QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — If the first one had seem easy against Lewiston, the Remparts won the second by coming from behind with four goals in the third period in 4-1 wins over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
It was a great premier night on Friday for Quebec facing the Lewiston MAINEiacs. The fans who came to see their favorites returned home satisfied following the Remparts 12-3 win over the MAINEiacs.
The line of Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (2g-5a), Joel Champagne (3g-0a) and rookie Tomas Filippi (2g-1a) ended their night with a total of 13 points. Two other rookies registered their first point in QMJHL. Right winger Vincent Montreuil scored his first two goals in his third game of the year and Axel Rioux ended his night with two assists. Martin Lefebvre, Mikael Tam and Olivier Hinse completed the scoring for Quebec.
For Lewiston Olivier Dame-Malka, Matthew Bissonnette and Antoine Houde-Caron got the MAINEiacs on the board. All their goals came in second period.
Quebec opened the scoring with the only goal of the opening period with first of two goals for the night from Marchessault. The Remparts came back in the second with seven goals and four in the third.
For young European rookie, it was very special to play in front of 11,698 fans.
“It was first time I played in front of as many fans, everything is good, playing on a power play,” said Filippi when asked about what he liked the most to play with Marchessault and Champagne.
Champagne who was the player designated to join the Remparts at the end of last year in the trade involving the service of defenseman Samuel Groulx enjoyed his time with his new team.
“When I stepped on the ice and go on the other side in the warm up it was different but once the game started you are in Remparts jersey you want to play hockey and didn’t think about that,” said Champagne.
“I think we worked very well, we kept things simple, it worked we scored,” said the veteran center who ended his night with a hat trick in front of his new fans.
“We will have to do the same tomorrow against Cape Breton. I didn’t make any expectations before a game, I kept my focus on what I have to do, the result has been there tonight, I’m very happy we will take it.” When veteran was asked if he expected his line would work as well as it did.
For veteran Marchessault who was moved to right wing by head coach Patrick Roy following the arrival of his new teammate Champagne, it didn’t seem to bother him because he ended the night with seven points.
“It’s sure it’s fun to get game like this but I wasn’t happy about my first two games in Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d’Or, you can’t asked for better time to get a night like this one tonight,”
“We have seen good things in tonight games, we can build on that for games to come.” Said the 20 years old right winger who saw his place with the team in danger during training camp.
Quebec head coach Roy was satisfied of his team performance.
“I wasn’t just impressed by the way our team played tonight, it was the way we worked all week long. I told the guys I’m a happy coach for two reasons, one the way we practiced all week, players worked hard, they kept their focus and it paid off during the game. We played like we practice. Secondly, after the second period we talked together we had things I would like to see my players executed better, yes offensively we did good things it possibly was the night where I saw my players drive the net the way I want to see them do it, but we gave up too many chances to the MAINEiacs. All dominant teams in all sports play very well defensively, so what I would like to see is our players played much better defensively.”
When asked to comment on Marchessault’s performance Roy said, “What I’m looking for from Jonathan isn’t the goals he will score or assist but his consistency. I like his intensity tonight, on the goal with Champagne he executed little details, that’s what I like. With the speed he got, he surely will get some points. The line of Marchessault, Champagne and Filippi were dominant tonight, they were really dangerous almost in all presence on the ice and that’s the kind of hockey we look for from our best players. Filippi scored a spectacular goals, his shot was really well placed.”
If the game against the MAINEiacs seemed easy at first sight, the one against Cape Breton was another story. Trailing by one after forty minutes with Stephen Horyl goal 11:02 into the first period, Quebec replied with four goals in the third period.
If Tomas Filippi scored two goals in the night before, this time it was Axel Rioux who ignited Quebec offensive with his first goal in the QMJHL tying the game 1-1, 10:12 of the third period.
Talking about his first goal in the QMJHL, the young rookie who was born in Paris, France said, “I don’t have any merit on my goal I just had to push it in an empty net. Roy (Frederick) won the face off and gave the puck to me, I just had to push it in.”
Asked what made the difference in Rioux’s eyes for Quebec in the third period he said, “We used our speed that’s the main thing coming out in the third period to give us the chance to come from behind to win that game.”
Tomas Filippi, Joel Champagne and defenseman Vincent Barnard completed the scoring for the home team.
Like it happens to good team, they find a way to win.
“Hockey is funny sometime,” said Roy after the game. “I found that the second period was our best period where we were the most dangerous on the other hand the third period was possibly the one where we were less dangerous but we scored all our goals. Like I said a team that trailed 1-0, and came out in third to give all the got to win the game, we called it character. That’s what I think I have in my team.”
Next two games for Quebec will be Friday and Saturday when the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Halifax Mooseheads will be the visitor.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com .
You must be logged in to post a comment.