The Olympiques face a hungry Huskies.
Gatineau – The Gatineau Olympiques (15-25-2-2) entered Saturday afternoon’s game on a six-game winning streak, facing the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (28-10-1-4). The second win of this sequence came against the Huskies, when Alexander Gaudio tied the score with less than 13 seconds left in the 3rd period, and went on to win the shootout.
However, the result wasn’t the same on Saturday, as the Olympiques suffered their first defeat in 7 games in front of over 4,000 fans at the Slush Puppie Centre.
Rouyn-Noranda strikes early and late
The Huskies wasted no time in taking the lead. Just 23 seconds into the game, Ty Higgins’ shot beat Kian Hodgins and gave former Olympiques Antonin Verreault, the QMJHL leader in this category, his 68th point. Gatineau found their rhythm after that, but were unable to find the back of the net. But with 6 seconds remaining, a puck thrown by Thomas Verdon leapt behind the Gatineau goalkeeper, sending the visitors back to the dressing room with a two-goal lead.
The power play makes the difference
In the second period, the Olympiques were unable to take advantage of two man-up opportunities to reduce the lead. However, their opponents made no mistake at 5-on-4. Jérémie Minville was penalized for a high stick and Andrei Loshko took advantage, sending the puck straight between the pads of Kian Hodgins. The visitors now lead 3-0, posing a major challenge to Benoit Desrosiers’ men if they hope to maintain their momentum.
Gatineau without an answer
Rouyn-Noranda knocked on the door again early in the period. The Huskies’ rebound allowed Anthony Turcotte to add to his team’s lead. Gatineau then found themselves on the power play, but couldn’t find a way
on the scoreboard. Coming out of the penalty box, Ty Higgins found himself all alone in front of Kian Hodgins, who he expertly foiled to score his second of the game. Alexander Gaudio gives Antonin Verreault a solid check, causing a skirmish in front of the visitors’ bench and sending the Olympiques back on the power play. Gabriel Séguin (1) scores his first in an Olympiques uniform and first in his QMJHL career to spoil Philippe Bourdages’ shutout, but it’s far too late for a miraculous comeback.
The final score is 5-1 in favor of the Huskies, ending the Olympiques’ 6-game winning streak.
The Gatineau power play ended the evening 1 in 7, but there’s no need to panic, according to head coach Benoit Desrosiers: “We didn’t get what we wanted tonight on the power play, but I felt that it’s an element that has progressed enormously in recent games. We’re going to readjust our aim, but there’s no need to panic.
The highlight of the evening was certainly Gabriel Séguin’s first career goal.
“I was very happy. It’s a relief to finally score your first goal and take the pressure off your shoulders,” says Gabriel Séguin.
“Gabriel, since he’s been with us, has progressed enormously. He’s a player who’s effective all 200 feet of the ice. He richly deserves that first goal,” points out Benoit Desrosiers.
The Olympiques’ next game is this Sunday (January 21) against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, at the Centre d’excellence Sports Rousseau.
Text by Philippe Villeneuve
