Hurtubise, Cobras win QJHL championship

Vincent Ethier/CHL

HALIFAX - Nikolas Hurtubise and the Terrebonne Cobras are QJHL champions.

Hurtubise earned the win in net as the Cobras defeated the Cégep Beauce-Appalaches Condors 6-2 in Game 7 of the league final, capturing the Napa Cup.

With the win, the Cobras advance to Centennial Cup national championship tournament that begins May 11 in Portage la Prairie.

 

Hurtubise faced 23 shots in the win - his fourth appearance of the series and third victory. The overager has been splitting the crease with Alexandre Marchand, who was named a finalist for CJHL goaltender of the year earlier this week.

CHAMPIONS DE LA COUPE NAPA 2023 🏆🏆#UneHistoireDeFierté l #LHJAAAQ pic.twitter.com/om27umMmEY

— Cobras de Terrebonne (@cobraterrebonne) April 29, 2023

Hurtubise helped the Sea Dogs win the Memorial Cup last season. He started the 2022-23 season with Saint John but struggled to stay healthy, appearing in just 11 games. He joined the Cobras for the second half where he played in seven regular season games and seven playoff matches.

There will now be two former Sea Dogs competing at the Centennial Cup: Hurtubise and defenseman Ben Roode of the Maritime Hockey League champion Yarmouth Mariners.

The Mariners begin tournament play on May 11 against the Alberta Junior Hockey League champs while the Cobras' first game is on May 12 against the Central Canada Hockey League champions.

A few other notes...

• What a start to the semifinals. The Quebec Remparts defeated the Gatineau Olympiques 5-2 to take a 1-0 series lead on Friday night. The third period, in particular, was tremendous with the two teams going back-and-forth with both goaltenders making some great saves. It was also physical (the clean variety) at times, which sets up a fun series.
• Justin Robidas scored his fifth goal of the playoffs late in the third period to make it 4-2. James Malatesta added an empty net goal with 10 seconds remaining.
• Former Sea Dogs forward Charles Savoie had an assist and four hits in the win. Cam MacDonald, meanwhile, was held pointless with one shot and three hits.
• Attendance at Centre Videotron was 17,416, the second largest playoff crowd in QMJHL history.
• Game 2 is Sunday at 4 p.m. Atlantic.
• The Sherbrooke/Halifax series gets going on Saturday night at Scotiabank Centre.
• Charlie Coyle and the Boston Bruins are heading to Game 7 in their first round matchup against the Florida Panthers. Coyle has a goal and an assist in the series. Jakub Zboril has not played. Game 7 is on Sunday in Boston.