QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — After losing the first two contests in the regular season the Shawinigan Cataractes won their final meeting by the score of 4- 1 in front of 4447 fans reunited in the Bionest Center. Two goals by Shawiningan center Samuel Hodhod led his team to their 23rd victories in 39 games.
Quebec opened the scoring being lucky on their first goal. Remparts defenseman Martin Lefebvre saw his shot from the point deflected off Shawinigan defenseman Justin Hache before the puck went behind Shawinigan goaltender Gabriel Girard who had no chance at 5:01 into first period.
A penalty to Quebec veteran center Olivier Hinse for holding at 13:26 gave a great occasion to the Cataractes to tie the game, an occasion served on a silver platter to the home team they didn’t miss. Shawinigan center Samuel Hodhod took a rebound from a Marc-Antoine Goyette shot from the blue line and flipped the puck over Louis Domingue’s right pad at 13:34.
The Cataractes lost veteran center and Captain Mickael Bournival in the beginning of the second period to what seemed to be a shoulder injury.
Unable to keep the puck on his stick Quebec veteran defenseman Vincent Barnard saw Shawinigan left winger Peter Sakaris get the puck from Dave Labrecque beating Quebec goaltender with a wrist shot from the slot high on Domingue left side for Shawinigan second goal at 11:15 of second period.
Beside leading 2-1 after forty minutes of play the Cataractes also led in the shots on goal department 23-16 (12-7) (11-9).
Two goals in 15 seconds by Shawinigan in third period closed the night for Quebec confirming the first victory for the team coached by Eric Veilleux in the third and last meeting between the two teams in the regular season.
Yannick Veilleux on a power play made it 3-1 Cataractes at 12:40 and Samuel Hodhod with his second of the game hit the last nail in Quebec coffin at 12:55 of third period to complete the scoring for Shawinigan.
With the latest trades, and players who will return from World Junior Championship Quebec general manager sent rookie and Remparts first round pick in 2010 to his Midget team for the rest of the season. Next Quebec game will be in Baie-Comeau against the Drakkar on Sunday afternoon.
A grand total of 42 trades were made in the QMJHL between December 19 and January 6, 2011. Shawinigan General Manager Martin Mondou made six moves before the trading deadline.
Back on December 20th, 2010 Mondou sent a seventh round in 2012 to Rimouski Oceanics. In return, Rimouski sent goaltender Ryan Kresevich. On the same day, Shawinigan sent Quebec Joe Dude in return for Saint John’s third round selection acquired at the draft last summer.
On January 2nd, 2011 Rimouski and Shawinigan were involved in one of the best trades in the QMJHL sending defenseman Ryan Kavanagh to the Cataractes, in return Shwinigan sent Cape Breton first round selection in 2011 previously acquired also in the last QMJHL last summer and Cataractes fifth round pick in 2011. On January 5th, Shawinigan sent veteran defenseman Garrett Clarke to Acadie-Bathurst in return of Titans first round pick in 2013.
On January 6th, Mondou made another move this time with the Montreal Junior. The Cataractes sent Raphael Pouliot to the Junior for Cape Breton second Round selection in 2011 acquired by Montreal at the last draft and Montreal fifth round pick in 2011. Shawinigan general manager made his last move on January 6 sending defenseman Marc-Antoine Kaiser and left winger Dany Potvin to Cape Breton for the Screaming Eagles sixth round pick in 2012.
For Quebec, beside the acquisition of Dube from Shawinigan, general manager Patrick Roy made only one other trade acquiring left winger Brandon Boutilier and a fifth round selection from Cape Breton. In return, Quebec sent rookie center Kyle Campbell who played on the Remparts fourth line.
Boutilier is a 5’10” 164 pound 17 year old who was Cape Breton sixth round selection in last QMJHL in 2010. Before the trade Boutilier played for the Pictou Weeks Crushers in the Maritime Junior A. In 34 games, his record was (10g-10a) with 27 penalty minutes.
Quebec will let their new acquisition end his year with his team in Junior A.
Elsewhere in the QMJHL
Six other games were on schedule on Friday January 7.
Moncton 5 vs. Halifax 1
Rimouski 3 vs. Prince Edwards Island 4
Cape Breton 2 vs. Bathurst 6
Rouyn-Noranda 2 vs. Lewiston 6
Gatineau 5 vs. Victoriaville 1
Drummondville 3 vs. Baie-Comeau 1
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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