All Habs QMJHL Headlines: Monday, January 20th, 2014

by Kathy K.,  Managing Editor, All Habs Hockey Magazine

►“Grigo” makes his return to the Remparts’ lineup: Mikhail Grigorenko re-entered, for the second year in a row, the Quebec Remparts’ roster after having begun his season with the Buffalo Sabres. In his debut, his coach, Philippe Boucher, paired him with fellow Europeans Fabrice Herzog and Nick Sorensen, and the three produced six points in a 5-3 win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Under normal circumstances, only two European players are allowed on a QMJHL roster. Since the move by Buffalo was made after the league’s trade deadline, the allowance was made for three in this case.

François Brassard made 34 saves for his twentieth win of the year. Grigorenko, with a goal and two assists, was named the game’s the first star.

Read more (French): Grigorenko ne rate pas son retour

►Team Orr Wins 2014 BMO CHL / NHL Top Prospects Game: Jared McCann scored the game-winning goal at 16:31 of the third period to give Team Orr the upper hand over Team Cherry at the NHL Top Prospects Game by the final count of 4-3.

Team Orr held the lead three times during the game, and twice, Team Cherry stormed back to tie things up.

Chicoutimi Saguenéens’ goaltender Julio Billia stopped 17 of 19 shots for the win.  The game was held last Wednesday at the Saddledome in Calgary in front of 11 631 fans.

Read more: Team Orr wins 4-3 in Calgary

►Dupont let go: The Acadie-Bathurst Titan fired head coach Danny Dupont this weekend. With a record of 17-25-2-2 this season, they had won only three out of their last ten games and lost 9-1 to Halifax on Sunday.

Jean-François David, previously an assistant coach, will assume Dupont’s role in the interim. Dupont originally took over from Eric Dubois a couple of months into the 2012-13 season.

Read more: Danny Dupont released of his duties

►Fucale one win away from 100: Habs’ prospect Zachary Fucale let in just two goals this weekend, in 8-1 and 9-1 wins over Rimouski and Acadie-Bathurst. He is 22-8 on the year and the win over Bathurst was the 99th in his QMJHL career.

He could get his 100th as early as tomorrow as the Mooseheads roll into Harbour Station to take on the Saint John Sea Dogs at 6:00 EST.

If not, he could get it in front of his home crowd as Halifax hosts Chicoutimi on Friday and Cape Breton on Saturday.

►Hudon debuts with Baie-Comeau: Charles Hudon was traded from the Chicoutimi Saguenéens to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar over the Christmas break, and last Friday, he made his debut wearing number 55. The Drakkar rolled to their fourth and fifth straight wins with him in tow, and he recorded a total of five points.  In the first game, he faced off against Martin Reway and both prospects recorded two points, with Hudon’s teammate (and yet another future Hab) Jérémy Grégoire also picking up a goal. Then they hosted Shawinigan, and Hudon boasted a three-point night, Grégoire getting another goal to add to his 22 on the year.

*****

Telus Three Stars of the Week

★Louis-Philip Guindon, G, Drummondville Voltigeurs: Guindon was featured in all three games over the weekend as Drummondville visited the Maritimes. Both games he started were victories by shutout, and he presented a goals-against average of 0.43 and .985 save percentage.

★★Jonathan Drouin, C, Halifax Mooseheads: Drouin racked up ten points in three Moosehead games, including two four-point nights. He now has 60 points in just 26 contests. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect was also 65.1% efficient in the faceoff dot this weekend.

★★★Justin Haché, D, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles: The veteran blueliner had seven assists in two games, including a career-high four in one game.