2026 Gilles-Courteau Trophy Playoffs – REGIMENT vs. ARMADA

The masters of the high seas will clash with the troops on the ground starting tonight in Blainville. The Armada and the Newfoundland Regiment will lock horns in a series with tons of talent, as well as historical significance.

The Armada rode its balanced lineup to a four-game elimination of the Victoriaville Tigres, the organization’s first playoff series triumph in four years. Among the leaders were two players hitting their stride after injury-plagued regular seasons in Bill Zonnon and Xavier Villeneuve. The duo of Justin Carbonneau and Mateo Nobert continued its magic, the former coming up with an overtime-winner in game three and the insurance marker in the clincher. Overall, eight players enter the Quarter-Finals averaging at least a point per game. On the backend, Mathieu Taillefer continues his understated play while Spencer Gill is enjoying his first prolonged stretch of play this campaign. In the crease, William Lacelle’s steady play improved game by game, highlighted by a 31-save performance in the third contest. The Armada is aiming to reach the league Semi-Final for the first time since 2018, when the club went on to enjoy the second of back-to-back Final appearances.

For the first time in QMJHL history, a team from Newfoundland has won a playoff series. The Regiment made history on Sunday afternoon thanks to a game six triumph over the Cape Breton Eagles. That 7-3 win was a fair representation of how the Regiment earned a spot in the Quarter-Finals; a high octane and timely offensive performance. Leading the way, much as it was during the regular season, was Justin Larose. Dawson Sharkey, despite missing two games due to suspension mid-series, was arguably the biggest force in the lineup when available. Louis-Francois Bélanger continued his clutch play, firing home a game-winner and a pair of insurance markers. Rookies Benjamin Veitch and Ryan Dwyer proved to be ready for their first taste of QMJHL postseason action as well. Veterans Will Reynolds, Noah Laberge and Emile Perron were steadying presences on the backend in front of Louis-Antoine Denault, who turned in clutch performances, particularly in games three and four.

Though these two clubs have never faced off before in postseason competition, that doesn’t mean the faceoff lacks historical importance. For one, the Armada can trace its lineage as a franchise to the original Newfoundland QMJHL organization, the St. John’s Fog Devils, who entered the league in 2005. When the Regiment still battled in Bathurst, New Brunswick as the Titan, it was the Armada that Acadie-Bathurst vanquished in the league Final en route to a Memorial Cup triumph. The Titan and Armada also clashed in 2013 and 2017, Blainville winning on both occasions. These two clubs haven’t faced off since October, when the Armada sailed into St. John’s and took back-to-back contests from the Regiment by scores of 10-4 and 5-2.

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Team Comparison (Reg. Season):