2022 QMJHL Playoffs | Sagueneens vs. Remparts Preview

 

Last year, the Remparts lost out on the hosting rights to the 2022 Memorial Cup. However, they’re determined to make it to the big event one way or the other. It just so happens one of their bitterest rivals, the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, stand in the way.

The Remparts captured the Jean-Rougeau Trophy for the third time in modern franchise history on the final day of the season. It was 55-goal scorer and St. Louis Blues 2021 first-rounder, Zachary Bolduc, who helped lead the charge offensively, joined by veteran Theo Rochette, both of whom tied for the team lead in points.

Nathan Gaucher and James Malatesta played key supporting roles on a squad that featured an incredible 13 players with 10 or more goals. On the backend, Florida Panthers prospect Evan Nause, alongside Louis Crevier and Nicholas Savoie, ate up seveal key minutes for the league’s top defensive club.

In nets, goaltenders Fabio Iacobo and William Rousseau both finished top three in the Q with their stellar goals-against average.

The Remparts swept their first round series with the Drummondville Voltigeurs last year, before falling in three straight games to the Sags in the quarterfinals.

 

The Sagueneens were led up front by former Rouyn-Noranda Huskies center and 2019 Memorial Cup champion, William Rouleau. Slick second-year winger Matej Kaslik and rookie Jacob Newcombe played pivotal roles, the latter coming on particularly strong in the second half.

Michael Pellerin, Vincent Fradette and Christopher Inniss, the later picked up from the Saint John Sea Dogs, were key cogs defensively.

Sergei Litvinov and Kevyn Brassard split the majority of playing time between the pipes in the wake of losing veteran Alexis Shank to graduation.

The Sags advanced to the third round of the 2021 playoffs before falling to the Val-d’Or Foreurs. The club has now qualified for the postseason for an impressive 21 consecutive years.

 

The Remparts won the season series convincingly, taking six of seven contests. The two clubs have clashed five previous times in postseason competition. In addition to last year, the Sags were also triumphant in 2005, while the Remparts gained the upper hand in 2002, 2008 and 2013.

No matter where they place in the standings, any meeting between these longtime foes is bound to provide some excitement.

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Team Comparison:

	Quebec	Chicoutimi
Record	51-15-2-0 — 104 Pts	27-35-1-5 — 60 Pts
Division Ranking	1st East	3rd East
League Ranking	1st	14th
GF	302	206
GA	175	264
PP (Overall)	(55/228) 24.1%	(47/247) 19.0%
PK (Overall)	(54/245) 78.0%	(61/230) 73.5%
Leading Rookie	Komarov (2-17-19)	Newcombe (14-22-36)
Leading Scorers	Bolduc (55-44-99)	Rouleau (27-34-61)
	Rochette (33-66-99)	Kaslik (26-32-58)
	Gaucher (31-26-57)	Newcombe (14-22-36)
	Malatesta (28-25-53)	Pellerin (8-24-32)
	Roy (15-33-48)	Blais (9-21-30)