First in points with a 13 lead over his closest rival, tied for second in league scoring and leading passer: Halifax Mooseheads forward Jordan Dumais leads the QMJHL offensively this season, and despite everything, he continues to not receive full credit for his successes.
If, in his draft year last year, many questioned his skating skills, this year, it is more the division in which he plays that is the subject of doubts from all his detractors.
Certainly, the Mooseheads play the majority of their games in the Maritimes, a division in which at least four of the six teams are immersed in a process of reconstruction.
Still, his numbers are monstrous: 109 points in 52 games, good for the top scorer; 44 goals, which ranks him second behind his teammate Alexandre Doucet (45); and best passer with 65 assists, tied with Riley Kidney of the Gatineau Olympiques.
After verification, Dumais has scored 78 of his 109 points in 32 games played against teams from the Maritimes this season, and the other 31 have been collected in 20 games against teams from Quebec.
Of this number, he collected nine in seven games against the four best Quebec teams: the Victoriaville Tigres (five points in two games), the Sherbrooke Phœnix (three in two), the Gatineau Olympiques (one in one) and the Quebec Remparts (no points in two games).
How to prove his detractors right? Head coach Sylvain Favreau smiles.
“We have the impression that he always has to prove himself. It was the case last year during his draft year, it was the case during the Team Canada junior camp this year and it is still the case in our league. At some point… The little guy is able to play hockey and he shows it. »
IN PROGRESS
The head coach of the Mooseheads recognizes all the same that the game of his talented attacker is not perfect.
“Is he always 100% in the defensive aspect of his game? The answer is no and we are working a lot on that. On the other hand, take your favorite players in the National Hockey League, are they always 100% on their defensive game? The question is valid.
“Sometimes, a big offensive production allows, with the help of simple plays, to win the team. His defensive game, we see a big improvement compared to last year. »
Dumais also knows very well that even if he collects points by the shovelful, he still has a lot to learn before hoping, one day to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets who claimed him at the end of the third round, last summer.
“It’s a challenge for me. I know that, sometimes, when I face less strong teams in the juniors, it won’t put me in trouble and if I don’t do the defensive withdrawal more, there will be no consequence. I try to concentrate on working on this aspect in every game. »
WORLD JUNIOR
Dumais came close to causing an upset in December when he had an excellent camp with Junior Team Canada.
After he had been part of the last entrenchments, the assistant coach of the national team Stéphane Julien had assured that Dumais had “played very well”, but that “sometimes, being a year younger, it can seem in a tournament like that, on a physical level”.
The dismissal didn’t seem to bother Dumais, who finished December with 14 points in six games.
“It was a great experience and it allowed me to compare myself to the best in the world. When you practice with guys like Connor Bedard, you see where you fit. I tried not to be discouraged by my entrenchment. I knew I wasn’t one of the favourites, and that’s a motivation for me to make the team next year. »
It remains to be seen whether he will show up for camp again in an underdog role.
Performance of the week
IVAN IVAN
Photo provided by the QMJHL
Seven points in one game
The Czech Cape Breton Eagles forward had fun in an offensive festival won 9 to 8 against the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday. Along with his two goals and five assists, Ivan finished with a +6 rating and won 23 of 32 faceoffs. The 20-year-old forward has 71 points in 52 games so far this season.
THE DUEL TO WATCH
Quebec @ Sherbrooke
Saturday, March 4, 6 p.m., at the Palais des sports Léopold-Drolet
Quebec and Sherbrooke form two of the favorite teams to win the top honours. In four meetings this season, they have each won two.
THE FIGURE OF THE WEEK 13
Photo Jean Lapointe/LHJMQ
The Gatineau Olympiques are the team of the hour in the QMJHL. Louis Robitaille’s men have won their last 13 games, good for the second best streak of its kind this season.