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Thursday, May 2, 2024

Drakkar advance to QMJHL final

The Baie-Comeau Drakkar are heading to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League final.

The Drakkar secured their spot with a 2-1 overtime win over the Cape Breton Eagles on Thursday in Baie-Comeau, winning the series 4-1. The Drakkar have yet to lose a home game this post-season and have just one loss overall.
The Drakkar fell in the league final in 2013 to the Halifax Mooseheads and in 2014 to the Val-d'Or Foreurs.

The Eagles loss means no Maritimes Division team will appear in the league final for the first time since 2021. It also ends the junior career of overage forward Cam MacDonald, who was part of the Saint John Sea Dogs' 2022 Memorial Cup championship team. Former Sea Dogs forward Cole Burbidge is also a member of the Eagles.

Cape Breton was one of the QMJHL's best teams in the second half and this playoff run has rejuvenated its fan base. Hopefully that can carry over into next season.

Who will the Drakkar play in the league final? It will be either the Drummondville Voltigeurs or Victoriaville Tigres. The Volts lead that series 3-1 heading into Game 5 on Friday in Drummondville.

A few other news and notes...

  • The Miramichi Timberwolves have won their first Maritime Hockey League championship with a 5-4 win over the Summerside Western Capitals on Thursday, taking the series in six games. The Timberwolves scored three times in the third period in the victory while former Sea Dogs forward Cole Foston had an assist. Miramichi will now represent the MHL at the Centennial Cup in Oakville, ON beginning May 9.
  • At the IIHF Under-18 World Championship, Gardiner MacDougall, Travis Crickard and Team Canada have earned a spot in the semifinals thanks to a 4-0 win over Latvia on Thursday. Canada will face Sweden in Saturday's second semifinal game. The other semi features the United States and Slovakia.

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