Monctonian 2023 | A Tight Matchup in the QMJHL All-Star Game
Many of Atlantic Canada’s top players took to the ice at Moncton’s Superior Propane Centre for the traditional QMJHL All-Star Game on Saturday evening. The event is part of the Monctonian AAA Challenge, one of the largest midget AAA hockey tournaments in Canada.
A two-goal performance by Jaxon Somers of the Moncton Flyers led the blue team to a 2-1 victory over the whites, with Chike Uzochukwu of the Dartmouth Steele Subaru scoring his team’s only goal in a losing cause. Somers was named player of the match for his team after his brace.
“I was very nervous before the game, but it quickly settled down. It was an important game for me because there are a lot of QMJHL scouts watching us play,” said number 27 in excellent French.
“I really wanted to play a good game. It wasn’t really difficult to get used to playing with guys you don’t know. I had two good linemates and we complemented each other well,” he added.
His Flyers teammate, Jacob Gouchie, was named player of the game for the white team.
“It’s a great achievement. I’m really proud of myself,” said the big defenceman. “The big thing for me is that I tried to bring confidence to my game. I tried to be smart on the ice and make good passes. I also wanted to help create things offensively.”
The skater from Haute-Aboujagane, New Brunswick, picked up an assist on his team’s only goal: “It was a really great experience. It was also special to play in front of so many people. I loved it.”
Winning coach Brian Casey (Central Impact, Newfoundland) says he enjoyed the experience: “It was a great game overall. I think the pace was very good and the players worked terribly hard,” he said after the game.
He believes that many of the players who took part in the game will one day skate in the QMJHL. “There was a lot of talent on the ice, and it was really something to be part of this event. They’re all good kids with great attitudes. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing from a few of them over the next few years.”
His counterpart Jordan Burke (Dartmouth Steele Subaru) also spoke of a high-intensity game: “You could tell the kids were nervous at the start, but as the game progressed, you could see them creating plays and playing their own style,” he noted. “All these kids have so much talent. The puck was moving fast, and the guys were thinking fast on the ice. I think a lot of these kids have bright futures ahead of them in the QMJHL.”
The story of the game
It took the white team just 31 seconds to get on the scoreboard, as Chike Uzochukwu of Dartmouth’s Steele Subaru broke free before slotting the puck into the top corner.
Jacob Gouchie of the Moncton Flyers and Gavin Smith of the Rothesay Netherwood River Hawks picked up assists on the sequence.
The blue team responded with two goals in the second period. Both came from Jaxon Somers of the Moncton Flyers.
Both goalies closed the door in the third period to preserve the 2-1 victory for the blue team.