Around the QMJHL: March 13th to 17th

Booth, Sprong and Fiore named the three stars of the week

Callum Booth, Daniel Sprong et Giovanni Fiore were named the three stars of the week, for the period from March 6th to 12th 2017.

The first star of the week is Saint John Sea Dogs goaltender, Callum Booth. In two games, the Carolina Hurricanes’ prospect blocked 51 of the 53 shots he faced and ended the week with a 1.00 goals-against average and 0.962 save percentage. Last Tuesday, facing the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, he was named the first star of the game with a 24-save performance, helping his team win 3-1. Then Friday, against the Charlottetown Islanders, he made 27 saves en route to a 5-1 victory, his fifth consecutive win.

The second star of the week is Charlottetown Islanders forward, Daniel Sprong. In three games, the Pittsburgh Penguins prospect amassed nine points, including five goals and finished the week with a +7 rating. In a 12-3 victory over the Moncton Wildcats, he tied a franchise record with seven points in the same game, including four goals. His linemate, François Beauchemin, finished the game with six points. With this performance, Sprong obtained his fourth hat-trick this season. In his final game of the week, in a 6-3 road-victory over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, he collected a goal and an assist.

The third star of the week is Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward, Giovanni Fiore. In two games, both against the Moncton Wildcats, the 20-year old veteran collected six points, including three goals and finished the week with a +4 rating. In the first game of a double-header, he generated four points with two goals in a 9-4 win. Then on Saturday, he is named the second star of the game for a second time in row, scoring his 50th goal becoming the only one this season with this milestone in the QMJHL.

The three finalists for the 2017 Marcel-Robert trophy unveiled

Alexandre Alain (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada), Nicolas Roy (Chicoutimi Saguenéens) et Antoine Samuel (Baie-Comeau Drakkar) were chosen Monday, by the members of the selection committee of the Marcel-Robert trophy, as the three finalists for the 2017 Marcel-Robert trophy award. The committee members are:

Sébastien Fyfe – President of the Marcel-Robert 2017 committee and General Manager of Alliance Sport-Études and Fondation Sport-Études

Micheline Roy – Educational Director of the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League

Martin Leclerc – Sport Journalist for Radio-Canada

François Le Blanc – Sport Journalist for Radio-Canada (Maritimes)

Danièle Soumis – Graduor

The winner will be unveiled during the Golden Pucks Gala at the Capitole of Quebec, in Quebec City on April 5th.

The Golden Puck Awards opens its doors to the public

For the first time in its history, the Golden Puck Awards will open its doors to the public. Fans are invited to assist in the awards and induction ceremonies that will be held at the Capitole de Quebec on April 5th. Tickets are already on sale by phone 418-694-4444 or online at the Capitole’s ticket office. During the evening five new members will be inducted into the League’s Hall of Fame: Luc Lachapelle (posthumously), Francis Bouillon, Jean-Sebastien Giguère, Brad Richards and Gaston Therrien. Moreover, the League will honour recipients of various trophies including the Rookie of the year and the prestigious Michel-Brière trophy for Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Callum Booth named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the week

Callum Booth of the Saint John Sea Dogs is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending March 12 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .962. Booth turned aside 51 shots last week for the first place Sea Dogs in a pair of victories to stretch the club’s winning-streak to seven and point-streak to 13 which includes 11 victories in that span. Booth earned first star honours last Tuesday with a 24-save performance in a 3-1 victory over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, then was named third star on Friday with 27 saves in a first place showdown in the Maritimes Division defeating the Charlottetown Islanders by a 5-1 score. Details

Daniel Sprong named CHL Player of the Week

Daniel Sprong of the Charlottetown Islanders is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending March 12 after recording nine points in three games including five goals and four assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-7. Sprong tied an Islanders franchise record on Wednesday with a seven-point performance including four goals and three assists as first star of a 12-3 win over the Moncton Wildcats.  Not only were the seven points a career-high, but the four goals were also a first following three hat-tricks earlier this season.  Sprong was held off the scoresheet in Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Saint John Sea Dogs but turned things around Saturday with a goal and assist in a 6-3 road win over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Details

