Played on May 4, 2025
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
Game Played in Centre Gervais Auto
Scout: Ben Marshall
General Game Notes: Shawinigan was able to force a game seven in the series tonight making for an incredible way to find a champion. After a Rimouski goal early in the second period that tied the game, the Cataractes scored four unanswered goals and never looked back.
Olivier Theberge (D, L, 6’1″, 201, Rimouski Oceanic, 01/13/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: While he definitely is not that flashy, and plays a style that is most effective when you do not notice him, he provides his value through his versatility and calming effect on a defensive corps. He is not going to create a ton of chances and should stay away from the puck as much as possible in the offensive zone, but when he is paired with an offensive partner he can be trusted to defend the net adequately should his partner get caught in the offensive zone on a risky offensive maneuver. Theberge plays at his best when he is looking to make contact and plays aggressive, in his own end though.
Lou Levesque (LW, L, 5’8″, 152, Rimouski Oceanic, 03/15/2006)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: One part of Levesque’s game tonight was that he struggles to maintain a consistent back checking pressure after a turnover in the offensive zone, and when he is pinned in his own zone he can sometimes look lost. He is not an overwhelmingly physical presence and will struggle to apply sufficient pressure in front of the net and in the corners to be considered a grittier forward. He does this at times thought, even being on the smaller side of a grittier forward, he can apply the pressure, just being more consistent in his game is going to have to be key moving forward.
Jacob Mathieu (C, L, 5’11”, 196, Rimouski Oceanic, 05/05/2004, Northeastern)
Game Rating
A-
Mathieu’s game highlights his ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, particularly from behind the defense. He effectively uses his vision to create space in the offensive zone and becomes a reliable target for one-timer shots or simple attempts on net. However, when advancing on the rush, he struggles with pace, often forcing plays into the middle or slowing down to wait for support. This can give opponents ample time to recover and neutralize the attack.
1 Viewing
Comments: Mathieu scored the lone goal for the Oceanic tonight. He was able find the back of the net by crashing the top of the crease, found himself a rebound that he was able to handle and go back hand forehand and tuck the puck upstairs. This goal showed the impressive hand eye coordination that Mathieu has and his IQ for his ability to read the play. He saw the play go from low to high and when the point shot found its way to the net, Mathieu was already in motion to get downhill. One of the better things he does with puck is how well he protects it. Couple times tonight he would reverse hit along the wall, to give himself space right before the puck got to his stick. He was able to use that little amount of space to then create.
Isaac Menard (D, L, 5’10”, 175, Shawnigan Cataractes, 04/08/2004)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: For not being a bigger defenseman, he sure plays like it. Multiple times tonight, Menard sent people to the ice forcing turnovers but more importantly, momentum for his team. He is not the most offensive defenseman but has some offensive tendencies that can help forwards when looking to create. His game tonight was better in his own zone shown through shutting down rushes and extra possession time that the other teams top players were having. He can walk a blue line and a lot of his offensive came from moving the puck rather than finding any type of highlight reel play. Basically he plays a simple, yet effective game that does not have a lot of mistakes combined with being a physical force on the back end.
Louis-Philippe Fontaine (C, L, 5’9″, 205, Shawnigan Cataractes, 08/12/2004)
Game Rating
B+
Fontaine’s ability to drive offensive play is notable, as he brings creativity and vision to the ice. His shot is effective, but it’s his keen sense of spatial awareness that allows him to set up his teammates for scoring opportunities. He excels at finding openings in defense and using those to his advantage. As a skater, Fontaine’s agility allows him to evade larger defenders and create space on the ice. While he may not be an elite speedster, his shifty movements can often leave opponents struggling to keep up with him. By forcing them into poor plays, he creates opportunities for himself and his teammates.
1 Viewing
Comments: Fontaine picked up a goal just being net front and having the puck bounce off of him into the back of the net. Obviously a lucky bounce but stood his ground and was in the right place at the right time, there is skill in that however. He plays incredibly strong on the puck, and uses that strength and balance to create space and time for better offensive opportunities, even despite his size. He uses a low center of gravity to be stronger on the puck along the walls and in the corners. Where Fontaine could be better is picking his times to show off his skill, too many turnovers tonight when his team was exposing time and space with the puck.
