QMJHL looking for answers against Russia
Wednesday November 18, 2015
By Josh Sweetland/CHL
They outshot their Russian opponents by 13 on Tuesday, but weren’t able to solve goaltender Alexander Trushkov late as Team QMJHL fell 3-2 in Game 5 of the CHL Canada Russia Series in Rouyn-Noranda on Tuesday.
With Russia having taken seven of the last 11 meetings between the two sides dating back to 2010, the QMJHL is in search of answers heading into Thursday’s sixth and final game of the series in Halifax.
“We had some great chances in the first two periods on Tuesday but weren’t able to capitalize,” said Team QMJHL head coach and Canadian National Junior Team assistant Dominique Ducharme (Halifax Mooseheads). “Russia did a good job of shutting us down in the third. We didn’t generate as much as we’d like in the way of scoring chances in the last 20 minutes.”
Carolina Hurricanes prospect Nicolas Roy (Chicoutimi Sagueneens) scored the second goal of the night for Team QMJHL, coming on a powerplay late in the second period.
“We put a lot of shots on the net and went after rebounds but we weren’t opportunistic enough and that’s why we lost,” he said. “We’re going to have a good practice on Wednesday and get back out there in Halifax. If we keep sending pucks to the net things are going to come.”
The Team QMJHL roster features eight returnees from the 2014 CHL Canada Russia Series, one they split against Russia with a win in Game 5 before a Game 6 loss in Rimouski that saw the Russians take the series 11-7 in points.
The event returns to Halifax for the first time since 2003 on Thursday, a game that saw Team QMJHL pepper Russian goaltender Konstantin Barulin with 53 shots in a 3-2 loss, marking Russia’s first ever victory in the history of the event.
Team QMJHL includes eight 19 year-old players led by captain Clark Bishop (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) and assistants Olivier LeBlanc (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) and Francis Perron (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies). The roster also features a pair of first round NHL draft picks in New York Islanders prospect Anthony Beauvillier (Shawinigan Cataractes) and Ottawa Senators selection Thomas Chabot (Saint John Sea Dogs).
Draft eligible winger Julien Gauther (Val-d’Or Foreurs) recorded an assist and saw plenty of ice in Game 5 alongside Beauvillier and Val-d’Or teammate Anthony Richard. Other draft eligibles in Samuel Girard (Shawinigan Cataractes), Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) and Maxime Fortier (Halifax Mooseheads) were also used frequently by Ducharme and his staff.
Goaltender Samuel Montembeault (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) allowed three goals on 20 shots in the loss. Calgary Flames prospect Mason McDonald (Charlottetown Islanders) is expected to get the start on Thursday, one the eyes of Hockey Canada will be sure to see as they evaluate prospective goaltenders for the National Junior Team.
While Russia only managed to score once in two games in a pair of losses to Team OHL in games three and four, the additions of Evgeny Svechnikov (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles), Maxim Lazarev (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles), Yakov Trenin (Gatineau Olympiques) and Sergei Boikov (Drummondville Voltigeurs) have given coach Valery Bragin an assortment of new options as all four saw frequent shifts on Tuesday, with Boikov finding the back of the net in the first period.
The QMJHL will aim to continue their barrage on the Russian goal in Game 6 on Thursday night in Halifax as the CHL enters action with a 12-3 lead in points.
The series finale can be seen live on Sportsnet 360 and TVA Sports at 7:00pm ET.
For news, roster information and ticket details, please visit canadarussia.chl.ca.