Thursday, May 10, 2012

5/9 Recap: Leduc connects; clubs on brink

Jerome Gauthier-Leduc posted a goal and an assist Wednesday as Rimouski was defeated by Saint John 6-4 in game #3 of the QMJHL President's Cup final. The big-shooting righty drilled a power play shot eleven minutes in to tie the game 1-1 heading into the first intermission. Leduc would later add a helper with the Sea Dogs firmly in control of the contest. After a regular season that saw him lead all QMJHL defensemen with 28 goals and 74 points, the 6'1 defender has struck another nine times this postseason to go along with 10 assists in 20 games. The multi-point effort was his first since the first round, a span of over a month.

The Oceanic now find themselves in a 3-0 series hole with Leduc facing the prospects of playing his final junior game Thursday in Rimouski.



Steven Shipley recorded an assist as Niagara couldn't overcome an early three-goal hole en route to a 4-1 loss to London in game #4 of the OHL Championship. The 6'3 center, who has collected five goals and nine points in 19 postseason games, helped get the IceDogs on the board at 6:23 of the third by driving the net and pushing the puck past London goaltender Michael Houser to a crashing Myles Doan for his second helper in as many games. Houser, the OHL's Player of the Year and attendee at Buffalo's 2011 development camp, made 36 stops to earn the game's #1 star. Talented Finnish defenseman Olli Maatta ('12) was injured late in the game when he was taken out along the boards in the Knights zone.

Trailing the series 3-1, Niagara faces elimination for the first time this postseason as the series shifts back to London for Friday's game #5.