Jordan Forget (RW, R, 5’11”, 163, Shawnigan Cataractes, 04/16/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Great goal from Forget tonight where he was able to slow the pace down on the rush, draw in a defender, and snipe one over the goalie shoulder and really seal the deal for his team. Where this goal was equally impressive as the shot was how well he created space for himself off the rush, controlling his skating was something he did right after he entered the zone and this caused to defenseman to back up just enough to give him space for a quick release. He made these types of plays multiple times tonight, more often in the neutral zone where he avoided skated in a straight line and made it hard for defenseman to set their gap.
Vince Elie (RW, R, 5’8″, 196, Shawnigan Cataractes, 04/05/2005)
Game Rating
A-
Vince Élie demonstrated the ability to create offense on his own, but finds success most when paired with a skilled teammate. His game has notable drawbacks, including physical limitations that make him vulnerable to being outmuscled for pucks. Élie’s energy and persistence often yielded inconsistent performance, as he struggled to maintain momentum throughout the game.
1 Viewing
Comments: Elie scored the opening goal of the game by being persistent at the net front. He is not the biggest player on the ice but he fights in small areas, especially at the net front with a loose puck. He has really quick agility allowing him to be first on loose pucks which he was able to show all night. He does a good job at using that same type of agility to make moves off the rush and attack little areas that defenders would not expect someone to attack. This opens the ice up a lot for his line mates and in turn, he is able to create scoring chances with quick puck movement but it is all due to the little extra space that he gives himself. Becuase of his size, he can get bumped off the puck easier, but tonight this was not a flaw in his game.
Yoan Loshing (LW, L, 5’9″, 173, Shawnigan Cataractes, 02/29/2004)
Game Rating
B
Loshing’s playing style is centered around using his size, strength, and above-average speed to create space with the puck and generate scoring opportunities. He excels at fighting for pucks in tight spaces, leveraging his physical attributes to outmaneuver opponents. While he can be effective forechecking due to his speed and work ethic, his positioning could improve in certain situations. His defensive contributions are notable, particularly when it comes to quickly transitioning out of his own zone, where he often converts sloppy zone entrances into strong net drives.
1 Viewing
Comments: Yoshing was able to show tonight that he is an elite offensive winger, with an elite shot and incredibly underrated passing instincts. He is not an imposing defensive presence, but he is not an egregious liability either. He really is not elite on either end of the ice but instead is valuable due to his versatility and ability to be a strong option in any situation. He was at his best tonight when he was showing that he is a decent puck mover, can help a power play, and can be a stabilizing presence on the penalty kill when he gets the nod.
Kody Dupuis (C, L, 5’8″, 168, Shawnigan Cataractes, 02/09/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Dupuis was able to show tonight that he is an offense first winger, he has high end offensive tools. He has a strong shot, and is an incredible playmaker with the ability to make soft passes and intelligent choices in the offensive end. Where he can get in trouble is along the wall getting closed off by bigger defenseman. If he does not make a move at the right time, because of his size, he had a tendency to get closed off and forced to chip pucks where he could have made those small area passes that he is good at. The work ethic and grit to be first of the puck is there but winning that puck battle is less than a 50/50 for Dupuis.
Jiri Klima (LW, L, 5’11”, 185, Shawnigan Cataractes, 03/13/2006)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: One of the more skilled players on the ice tonight, Klima showed this skill on his goal that he was able to get back the lead for his team and eventual game winner. From low in the offensive zone, close to the goal line, he got a one timer pass that he snuck under the bar for one of the better goals of the game. At times, Klima is all offense, and shows twice as much work looking to put a goal in the net rather than keep one out. Tonight this style of play worked, as his defense was shown through his production and how much he was able to possess the puck, ultimately keeping it out of the hands of the other team. Of course, like to see him create turnovers in the defensive zone, but he is the type of player that can change the game in the offensive zone in one shift.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images