Théo Rochette scored two goals, Zachary Bolduc gave out two assists, and the Quebec Remparts defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds, 3-1, and qualified for the Memorial Cup final.
William Rousseau stopped 35 shots in the game for the Remparts.
“He was incredible, without him tonight, we won’t win the match. It proves how good he was, ”added Rochette regarding his goalkeeper.
In a game with very few penalties (three for the Thunderbirds, against two for the Remparts), the Remparts managed to stay ahead for most of the game.
Rochette quickly set the tone in the game by opening the scoring after 54 seconds in the first period. Bolduc and Charles Savoie offered an assist on the action.
“It was good for us, we always found ways to get the puck out of the zone, but I think we know we could have been much better than that,” Rochette said after the game.
The game didn’t settle until the very end of the third period, when Rochette scored 3:05 minutes before the siren to give the Remparts a cushion lead.
“We knew that if we won our first two games we had a chance of going to the final directly, explained the head coach of the Remparts, Patrick Roy. Without having played our best game, we played well defensively. Our goalkeeper was extraordinary, and defensively we behaved well. It made the difference in the match. »
The Thunderbirds however did everything possible offensively to equalize, shooting 36 times on goal in the game, against just 22 times for the Remparts. It wasn’t until 43 seconds after Rochette’s third-period goal, however, that Nolan Allan reduced the score for the Thunderbirds.
A fleeting hope for Seattle, as Charle Truchon completed the Remparts’ victory with a goal in an empty net.
Thomas Milic finished the game making 19 saves for the Thunderbirds.