The Océanic will cross swords with the Drummondville Voltigeurs for the first time this season this Sunday afternoon in Rimouski.
Serge Beausoleil will once again trust Patrick Hamrla to start the game in front of the net. The Czech belonging to the Carolina Hurricanes gets here a second consecutive start for a rare time this season. We can tell he has started to feel more comfortable in recent weeks. “He’s a very good youngster who is progressing well, both on the ice and in his learning of English. He has a lot of willpower. We expected a normal adjustment period in his case, which is why we kept three goalies, ”commented his coach. Hamrla’s father is currently staying in Rimouski to see his son at work.
Speed and offense
The rimouskois pilot expects a game focused on speed and offense against the Voltigeurs. “It’s a team that looks a bit like us, with several young players and who practice an offensive-oriented system of play. They also have two excellent goalies (veteran Francesco Lapenna and young Riley Mercer). We held a meeting this morning (Saturday), but no training. We want the guys to rest, ”said Serge Beausoleil.
Awaiting League decisions
At the time of the interview, Serge Beausoleil had not heard from the disciplinary prefect of the QMJHL, Éric Chouinard, concerning the major penalty of his defender Jérémie Biakabutuka for checking the head on Friday against the Armada. “The sequences involving a major penalty are automatically reviewed. I don’t think it was a head check, but in the heat of the moment it goes fast. It was a withdrawal from a player who wanted to position himself in front of his opponent. On the other hand, there is clearly a double check of a player of the Armada violent enough for our player to lose his helmet, without any penalty being called. We’ve played three times against the Armada and it’s been three times that there have been scrums, things that don’t happen against other teams, ”he commented.
Changes to training
In the event of a suspension at Biakabutuka, Mathis Gauthier could resume his position as defender, he who evolved as a striker on Friday. Defender Charles Côté is also available, as is striker Alexandre Lefebvre, whom Serge Beausoleil plans to bring back to the squad. “Louis Robin received a puck in the face and he represents a doubtful case for Sunday,” said the coach who is very satisfied with the progress of his defender Simon Maltais after a difficult start to the season.