Tigres complete upset to win QMJHL title

Jonathan Roy/QMJHL

This is why you play the games.

The Victoriaville Tigres completed a massive upset on Saturday in Quebec City, clinching the club's first President Cup championship since 2002 by finishing off the heavily favoured Val-d'Or Foreurs in six games.

The Tigres' Quebec Major Junior Hockey League title clinching victory came in dramatic fashion. Val-d'Or's Jeremy Michel tied the match 2-2 at 14:40 of the third period, which would ultimately send the game into overtime. After the first extra frame solved nothing, Alex Beaucage scored just 1:01 into the second OT to clinch the championship.

Here is the final goal of the 2020-2021 #QPlayoffs, scored by Alex Beaucage, that gives the @TigresVicto their second #PresidentCup. 🐯 pic.twitter.com/Wg6CDjbeqM

— QMJHL 😷 (@QMJHL) June 5, 2021

After loading up big time at the trade deadline, the Foreurs were considered the heavy favourites by most heading into the playoffs. The team finished second overall in the regular season standings with a 29-3-2-2 record for a .861 points percentage - second only to the Charlottetown Islanders (.875).

Victoriaville finished sixth overall with a 16-9-1-0 record for a .635 points percentage.

The Foreurs did not suffer a loss in the playoffs until Game 1 against the Tigres. On the other side, Victoriaville swept their opening round series against Rouyn-Noranda but went the distance against both Blainville-Boisbriand and Charlottetown.

While it's challenging to truly compare teams given the weirdness of the 2020-21 season, this is no doubt one of the biggest upsets in President Cup final history.

#QPlayoffs #SeriesLHJMQ #VdOvsVIC: @TigresVicto create a little bit of history becoming the first team since Val-d'Or in 2014 to defeat the #1 and #2 teams on their way to the title. Their .226 point percentage deficit is also the largest to win the President Cup.

— Geoffrey Brandow (@GeoffreyBrandow) June 6, 2021

Former Sea Dog Maxim Cajkovic, who had five shots for the Foreurs in Saturday's contest, was held pointless in the final three games of the series. He finished the playoffs with 10 goals and 17 points in 15 games.

The QMJHL was the only CHL league to crown a champion this year. The 2021-22 regular season begins Oct. 1.