Clash of the Titans in the QMJHL Final
To say that the QMJHL playoffs haven’t been very compelling so far is a remarkable understatement. Of the 14 series that have been played, only two of them have progressed beyond five games. There has been a lone “upset” of note, but even that’s a stretch because Victoriaville’s victory over Rouyn-Noranda wasn’t particularly surprising to many Q followers.
The lack of intrigue in this year’s post-season was personified in the league semifinals, as Baie-Comeau and Drummondville were able to quickly dispose of their respective opponents. Trade deadline acquisition Alexis Gendron helped Drummondville finish off arch-rival Victoriaville in dramatic fashion in Game 5 of that series, scoring the tying goal in the final minute of regulation before winning the game 11 seconds into overtime. Baie-Comeau also received some overtime heroics in Game 5 of its series with Cape Breton, as Jules Boilard deflected in an Anthony Lavoie point shot to send the Drakkar to the league final.
Of course, it’s not very surprising to see the two best regular season teams in the 'Q' advance to the league championship series. The Baie-Comeau-Drummondville matchup was entirely predictable, as the depth of these clubs placed them above and beyond their competition heading into the post-season. The Drakkar have sailed through the first three rounds with a stellar 12-1 record, defeating three Maritime teams along the way. Not to be outdone, the Voltigeurs have gone 12-3, highlighted by its five-game triumph over neighboring Victoriaville.
While there haven’t been many riveting playoff series’ to date, the championship matchup between Baie Comeau and Drummondville should be a doozy. Both teams are extremely balanced up front, on the backend, and in goal.
Seventeen year-old Justin Poirier has led the charge for Baie-Comeau in the playoffs, notching 17 goals in just 13 games, including a four-goal outing in Game 4 against Cape Breton. Islander draft pick Justin Gill has also been a standout, scoring ten goals and adding 14 assists for 24 points. On defense, Latvian Niks Fenenko has been extremely effective, particularly on the power play, contributing four goals and 11 assists for 15 points. Trade-deadline acquisition Charles-Edward Gravel has provided stability in goal, as his 1.89 goals against average clearly indicates.
For Drummondville, Tampa Bay draft pick Ethan Gauthier has led the club offensively, scoring ten goals and adding ten assists for 20 points. Team captain and Nova Scotia native Luke Woodworth has been quite productive with six goals and ten assists for 16 points. The aforementioned Alexis Gendron, who has battled a nagging injury in the playoffs, has scored eight post-season goals. Vsevolod Komarov has anchored the Voltigeurs’ defense corps in the absence of Maveric Lamoureux (4-8-12), and Riley Mercer has been steady between the pipes.
There’s a lot to like about the Baie-Comeau / Drummondville matchup. The Drakkar are looking for their first league title, having lost their two previous final appearances in 2013 and 2014. As a remote team on the north shore, Baie-Comeau has often had trouble attracting impact players over the years (especially Anglophones), and as a result, building a championship-caliber team has been difficult. But a mix of savvy drafting and effective recruiting on the part of general manager and head coach Jean-Francois Gregoire has produced a stellar team that is poised to do something very special.
Meanwhile, Drummondville is seeking a second league title. The 2009 team that won the President’s Cup was one of the best CHL teams of the modern-era, and while the current version of the Voltigeurs doesn’t have as much high-end talent on hand, they’re incredibly skilled and loaded with veteran players determined to close out their junior careers with a championship. Unlike its North Shore opponent, Drummondville has no trouble attracting Anglophones over the years, as the club has built a welcoming culture that has made the city a desirable place to play.
I’ll stand by the prediction I made a month and a half ago; Drummondville will win this series and represent the Q at the Memorial Cup. It won’t be easy, though, as Baie-Comeau has home-ice advantage and a legitimate game-breaker in Justin Poirier. Expect a long series, which will be an anomaly in this year’s playoffs.
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