Inside the Numbers for Week #26
Fewer than 18 games remain in the QMJHL regular season. Fans have chosen Francis Perron (PHOTO) as the most effective player for the second half of the season. We’ll also take a closer look at Olympiques goalies, Matthieu Bellemare and Mark Grametbauer, who are both chasing records.
PLAYOFF STANDINGS
- Overall standings – Lets look at the various matchups for the first round: 1 vs. 16; 2 vs. 15, 3 vs. 14; 4 vs. 13; 5 vs. 12; 6 vs. 11; 7 vs. 10 and 8 vs. 9. Ranked 1, 2, and 3 you find the teams who are champions in their respective divisions: Rouyn-Noranda, Shawinigan, and Saint-John.
- Assured spots – 3 western division teams already know their final rankings: Rouyn-Noranda (1st in the league, 109 points), Val d’Or (4th overall, 100 points), and Gatineau (5th, 93 points).
- Shawinigan and Saint John – The Cataractes and the Sea Dogs are neck and neck for 2nd place in the league, with 90 points each. In fact, where they end up at the end of the regular season will determine who gets home-ice advantage, should these two teams meet up in the semifinals.
- Home ice advantage – 8th place overall, the position currently held by Rimouski, is the lowest ranking which allows a team to start the playoffs in their own arena. Charlottetown and Chicoutimi currently still have hope of equalling the Océanic (75 points), as they are both only 2 points behind Rimouski. Moncton and Cape Breton also will both be starting the season off in front of their fans.
- Tie breakers – if the total number of points of two teams is the same, the 1st consideration for breaking that tie is the number of wins (excluding shootouts). If needed, the next consideration would be the difference between goals for and against. If by some chance there were still a tie in the standings, the number of goals for would be the final determining factor.
- Only one series is set in stone – The Olympiques and Quebec (12th, 63 points) are the only two who know who their first round opponents will be.
- Here is the calendar for the last weekend of the QMJHL regular season:
Friday, March 18th
Saint John @ Cape Breton – 7pm
Acadie-Bathurst @ Charlottetown – 7pm
Halifax @ Moncton – 7pm
Baie-Comeau @ Chicoutimi – 7pm
Rouyn-Noranda @ Drummondville – 7pm
Val-d’Or @ Gatineau – 7pm
Blainville-Boisbriand @ Victoriaville – 7pm
Quebec @ Rimouski – 7:30pm
Sherbrooke @ Shawinigan – 7:30pm
Saturday, March 19th
Saint John @ Cape Breton – 4pm
Halifax @ Charlottetown – 4pm
Val-d’Or @ Drummondville – 3pm
Acadie-Bathurst @ Moncton – 4pm
Chicoutimi @ Baie-Comeau – 4pm
Rouyn-Noranda @ Gatineau – 4pm
Rimouski @ Quebec – 4pm
Blainville-Boisbriand @ Shawinigan – 4pm
Victoriaville @ Sherbrooke – 4pm
Overall QMJHL Standings |
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| Rank | QMJHL | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | GF | GA |
| 1 | xyz – Rouyn-Noranda, Huskies | 66 | 52 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 109 | 291 | 178 |
| 2 | xy – Shawinigan, Cataractes | 66 | 43 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 90 | 270 | 211 |
| 3 | xy – Saint John, Sea Dogs | 66 | 42 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 90 | 253 | 212 |
| 4 | x – Val-d’Or, Foreurs | 66 | 48 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 100 | 285 | 191 |
| 5 | x – Gatineau, Olympiques | 66 | 45 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 93 | 246 | 168 |
| 6 | x – Moncton, Wildcats | 66 | 36 | 20 | 9 | 1 | 82 | 260 | 238 |
| 7 | x – Cape Breton, Screaming Eagles | 66 | 36 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 78 | 276 | 232 |
| 8 | x – Rimouski, Océanic | 66 | 34 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 75 | 199 | 200 |
| 9 | x – Charlottetown, Islanders | 66 | 33 | 26 | 5 | 2 | 73 | 219 | 228 |
| 10 | x – Chicoutimi, Saguenéens | 66 | 32 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 73 | 216 | 208 |
| 11 | x – Victoriaville, Tigres | 66 | 31 | 28 | 3 | 4 | 69 | 239 | 246 |
