CHARLOTTETOWN | The drought is over: following 53 years without the President’s Cup, the Shawinigan Cataractes are the champions of the QMJHL and they will represent the Quebec circuit in the Memorial Cup tournament.
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Pierrick Dubé scored the game-winning goal just 41 seconds into overtime, propelling the Cataractes to a 4-3 victory over the Charlottetown Islanders. The Cataractes thus won the final series 4 to 1.
Photo Agence QMI, John Morris
Surrounded by his players, head coach Daniel Renaud exulted as he lifted the first President’s Cup in the history of the Shawinigan Cataractes.
“Everyone says it every year: it’s the best feeling in the world,” Cats head coach Daniel Renaud said on the ice, seconds following lifting the cup for the first time in his career. The truth is that for these players it is the fulfillment of a lifetime. Winning a championship is a lifelong dream. You grow up hoping to experience this once in your life and that’s today. »
General manager Martin Mondou was also jubilant following the match.
“I’m so happy for everyone, for the people of Shawi and Mauricie who supported us. […] We had goals when we arrived in Shawi and now we have a Memorial Cup and a President’s Cup. I’m really proud for everyone. »
DUBED ONCE AGAIN
Photo Agence QMI, John Morris
Olivier Nadeau orchestrated the comeback of the Cataractes at the end of the second period.
The Cataracts were true to themselves today. The Islanders took a 3-1 lead in the second period; they seemed in full control of the encounter. However, Daniel Renaud’s men orchestrated another comeback that began with a goal by Olivier Nadeau on the power play late in the second period. Then Pierrick Dubé took matters into his own hands. The 20-year-old veteran scored the tying goal midway through the third, before scoring the game-winning goal in overtime.
“I don’t even have words. It’s hard work all season long. We’ve been fighting COVID for three years to have great championships and be able to play great seasons. To end my junior career in style and have a chance to go to the Memorial Cup, what more might you ask for? I don’t realize it yet, but it’s definitely one of the best moments of my hockey life. »
In overtime, Dubé took the puck from Patrick Guay before escaping and beating Francesco Lapenna with a precise shot.
“I remember the sequence, but following that I don’t remember. I did not know what to do ! »
BOURQUE PLAYER PAR EXCELLENCE
Unsurprisingly, Mavrik Bourque received the Guy-Lafleur trophy, awarded to the most valuable playoff player. The Dallas Stars prospect scored his team’s first goal today, early in the first period. He finished the playoffs with 25 points in 16 games.
Photo Agence QMI, John Morris
Named the playoff MVP, Cataractes captain Mavrik Bourque accepted the President’s Cup from QMJHL Commissioner Gilles Courteau.
“He is an exceptional player who will leave his mark like the [Anthony] Beauvillier, [Samuel] Girard who have visited us. We had lots of good players and to see guys grow up and to have the chance to end your junior career with a championship, I think it’s the best end you can hope for for your junior internship, “said Martin Mondou, who drafted Bourque third overall in the 2018 QMJHL draft.
“I’m speechless,” added the captain of the Cataracts. I was afraid. It’s a good team on the other side. At 3-1, you start thinking in your head. We come in third, we had chances to score and we put it in. In overtime, it was in the pocket. »
♦ The Cataractes will now prepare for the Memorial Cup tournament, which will take place from June 20 to 29, in Saint John, New Brunswick.
Daniel Renaud’s lesson in adversity
On February 9, 2020, the Shawinigan Cataractes fired Daniel Renaud. Today, a little over two and a half years later, he lifted the President’s cup with this same formation.
No doubt, many raised eyebrows at the start of the season, when general manager Martin Mondou announced that he was repatriating Renaud.
PROUD OF HIS TIME
The latter had just lost in the final with the Val-d’Or Foreurs once morest the Victoriaville Tigres, despite a star team, and some wondered if he was the one who might lead the Cataractes to the promised land.
“I knew what I was doing and so did Dan. Today, we have the result of that and I’m happy with that”, mentioned Mondou following the victory.
Today, in the euphoria of victory, Renaud has agreed to open up a little regarding this February 2020 episode.
“If I’m not fired, I’m not winning with the Cataractes today. In adversity, you grow. My greatest moment of adversity in life was that dismissal and today it’s easy to say, but I thank Martin and the group for making it happen. It made me grow like I never might have grown. I learned in Val-d’Or and I questioned myself. You always have the choice to roll up your sleeves or point the finger at everyone when something bad happens to you. Today, we live it together. »
“HE WELDED US”
After the victory, Renaud and Mavrik Bourque shared a moment together. They exchanged a few words before hugging for several seconds.
“Do you want to know what I told him? Bourque asked us when we told him regarding that moment.
“I told him that I still remembered the date he was fired. He came back and today, two and a half years later, we are champions. If Dan hadn’t been there, we would never have been champions. He was able to weld us together and we can see it, we are a team, friends. That’s partly thanks to Dan. »
HAPPY WITH HIS RETURN
Forward Xavier Bourgault also had only good words for his head coach.
“He’s a coach who really helped me. He’s a guy who is close to his players and he spent a lot of time with me making video. It hurt me a lot when he was fired and we still kept in touch. I was extremely happy when he came back and I trusted him. »
It was a fourth career final for Renaud, who had lost following the first three: as head coach of the Val-d’Or Foreurs last year; previously, as an assistant with the Quebec Remparts in 2015 and with the Rimouski Oceanic in 2012.