Xavier Cormier scored at 1:10 in overtime and the Rimouski Océanic prevailed 5-4 over the Gatineau Olympiques, whose net was defended by Ève Gascon, on Saturday.
An 18-year-old Lavallois, Gascon became the third woman to take part in a game in QMJHL history. She made 18 saves.
“The last few days, she has been under a lot of pressure and media attention,” declared Olympiques coach Louis Robitaille.
“I told him to remember to have fun, that was really my message. I am extremely proud of her. »
Gascon faced 11 shots in the first engagement.
“I’m a little disappointed with the result, but it’s a game that could have gone one way or the other,” she said. I had chills [avec les réactions de la foule], but I was trying to stay focused. »
She added that “the more the game progressed, the less stress I had. His parents and best friends were present in the audience.
“I’m still happy with how I played. I am proud. It is something that I will remember for all my life. »
Charline Labonté played 28 games with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan from September 23, 1999 to November 25, 2001. She also helped Canada win Olympic gold on four occasions.
Manon Rhéaume was called in as reinforcement for the Draveurs de Trois-Rivières on November 26, 1991.
Rhéaume played in an NHL preseason game with the Tampa Bay Lightning on September 23, 1992, in addition to winning silver at the 1998 Olympics.
There was a great crowd of 4,700 fans at the Slush Puppie Center on Saturday.
“The best atmosphere of the season,” said Olympiques captain Manix Landry.
A rhythmic game
The crowd believed they were watching a 4-3 win by Gascon and Gatineau before Alexander Gaudio’s tying goal on a deflected shot, with 5:25 remaining in the third period.
Gaudio also scored in the first half.
Julien Béland and Luke Coughlin scored the other goals for the Océanic, while Gabriel Robert made 28 saves.
Landry, Mathieu Bizier (twice) and Donovan Arsenault fought back for the Olympiques, who have lost their last three games.
The same two clubs will face each other on Sunday afternoon.
The ceremonial puck drop was made by the Mayor of Gatineau, France Bélisle.
The first period ended with the visitors up 2-1, although the Olympiques led 11-5 on shots.
The Olympiques scored on their first shot at 8:07, Béland scoring his ninth goal of the season, with a high shot.
Gascon made a very nice save against Alexandre Blais when extended full length in the middle of the period.
The Olympiques took advantage of a numerical advantage to level the score. On the backhand, Bizier converted a rebound following a shot from Zach Dean.
Bizier obtained at least one point in a 12th consecutive game.
Gaudio restored the lead to Rimouski with one minute left in the period, with a shot from close range.
In the second twenty, Gascon made two solid saves with his men in inferiority.
But before Noah Warren came back from the dungeon, Coughlin doubled the Oceanic’s cushion thanks to a veiled shot from the blue line, at 7:36.
The Olympiques closed the gap at 18:58 in the second period, Landry hitting the target on a long rebound.
When we were five seconds into the second intermission, we thought Warren had tied the game with a powerful wrist shot, but the replays showed that the disc hit the crossbar.
Warren also touched the post on the blue line in the third period, shortly after Gatineau had passed a penalty kill.
Arsenault tied the game 3-3 at 5:33 on a loose puck after Will Chisolm charged to the net.
About two minutes later, Bizier gave the team a 4-3 lead by taking advantage of the rebound after a shot by Simon Pinard.
Cormier put an end to the debate with a shot from the right circle, after taking the pass from Louis Robin.