The Olympiques heat up the mighty Huskies
GATINEAU – The Olympiques welcomed the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to the Slush Puppie Centre on Saturday afternoon. It was an emotional game for the 5,000 fans on hand, as Samuel Savoie, who had spent three seasons with the Olympiques, made his first return to Gatineau in the opposing team’s uniform. A two-point performance from #93 in an action-packed game helped his team defeat the resilient Olympiques.
Sam Savoie wastes no time
The first period was a hotly contested, highly physical affair. Former Olympique Samuel Savoie quickly made his presence felt with two solid checks on Émile Dubois. He even opened the scoring late in the period on the power play, taking advantage of a rebound in front of the net. The Olympiques fired 12 shots on net in the period, but William Rousseau, who had just broken the QMJHL record for shutouts in a single season with eight, conceded nothing. It’s 1-0 in favor of the visitors after twenty minutes of play.
Costly turnovers for Gatineau
In the opening minutes of the second period, Nathan Lévesque (23rd) evened the score by patiently foiling Rousseau and scoring into a cage protected by nothing more than a stick. Thomas Veron then replied and restored his side’s lead by slipping the disc between Zach Pelletier’s pads. Moments later, Samuel Beauchemin found himself alone in front of the net and sent the disc into the top corner. Gatineau then had an extra-man opportunity, but were unable to capitalize. The visitors returned to the dressing room with a two-goal lead.
Olympiques fight to the very end
In the third period, Charles Boutin (21st) reduced the deficit to a single goal by using his hands and precise shot to beat Rousseau in the opening minute. However, it was Rouyn-Noranda who ensured the reply, as Leighton Carruthers beat Pelletier with a powerful wrist shot. Then, with two minutes remaining in the game, Alexander Gaudio (18th) was awarded a penalty shot and scored to reduce the deficit to one goal, while the Olympiques were down a man. Despite everything,
Daniil Bourash scored moments later in an empty net. But Gatineau had not said its last word. Justin Boisselle (18th) took advantage of a throw-in with exactly one minute to go and once again reduced the gap to one goal. The home side gave their all to try and tie the game in the dying moments, but were unable to complete the comeback. The Huskies win 5-4.
It was a sold-out game for the return of Sam Savoie, who had played 151 games for the Olympiques. Savoie scored the game’s first goal.
“It took me a few minutes to get into the game. Seeing my boarding family, with whom I lived for four years, is starting to get to me,” confides Sam Savoie.
“Scoring a goal in my comeback was my plan. It really helped my game, it helped me gain confidence and energy,” adds the New Brunswick native.
Antonin Verreault, the QMJHL’s all-time points leader (102), also faced his former team tonight.
“It’s even more fun to be back in Gatineau with Sam Savoie. It’s fun to win. I thought Gatineau played very well too. We managed to come away with the two points, but we’ll have to play better in the playoffs,” says Verreault.
Finally, despite a total of nine goals in the game, Serge Beausoleil had nothing but good things to say about the two starting goalkeepers.
“Zach Pelletier has done some great things. But he’s 17 years old,” exclaims head coach Serge Beausoleil.
“If you compare him to William Rousseau, who won the Memorial Cup last year, he’s made a lot of key saves. They’re not in the same place. You have to compare apples to apples,” adds the Olympiques pilot.
The Olympiques’ next game is Sunday (March 17) against the Shawinigan Cataractes at the Slush Puppie Centre.
