The Q Report | Week 2 of 2019-2020

With Week 2 in the QMJHL underway, let’s look back on some memorable early accomplishments for the circuit’s 51^st season as well as an exciting – not to mention historical – weekend ahead!

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87 Reaches the Rafters

Few players in the history of the QMJHL have electrified the league quite like Sidney Crosby. After raising the roof on numerous occasions during his time in Rimouski, the Oceanic now prepare to raise Crosby’s #87 to the roof of the Sun Life Financial Coliseum as part of the organization’s 25^th home opener.

Before reaching the summit of the top players in NHL history, Crosby set the hockey world on its ear with the Oceanic, posting 303 points in 121 regular season games to go with a President Cup title in 2005. During the QMJHL’s 50^th Anniversary celebrations last year, Crosby was named number three on the list of Top 50 players in league history.

DISPONIBLES ???? TU NE VEUX PAS RATER ÇA || Procure-toi les quelques billets restants pour la cérémonie du retrait de chandail de Sidney Crosby et le match contre le Phœnix Sherbrooke du 27 septembre à 19h30.

Lien -> https://t.co/IL8TMIFeSh#Oceanic25 #GoNicsGo #Crosby87 #LHJMQ pic.twitter.com/qcBJjxSGbR

— Océanic de Rimouski (@oceanicrimouski) September 19, 2019

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Nice Round Numbers

While one well-known QMJHL player reached an important milestone last week, another mainstay prepares to earn one of his own today.

First, let’s go back to last Saturday in Charlottetown, when the Islanders notched a 5-2 win over the Halifax Mooseheads. Moreover, thanks to a 22-save performance, goaltender Matthew Welsh notched his 100^th regular season QMJHL victory. The fifth-year veteran has been Mr. Consistency for the Isles, notching back-to-back seasons of 30 wins.

Meanwhile tonight, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan travels to Moncton as the Wildcats prepare for their home opener. While it while be a celebratory night for Cats fans at the Avenir Center, another important occurrence will take place behind the Titan bench. That’s where Mario Durocher will partake in his 1000^th game as a QMJHL Head Coach, becoming just the fourth bench boss to reach that remarkable plateau. Over the course of parts of 20 seasons, Durocher has accumulated 504 regular season victories while earning President Cup Championships in 2002 (Victoriaville) and 2014 (Val-d’Or).

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Signed, Sealed, Delivered

It was a big week for putting pen to paper for a number of QMJHL players.

Both players from the league who heard their names called during the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft have now inked their first professional contracts. Sherbrooke captain Samuel Poulin agreed to a pact with the squad that selected him 21^st overall in June, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Extremely happy to sign my first NHL contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Thank you to my family, friends, coaches, teammates, my billet and all the people who helped me along the way. Let’s go Pens @penguins pic.twitter.com/cgfWl3lc7K

— Sam Poulin (@poulin_sam) September 23, 2019

After selecting Moncton’s Jakob Pelletier 26^th overall three months ago, the Calgary Flames doubled down on that commitment by coming to terms on a pro deal just before reassigning him to the QMJHL.

View this post on Instagram

Very excited and happy to sign my first NHL contract with the @nhlflames ! A huge thank you to my family, my teammates, my coaches ,my friends and my billet who helped me along the way. Let’s go flames ????????

A post shared by Jakob Pelletier (@jakobpelletier) on Sep 23, 2019 at 4:13pm PDT

When Pittsburgh chose winger Nathan Légaré in the third round of last June’s NHL Entry Draft following his 45-goal campaign with the Drakkar, many felt the Pens got a steal. The organization turned their steal into a deal by signing Légaré to an entry level contract in advance of his third “Q” campaign.

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I’m honoured to sign my first NHL contract with the @penguins. A dream coming true that wouldn’t of been possible without the help of my family, my friends, my coaches and all my teammates!! Thank you

A post shared by Nathan Légaré (@n.legare29) on Sep 20, 2019 at 4:12pm PDT

Meanwhile in Moncton, the Wildcats bade farewell to their captain on the eve of opening night when 20-year-old defenseman Jonathan Aspirot came to terms on a two-year deal with the AHL Belleville Senators.

Congrats to Jonathan Aspirot on signing a two-year deal with the @BellevilleSens. Wishing you all the best! #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/m8pSrGgVw9

— Moncton Wildcats (@monctonwildcats) September 19, 2019

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Shooters and Stoppers

Pierrick Dubé fired home a hat trick for the Quebec Remparts on Sunday afternoon in Drummondville. It was one of four three-goal performances on opening week, alongside those of Jacob Kelly (Rimouski), Egor Serdyuk (Victoriaville) and Alex-Olivier Voyer (Sherbrooke). Kelly’s hat trick was the first of his QMJHL career, while Voyer’s represented all of the Phoenix’s offense in a 3-2 overtime triumph over Chicoutimi.

While the guys above were finding the back of the net, one guy was stopping everything in sight. Shawinigan Cataractes goaltender Antoine Coulombe got off to an outstanding start in his second season in the “Q”, steering aside all 25 shots he faced in a 2-0 win over the Foreurs on Sunday, becoming the first netminder to record a shutout this year.