RIMOUSKI-After setbacks in Sherbrooke and Blainville this week, the Rimouski Océanic will continue their journey abroad on Saturday in Gatineau, trying to get their first win this season against the Olympiques after two losses.
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This game will be closely watched due to the presence of goaltender Ève Gascon who will get the start for the Olympiques. “It’s good for women’s hockey and for hockey in general, but for us it doesn’t change our preparation. The Olympiques gave us a hard time this season. We didn’t play a good game in Blainville. It’s up to us to bounce back. It was not our young people who hurt us against the Armada,” commented Océanic assistant coach Alexis Loiseau, who leads the team with Donald Dufresne, in the absence of the head coach. , Serge Beausoleil, placed on the COVID-19 protocol, as is defender Simon Maltais.
Score more goals
Alexis Loiseau wants his team to score more goals. The offense has been looking for a bit since the backfire of nine goals against the Remparts on March 11. The Océanic has only scored one goal in each of its last two games. Rimouski was shut out on three power plays on Thursday against the Armada. “Injuries are no excuse for us. We still have guys who can bring the offense, even without Drover and Verreault. We veterans got used to bouncing back after a tougher game,” he said.
Dominating since his return to the game, 20-year-old forward Xavier Cormier has been less visible against the Armada, as have guys like Louis Robin and William Dumoulin who have been on good offensive streaks recently.
A decimated team
Barring a last-minute surprise, the Océanic will be without five players due to injury or illness: forwards Luka Verreault, Liam Kidney, Alex Drover and Alexandre Lefebvre, as well as defender Simon Maltais. “It would be surprising if Verreault or Kidney could play on Saturday,” said Alexis Loiseau.
In short
Midget AAA players Alexandre Blais and Shawn Pearson accompanied the team to Gatineau. They both coped well with the Armada. Blais even being used as a pointer on the power play.
The decision was not made, Friday noon, concerning the identity of the starting goalkeeper for Saturday’s match. Both Patrik Hamrla and Gabriel Robert have been excellent this week, the former against the Armada and the latter against the Phoenix. “We have to discuss it with Serge and Michaël Rioux (goalkeeping coach),” said Alexis Loiseau.