Huskies and Olympiques Split First Two Games

This past weekend, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and Gatineau Olympiques split the first two games of their best of seven President’s Cup championship series by posting identical 6-2 victories. Gatineau drew first blood on Friday night as Claude Giroux led the way with one goal and three assists, and Ryan Mior posted his 13th win in 14 playoff games this season.

It was Rouyn-Noranda’s turn on Saturday as Brett Morrison’s goal and three assists led the way to victory. Maxim Gougeon now has 13 wins out of 14 playoff starts.
Gatineau now has home ice advantage as the series resumes Tuesday night in Gatineau with Game Four in Gatineau Wednesday night, Game Five in Rouyn-Noranda on Friday night, and Game Six if necessary in Gatineau on Sunday afternoon.

The Leaders

Giroux leads all playoff scorers with 13 goals and 29 assists in 16 games played, while Saint John left winger Scott Howes stands in second place with 15 goals and 11 assists in 14 games. Rounding out the top three is Morrison with six goals and 18 assists in 14 games.

Between the pipes, Gougeon leads all netminders with his 13-1 record, 2.39 GAA, and 0.922 SV%. Mior (13-2, 2.54 GAA, 0.902 SV%) is second, while Cape Breton’s Olivier Roy is still in the top three with his 5-6 record, 2.55 GAA, and 0.914 SV%.

Riendeau is CHL Player of the Week

On Thursday, Rouyn-Noranda forward Yannick Riendeau was named the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 27th. In the Huskies sweep of the Saint John Sea Dogs, Riendeau scored three times with two of them being game winners and assisted on five others. He scored two goals in game three of an 8-1 win and a goal and an assist in the 5-4 game four victory.

CSR Publishes May 1st List

On Thursday, the League Central Scouting posted the final official prospects list for the 2008 QMJHL entry draft which will take place on Saturday, June 7th in Cape Breton. A pair of Notre Dame Hounds teammates are ranked first and second overall with 16-year-old, 6" 1", 171 pound defenseman Brandon Gormley from PEI ranked first, and 15-year-old, 6' 3", 185 pound forward Sean Couturier ranked second.

Gormley finished the season with 23 goals and 33 assists in 44 games good enough for tenth place in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA League, with Couturier following him at 11th with 19 goals and 37 assists in 40 games.

Notre Dame finished first in the regular season League standings with a 34-6-3-1 record and 72 points. They won the league playoff championship with in four games against the Saskatoon Blazers in their best of five series.

Couturier finished seventh in playoff scoring with three goals and eight assists in 10 games. Gormley (1G, 6A, 9GP) was 15th.

The CSR List is made up of players ranked from rounds 6-12 alphabetically, other eligible 15 and 16-year-olds, added players by league clubs, and American players.

Click here for the CSR List