourth goal scored in an empty net put the last nail in Quebec coffin for the weekend.
“It is only our second win,” answered Armada head coach Jean-Francois Houle to a question from reporter about the one who might think the new team might have tough start.
“But I think we showed that we are a team that works hard and when a team works hard anything can happen. I think it will be the Armada identity. We want to be a team that will be hard to play against and will
Alexandre Contois score Quebec second goal photo taken by Serge Poulin
The 8652 fans coming in le Colisee Pepsi on this special day (September 11) hoping to see their favorites win their first in 2011-12 saw the opponent open the scoring on a shot that eluded Quebec netminder Francois Brassard.
Raphael Pouliot deflected a shot from Vincent Richer at 7:43 of the opening period seeing some Quebec fans asking themselves if they won’t assist to the same scenario as the one happened Friday night.
Questioned about what was the difference in that game? The Armada head coach Houle didn’t hesitate to answer, “The effort, I think. We played with all four lines and the players works hard, if the players work hard, they will play. That’s the kind of coach I’m. I’m very happy about our effort tonight.”
Being 0-1 with a man-advantage in first period, Quebec scored their first goal in the middle frame being one man up. Remparts defenseman and Captain Mikael Tam left no chance to Blainville-Boisbriand goaltender when his one-timer went through Etienne Marcoux’s pads at 9:11.
While Quebec didn’t play their best hockey through forty minutes, both teams began the third with equal chance to win being 1-1.
The Quebec netminder, who had been victim of five goals against (sixth one has been scored in an empty net) in a 6-3 loss on opening night on Friday against Victoriaville, had no chance on the Armada second goal because it took an almost perfect play to beat him.
Blainville-Boisbriand defenseman Alex Micallef found Cedrick Paquette who only had to tip the puck near Quebec goalie before seeing the puck go in at 6:36 of the third period.
Quebec came back for second time in the game tying the score 2-2, 3:14 later when a shot from Alexandre Contois who was along the right board beat Armada netminder over his left shoulder.
Ilya Mikolaev scored what became the game winning goal on another great play from the Saratov, Russia native and teammates, left winger Christopher Claperton. Claperton made great pass to Mikolaev who just had to push the puck low on Brassard glove side at 11:31 giving a 3-2 lead to Blainville-Boisbriand.
The last goal was scored in an empty net coming from the stick of Claperton who ended his night two points (1g-1a).
If Quebec head coach Patrick Roy is willing to live with mistakes from his young kids he won’t accept a team that doesn’t give all they have, he will not accept a team that didn’t work.
Francois Brassard made 20 saves on Blaiville-Boisbriand 23 shots but it wasn%27t enough seeing his team lose their second games 4-2 photo taken by Serge Poulin
You could read disappointment on Quebec head coach face after his team lost their second game over the weekend.
“Sure I’m very disappointed, I’m not happy, I can accept the fact we are young, I’m able to accept lots of things but I have lot of problem to accept a performance like that,” were the first words by Roy after the game.
“I didn’t feel we were intense, I didn’t feel we worked hard, I didn’t saw lots of courage from our players. We can see that coming but we will have lots of work to do. When you have young kids with lot of talent, unfortunately we might have to make a step back to make sure we bring those three elements to our game. We will have to be intense, to work hard and be courageous.”
“What worries me is, offensively, we don’t generate anything at even strength, we are lucky that we moved the puck with a man advantage because at even strength…. . That’s what I said to our players in dressing room how come we were able to move the puck like great team with a man advantage but at even strength we seemed to be to fancy.”
“We will have to get that out of the game (fancy move) and play the true game. Playing the true game, that’s what the good team do driving the puck to the net, unfortunately it’s harder, it’s more physical but we will have to do it.”
Asked to clarify his thoughts about ‘feeling coming’, Roy said “We look our last game, the x and o, and it wasn’t bad but we lose our one-on-one battle, we weren’t in shot line when the opponent had the puck at the blue line. We played the game enough, we knew when the player doesn’t want to make the needed effort. All in all we will have to work very hard to make certain adjustment.”
Quebec’s next game will be next Friday, September 16 against Chicoutimi Sagueneens in le Colisee Pepsi.
QMJHL other games this Sunday were
Chicoutimi 3 vs. Baie-Comeau 7
Victoriaville 8 vs. Rimouski 2
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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