QUEBEC CITY P.Q. — The Subway Super Series is an annual six game tournament that pits junior level players from Russia and the three major junior leagues in Canada to form a four team exhibition tournament. Team Russia will play two games apiece against the teams from all three major junior leagues in Canada. The QMJHL was the first major junior league to face the Russians in this year’s Subway Super Series that began on Monday November 16, 2009 in Drummondville with the Q winning the first game of the series 3-1 and the second confrontation two days later in Shawinigan with the Q winning 8-3. Totally dominated on Monday, the Russian team could say thanks to their goaltender Alexander Zalivin that they didn’t lose the game by more than a two goal difference. After a first period, neither teams scored a goal but the QMJHL team dominated in the shots on goal department 16-9. The Russian netminder simply was the best player on the ice making 53 saves on 56 shots on goal. Every goal in the game was scored in the second period. The QMJHL All-Stars scored three goals in the first nine minutes of the period to take command of the game. Philippe Cornet opened the scoring only 11 seconds in completing a great play from Jordan Caron and Patrice Cormier. It was the first time all 3 players were reunited since all three played together with the Rimouski Oceanic. Cornet, the Edmonton Oilers fifth round selection (133rd) overall in 2008, was involved in trade that sent him in Rouyn-Noranda on June 6, 2009. Gabriel Bourque (Nashville’s fifth round selection, 132nd overall in 2009) scored at 7:25 and Michael Kirkpatrick (Saint John Sea Dogs) scored at 8:52 with a man advantage completed the scoring for the Q. The only goal scored from the Russian All-Stars team came off of the stick of Maxim Karpov at 12:49 beating Olivier Roy, who came in relief of starting netminder Jake Allen. Zalivin faced 19 shots making 16 saves in the second period. For Andre Tourigny, the Rouyn-Noranda head coach of the QMJHL, saw his players play a great game despite only practicing once for 25 minutes. Needless to say he was very pleased by his team’s performance on Monday night. The QMJHL put pressure on their opponent by dumping the puck behind Russia’s defensemen. The game plan was well executed and helped propel them to victory. On Wednesday night, the QMJHL’s domination continued. Luke Adam (2g-2a) and Jacob Lagace (1g-3a) looked like the best players on the ice for the Q. Two new goaltenders defended the QMJHL fortress in Louis Domingue (starting netminder) and Maxime Clermont who were in for Allen and Roy. Center Nicolas Deschamps, right winger Jacob Lagace, left winger Philippe Paradis, and defenseman Mark Barberio were the other additions in the Q’s lineup in order to give everyone the same chance to be seen by people who will make some tough decisions for Team Canada next training camp invitation. Luke Adam opened the scoring for team QMJHL by beating Russian netminder Igor Bobkov 2:05 into the first period. The Russian team replied with two goals, taking the lead for the first time in two meeting. Kirill Petrov (10:30) and Maxim Kitsyn (16:31) scored the goal that gave Team Russia first lead (2-1). Trailing by one after the opening period (2-1), the QMJHL team took firm control of the game in the last forty minutes scoring five goals in the second, and two more in the third. The Russian select team completed their offensive production in the second with their third goal of the game. The QMJHL scored three goals in the second period with the man advantage. Kelsey Tessier (a Quebec Remparts representative) scored with the man advantage to tie the game at 2-2 at 5:07. Adam scored his second of the night and what would eventually become the game winning goal at 8:19 of the second period. Gabriel Bourque (10:08) and Marc-Olivier Vachon (12:58) would gave the Q a 5-2 lead. Russian defenseman Nikita Pivtsakin scored Russia’s third goal for the night at 14:10. Cornet scored the QMJHL’s fifth goal at 16:13 with the man advantage and both teams returned to their respective dressing rooms as the Q took command of the game leading 6-3. Jacob Lagace (4:22) and Nicolas Deschamps (17:38) completed the QMJHL offensive production in the third period as the QMJHL All-Stars dominated the game. The Q had a 43-26 shots on goal advantage at the end of the night and scored on three out of eight power play chances. Russia went one for four. Next stop for Team Russia was Thursday night to face off against the Ontario junior Hockey League with the OHL winning 5-2. Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