| 12 | x – Quebec, Remparts | 66 | 28 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 63 | 202 | 249 |
| 13 | x – Blainville-Boisbriand, Armada | 66 | 25 | 32 | 7 | 2 | 59 | 163 | 193 |
| 14 | x – Acadie-Bathurst, Titan | 66 | 26 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 58 | 217 | 247 |
| 15 | x – Sherbrooke, Phoenix | 66 | 24 | 33 | 7 | 2 | 57 | 203 | 231 |
| 16 | x – Drummondville, Voltigeurs | 66 | 27 | 37 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 184 | 250 |
| 17 | Halifax, Mooseheads | 66 | 20 | 38 | 7 | 1 | 48 | 184 | 268 |
| 18 | Baie-Comeau, Drakkar | 66 | 12 | 49 | 2 | 3 | 29 | 138 | 295 |
| x = Team has clinched a berth in the playoffs | |||||||||
| y = Division champions | |||||||||
| z = Regular season champions | |||||||||
TWO 100-POINT TEAMS
- 100 points for Rouyn & Val d’Or – Can you remember last time that 2 or more teams broke through the regular-season 100-point mark? It was 5 years ago, in 2010-2011. Then, three teams succeeded in that exploit: Saint John (119 points), Montreal (102) and Quebec (100).
HIGH PERFORMANCE
- A new benchmark – Rouyn-Noranda is finishing off the season in force, setting a new team record with 12 consecutive wins. One of the Huskies forwards, Jean-Christophe Beaudoin is having one of his best stretches in the QMJHL, with 15 points (9 of them goals) in his last 7 games. Teammates Timo Meier (17 points) and Francis Perron (15) are also Q stars of the month.
- Cape Breton and Charlottetown – the two Maritime teams have both won their last 5 games. Don’t discount the possibility of the Eagles and Islanders meeting up in the 1st round of the playoffs. Currently, Charlestown and Chicoutimi have he same number of points. Chicoutimi plays Baie-Comeau twice this weekend and could pass the Islanders in the standings if the latter let 1 or more points escape them when they pair off with Halifax and Acadie-Bathhurst this weekend. If this were to come to pass, Jim Hulton’s squad would find themselves in 10th place, unless the Tigres win both of their weekend match ups against Blainville-Boisbriand and Sherbrooke. So many possibilities!
- Nicolas Roy (Chicoutimi) – with 5 goals in his last 3 games, and 7 goals in as many matches in March, he has currently raised his total to 47, for a tied 1st place in the league with Michael Carcone of the Voltigeurs (also 47). The owner of at least 1 goal in his last 5 outings, Michael Joly follows close behind, and will be firing on all cylinders this weekend to reach the 50-goal mark; a rare accomplishment this decade.
- Frédéric Allard (Chicoutimi) – the cornerstone of the Saguenay defence has had quite the season. With 59 points, 14 of those goals, he sits in 2nd place behind Samuel Girard (SHA, 67 points). In Allard’s last 9 matches, he has put his name on the score sheet 11 times and maintained a differential of +2.
TROPHY HUNT
- THE JACQUES-PLANTE TROPHY– Three goaltenders are in the race for the season’s best goals against average. Mark Grametbauer would seem to be in the driver’s seat (2.43, GAT) outpacing Chase Marchand (2.45, ROU) and his own teammate, Matthieu Bellemare (2.46, GAT). In the Case of the two Olympiques players, we’ll be watching to see if they are able to beat the rookie record of 2.48, established by Martin Biron of the Beauport Harfangs in 1994-1995. It is assured that the Bellemare and Grametbaier will beat the Olympiques club record of 2.55, set by Maxime Clermont in 2010-2011. As for the Huskies’ Marchand, he will be the new record setter there, supplanting the rouge et noir mark of 3,06 – set by Mickael Audette (2009-2010)
- JEAN-BÉLIVEAU TROPHY– with domination, Conor Garland is finishing for the 2nd consecutive season as scoring leader. With 126 points, 19 more than his nearest rival, Francis Perron (ROU, 107) and with 2 games left to play in the regular season, his title of scoring champ was assured some time ago. The Wildcats #8 is currently tied with Sébastien Roger in number 1 spot in team history for total points (326).
