QMJHL Report: Eagles Win 8 Straight One-Goal Games

The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles extended their franchise record win streak to eight games with consecutive victories over the Lewiston MAINEiacs on Oct. 21 and 22.

Interestingly, all eight victories were by one goal margins. From Oct. 5 to Oct. 22, Cape Breton scored 27 goals and surrendered 19 with four of the games decided in overtime or by shootout .. seven different players notched the game-winning and shootout goals during the streak.

The closest the Screaming Eagles came to losing was Oct. 20 when 17-year-old Chris Culligan (3-6-9) scored with nine seconds remaining in regulation against the Saint John Sea Dogs. Culligan then won the contest in the shootout. Six players shared the team lead in goals during the streak with three apiece - Vladimir Kubus (7-8-15), Jean-Claude Sawyer (3-7-10), Kevin Asselin (9-8-17), Culligan, James Sheppard (3-8-11), and Dean Ouellet (7-6-13).

David Davenport and Ondrej Pavelec both saw time in the crease, with the former earning QMJHL 'Defensive Player of the Week' honors for the period Oct. 10-16 after blanking the Halifax Mooseheads with a 23-save performance. Pavelec, an '05 second-round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers, is poised to follow in his teammate's footsteps this week after only letting three pucks by him and posting 78 saves in two starts.

QMJHL roster announced for Russia/Canada Challenge

The QMJHL has announced which players will oppose a team of Russians in the third annual Canada/Russia Challenge. The coaches for the games to be held Nov. 21 and 22 in Drummondville and Moncton, will be Clement Jodoin of the Lewiston MAINEiacs, Dominic Ricard of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, and Ted Nolan of the Moncton Wildcats.

Thirteen of the league's clubs will be represented by players, with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, Halifax Mooseheads, Quebec Remparts, Shawinigan Cataractes, Val d'Or Foreurs each sending three players each. Tending the crease will be Julien Ellis and Pier-Olivier Pelletier. They will be defended on the blueline by the Foreurs duo of Luc Bourdon (1-8-9) and Kristopher Letang (6-4-10), as well as Marc-Andre Gragnani (2-8-10), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (5-8-13), Drew Paris (1-0-1), Jean-Philippe Paquet (0-2-2), Frederic St-Denis (3-11-14), Mathieu Carle (6-15-21) and Andrew Bodnarchuk (1-3-4).

Rounding out the roster will be forwards Guillaume Latendresse (6-5-11), Derick Brassard (9-20-29), Alex Bourret (6-15-21), Frederik Cabana (6-4-10), Ryan Hillier (5-12-17), James Sheppard (3-8-11), Angelo Esposito (10-14-24), David Desharnais (6-23-29), Brad Marchand (8-6-14), Brent Aubin (15-7-22), Mathieu Roy (14-15-29), Olivier Latendresse (7-17-24), Mathieu Aubin (9-13-22), Stephane Goulet (11-9-20), and Chad Denny (7-2-9), who can double as a defenseman.

It is interesting to note that no 20-year-olds were selected. Esposito and Bodnarchuk are the team's rookies.

Rocket bolstered by return of Stewart & Gragnani

Murray Harbour native Danny Stewart (1-2-3) has been cut loose by the ECHL's Long Beach Ice Dogs and is suiting up for his hometown PEI Rocket. Stewart, acquired by the Rocket from the Rimouski Oceanic during the offseason, scored 52 points last season for the President's Cup champions. PEI's blueline also received some help this week in the form of Marc-Andre Gragnani (2-8-10). The Buffalo Sabres' prospect had been out of the lineup since Sept. 25 with a hand injury, and has four assists in a pair of games since his return.

Bouchard hits Bouchard

The Drummondville Voltigeurs were without the services of left winger Dave Bouchard (2-3-5) this week as the result of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit on Danick Bouchard (7-6-13) of the Shawinigan Cataractes on Oct. 16. The latter Bouchard, who has been impressive this season, will be out of the lineup indefinitely.

The same day in a separate game, loathsome troublemaker and talented scorer Kevin Asselin (9-8-17) of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles was handed a one-game sentence for a vicious hit from behind on Halifax Mooseheads rookie Ben McAskill (0-1-1). McAskill lay motionless on the ice behind the Mooseheads net while a melee broke out between the clubs in the corner, resulting in several penalties, but fortunately did not miss any time.

Later in the game, Justin Saulnier (2-5-7) of the Mooseheads continued to display thug-like qualities that overshadow his potential by blindsiding James Sheppard with a punch from behind resulting in a match penalty. Saulnier, surprisingly, was not handed a suspension.

Robillard, Proteau leave clubs

The Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Val d'Or Foreurs have been hit with key departures. The Drakkar will lose toughness in winger Nicolas Robillard (0-1-1), who has decided to concentrate on his academic studies. Head coach Eric Dubois allowed the 19-year-old time away from the team to reflect on his decision, but in the end his mind did not change. Robillard plans to pick up where he left off playing for McGill University in Montreal next season.

As well, Val d'Or lost the services of netminder Francois Proteau, who has returned home to the Laurentides to focus on his studies according the Foreurs website.

Pineault signs with Blue Jackets

Right winger Adam Pineault (2-3-5) of the Moncton Wildcats has inked a contract with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets that will pay him up to $1.85-million over three NHL seasons. The 19-year-old was the Blue Jackets' second-round choice, 46th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and is expected to continue playing in Moncton for the duration of the season.

Doucet back with Tigres

Benoit Doucet (5-5-10), who has been out of the Victoriaville Tigres' lineup since being injured Oct. 13, returned Saturday in a 4-3 loss at the hands of the Gatineau Olympiques. The 19-year-old centreman notched a goal and five shots for the Olympiques, who are 2-7-1 in their past 10 games.

Who's Hot?

Maxime Boisclair (Chicoutimi): at least one point in every game this season, save the one Chicoutimi was shutout on opening night. Another eight points this week in three contests.

Ondrej Pavelec (Cape Breton): Netminder undefeated this week, making 75 saves in two games and surrendering only three goals.

David Krejci (Gatineau): Two wins out of three isn't bad. Neither is seven points.

Who's Not?

Guillaume Latendresse (Drummondville): Two assists in past three games not up to previous pace. Ditto teammates Brassard and Mailhiot.

Sylvain Michaud (Chicoutimi): Rough outing allowing five goals in 34 shots against Acadie-Bathurst.

Angelo Esposito (Quebec): Hotshot rookie posted a minus-2 with one assist in past three games for beleaguered Remparts.

Games This Week

Oct. 28: Halifax Mooseheads @ Moncton Wildcats: Close geographic rivals are tight in the standings.

Oct. 28: Drummondville Voltigeurs @ Quebec Remparts: Two underachieving clubs look to turn things around.

Oct. 29: Rouyn-Noranda Huskies @ PEI Rocket: With a PEI lineup strengthened by the arrival of Danny Stewart and return of Marc-Andre Gragnani, this is a close match-up.