QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Already winning their first two games of 2015-16 on the road against Rimouski (7-2) and Chicoutimi (2-1) Shawinigan played their opening game in Gervais auto Center on Friday night. Brandon Gignac with two goals, one assist and Giovanni Fiore with one goal, two assists led Shawinigan to 6-1 win against the Quebec Remparts in front of 3,345 fans.
Shawinigan broke the ice going along the board Samuel Girard beat Quebec center Zachary Moody making perfect pass to James Phelan who beats Quebec goaltender Julian Galloway with wrist shot from the slot at 14:14. 
A turnover behind the Quebec net led to Cataractes second goal only 33 seconds later. Losing the puck behind his own net defenseman Alexandre Drapeau couldn’t do anything as Mathieu Olivier wrist shot beat Quebec netminder.
With the best power play in the league at 42.7 percent, Shawinigan didn’t miss their first power play opportunity in the game scoring their third goal with only 32.8 seconds remaining in the first period.
Cataractes center Brandon Gignac beat visitors netminder with a wrist shot to his left side. Girard got his second assists of the game making another key plays leading to Shawinigan third goals of the first period.
Allowing three goals on ten shots Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher decided to begin the middle frame sending goaltender Sandro Sylvestre to replace Julian Galloway.
Already scoring on their only power play in the game Shawinigan pulled the trigger again with a man advantage. Cataractes’ center Samuel Asselin wrist shot beat Sylvestre for Shawinigan fourth goals with only four seconds left to Yanick Turcotte penalty who has been found guilty for check from behind. Asslin’s goal came with 11:31 to play in second period.
Quebec scored their goal on face-off won by young center Jesse Sutton. Quebec right winger Lucas Thierus scores his first of the year, his shot beat Shawinigan goaltender Antoine Samuel under his left arm at 15:28.
The home team regained their four-goal lead with 21.5 seconds remaining to middle frame. A shot from Shawinigan right winger Giovanni Fiore from the blue line has been stopped by Quebec netminder, but unable to keep the rebound Cataractes center Gignac jumped on the loose puck beating Sylvestre to scores Shawinigan fifth goals, his second of the game.
Shawinigan added a sixth goal on the scoreboard; a two-on-one between Brandon Gignac and Gabriel Slight became a three-on-one ending with first goal of the year by former Drummondville right winger Giovanni Fiore with only 1:59 gone in third period.
Quebec will end their weekend I Chicoutimi facing the Sagueneens on Sunday afternoon.
Eight other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday night
Saint John 3 vs. Cape Breton 2
Acadie-Bathurst 4 vs. Halifax 0
Charlottetown 4 vs. Moncton 3
Victoriaville 3 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 5
Drummondville 3 vs. Chicoutimi 2
Rimouski 5 vs. Baie-Comeau 3
Gatineau 2 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 1 (overtime)
Sherbrooke 2 vs. Val-d’Or 5
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.