- LUC ROBITAILLE TROPHY– What is the best offensive team in the league? This honour is awarded after considering the average number of goals scored per game; shootout goals not being part of the equation. Today, March 18th, Rouyn-Noranda (4.36) look unlikely to loose this title to Val d’Or (4.30)
- ROBERT-LEBEL TROPHY – awarded to the team that maintained the best goals against average. Gatineau (2.51) holds a comfortable lead over Rouyn (2.64). The last time that the Olympiques earned this honour was 1996-1997, the same year that they won the Memorial Cup. A sign of things to come?
- The Golden Pucks Gala – on Wednesday, April 6th, this year’s the big winners will be recognized. Several player trophies will also be awarded. Watch for details soon on THEQMJHL.CA
RECORD
- Philippe Sanche – he has quite a challenge in front of him to become the best scorer in Armada history. With 197 points, he needs to score 6 more in order to match all-time leader, Danick Martel (203). If it were not for his unfortunate leg injury that saw him miss half of the current season, Sanche who has amassed 31 points in 33 outings this year, would surely already be the Armada record man.
Most Lifetime Points by an Armada Player |
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| Rank | Player | Season | Record |
| 1 | Danick Martel | 2011>>2015 | 203 |
| 2 | Philippe Sanche | 2012>>2016 | 197 |
| 3 | Christopher Clapperton | 2011>>2014 | 194 |
| 4 | Nikita Jevpalovs | 2012>>2015 | 193 |
- Evan Fitzpatrick (Sherbrooke) – his current goals against average of 3.36 is helping him to write his name in the young Phoenix goalie record book. Last year, Alex Bureau maintained an average of 3.37.
- Etienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or) – with an average of 2.72, he could also beat the Foreurs record for a 20-year-old, (Sébastien Charpentier (2.73, 1995-96). He already has to his credit the record for most wins by a Foreurs goalie (38). He could also become a member of the exclusive 40-win club, by winning both of his road games this weekend…
QMJHL – Most Single-Season Wins by a Goaltender |
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| Rank | Goalie | Team(s) | Season | Record |
| 1 | Jacques Cloutier | Trois-Rivières | 78-79 | 58 |
| 2 | Jacques Cloutier | Trois-Rivières | 77-78 | 46 |
| 3 | Nick Sanza | Sherbrooke | 74-75 | 45 |
| Zachary Fucale | Halifax | 12-13 | 45 | |
| 5 | Richard Brodeur | Cornwall | 71-72 | 43 |
| Nicola Riopel | Moncton | 08-09 | 43 | |
| 7 | Frédéric Cloutier | Shawinigan | 00-01 | 42 |
| 8 | Daniel Berthiaume | Drummondville-Chicoutimi | 84-85 | 41 |
| Adam Russo | Acadie-Bathurst | 01-02 | 41 | |
| Alex Dubeau | Moncton | 14-15 | 41 | |
| 11 | Claude Legris | Sorel | 73-74 | 40 |
| Tony Haladuick | Laval | 83-84 | 40 | |
| Maxime Ouellet | Quebec | 98-99 | 40 | |
| 14 | Denis Groulx | Trois-Rivières | 80-81 | 39 |
| Gilles Héroux | Verdun | 82-83 | 39 | |
| 16 | Corrado Micalef | Sherbrooke | 79-80 | 38 |
| Stéphane Beauregard | St-Jean | 87-88 | 38 | |
| Sébastien Caron | Rimouski | 99-00 | 38 | |
| Adam Russo | Acadie-Bathurst | 02-03 | 38 | |
| Etienne Montpetit | Val-d`Or | 15-16 | 38 | |
Milestone
- Mario Durocher (VDO) – could become the 23rd head coach in league history to earn 50 wins in a single season. Durocher is finishing his 4th season with the Foreurs and currently boasts 48 wins for 2015-216. He might very well be the only coach in the 50-win club this year, since the Huskies’ Gilles Bouchard missed several November games to take part in the World Junior, Under-17 championship. Bouchard was there however for 47 of his boys impressive 52 wins this year. Finally, remember that Durocher has already passed Claude Bouchard for the number of wins in 1 season by a Foreurs coach (46 in 200-2001).
