The Remparts advanced to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League championship series with a 3-1 win over the Gatineau Olympiques on Wednesday, completing a four-game sweep.
Wednesday's game was another close one. Alexis Gendron scored just nine seconds into the match to get a sold out Slush Puppie Centre rocking - but the Gatineau crowd didn't have much to cheer for beyond that.
Justin Robidas tied the game at 7:38 of the first period on a nice feed from former Saint John Sea Dogs forward Charles Savoie. In the second, former Dog Cam MacDonald was awarded a penalty shot after being tripped up on a breakaway. MacDonald was denied by William Rousseau on his free chance, a key stop by the Quebec goaltender.
Charle Truchon scored what proved to be the game-winner at 11:25 of the third. Vsevolod Komarov scored into an empty net at 19:00 to make it a 3-1 final.
The Remparts have the lead! Truchon just fired a heavy wrist shot through the five-hole! #QPlayoffs | @quebec_remparts pic.twitter.com/5ha8cP5exw
— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 4, 2023
Quebec remains a perfect 12-0 through three rounds.
The Remparts finished first overall in the QMJHL's regular season and will have home ice advantage in the final regardless of who they play. The Olympiques, who loaded up at the trade deadline and were one of the league's best teams in the second half, finished fourth overall with 105 points.
From an entertainment perspective, it's disappointing to see this much-hyped series end in a sweep. Gatineau was in every game though. The Remparts won the first contest 5-2 but it was a one-goal game heading into the final couple minutes. Games 2 and 3 both required overtime.
Despite the closeness on the scoreboard, this is no doubt a disappointing end for a loaded Olympiques squad. A Gatineau fan threw their jersey on the ice late in the third period.
Quebec hasn't played in the league final since 2015 when they lost a seven-game series to the Rimouski Oceanic. The franchise also lost in the 2006 final to the Moncton Wildcats but went on to win the Memorial Cup that year. This edition of the Remparts franchise, which began in the 1997-98 season, has never won a QMJHL championship.
Quebec will play either the Halifax Mooseheads or the Sherbrooke Phoenix in the league final. The Phoenix currently lead that semifinal series 2-1 heading into Thursday's Game 4.
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