CIBC Showdown

This week, the QMJHL’s representative for the Canadian Hockey League’s CIBC Showdown is Jake Smith of the Val-d’Or Foreurs. His opponents are Marian Studenic of the Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL) and Cole Kehler from the Portland Winterhawks (WHL). Link

Three QMJHL teams in the CHL Top 10

On Wednesday, the Canadian Hockey League announced the composition of the CHL Top 10 Rankings. The Saint John Sea Dogs retained their first place overall  ahead of the Regina Pats (WHL) and the Erie Otters (OHL), ranked second and third respectively. The Charlottetown Islanders slipped from a seat down to the seventh rung. The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies rounded out the QMJHL trio with a eighth place. In the honourable mentions we have the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. Details

Sea Dogs clinched first overall

The Saint John Sea Dogs have clinched first overall in the QMJHL with a 5-0 victory over the Moncton Wildcats, Wednesday at Moncton Coliseum. It’s the fourth Jean-Rougeau Trophy in franchise history, and the first since 2012. Finishing in top spot ensures the Sea Dogs will have home ice advantage throughout the 2017 playoffs. Saint John also earned a fifth Maritimes Division crown and reached one hundred points for the fourth time. Their first round opponent are yet to be known, as the regular season concluded this week-end.

Chabot becomes new record-holder

In a one-way game against the Moncton Wildcats, Sea Dogs defenseman Thomas Chabot, achieved a new feat. While obtaining an assist on Mathieu Joseph’s goal, the Ste-Marie-de-Beauce, QC native became the defenseman who scored the most points in the Sea Dogs uniform with 153 points, passing in front of Montreal Canadiens’ Nathan Beaulieu. He achieved the feat in 202 games, 31 games less than Beaulieu, dated on March 16th. Details

Carolina Hurricanes agrees on terms with Callum Booth

The Carolina Hurricanes announced that the team has agreed to terms with goaltender Callum Booth on a three-year, entry-level contract. A fourth-round selection, 93rd overall, in the 2015 NHL Draft, Booth (6’4″, 191 lbs.), 19 years-old, is 81-58 with a 2.99 goals-against average and .906 save percentage in 152 QMJHL games with the Quebec Remparts and Saint John. He was acquired by Saint John from Quebec in December.

Listen and watch

Tonight, Friday, fans can watch the Moncton Wildcats on Rogers.tv as they host Christophe Boivin and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Puck drop at 7:00 pm AST. Then on Saturday, it’s the Wildcats’ last game of the 2016-2017 season and they are hosting the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Catch all the action at 4:00 pm Atlantic time, both games courtesy of Rogers.tv.

Upcoming games:

Friday March 17th: 9 games

Saint John Sea Dogs at Charlottetown Islanders – 7:00 pm AST

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles at Halifax Mooseheads – 7:00 pm AST

Acadie-Bathurst Titan at Moncton Wildcats – 7:00 pm AST

Val-d’Or Foreurs at Victoriaville Tigres – 7:00 pm EST

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies at Blainville-Boisbriand Armada – 7:30 pm EST

Baie-Comeau Drakkar at Chicoutimi Saguenéens – 7:30 pm EST

Drummondville Voltigeurs at Gatineau Olympiques – 7:30 pm EST

Québec Remparts at Rimouski Océanic – 7:30 pm EST

Sherbrooke Phoenix at Shawinigan Cataractes – 7:30 pm EST

Saturday March 18th: 9 games

Acadie-Bathurst Titan at Charlottetown Islanders – 3:00 pm AST

Rimouski Océanic at Drummondville Voltigeurs – 3:00 pm EST

Sherbrooke Phoenix at Québec Remparts – 3:00 pm EST

Saint John Sea Dogs at Halifax Mooseheads – 4:00 pm AST

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles at Moncton Wildcats – 4:00 pm AST

Chicoutimi Saguenéens at Baie-Comeau Drakkar – 4:00 pm EST

Blainville-Boisbriand Armada at Gatineau Olympiques – 4:00 pm EST

Val-d’Or Foreurs at Shawinigan Cataractes – 4:00 pm EST

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies at Victoriaville Tigres – 4:00 pm EST