CLERMONT NAMED WEEK'S BEST; DESERRES EXPECTED TO START

When the President’s Cup final kicks off tomorrow night, the Saint John Sea Dogs will be shooting on this week’s Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Week.

Today, the CHL named Gatineau Olympiques netminder Maxime Clermont the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending May 1. In four games of the QMJHL semifinals, Clermont posted a 2-2 record including a shutout victory with a goals-against-average of 1.77 and save percentage of .934.

From a CHL press release:

With the Olympiques facing elimination, Clermont made 21 saves as third star earning his first shutout of the 2011 Playoffs in Game six on Sunday in a big 4-0 win over the Quebec Remparts. Clermont also made 24 saves on Friday in a 5-3 win in Game five of the series, while making 27 saves in both the 2-1 Game four loss on Wednesday and the 2-1 Game three loss on Tuesday night. Just last night, Clermont made 31 saves as part of a 5-2 win over the Remparts to backstop the Olympiques to the QMJHL Finals where they will face the Saint John Sea Dogs.

Clermont, a 19-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, is playing in his fourth QMJHL season with the Olympiques. A New Jersey Devils prospect selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Clermont leads the QMJHL with a 2.09 goals-against-average and .925 save percentage in 15 playoff games.

Clermont is one of six goaltenders to see action in the Olympiques crease during the regular season. He had a record of 28-10-1-4 to go along with a 2.55 GAA and 0.896 save percentage. He also had four shutouts.

In other goaltending news, Metro Halifax is reporting that the Sea Dogs will start 20-year old Jacob DeSerres tomorrow night in Game One of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League final. DeSerres has a record of 8-1-0-0, a 2.24 GAA, and a 0.911 save percentage in 10 playoff games.