Quebec wins over archrival Chicoutimi

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Coming off a victory in Baie-Comeau Tuesday, Quebec came back in front of their fans playing in their only game of the weekend on Friday night facing arch-rival Chicoutimi. After playing a tight first period, the Remparts played much better as the game went on. Charley Graaskamp, with a solid performance (two goals, two assists) earned first star, Auguste Impose and defenseman Nikolas Brouillard with a goal and one assist each lea, Quebec to 4-2 wins against Chicoutimi.

Battle along the board between Quebec defenseman Aaron Dutra and Chicoutimi forward Landon Schiller photo by Serge Poulin

“I felt good I wouldn’t take myself all the credit I played with two linemmates working hard obviously “Brou” (Nikolas Brouillard) played great game too he was on couple of my points so yea it was a team effort, things got to bounce my way tonight.” The first stars of the game Charley Graaskamp said after the game.

“Obviously he has the chance to represent his country it is an awesome thing I saw him in the locker room I’m pretty happy for him said Graaskamp as he talked about Auguste Impose who will leave to represent his Swiss country at the World Junior Championship.

Playing very well since coming back from his injury Auguste Impose ended the game totaling two points one goal one assist. “It was a very good game,” answered the one who will leave in couple days for Swiss National training camp Auguste Impose. “We played very good game on personal level with “Charlie” (Charley Graaskamp) and “Mass” (Massimo Carozza) we began to feel each other very well on the ice like the last game where we played another very solid game. We have had lots of occasions and today I was able to get a goal and giving a pass so it is a very great night before leaving for Swiss.”

Opening face-off between Chicoutimi center Dmytri Zhukenov and Quebec center Auguste Impose photo by Serge Poulin

“Yes since Auguste came back from his injury it isn’t the same player,” answered Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher about the line of Auguste Impose, Charley Graaskamp and Massimo Carozza. “Hi effort is really more consistent. As he play with more consistency he plays more often, playing more often result are there. We saw him in training camp in flash, it is fun with Graaskamp to see him played like that. We need them. With Timashov who wasn’t there it is fun to be able to have some stability. You never know what happen so to put all three guys together it will be very funny to see what will happen.”

For Chicoutimi head coach Yannick Jean he found his team not having same jump as they used to. “I found we didn’t play with same and enough jump as we used to. Paying five-on-five we are not use not having snow in the park at this time of year. We seem to lose our speed in the park it still too hot. Seriously I didn’t think we skate well tonight, we stopped skating in neutral zone we were really flat with the puck. It wasn’t that we didn’t work but we didn’t have had our same jump.”

Chicoutimi break the ice on Friday night in Quebec taking advantage of their first power play opportunity at 3:35 into first period.

Quebec tied the game also playing on power play. Already been 0-in-1 Quebec was the beneficiary of five-on-three power play. Quebec defenseman Nikolas Brouillard shot deflected on Chicoutimi player before beating Sagueneens goaltender Jilio Billia who has been excellent in first period. Brouillard goal came at 10:32. Nicholas Cardonne and Frederik Allard were in penalty box.

mi forward Jonathan Bourcier scores his 18th of the season scoring Chicoutimi first goal on power play photo by Serge Poulin

After Quebec goalie Callum Booth made key save with his right pad on Landon Schiller, Quebec took the lead for first time in game. Auguste I mpose made perfect pass to Charley Gaaskamp beating Saguennens netminder on his left side at 6:33.

Been 1-in-3 with man advantage Quebec adds a second goal being 2-in-4 with man advantage. Diving to the net Quebec right winger Charley Graaskamp scored his second of the game accepting prefect pass from teammate defenseman Nikolas Brouillard at 10:55.

Chicoutimi cut Quebec lead in half beneficiary of their fourth power play opportunities. Unable to ice his territory Quebec center Olivier Garneau saw defenseman Frederic Allard made pass to center Nicholas Roy beating Quebec goalie with wrist shot at 18:36.

Quebec regained their two goal leads only 30 seconds later. Working along the board center Auguste Impose steal the puck to Carignan-Labbe found Graaskamp scoring his second of the game giving no chance to Chicoutimi netminder beating Billia with one-time on his right side at 19:06.

Trailing by two Chicoutimi best scoring chance came from the stick of defenseman Jeremy Groleau hitting the post to Booth right side. Matthew Boucher on Quebec side missed an empty net after Sagueneens head coach Yannick Jean pulled his starting netminder trying to tie the game as his team trailed by two.

Chicoutimi center Nicholas Roy looking for the puck in Quebec zone photo by Serge Poulin

Elsewhere in the league: With the QMJHL trading period beginning on December 19 ending January 6 at 12:00pm, lots of teams expect to move players in the league With teams having the right to move veteran 20 year old anything during the season the Rimouski Oceanic made the first move on November 28 trading veteran right winger Michael Joly to Cape Breton.

In return the Oceanic got a second round pick in 2016, first and second round pick in 2017. In another move Rimouski made the acquisition of tough defenseman Guillaume Rioux-Leagault in return of a seventh round selection in 2017.

In Quebec Remparts General Manager Philippe Boucher made first of several expected trade very late on Wednesday night sending 20 years old veteran defenseman and Captain Matt Murphy to Saint John Sea Dogs.

In return Quebec got two selections of second rounds one in 2016 the other in 2018, a fifth round selection in 2017 in compensation for the retirement of Adam Bateman who had been included in the original trade but announced his retirement on the day after. They also got 17 years old defenseman Pierre-Luc Lurette who plays for Campbellton Tigers in Junior A.

Quebec next game will be next Thursday in Videotron Center hosting Victoriaville Tigres.

Seven other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday night

Drummondville 2 vs. Acadie-Bathurst 5

Rimouski 2 vs. Cape Breton 3

Moncton 4 vs. Charlottetown 1

Saint John 5 vs. Halifax 8

Baie-Comeau 2 vs. Sherbrooke 8

Shawinigan 4 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 5 (overtime)

Gatineau 1 vs. Val-d’Or 4

Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com