A Good Season For Mathieu Corbeil

SAINT JOHN – For the second straight year, a Saint John Sea Dogs goaltender will be taking home the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy for having the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s best goals against average.

A year after Jacob DeSerres’ took home the honours, 20-year Mathieu Corbeil has finished atop the league with a GAA of 2.38. The next closest competitor was Shawinigan’s Gabriel Girard who finished with a 2.45 mark.

Corbeil finished near the top of every statistical category. He finished fifth in save percentage (0.911), first in wins (37), and first in shutouts (6). He played 2778:40 of hockey (8^th) over 48 games and made 1124 saves (11th).

Before this season, Corbeil had never recorded a QMJHL shutout.

Although a lot of people will say Corbeil’s numbers are only because of the team in front of him, you have to give the netminder a lot of credit. Corbeil stepped up his game this year and that was apparent at many points in the season. There were moments when he seemed a bit shaky – particularly around Christmas – but he always bounced back.

Now the real test begins as Corbeil will be looked upon to backstop Saint John through the playoffs.

Speaking of the team that played in front of him all season, they weren’t too shabby this year.  The Sea Dogs finished with the second lowest goals against average in the league this season at 2.62. They allowed the fewest shots against per game on average with a rate of 26.60.


Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation