Russia Wins Super Series

By Lorne Webster and Jamie Tozer

RIMOUSKI – Team Russia won the 2014 edition of the Subway Super Series on Thursday night at Colisee de Rimouski.

Russian defeated the QMJHL 3-2 to complete the series win. Russia won the annual six-game event four games to two, beating the WHL twice and the OHL and QMJHL once.

In Thursday’s game, Russia led 3-0 after two periods of play. In the second period, Russia outshot the QMJHL 8-1. In the third, the ‘Q’ was able to make a game of it with goals from Nicolas Meloche and Anthony Deluca, making it 3-2. But that would be as close as the Canadian squad would get.

Rimouski goaltender Philippe Desrosiers made 18 saves in the loss. Igor Shestyorkin made 25 stops in the win.

Olivier LeBlanc, the only Sea Dog participating in the series, finished the game with no points and a -1 rating.

Some notes from the match…

• LeBlanc (SNB) and Ryan Graves (QUE) continued to be Team QMJHL’s primary penalty killers on defence. They played very well again. Unfortunately, they were on the ice when a clearing pass deflected off Frederik Gauthier (RIM) and Team Russia was able to get the puck past Philippe Desrosiers (RIM) for the first goal of the game.
• A pair of odd goals early in the second were costly for the 'Q' as a deflection by Laurent Dauphin (CHI) and then a bad bounce off Jacob Sweeney (MON) eluded Desrosiers.
• LeBlanc was clipped by a high stick late in the second period but he was not cut or injured. The 'Q' was unable to score on the resulting power play.
• During the second intermission, Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino only listed four players from the QMJHL as "locks" to be invited to the final Team Canada selection camp in December. They were Halifax goalie Zach Fucale, Rimouski goalie Philippe Desrosiers, Rimouski defenceman Samuel Morin and Rimouski centre Frederik Gauthier.