QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — The shutout victory 2-0 by Quebec over Baie-Comeau wasn’t what attracted the attention after the game. It was the hit by Baie-Comeau Drakkar Jonathan Lessard against Quebec Remparts Nick Sorensen. Lessard’s knee-to-knee hit on Sorensen will possibly cost the remainder of the season for the young European.
Nick Sorensen (94)saw his season possibly be over following a knee-to-knee hit by Jonathan Lessard (91) in second period photo by Serge Poulin
“We played two good periods,” the Quebec head coach Patrick Roy said about the game itself. “In the third period, they put more pressure against us, their defensemen were more involved in the offensive part of the game that cost us little problem.”
Questioned about the status of his European player after leaving the game in second period Ray said, “Out for the season possibly, the collateral ligament and the cross ligament were injured. I have a hard time to contain myself because I’m furious.”
“I don’t know if we have the right person in place to severely punish these types of hit, I looked at the blind side hit of Arsemeault (Vincent) of Shawinigan Cataractes against Philippe Halle of the Gatineau Olympiques (suspended 8 games), it’s a gift. I like Raymond Bolduc (league disciplinary prefect), he is a great person but he is too good a person, he has hard time to be severe against a player who makes a hit like the one we saw tonight because he took in consideration our schedule of 68 games instead of 82 like in the NHL. We can’t see a hit like tonight anymore.”
But for Drakkar head coach Mario Pouliot he had a different explanations for his team loss.
“Offensively, on the road, we didn’t play like we should, we isolated ourselves in one-on-one situations, we didn’t have any offensive support. (Louis) Domingue shouldn’t be tired, even if we had 17 shots in the third we weren’t menacing.”
Pouliot seemed to be surprised following a question from a radio reporter when (Mario Hudon from Quebec 800) asked if his team took the game against Quebec too lightly compared to the beginning of the regular season.
“Are you really serious,” asked Pouliot. “We played in Shawinigan one of the best teams in the league you come to Quebec, I don’t think you can take Quebec too lightly. Can you take the Cataractes lightly? Don’t think so. We have to do good things and offensively we didn’t do it.”
Asked to comment on the Lessard hit Pouliot said that “he didn’t see it properly.”
Adam Erne the author of Quebec second goal photo by Serge Poulin
Alexandre Contois redirected a great pass from Adam Erne beating Jimmy Appleby giving Quebec a 1-0 lead.
Coming back in second period Quebec had several good scoring chances but Appleby (formerly with Quebec traded before the season) prevented Quebec from adding to their lead until 18:37 of the middle frame.
Adam Erne, near Appleby’s crease, tipped in the puck following first shot by Mikhail Grigorenko for Quebec second and last goal of the game.
Domingue stoped all Drakkar 30 shots on goal for his second shutout of the regular season.
Quebec netminder Louis Domingue makes 30 saves for his second shutout on 2011-12 regular season photo by Serge Poulin
“Yes,” was the first word by Quebec netminder when asked if he was satisfied with his performance. “In the third period, they played better but I controlled the rebounds tonight. Overall we played well defensively beside a couple of sequences in the third period. We picked up two big points in the standing. We did all we needed to do to win tonight so we will start all over tomorrow.”
Quebec will be back in action host the Shawinigan Cataractes on Saturday evening.
Six other games were on schedule in the QMJHL on Friday
PEI 3 vs. Moncton 2
Cape Breton 3 vs. Saint John 6
Acadie-Bathurst 2 vs. Victoriaville 3
Drummondville 0 vs. Gatineau 3
Rimouski 1 vs. Shawinigan 2
Halifax 3 vs. Val-d’Or 2
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.