QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Playing first of three games in three nights Quebec opens the weekend with solid performance against the Shawinigan Cataractes winning 6-1. Coming from Victoriaville playing first three games with his new team, Pascal Laberge ends his night in playing his fourth games with two goals. Captain Matthew Boucher played solid game too ending with a goal and two assists.
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Quebec open the scoring with three goals in 2:32, first two in 28 seconds. Killing a penalty to teammate defenseman Sam Dunn, Quebec left winger Jesse Sutton earned a penalty, after been prevented of a shot on breakaway by Cataractes center Jeremy Manseau. Sutton scored his 11th goals at 8:59.
Quebec came back 28 seconds later still killing the same penalty to teammate defenseman Sam Dunn. Quebec center Andrew Coxhead scored in third consecutive game, beating Shawinigan goaltender Lucas Fitzpatrick over his left shoulder, at 9:27. It was third shorthanded goals of the season for Quebec.
Quebec captain Matthew Boucher redirected a shot from defenseman Sam Dunn from the blue line adding a third goal in 2:32. Allowing 3 goals on 8 shots Cataractes head coach Daniel Renaud decided to make a change between the pipes sending Mathieu Bellemare who was acquired recently from Gatineau Olympiques replacing Fitzpatrick.
Quebec dominated 20-3 in shots on goal.
Quebec saw two goals been waved-off after referee went to video review. Pascal Laberge thought he had scored his first goal in four games with Quebec, as he had been acquired from Victoriaville, but referee Mark Muylaert waved-off the Quebec fourth goals due to an offside.
Quebec rookie Pierrick Dube also thought he had scored his first goal, but referee Muylaert waved-off Dube’s goal, because the puck had been hit higher than crossbar.
Quebec adds a fourth goal to their lead with 38 seconds remaining in the middle frame. After seeing his first attempt to score with his new team Pascal Laberge scored his 7th of the regular season his first in four games with Quebec. Laberge redirect a shot from teammate Jesse Sutton at 19:21.
Already scoring Quebec’s fourth goal Laberge opened the third period scoring Remparts fifth goals his second of the night 29 seconds in. The former Victoriaville Tigres forward surprised Cataractes netminder Bellemare with his 8th of the regular season.
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Consecutive penalties to Quebec forward Olivier Mathieu and defenseman Andrew Pico gave Shawinigan a five-on-three for 1:12 seconds. Already been shutout in first two penalty the visitor didn’t wasted times beating former Baie-Comeau netminder Antoine Samuel who had been acquired by Quebec on Tuesday night for Luke Kirwan living no chance to new number 35 beating Samuel high at 4:08.
Quebec last goal in the game came with 3:09 remaining in the game. Defenseman Benjamin Gagne scored his 5th of the season.
Author of his first two goals in his fourth games with his new team the former Victoriaville Tigres center was happy after the game earning the first stars of the game. “I didn’t saw it,” answered Pascal Laberge referring to the offside on what could have been his first goal. “I’m happy to begin the year on the right foot as he scored his 7th and 8th of the season. You always have a little period of adaptation when you arrived with a new team, I think it went well tonight and I’m happy about it.”
Having been in net on last December 30 with Baie-Comeau being selected first stars of the game making 44 saves out of 45 Quebec shots, goaltender Antoine Samuel tended his first game for Quebec after been acquired on Tuesday January 2nd.
Being perfect on first 10 shots against him after two periods, Samuel won his first outing with his new team blocking 11 shots out of 12 Shawinigan shots on goal.
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“It was very smooth game on my side, but I’m very happy about guys performance’s, we told us before the game that this game must go one way, they were young team, so we have to impose ourselves. I’m very happy about guy’s performances.” Former Drakkar goaltender Antoine Samuel said.
Asked if he was a bit nervous before the game the veteran netminder answered, “Sure I was a bit nervous, it was a regular season game, it is special to wear Remparts colors, to put that sweater on you are at home, I have had little butterflies but after first couple minutes stress were gone.” Samuel said after the game near locker room.
For Shawinigan head coach and former Quebec Remparts assistant coach last year Daniel Renaud, he wasn’t happy about his team effort. “For sure the first two goal hurt us badly. Learning to manage emotions. We have lots of difficulties we had to live situations like that two fast goals, we have to continue to work. Since the season began it was like that. We have a great start, player are in the game but when we have a tough start we seem to have hard times to continue to work. Resumed Cataractes head coach Renaud.
On Quebec side the story was completely different. “We played a great game I like it from the beginning up until the end,” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said. “We began great, we finished great and in between it was great too. Our veteran played very well, it went well for our new players too. We have had great practice during the week. You didn’t have any secret, Laberge line practiced well, they played well, Kurashev (Philipp), he didn’t practiced with us this week but it showed that he came back from the world junior Championship, he played one of his best game since he is with us. Matt (Boucher), same thing for Benjamin Gagne they gave the tempo tonight.”
Quebec will return in action on Saturday for second games of a three games in three night hosting Sherbrooke Phoenix.
Three other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday
Baie-Comeau 5 vs. Acadie-Bathurst 4
Blainville-Boisbriand 4 vs. Sherbrooke 3 (overtime)
Chicoutimi 1 vs. Victoriaville 6
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