QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — A look at the QMJHL standing gives hockey fans an opportunity to see two teams with 31 points and two others with 28 and each division (three) is well represented.
With a record of 15-1-0-1 and 31 points after 17 games, the Quebec Remparts reside in first place overall. The Saint John Sea Dogs also picked up 31 points with a record of 15-3-0-1 but have played two more games than Quebec. Quebec and Saint John are respectively in Tellus East and the Maritime Division.
Two teams are chasing them in the standing with 28 points. The Moncton Wildcats (13-5-0-2) with 20 games played also in the Maritimes Division and the Drummondville Voltigeurs (13-6-1-1) with 21 games played representing the Western Division. To have all three divisions well represented in the standing is certainly a good indication how the QMJHL offers a well-balanced league and good hockey.
But if you talked to fans in Baie-Comeau (Drakkar), the worst team in the Q (1-14-1-3) for six points, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (4-13-1-1) 10 points (second worst team) Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (6-12-0-1) 13 points in 19 games, and the Halifax Mosseheads (6-13-0-1) also with 13 points in 20 games played you certainly won’t have the same comments.
But all these teams are in rebuilding mode. Two of these four teams (Halifax and Baie-Comeau) made coaching changes in hope of turning things around.
Mario Pouliot who was formerly Rouyn-Noranda assistant coach has been recently hired in Baie-Comeau as new head coach and Bobby Smith (former Minnesota North Stars first round pick) who owns and acts as the General Manager of Halifax team decided to go behind the bench firing Cam Russel to have a better look at his team’s situation hoping to change things before making some changes in the upcoming trading period around Christmas time.
Offensively, the Saint John Sea Dogs present the best offensive production with 85 goals, followed by Quebec at 79 and Drummondville at 78. The Moncton Wildcats followed with the fourth best QMJHL offense with 76.
Defensively, it’s interesting to note that beside Quebec and Saint John that have the best defense with 36 and 50 goals against respectively. The Montreal Junior and the Drummondville Voltigeurs are ex-equos with 55 goals against in third place.
Surprisingly, one finds the Chicoutimi Sagueneens with 56 goals against, surprising not because they do not have a good defense, but because they ranked fifth out of six teams in the Tellus East Division with only 16 points in 19 games. Their presence as second best in goals against can be explained by the good mix between veterans and rookies on defense but also with excellent performance in goal by Christopher Gibson (29 goals against in 13 games, goaltending average of 2.19 and 0.926 save percentage). The other goaltender, Robin Gusse, has allowed 25 goals in only six games with a goaltending average of 4.10 and only 0.866 saving percentage.
As most fans who have come to see QMJHL action since the regular season began, they can’t say they didn’t have a great spectacle in the Q. For several teams that made changes they just hope better things will come in the near future, for others, that are in the middle standing, they hope to be able to catch or come near the top teams in the standing.
For the teams that are already at the top, they hope things will continue and be able to maintain the same rhythm.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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