QMJHL semifinals set; ECHL playoffs update

Rimouski Oceanic

The QMJHL semifinals are set.

The Rimouski Oceanic defeated the Chicoutimi Sagueneens 4-1 on Sunday to win the second round series in six games. They won the contest despite still being without some key regulars in Mathieu Cataford, Eriks Mateiko, Luke Coughlin and Spencer Gill.

Mateiko, the former Saint John Sea Dogs captain, hasn't played since Game 2 of the series due to an injury. He's appeared in six playoff games for the Oceanic and scored three goals and added two assists.

The Memorial Cup hosts move on to play the Shawinigan Cataractes in the third round. Shawinigan swept the Sherbrooke Phoenix in the second round and needed just five games to elininate the Val-d'Or Foreurs in the first round.

The Cataractes, who were 3-1-0-0 against the Oceanic in the regular season, feature former Sea Dogs forward Vince Elie who has three goals and three assists in nine playoff games.

The Oceanic/Cataractes series begins Friday in Rimouski.

The other semifinal, which has been locked in since Friday, will see the top-seeded Moncton Wildcats take on the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. That series begins Thursday at Avenir Centre.

Some other news and notes...

• The first two games of the Wildcats/Huskies series will be played Thursday and Friday, respectively, at Avenir Centre. To make room, Friday's scheduled "Chicago" musical show will be moved, the venue announced.
• In the Maritime Hockey League final, the Edmundston Blizzard took a 2-0 series lead over the Pictou County Weeks Crushers with a 6-3 win on Saturday. Game 3 is Wednesday in New Glasgow. 
• In the ECHL playoffs, Kelly Bent had a fight and was a -1 in the Orlando Solar Bears' 4-3 overtime loss to the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday. South Carolina leads that series 2-0.

  Things are getting heated 😳 @benter14 @ECHL pic.twitter.com/EqkZmD7CxK

  — x - Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) April 19, 2025

• Nicolas Guay scored in the Trois-Rivieres Lions' 5-1 victory over the Reading Royals on Saturday to take a 2-0 series lead.

  #Lions3R Nicolas Guay from the slot for PP goal vs #Royals
  
  Assists: Beaucage, Jandric#ECHL #Hockey #GoHabsGo @RocketSports pic.twitter.com/x7l6SoOJqf

  — Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) April 20, 2025

• Drew Elliott had a goal and an assist in the Tulsa Oilers' 3-2 overtime loss to the Kansas City Mavericks on Saturday. Elliott now has three goals and an assist in the series. The series is tied 1-1 heading into Game 3 on Tuesday in Tulsa.

  ELLIOTT PICKS UP RIGHT WHERE HE LEFT OFF!! 2-1!! pic.twitter.com/2P2kV2DrSw

  — Tulsa Oilers (@tulsa_oilers) April 20, 2025

• Matt Murphy had an assist in the Fort Wayne Komets' 5-2 victory over the Iowa Heartlanders on Saturday to even up the series at 1-1.
• In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche (Charlie Coyle) lead the Dallas Stars 1-0; the Ottawa Senators (Thomas Chabot and Matthew Highmore) trail the Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0; and the St. Louis Blues (Mathieu Joseph) trail the Winnipeg Jets 1-0. Coyle had a goal in Colorado's 5-1 win on Saturday.

  Jack Drury with the NASTY re-direct pass to Charlie Coyle oh my 🤢😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/tdYMHKFAk9

  — Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 20, 2025

• The AHL's Calder Cup Playoffs begin Tuesday.