Preseason comes to a close
Published on September 12, 2005 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) News Release
BOUCHERVILLE, Monday, September 12th, 2005 (QMJHL) - The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's preseason calendar came to a close yesterday evening with the presentation of 5 games.
Preseason statistics showed that a much higher number of penalties were given out by referees. "Following the application of tighter officiating standards in regards to obstruction and hooking, we noticed an appreciable increase in the number of powerplays. Indeed, the amount of preseason penalties assessed per game this year jumped to 25 from 18 a year ago," explained Sylvain Bibeau, Director of officiating at the QMJHL.
Evidently, this increase had repercussions on the number of goals scored during the preseason. In total, 537 goals were scored in 65 games, a ratio of 8.3 per game, up from 7.9 goals per game last year - a 4% hike.
The shootout took center stage for the first time in the QMJHL, as 7 of the 65 games (10.8%) were decided by the new overtime format. The Baie-Comeau Drakkar were the definite winners of its introduction, winning 3 of their 6 contests through it and joining the Drummondville Voltigeurs, winners of 8, as the only undefeated teams of the preseason.
Several players had strong camps, including Thomas Beauregard, the 19 year-old right winger for Acadie-Bathurst, who finished at the head of the preseason scoring lead with 16 points in 8 games - a pleasant surprise since he played only the first 5 contests of the 2004-05 schedule after suffering a major injury.
Angelo Esposito of the Quebec Remparts and Cédrick Lalonde-McNicoll of the Shawinigan Cataractes - two rookies - also enjoyed strong showings. The young Esposito accumulated 13 points in 5 games, with 2 goals and 4 assists coming in his last contest on Saturday night. Lalonde-McNicoll, a Longueuil native, notched 5 goals and 7 assists in 5 games to finish fourth in scoring. Another player who showed excellent promise was second-year left winger Alexandre Picard-Hooper of Baie-Comeau, who dominated in the three games he played, scoring 11 points in total. Also, European forward Tomas Svoboda was stellar, scoring 8 goals in 7 games.
The beginning of the 2005-06 season will see a few milestones come to fruition. Chicoutimi Head Coach Richard Martel is 4 wins shy of his 400th career victory. As well, the Drummondville organization is one win away from their 700th. Finally, the Rimouski Océanic try to extend their 28 game regular season undefeated streak.
The regular season officially kicks-off this Thursday, September 15th, as the Quebec Remparts visit the defending champion Rimouski Océanic.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from September 12, 2005
- Preseason comes to a close - QMJHL
- Sea Dogs release Ryan Murphy - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Mooseheads release Colby Pridham from training camp roster - Halifax Mooseheads
- Fog Devils season ticket holder pick up starts Tuesday - St. John's Fog Devils
- Fog Devils' individual tickets on sale Wednesday - St. John's Fog Devils
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