First stop, Moncton!
MONCTON, NB – Tonight, the Gatineau Olympiques begin a three-games-in-as-many-days trip to the Maritimes.
During their eastern trip, they will face the Moncton Wildcats on Friday (6 p.m.), the Saint John Sea Dogs on Saturday (3 p.m.), and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Sunday (2 p.m.).
This will be the last ” exhausting ” stretch of the calendar this season for the team, as players will have to deal with fatigue and travel, according to head coach Serge Beausoleil.
“I don’t like this part of the schedule at all. We come back from a two-in-two in Rimouski, and a few days later, after returning home, we go back to the same part of the country to play a three-in-three. The players will have to deal with fatigue on this trip, but I expect everyone to bring their A game,” says Beausoleil.
The Olympiques (19-28-3-3), currently ranked 15th in the QMJHL, will begin the trip by taking on the 6th-place Wildcats (28-17-3-3). In the first meeting between the two teams this season, Daniel Lacroix’s team came out on top in a 7-4 victory at the Slush Puppie Centre.
For Serge Beausoleil’s men, this trip will be crucial in the playoff race. According to captain Charles Boutin, the players will need to take advantage of the experience of their veterans if they want to be successful.
“We’ll have to make the most of the little rest we have during this trip. Nutrition will also be crucial for us. It will be up to us, the leading group, to show the way. We’re a young team, so my job will be to pass on my experience to the younger ones, to get the best out of everyone,” explains Boutin.
Possible return of Joey Vetrano
The Olympiques will potentially be able to count on the return of forward Joey Vetrano, as a game-time decision will be made in his case. Vetrano has been sidelined with an upper-body injury since January 10. Defender Mathis Gauthier’s status remains unchanged. He has not played a game since suffering a lower-body injury against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens on February 1.
Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern time at Moncton’s Avenir Centre.
