Shawinigan Cataractes at Quebec Remparts
March 6, 2021
This was a fast-paced matchup between the top two teams in the QMJHL’s East Division. Quebec capitalized on some early scoring opportunities to take a two-goal lead into the third period. Shawinigan made a strong push in the final frame, firing 14 shots at Remparts’ goalie Thomas Sigouin, only to have the overage goalie shut the door each time. The result was a 4-1 win for Quebec.
Shawinigan draft eligible prospects
|Xavier^Bourgault^#98| Bourgault displayed a great ability to read the play and anticipate how things in front of him will unfold. He consistently arrived where the puck was heading, before the puck arrived there. Throughout the season, he has showed a high hockey IQ that matches his skating and puck handling skills. Bourgault also has a knack for getting open in the offensive zone. In this game, he often slipped around, behind and just out of reach of Quebec defenders, quickly and quietly getting into position to accept a pass or redirect a shot. Rating: B+
|Olivier^Nadeau^#20| Nadeau set up Shawinigan’s only goal of the game in the first period. He intercepted a clearing attempt by the Remparts at the offensive blue line, before cutting quickly to his left and drawing a pair of defenders to him in the high slot. He then slid a backhand pass to a wide-open Charles Beaudoin, who made good on the set up to tie the game at one. Nadeau used a combination of size, smarts and hands to create a number of scoring opportunities in this one. Rating: B+
|Lorenzo^Canonica^#93| Displayed a quick and accurate one-timer while setting up in the slot on the power play. However, just as noticeable in this game was a lack of commitment defensively, with Canonica doing a couple of fly-bys in the defensive zone instead of engaging Quebec puck carriers. Rating: C+
Quebec draft eligible prospects
|Viljami^Marjala^#18| Consistently made smart and smooth plays with the puck. Throughout the game, he was always in the right spot at the right time to pick up a pass, scoop up a loose puck, or join the rush. Marjala used his size and strength well in this one, winning puck battles and showing how difficult he is to knock off the puck by absorbing hits and maintaining possession to move the play forward. He set up Quebec’s second goal with a well-timed shot/pass from the faceoff dot to Nathan Gaucher, who was set up at the far post of the Cataractes’ net. Marjala’s skating is often a point of discussion amongst scouts, and anyone watching this game would testify that he isn’t winning any style points for how he gets around the ice. However, he moves faster than it first appears, and in this game showed improvement in maintaining his speed when carrying the puck in traffic. He also makes up for a lack of first-step quickness with smart positional play and great hockey sense. Rating: A
|James^Malatesta^#11| Malatesta created opportunities with his speed. On a harmless looking breakout in the first period, he burst through the neutral zone to get open for a stretch pass, then beat two Shawinigan defenders wide in the offensive zone to get a shot on net. Malatesta was once again guilty of trying to do too much by himself in this game, however. There were times he tried to stickhandle past multiple defenders instead of moving the puck to an open linemate. Overall, he could of, and should of, used his teammates more in this one. Rating: C+
|Evan^Nause^#2| Nause continues to get better and better as the season progresses. In this game he was a driving force for the Remparts, continually moving the puck out of the defensive zone and controlling the play from the blue line in the offensive zone. He’s got size, skating, and good puck skills, and all three were on display against Shawinigan.
Rating: A
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images