QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — With the first two rounds completed in the QMJHL we are two steps closer to the QMJHL President Cup final. The first round saw almost all series end in the minimum of games, the quarterfinals offered lots of excitements and surprises.
Several experts were right in previewing Saint John over Baie-Comeau and Rimouski victory over the Blainville-Boisbriand, Chicoutimi victory over Shawinigan (in 7 games) and Halifax making history as being the fourth teams in the history of the QMJHL to win series after losing first three games were big surprises.
Now let’s have a look at what we should expect next round the semifinal. By eliminating the host team of next Memorial Cup tournament Shawinigan, the Chicoutimi Sagueneens earns the right to face the defending President and Memorial Cup champion Saint John Sea Dogs. In the other semifinal the Rimouski Oceanic will face Halifax Mooseheads.
Facing Saint John in first of two semifinals won’t be an easy task for the team coach by Marc-Etienne Hubert. Christopher Gibson played key roles in victory over the Cataractes in quarterfinal series especially in game seven making 28 saves on Shawinigan 30 shots won by Chicoutimi 3-2.
Offensively Sags coach Hubert expects to be able to count on veteran players to make the difference. In game seven Christian Ouellet answered with first and third (game winning goal) in the game helping his team to eliminate the team lots of experts would have seen as one of the four teams still battling for the President Cup.
As the hosted team Shawinigan earns automatic berth in Memorial Cup but Cataractes head coach Eric Veilleux would certainly prefer to stay in action instead of having to wait for the tournament to begin.
Beside big contribution from Gibson in goal (2.88 goal-against-average, 0.908 save percentage, for 11th best since series began), Ouellet (6g-10a) in 13 games will heavily count on teammates Guillaume Asselin (12g-2a) in 13 games, Steve Lebel (3g-7a) in 13 games, Jean-Gabriel Pageau (2g-8a) in 11 games, Charles Hudon (4g-5a) in 13 games. Other players like Lucas Sedlak (5g-2a) in 13 games, Alexandre Beauregard (2g-4a) in 13 games and Etienne Brodeur (4g-0a) in 13 games will have to bring their expected contribution if they want to get a chance in that series.
On defense, Andrew O’Brien (1g-8a) in 13 games and Gabriel Bourret (0g-7a) in 13 games represents the two best offensives producers. Mathieu Gagnon (0g-6a) in 13 games, Gabriel Vermette (1g-2a) in 13 games, Dominic Poulin (0g-1a) completes Chicoutimi defensive unit.
As defending President Cup and Memorial Cup champion Saint John plays very well to begin to defend both title. Sweeping both opponents Cape Breton (first round) and Baie-Comeau (quarterfinal round), the Sea Dogs will begin the semifinal against Chicoutimi as favorite.
In goal, Mathieu Corbeil defended Saint John net for all 8 games showing a goal-against-average of 2.25 allowing only 18 goals with 0.910 save percentage for 2nd best goaltender just behind Shawinigan netminder Alex Dubeau ( 2.08 in 7 games).
Offensively, the Sea Dogs already have well balance offense. Led by Zach Phillips 23 points in 8 games (6g-17a), Charles Coyle 21 points (11g-10a) in 8 games, Stanislav Galiev 19 points (7g-12a) in 8 games, Thomas Jurco 17 points (7g-10a) in 8 games and Jonathan Huberdeau 14 points (6g-8a) in 8 games Saint John can throw three great lines that can contributes at any moment in games.
Defensively, Saint John also is very good. With Charles-Olivier Roussel 11 points (2g-9a) in 8 games, Nathan Beaulieu 8 points (2 g-4a) in 8 games and Kevin Gagne 8 points (2g-6a) in 8 games Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant can count on three great offensive defensemen. Pierre Durepos, Spencer MacDonald and Ian Saab completed Saint John defensive unit taking care of defensive aspect of the game.
Ranked third overall Chicoutimi penalty killing unit will have a great challenge in that series when Saint power play unit ranked first overall will step on the ice. On the other hand, being first overall when they have to kill a penalty Saint John is in better position if they have to face against Chicoutimi power play ranked 11th overall.
Prediction: Saint John will get one of two places in the QMJHL President Cup final winning their semifinal in five.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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