Most Single-Season Wins by a QMJHL Head Coach |
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| Rank | Coach | Team | Season | Record |
| 1 | Michel Bergeron | Trois-Rivières | 78-79 | 58 |
| Dominique Ducharme | Halifax | 12-13 | 58 | |
| 3 | Gérard Gallant | Saint John | 10-11 | 57 |
| 4 | Maurice Filion | Quebec | 70-71 | 54 |
| Pat Burns | Hull | 85-86 | 54 | |
| Denis Francoeur | Shawinigan | 00-01 | 54 | |
| 7 | Gérard Gagnon | Laval | 82-83 | 53 |
| 8 | Marc Picard | Quebec | 73-74 | 52 |
| Ted Nolan | Moncton | 05-06 | 52 | |
| Gérard Gallant | Saint John | 09-10 | 52 | |
| 11 | Ghislain Delage | Sherbrooke | 74-75 | 51 |
| Ghislain Delage | Sherbrooke | 75-76 | 51 | |
| Ron Lapointe | Shawinigan | 82-83 | 51 | |
| Jean Bégin | Laval | 83-84 | 51 | |
| Guy Chouinard | Quebec | 98-99 | 51 | |
| Richard Martel | Chicoutimi | 05-06 | 51 | |
| Patrick Roy | Quebec | 05-06 | 51 | |
| Eric Veilleux | Shawinigan | 08-09 | 51 | |
| Mario Duhamel | Drummondville | 09-10 | 51 | |
| 20 | Robert Mongrain | Hull | 95-96 | 50 |
| Benoit Groulx | Gatineau | 03-04 | 50 | |
| Gérard Gallant | Saint John | 11-12 | 50 | |
| 23 | Orval Tessier | Quebec | 72-73 | 49 |
| Michel Therrien | Granby | 95-96 | 49 | |
| Pascal Vincent | Cape Breton | 03-04 | 49 | |
| Patrick Roy | Quebec | 08-09 | 49 | |
| 27 | Réal Paiement | Granby | 86-87 | 48 |
| Claude Julien | Hull | 96-97 | 48 | |
| Doris Labonté | Rimouski | 99-00 | 48 | |
| Danny Flynn | Moncton | 09-10 | 48 | |
| Patrick Roy | Quebec | 10-11 | 48 | |
| Mario Durocher | Val-d`Or | 15-16 | 48 | |
WHAT OUR WEBSITE USERS THINK
- Poll question – Last week, fans voted on this question: Which of these players has been the most efficient in the 2nd half of the season?
- Francis Perron (Rouyn-Noranda) – You showed a lot of love for the 19-year-old Huskie who has scored 49 points since Christmas. He was the choice of 1 out of 5 voters (19.4%) Teammate and goalie for the regular season champs, Samuel Harvey also won praise for his performance in the 2nd part of the season (15-1-1, 2.26, .911) with 18% of your votes.
- Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton) – just over 14% of the 4500 voters thought that he was the most effective player for the season’s second half. He is 1 of 3 players who has maintained a points per match average of 1.7, along with Timo Meier (ROU) and Conor Garland (MON). Nicolas Roy (13%) was also not far off the leaders in our poll.
Translation: Richard Dumas
