Quebec begins new season on victorious note

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Led by Anthony Duclair (3g-1a) Mikhail Grigorenko (1g-3a) and Kurt Etchegary with 2 goals, the Quebec Remparts got their first win in 2012-13 by the score of 9-4 over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in front of 12,453 fans.
 

Anthony Duclair photo by Serge Poulin

Anthony Duclair photo by Serge Poulin


The game was only 4:27 old when Quebec opened the scoring on the power play.
 
Going on a two-on-one breakaway Nick Sorensen made a perfect pass to Adam Erne who only had to push the puck behind Chicoutimi Europeans netminder Christopher Gibson for first of Remparts three goals in first period.
 
Anthony Duclair scored Quebec’s second goal in first period taking a rebound shot from right winger Logan Shaw more thee three minutes later (10:59). Grigorenko (Buffalo Sabres first round selection in 2012) got second helpers.
 
Seen as a possible first round selection in the next NHL entry draft Duclair could not have asked for a better start in 2012-13 regular season.
 
“It was a very good start we would like to begin the season on the right foot and the guys produced in our first game,” the left winger said after the game.
 
Mikhail Grigorenko photo by Serge Poulin

Mikhail Grigorenko photo by Serge Poulin


Scoring five of their nine goals on seven power play opportunities Duclair agreed that it would certainly be a good statement for Quebec opponent this year.
 
“The other teams will certainly take notice to not take penalty against us because we are very talented in front and defensively we played good. So our power play will be very strong,” Duclair said.
 
Missing almost all last year after having knee surgery Nick Sorensen played very well ending his game with 2 points (1g-1a). After getting the first assist on Erne first goal of the game, the European right winger scored Quebec ninth goal, Remparts fifth power play goals.
 
Asked if the injury changed his game, Sorensen answered positively.
 
“I did change my game,” said the right winger. “Last year was little bit risky maybe, maybe because I came from Europe, big rinks there I had more times. This year starting from the beginning, coming back from concussion was tough to get in the game. Now I know everything where I should be on the ice, just play simple. When you get a chance like you will always gone a get you just have to bury the shots.”
 
Kurt Etchegary gave Quebec a 3-0 lead after his wrist shot beat Sagueneens’ goalie top corner on his stick side at 16:40 of initial period.
 
Quebec began the second period adding four goals, two of them with a man advantage. Making the initial save on Quebec first shot taken by Erne, Marc-Antoine Carrier took the rebound and beat Gibson with only 5:09 gone.
 
Nick Sorensen photo by Serge Poulin

Nick Sorensen photo by Serge Poulin


Thinking he had made the save against Quebec veteran right winger Logan Shaw the Sagueneens netminder saw the young Duclair only had to put the puck in to get Quebec on board for the fifth times in the game.
 
Chicoutimi broke the ice with their first goal in the game only 37 seconds after Quebec fifth goals. Already playing shorthanded following with teammates Samuel Benoit in penalty box, Guillaume Cloutier completed great effort from Guillaume Asselin (1g-2a) and Sebastien Sylvestre at 9:47.
 
Quebec came back with two other goals in less than four minutes. Etchegary with his second of the night (12:50) and Grigorenko (16:12) gave Quebec a commending 7-1 lead.
 
But with only 55.2 seconds remaining to middle frame Chicoutimi came back with their second goal of the game. Tristan Tremblay scored visitor second goal at 19:04. Sorensen scored his first goal of the regular season with only 6:10 played in the third when Chicoutimi replied next two goals first been scored with two men advantages Guillaume Asselin 12:25 and next one, by Lukas Sedlak at 12:56 with a man. advantage.
 
Duclair with his third of the night completed the offensive night scoring Quebec’s ninth goal with only 3:00 remaining.
 
After the game Chicoutimi head coach Marc-Etienne Hubert talked about his team discipline. “We will have to be disciplined against possibly the best power play team in the Canadian Hockey League. It was in our game plan but players did not execute this part of our game plan.”
 
“They hurt us very bad, as soon as we took back the momentum we took a bad penalty,” Hubert said.
 
For his part the Quebec head coach Patrick Roy was very satisfied after his team first victory in 2012-13. Talking about his team power play Roy smiled answering first question after the game.
Adam Erne photo by Serge Poulin

Adam Erne photo by Serge Poulin

 
“Let’s say our team moved the puck very well tonight. We skated, we drove to the net it was very pleasant to see that.”
 
“We were all anxious before the game after having played only four pre-season games. As I said to assistant coach, I was anxious to see how our players will react after playing only four pre-season games and you don’t know where your team would be in the league. It’s fun to begin the season the way we did.” Mentioned the General Manager and coach Roy.
 
Next Quebec game will be this Sunday afternoon facing Baie-Comeau Drakkar.
 
Eight other games were on schedule in the QMJHL on Friday
Halifax 4 vs. Cape Breton 3 (first overtime)
Moncton 2 vs. Prince Edward Island 6
Saint John 3 Bathurst 2 (first overtime)
Rimouski 5 vs. Sherbrooke 1
Victoriaville 3 vs. Val-d’Or 4 (shootout)
Gatineau 1 vs. Baie-Comeau 4
Blainville-Boisbriand 5 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 3
Drummondville 4 vs. Shawinigan 3 Contact Serge.Poulin@prohockeynews.com Follow Pro Hockey News on Twitter – @prohockeynews

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