After a very dramatic series against the Quebec Remparts, the Shawinigan Cataractes reached the final of the President Cup on Wednesday evening and will face the Charlottetown Islanders in a series 4 of 7, starting on Saturday evening. At the end of this final, a champion will be crowned for the first time in its history. On the side of the Cataracts, fans have been waiting for a first President’s Cup in more than 50 years of history. The team has appeared in two finals since 2009, losing twice. As for the Islanders, this is their first final in 19 years of existence. Analysis of a final that promises to be tight.
• Read also: QMJHL: a final dedicated to the memory of Guy Lafleur
• Read also: QMJHL: the Cataracts in the final
MAVRICK BOURQUE
XAVIER SIMONEAU
Patrick Roy said it in his press briefing on Wednesday evening: the Cataractes are counting on the best line in the QMJHL. Mavrik Bourque, Xavier Bourgault and Olivier Nadeau may not have blackened the score sheet as usual in the semis, but they were dangerous. The Islanders are no exception. Xavier Simoneau, Patrick Guay and Brett Budgell are leading the charge.
► Advantage: Shawinigan
ANGUS BOOTH
LUKAS CORMIER
The Islanders have possibly the best defensive squad in the entire QMJHL. Five of the six regular defensemen are 18 or older and were on the team last year, including props Lukas Cormier and Noah Laaouan. The other, Jérémie Biakabutuka, was acquired from the Océanic during the season. In Shawinigan, the return to the game of Angus Booth helps greatly, but the depth is not that of the Islanders.
► Avantage : Charlottetown
ANTOINE COULOMBE
FRANCESCO LAPENNA
It’s hard to tell them apart. Francesco Lapenna and Antoine Coulombe have been solid so far in the playoffs, as evidenced by their goals-against-average under 2 (1.79 for Lapenna and 1.88 for Coulombe) and their save percentage above .930 (0.936 for Lapenna and 0.933 for Coulombe).
► Advantage: Equality
DANIEL RENAUD
JIM HULTON
On the one hand, Daniel Renaud is participating in a second final in two years after losing at the helm of the Val-d’Or Foreurs last year. On the other, Jim Hulton will participate in a first final in the QMJHL, but he has a vast experience of 21 years as a coach, including three as an assistant to Peter DeBoer with the Florida Panthers, between 2008 and 2011. He also comes to win Coach of the Year for a second season in a row.
► Avantage : Charlottetown
SHAWINIGAN CATARACTS
ISLANDERS DE CHARLOTTETOWN
The Cataractes may look like an underdog, but if it weren’t for the high number of injuries this season, they would have finished much higher in the standings. There is no doubt that the weight of more than 50 years without a President’s Cup weighs on the shoulders of everyone in Shawinigan.
► Advantage: Shawinigan
► Prediction: Shawinigan in 7
