QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — In an offensive battle between Quebec and Bathurst, the Remparts came out on top 7-6 thanks to an overtime goal scored by Quebec defenseman Mikael Tam on wrist that shot beat Acadie-Bathurst goaltender Robert Steeves at 3:28 of overtime.
A total of 13 goals, on 86 shots will certainly please any hockey fans but for each coach it was a nightmare of errors on both teams.
Fortunately for Quebec fans, the win by the Remparts was their fifth consecutive and put them into a first place tie in Telus East division with the Victoriaville Tigres.
With the score tied 2-2 after forty minutes, both teams exploded for four goals each in third period.
Nick Sorenson (2g-1a) and young 16-year-old Adam Erne (0g-5a) were the best Quebec players offensively. Zach O’Brien who already was the QMJHL offensive leader before the game ended his night with 3 goals and 1 assist, Sebastien Trudeau (former Remparts; 1g-2a), defensemen Jeremie Blain, Sean Girard and Garret Clarke with 2 assists each were Acadie-Bathurst best offensive players in the losing effort.
Francois Brassard who had been designated as Quebec’s starting netminder was pulled after allowing the Titans sixth goal on 40 shots. Louis Domingue entered the game with 2:46 remaining in the game.
Bathurst was the first team to break the ice in front of their fans (1,906), seeing veteran right winger Marc-Olivier Minar picking up a loose puck, beating Francois Brassard with only 24 seconds gone in the opening period.
A penalty to Acadie-Bathurst left winger Nicolas Krammer gave Quebec (the best power play unit in the league) a golden opportunity to tie the game. Defenseman Martin Lefebvre tied the game beating Steeves with a one timer at 3:13.
Hit near the mouth by the puck Quebec center Michael McNamee left the game and didn’t come back.
Jeremie Malouin (former Bathurst player) scored his first of the season for Quebec bringing both teams back to square one at 10:40 on a great pass from Adam Erne.
After O’Brien scored his second of the night 18 seconds into middle frame, Nick Sorenson replied with the next two goals for Quebec, his fourth and fifth in five games giving Quebec a 4-3 lead. Bathurst right winger O’Brien completed his hat trick during a five-on-three power play tipping a shot from Garret Clarke at 9:03 of third period.
Sebastien Trudeau’s shorthanded goal at 11:35 in third gave the lead to Bathurst 5-4 during a penalty to Garret Clarke who had been sent to the box for interference at 10:46.
Frederick Roy tied the game 5-5 with his fifth of the season at 13:46. Jordan Murray for Bathurst gave back the lead 6-5 to the joy of the fans in le Centre K.C. Irving less than four minutes later at 17:14, but Mikhail Grigorenko pushed both teams in overtime when his shot beat Titans goaltender for Quebec sixth goal in the game 1:06 later.
Quebec next two games will be in Halifax facing the Mooseheads on Saturday night before ending their three games in four nights in Saint John against the Sea Dogs on Sunday afternoon.
News and notes around the QMJHL : The QMJHL confirmed another minor trade between the Victoriaville Tigres and the Gatineau Olympiques……The Tigres send left winger Maxime Provencher (1993-07-27) to the Olympiques. In return Gatineau gave an 8th round in 2013…..In surprising move the Acadie-Bathurst Titans announced a personal movement in his Hockey department. Owner Leo-Guy Morrissette who was also the former Titans GM before hiring Sylvain Couturier as general manager when he step aside, decided to come back as General Manager. Couturier who already had a long tern deal with the organization will become the new Assistant GM, and will also act as special adviser to the organization and will oversee player development.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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