Remparts Moving On

FREDERICTON – After needing seven games to knock off the pesky Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the first round, the Quebec Remparts are advancing to the QMJHL semifinals thanks to a series sweep of the Charlottetown Islanders.

The Remparts completed the 4-0 series win last night in Charlottetown, defeating the Islanders 5-2. Quebec outscored Charlottetown 21-9 in the series.

The series win should calm some nerves in Quebec City, the city that will host this year’s Memorial Cup. Zach Fucale started and won all four games of the series which is certainly good news for the Remparts.

For the Islanders, just making it to the second round was a big step forward for the franchise. They’ll look to build off this year’s success next season.

Former Sea Dogs forward Oliver Cooper finished the playoffs with two goals and four assists in 10 games. He was held pointless in the Quebec series. Will Thompson, a former Dogs defenseman, finished the post-season with one assist in seven games.

The other playoff series resume tonight. Baie-Comeau leads Val-d’Or 3-1 and Rimouski also leads Gatineau 3-1. Moncton and Halifax are tied 2-2.

Some other news and notes…

• Despite being outshot 46-14, Tomas Jurco and the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in game one of their first round playoff series. Jurco had one hit and was a -1 in 9:51 of ice time. He played 1:21 on the power play.
• Charlie Coyle had three shots and four hits in 14:08 of ice time, helping the Minnesota Wild defeat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 in game one. Fredericton’s Jake Allen made 25 saves in the loss.
• Simon Despres had two shots and three hits in 16:48 of ice time and helped the Anaheim Ducks down the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 in game one. Despres also played 1:26 on the Ducks’ penalty kill.
• At the Allan Cup, Jason Churchill’s Clarenville Caribous defeated the Dundas Real McCoys 2-1 last night to advance to the semifinals. The Caribous will face the South East Prairie Thunder in the semis. The other Newfoundland team, the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts, will take on the Bentley Generals in the other semifinal. The Cataracts feature former Sea Dog Danny Wicks.

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation