Road to the President Cup: Chicoutimi Saguenéens
PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS
1) Blainville-Boisbriand Armada vs. 16) Val d’Or Foreurs
2) Acadie-Bathurst Titan vs. 15) Chicoutimi Saguenéens
3) Rimouski Océanic vs. 14) Moncton Wildcats
4) Halifax Mooseheads vs. 13) Baie-Comeau Drakkar
5) Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. 12) Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
6) Victoriaville Tigres vs. 11) Gatineau Olympiques
7) Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs. 10) Sherbrooke Phoenix
8) Quebec Remparts vs. 9) Charlottetown Islanders
FINAL STANDINGS, REGULAR SEASON / (W-L-OTL-SOL)
*Blainville-Boisbriand Armada – 107 points (50-11-4-3)
*Acadie-Bathurst Titan – 96 points (43-15-8-2)
*Rimouski Océanic – 93 points (42-17-6-3)
Halifax Mooseheads – 93 points (43-18-6-1)
Drummondville Voltigeurs – 92 points (44-20-3-1)
Victoriaville Tigres – 90 points (42-20-4-2)
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies – 88 points (39-19-7-3)
Quebec Remparts – 86 points (40-22-3-3)
Charlottetown Islanders – 81 points (37-24-7-0)
Sherbrooke Phoenix – 79 points (34-23-7-4)
Gatineau Olympiques – 73 points (32-27-5-4)
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles – 72 points (32-28-6-2)
Baie-Comeau Drakkar – 65 points (30-33-4-1)
Moncton Wildcats – 62 points (27-33-5-3)
Chicoutimi Saguenéens – 61 points (28-35-4-1)
Val-d’Or Foreurs – 45 points (19-42-5-2)
Shawinigan Cataractes – 39 points (16-45-6-1)
Saint John Sea Dogs – 39 points (14-43-9-2)
*NOTE: The division winners are the first three seeded teams.
TOP SCORERS
Kevin Klima (Forward) – 39G 47A 86P
Vladislav Kotkov (Forward) – 21G 28A 49P
Kelly Klima (Forward) – 18G 18A 36P
Samuel Houde (Forward) – 16G 16A 32P
Jérémy Diotte (Defenseman) – 2G 28A 30P
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE
2017 (Lost in the semifinals, against the Saint John Sea Dogs)
TOTAL PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN TEAM HISTORY (since 1998-99)
38 (1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
LAST PRESIDENT CUP
1994
TOTAL PRESIDENT CUPS IN TEAM HISTORY
2 (1991, 1994)
REGULAR SEASON SUMMARY
The Chicoutimi Saguenéens finished the season in 15th place with 61 total points and a record of 28-35-4-1. Despite compiling their lowest point total in five seasons, they nonetheless clinched a postseason berth for an 18th consecutive season. The team scored exactly 200 goals, placing them 15th overall in the “Q”. Defensively, the Saguenéens’ 233 goals against ranked them 11th. Their powerplay finished 14th in the circuit, clicking at a rate of 17.5%, while the penalty kill landed in 16th spot at 76.9%. Despite their position in the standings, Chicoutimi was a relatively consistent team. Though they never won more than five games in a row, a streak that ran from January 28th to February 8th, neither did they lose more than four in a row at any time during the season. That four-game slide occurred from September 22nd to 30th. Over one quarter of the Saguenéens’ offense was provided by the Klima twins, Kevin and Kelly, who registered 39 and 18 goals, respectively. Kevin also finished fourth overall in the QMJHL scoring race with 85 points. Rookie Russian winger Vladislav Kotkov tallied 21 times while another young talent, winger Samuel Houde, scored 16. Another rookie, goaltender Alexis Shank, finished among the league leaders with three shutouts. Chicoutimi was involved in two of the league’s biggest trades, dealing center German Rubtsov and defenseman Olivier Galipeau to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Acquisitions by the Saguenéens included Gabriel Villeneuve from the Quebec Remparts and winger Samuel Meisenheimer from the Charlottetown Islanders.
