The Olympiques deserved better

Gatineau – The Olympiques received a visit from the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday afternoon at the Slush Puppie Centre. After a long, physical battle that required an extra period, the Gatineau team was defeated, 3-2.

A puck to keep for Maxim Dubé

The Olympiques got off to a strong start in the first period. Alexis Loiseau’s men controlled the game and multiplied their scoring chances. Maxim Dubé missed an opportunity to open the scoring on a penalty shot. The Olympiques then find themselves on the power play, and Maxim Dubé (1st) takes advantage to give his team the lead. It was the Fort-Coulonge rookie’s first career QMJHL goal. A few minutes later, Zachary Morin provided the reply for the visitors. Taos Jordan brings the energy back to the fans at the end of the period with a hard-hitting check on a Sea Dog forward. Saint John gets a power play in the final minute, but the score remains the same for the rest of the third.

Tensions rise at the Slush Puppie Centre

In the second period, Eriks Mateiko gave his side an early lead, but Lukas Landry (2nd) brought everyone back to square one less than a minute later with a shot into the top corner. For the remainder of the period, tempers flared and the physicality of both teams increased. The trio of Maxim Dubé, Justin Boisselle and Julien Paillé buzzed the opposition territory on numerous occasions, but Sea Dogs goalkeeper Charles-Édward Gravel held firm. Time ran out and the deadlock persisted after 40 minutes.

Gatineau in control of third period

In the third period, the Olympiques quickly found themselves with an extra man, but were unable to seize the opportunity. Alexis Loiseau’s men controlled the game for the vast majority of the period and multiplied their scoring chances in the final minutes, but were unable to break through Charles-Édward Gravel. The game went into overtime, with the Olympiques leading in shots on goal, 32-24.

Visitors leave victorious

In overtime, the teams traded possession of the disc, but no one could find a way to break the deadlock. However, with less than two minutes to go, Matteo Mann found himself alone and fired a shot into the back of the net. The Olympiques lost in overtime, 3-2.

In defeat, 16-year-old rookie Maxim Dubé found the back of the net for the very first time in the Cecchini circuit.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment,” admits the Fort-Coulonge-born forward. “I was really happy to score my first goal today. I think it takes a lot of pressure off me.

The Olympiques will now begin a long four-game road trip. Head coach Alexis Loiseau hopes his men can keep up the momentum.

“For me, even if the result is disappointing and there will still be disappointed faces in the dressing room, we can’t base our confidence solely on the result,” stresses Loiseau. “We have to look at the way we’ve worked, the way we’ve done things. We’ll have to bring the same kind of effort and intensity to Victoriaville.”

The Olympiques will be back in action on Wednesday (October 30) to face the Victoriaville Tigres at Colisée Desjardins.

*Philippe Villeneuve