On February 6, 2025, the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League witnessed an exhilarating night of action, highlighted by multiple nail-biting contests. In Shawinigan, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies managed to edge out the Shawinigan Cataractes with a 6-5 victory in a thrilling shootout encounter. Bill Zonnon was the standout player for Rouyn-Noranda, scoring a hat trick to help his team through a high-scoring game. Alongside Zonnon, Thomas Verdon and Eliot Ogonowski contributed with crucial shootout goals, while Benjamin Brunelle and Lars Steiner also found the back of the net during regulation time.
The Huskies' defense was anchored by goaltender Zach Pelletier, who made 25 saves, ensuring his team secured the win and pushed their record to 26-12-3-5. On the other side, Shawinigan saw Felix Lacerte shine with two goals, and contributions from Yoan Loshing, Felix Plamondon, and Louis-Philippe Fontaine weren't enough to secure a victory, as they fell to 27-17-1-2. Goalie Mathys Fernandez faced 45 shots, making 39 saves but ultimately could not prevent the heartbreak of a shootout loss.
Meanwhile, in Gatineau, the Val-d'Or Foreurs showcased a powerful offensive performance, defeating the Gatineau Olympiques 9-4. Philippe Veilleux led the charge with a hat trick, pairing well with Samuel Fiala, who scored two goals, and contributions from Evan Depatie, William Bishop, Benjamin Olivier, and Jeremy Leroux. This commanding win improved Val-d'Or’s record to 19-22-4-1. Goaltender Cedric Masse stopped 27 of the 31 shots he faced, contributing significantly to his team’s success. Gatineau's scoring efforts came from Jacob De Ladurantaye, Julien Paille, Taos Jordan, and Giovanni Collin, but despite the offensive output, the team has not been able to find consistent success this season, now sitting at 11-25-6-5.
In Moncton, the Wildcats faced off against the Cape Breton Eagles in another tightly contested match that ended in a shootout, with Moncton coming out on top 3-2. Key players Caleb Desnoyers and Julius Sumpf delivered for the Wildcats in the shootout, while goalie Rudy Guimond was instrumental in securing the win with an impressive 38-save performance. Regulation time saw Moncton goals from Dylan MacKinnon and Loke Johansson, while Joseph Henneberry was the standout for Cape Breton, scoring both of his team’s goals. Following this contest, the Wildcats boast a record of 37-8-2-0, solidifying their position at the top of the Eastern Conference.
Lastly, in Bathurst, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan narrowly defeated the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 4-3, with Louis-François Belanger scoring the decisive goal at the 8:45 mark of the second period. The Titan received additional scoring from Dawson Sharkey, Alexandre Lallier, and Tyson Goguen, improving their record to 25-20-1-1. Titan goalie Joshua Fleming made 35 saves to help secure the victory. Baie-Comeau’s scoring came from Matyas Melovsky, Justin Gendron, and Anthony Lavoie, but Drakkar goaltender Lucas Beckman’s 19-save performance was not enough to keep his team competitive in this match-up.
This round of games in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League provided fans with impressive displays of talent and excitement, underscoring the intense competition within the league as teams push toward the playoffs.
