Looking to Sha-win-igan

After coming within one game of winning the Presidents Cup last season, the Shawinigan Cataractes are now fighting to get back to the top of the QJMHL league standings. Led by a group of veterans back for one last kick at the can and a few youngsters, including center Michael Bournival, this is a club that can explode at any time. McKeen's correspondent Rick Springhetti looks at several Shawinigan Cataractes.

Michael Bournival (2010) C, Shawinigan

Local-born forward who is already one of the teams top point producers .. fluid skater who can move quickly in all directions .. only needs a few strides to hit his top speed .. not shy to go after the opposing teams puckcarrier, just has to learn not to over commit on the forecheck .. has a nose for the net in terms of anticipation and positioning .. developing a pretty strong wristshot but now needs to work on getting a quicker release .. holds his own on faceoffs .. not especially imaginative in terms of passing but does hit the mark on a regular basis .. stickhandles well through traffic and protects the puck effectively .. impressive ability to cycle the puck using his speed and strong legs to keep opponents away from him .. easily pushed away from the slot area when he has to plant his feet though .. doesn't take shortcuts in his own zone but has to learn to better use his stick and positioning to be effective because he will get overpowered physically.

Michael Claffey (2010) D, Shawinigan

Undersized defenseman with a stocky build, who is basically used as a powerplay specialist, or during offensive zone faceoff situations by the coaching staff .. has a nasty wristshot that has a lot of movement .. slapshot is not nearly as strong but he does hit the net with regularity .. skating is only average in terms of speed, agility and ability to move laterally is good .. cleverly distributes the puck on either side giving him the extra room he needs to make a play, as opponents can't over commit when defending against him .. seldom used in situations where he will be spending time in his own zone and when he is, it is usually against the opponents third or fourth line.

Francois Lacerte (2010) G, Shawinigan

Undersized goaltender that relies on quickness and aggressiveness to stop the puck .. quickly moves up to the shooter to try and cut down the angles .. has to improve his reads as his aggressiveness often leaves him out of position and scrambling when facing an experienced or patient opponent .. get's down too quickly for a goaltender of his size .. too often, he leaves the five-hole open .. very quick legs and glove hand .. not very adept at puckhandling .. needs to communicate his intentions more effectively with his defensemen.

Dave Labrecque (Phi) C, Shawinigan

Playmaking center who can make some really imaginative plays when given a little bit of time to do so .. regularly tries to slow down the tempo of the game .. seems to keep his body a little stiff when skating - taking away his ability to pick up as much speed as he should, although he sometimes manages a quick burst that can surprise opponents .. ability to think the game makes him also effective on the PK .. tends to get a little passive when playing at even strength .. not particularly physical, but he tries to finish his checks .. can hit his target with regularity when shooting at the net .. hides his intentions well from opponents with a slight tilt of the head or a little shoulder movement when making a play or shooting the puck.

Maxime Legault (Buf) RW, Shawinigan

Right winger with good size who is deceptively strong .. a favorite of the coaching staff because he can be used in a variety of roles and will usually do a decent job .. understands his limits and will not get his team in trouble by doing things he can't .. not hesitant to go in front of the net and is effective when doing so because he can get a good shot and will not give up on the play .. not a great passer, he will just move it to the closest open man .. interestingly, he sometimes takes important faceoffs, as he does very well in this aspect of the game .. defensively, he is strong along the walls or in the corners .. dumps the puck intelligently giving his teammates a chance to position themselves well or make effective line changes .. would like to see him play more aggressively in terms of physical play .. he does not back down, but he won't intimidate anyone either.

Philippe Paradis (Car) RW, Shawinigan

Hard-working winger who is hard to contain when battling for the puck .. played a surprisingly effective defensive game last season being quick on the puckcarrier, effective along the boards and willing to sacrifice his body to get the job done and continues to do so this season .. trying to add a more complete offensive game this season with mixed results .. tries too hard to create chances that are not there instead of using the tools he does have, namely a very good shot, a physical presence and a willingness to crash the net .. starting to carry the puck and stickhandle a little more this season but plays a little rushed .. improved on his skating speed this season, as his first few steps are especially looking better .. looks like he is trying too hard on the ice since the season started and will have to get back to a simpler game.

Charles-Olivier Roussel (Nsh) D, Shawinigan

Offensive defenseman who likes to play the body in his own zone .. trying to play a less high-risk game than last season by letting the play come to him instead of running around after opponents .. still looks to give one good open-ice hit a game .. opponents have to keep an eye on him when his team is on the powerplay, as he has the habit of sneaking up to the crease when least expected .. still has some work to do on his coordination in terms of foot movement, especially when moving laterally .. wristshot is hard and release is quick from the point, but would like to see him use his slapshot a little more and keep the puck a little lower to give his teammates a chance to get some rebounds .. impressive hand-eye coordination gives him the ability to receive passes that are not on the mark.