Cataractes win first President Cup title

CHARLOTTETOWN - The Shawinigan Cataractes have clinched a spot in the 2022 Memorial Cup tournament.

Pierrick Dube scored the game-tying goal midway through the third period and then netted the President Cup clinching goal just 41 seconds into overtime, securing the Cataractes a 4-3 win in Game 5 and the franchise's first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League championship.

The Champs! 🏆#RoadtoMemorialCup | @Cataractes_Shaw pic.twitter.com/ZNsiJRDmkZ

— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) June 12, 2022

The Cataractes trailed 3-1 in the second period and the Islanders seemed poised to force a Game 6 back in Shawinigan. But the Cataractes' top two lines began to take over momentum - especially in the third period.

Shawinigan nearly won the game in regulation time but defenseman Noah Laaouan - who had the misfortune of scoring on his own net in overtime in Game 3 - made a tremendous play to keep the game tied.

What a save by… NOAH LAAOUAN!
The @IslandersHKY d-man made this ridiculous play to help out his goaltender! 🤯#PresidentCup | #InMemoryOfGuy pic.twitter.com/vzeR9YSzrI

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) June 11, 2022

This was the third game of the series that went to overtime and Shawinigan won all of them. Despite winning the series in five games, a few bounces here or there for the Islanders and this series could have gone longer - or even in Charlottetown's favour. But that's just the way it goes.

The Shawinigan franchise waited 53 years for its first President Cup title. They won the 2012 Memorial Cup - also in overtime - as the host.

The Cataractes advancing to a Memorial Cup tournament hosted by the Saint John Sea Dogs certainly creates plenty of storylines. The two franchises have had quite a rivalry over the past decade, dating back to the 2012 Memorial Cup host selection process.

After an early playoff exit, Shawinigan eliminated the President Cup champion Sea Dogs from the 2012 Memorial Cup in the semifinals. Now the Sea Dogs, coming off an early playoff exit, will have a chance to avenge that loss from 10 years ago - only this time on Saint John ice.

Shawinigan's first Memorial Cup game will be on Tuesday, June 21 against the Western Hockey League champion. The Cataractes and Sea Dogs will close out round robin play on Saturday, June 25.

A few other notes...

• Shawinigan's Mavrik Bourque won the Guy Lafleur Trophy as playoff MVP.
• Shawinigan went 7-0 in overtime in these playoffs. According to the QMJHL website, "Shawinigan also established a new QMJHL record in Game 5 by winning a seventh overtime game in a single postseason run."
• Charlottetown went 0-4 in playoff overtime games.
• Charlottetown's Patrick Guay finished first in QMJHL playoff scoring with 28 points.
• According to the CHL website, "led by Mavrik Bourque and Xavier Bourgault, the Cataractes became the 21st different franchise to claim a President Cup."
• Former Sea Dogs forward Dawson Stairs had two goals and nine assists in 15 playoff games with the Islanders.
• In the Western Hockey League, the Seattle Thunderbirds forced a Game 6 with a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday. The Oil Kings lead the series 3-2. Game 6 will be Monday in Edmonton - but Seattle will be the designated home team.