Hello Everyone, I have been away from this blog for sometime now but I am bringing it back in time for the 2018 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Playoffs. The quest for the President Cup is set to begin tonight. Here are my predictions for the first round:
Blainville Boisbriand Armada (1) vs. Val D'or Foreurs (16)- BLB in four games.
The powerhouse Armada will prove to much for the Val D'or Foreurs who have been struggling this season after many competitive years.
Acadie-Bathurst Titan (2) vs. Chicoutimi Sagueneens (16)- AB in four games.
The Titan enter the playoffs as the Maritimes Division champions and have been on a roll lately. It will prove to be too much for the rebuilding Sags.
Rimouski Oceanic (3) vs. Moncton Wildcats (14)- RIM in six games.
The Moncton Wildcats could come out on top of this one in the first potential upset of the postseason but in my opinion they will scare the Oceanic but not come out the winner of the series.
Halifax Mooseheads (4) vs. Baie-Comeau Drakkar (13)- HFX in six games.
This will obviously be a series I pay the most attention to. Mooseheads captain Maxime Fortier will start his final post-season run in almost Hollywood fashion squaring off against his younger brother Gabriel. Goaltending and defence are big question marks on either side of this series. The Drakkar will have fourth year netminder Francis Leclerc in net. While the Mooseheads will counter with second year tender Alex Gravel. The two goalies do not have much playoff experience with Leclerc appearing in five games over two post-seasons with the Blainville Boisbriand Armada, and Gravel appearing in a 6 game defeat to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in 2017. Neither goalie has had a stellar season, but Gravel has been the hotter goalie down the stretch. The offense of Filip Zadina, Raphael Lavoie, and Maxime Fortier will need to be top notch and the Mooseheads must be undisciplined to advance.
Drummondville Voltigeurs (5) vs. Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (12) DRU in five games.
Dominique Ducharme has had the Voltigeurs playing some inspired hockey this season. I expect that to continue in a clash with the Eagles.
Victoriaville Tigres (6) vs Gatineau Olympiques (11)- VIC in five games.
The Tigres have been the hottest team in the league in the last month of the season. Admittedly, Gatineau is a higher seed than I expected but I see the Tigres having no problem getting past them.
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (7) vs Sherbrooke Phoenix (10)- SHE in six.
In an upset, the Phoenix will skate by the Huskies.
Quebec Remparts (8) vs Charlottetown Islanders (9)-CHA in seven.
The QMJHL Cinderella story has been that of the 2017-2018 Charlottetown Islanders. Jim Hulton has had the team playing a hard-working style and that work ethic will just be enough to get Charlottetown past the Remparts.
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