While the first of the weekend's two meetings between the Remparts de Québec and the Drakkar de Baie-Comeau was dominated by the North Coast team and involved numerous stoppages of play, the second game on Saturday after noon was completely different.
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The Remparts, 16th in the circuit's overall standings, even managed to gain a valuable ranking point by forcing extra time against the team at the top of this ranking. However, they lost 2 to 1.
“We had a good meeting before the game. If we play well defensively, we give ourselves the chance to win games. That’s what happened today,” summarized Red Devils coach Éric Veilleux.
We had to wait until the start of the third period before the locals scored the lead through Pier-Étienne Cloutier. Raoul Boilard responded a few minutes later in the power play for the guests. Ultimately, it was Justin Gill who sealed the outcome of the game in extra time.
“We found a way to win this game. I can't say we didn't play well. “Quebec played a very good game,” remarked Bay Comois pilot Jean-François Grégoire, jokingly noting that the meeting was “shorter” than the previous day’s.
More disciplined
If the referees Guillaume Labonté and Simon Tartre had to award a total of 56 minutes of penalties the day before in a game in which hostility between the two teams was very present, their colleagues Nicolas Comtois and Nicolas Loyer had it much easier on Saturday.
The Red Devils were particularly disciplined in this encounter as they only allowed their opponents three numerical advantages.
However, Eric Veilleux's men were unable to capitalize on the four occasions when they had a man advantage.
In the second period the crowd became impatient as their favorites were well established in the opponent's zone but only exchanged the puck.
“We had moments where we were attacking and we could have shot, but we decided to make one more play. It's the only part of the game where we could have been better,” admitted Veilleux.
Chouinard's great fight
Drakkar defenseman Émile Chouinard was absent Friday, playing his 200th career QMJHL game in his hometown before taking time off to fight his battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Whoever, according to their coach, behaves like “a great champion” even when they are sick, gets the first star of the match and inspires teammates and opponents.
“Last week our pre-game speeches were about working hard for him. It was really important to us to pick her up tonight. […] It makes us realize that health is really important!” said the author of the winning goal, Justin Gill, after the game.
Among the Remparts, Pier-Étienne Cloutier also had good words for number 15 of the Drakkar. “We stand behind him! It’s really sad what’s happening to him.”
Note: The 11,157 spectators were entitled to a doubleheader Saturday night, as the meeting between the Drakkar and the Remparts was followed by a women's college hockey duel between the Limoilou Titans and the Champlain-Lennoxville Cougars. However, a small part of them remained for the second game.