(St. John’s) Nikolas Hurtubise has been beating the odds for years and hopes to do it again by helping the St. John Sea Dogs win a second Memorial Cup title.
Posted at 2:02 p.m.
Officially measuring five feet 10 inches, Hurtubise is the shortest goaltender to have played a game at the current edition of the Memorial Cup. He did, however, guide the host team to the final, when the Sea Dogs battle the Hamilton Bulldogs for the Canadian Hockey League crown on Wednesday at TD Station.
“I’m used to having to prove people wrong,” Hurtubise said after practice Tuesday. I have that experience, but as a team, that’s what we’ve been doing since June 19 as well. We’re proving people wrong, when most thought we didn’t belong here. »
Hurtubise said he was often told that he would never play at the midget AAA level or in the QMJHL. He did, however, help the Victoriaville Tigres win a surprise President’s Cup title in 2021.
It is in particular because of his experience with the Tigers that the Sea Dogs acquired his services this winter. Despite a sluggish end to the season, with an elimination in the first round of the QMJHL playoffs against the Rimouski Océanic, Hurtubise got his net back at the start of the Memorial Cup.
He allowed 10 goals in three games, but made some spectacular saves.
“With goaltenders, what matters is the result at the end of the game,” Sea Dogs head coach Gardiner MacDougall said. In his case, he helped us win two games. »
Bulldogs head coach Jay McKee said he doesn’t have a specific game plan against Hurtubise.
“Usually smaller goalies are very agile and position themselves well,” he said. We want to harm the work of the goalkeeper, no matter how small. We want to send as many pucks and players to the net as possible. »
Hurtubise said in a game like the Memorial Cup final, one player will often take charge for the winning team.
William Dufour was the undisputed hero of the Sea Dogs in their 5-3 victory over the Shawinigan Cataractes which gave them direct access to the final. Dufour then scored four goals.
“We wish we didn’t need that again,” Hurtubise said. If we can be 20 leaders, it will be even better. »
The “Lady Mo” Factor
The Sea Dogs have two factors working in their favor heading into the final. The 38 days of preparation between their elimination against the Océanic and the start of the Memorial Cup means that the players are much more rested and play with less pain than those of the Bulldogs, who have accumulated more or less serious injuries during their pursuit of the OHL title.
And there’s also that infamous “Lady Mo,” which MacDougall has been talking about over the past few days. It’s ‘Lady Momentum’, as the Sea Dogs take advantage of the crowd support to pick up their stride and control the game for long stretches.
“He told us about it before the first game of the tournament, saying that there were two young ladies on the ice: ‘Lady Mo’ and the puck,” said Dufour, wearing a jersey with ‘Lady Mo’ written on it. tuesday.
“There are always stories behind every quote. He’s fun to be around and he’s a good motivator,” added Dufour of MacDougall, who guided the University of New Brunswick to seven national championships and was called up after the elimination against the Océanic. .
McKee joked that he doesn’t know “Lady Mo”, but rather counts on the support of “Mr. Momentum”.
Instead, he believes his squad will be a lot different from the one that lost 5-3 to the Sea Dogs at the tournament opener 10 days earlier.
“We’ve been dealing with high pressure moments for a few games and we’re gaining confidence,” he said. I like the direction our group is heading. »
Both teams dominated their respective leagues after the holiday season. Only the Sea Dogs’ star faded because of their loss to the Océanic. However, it is not the fact of being in the underdog chair that will affect the confidence of the host team.