RIMUSCHI | Oceanique head coach Joël Perreault insists there is no question of taking Baie-Comeau Drakkar lightly, even if his opponents were still hoping for a first win of the season in 12 games ahead of a double-header against the two teams on Friday and Saturday at the North Shore.
The Oceanic won the first doubleheader of the season at home against Jean-François Gregoire's team by scores of 5-3 to 3-2. Both teams will cross swords for the foursome.e time this Saturday at 16:00.
“We can't really trust the files. With the experience we have, we can't think we'll have an easy match against anyone. We played good hockey last weekend and we need to build on that. We're going to a place where it's always very scary to play. Baie-Comeau will want to play great hockey in front of their fans. They've managed to score points in the last few matches. It's not true that the team will finish a season with zero wins in 64 matches. games,” said Joel Perrault before his team left for the North Shore.
Perrault will be in familiar territory, having played for Drakkar from 2000 to 2003. “There is a great rivalry between Oceanic and Drakkar. It always leads to close and intense matches.”
Nappiot adapts well to the QMJHL.
One of the pleasant surprises since the start of the season in the Oceanic camp is the consistency demonstrated by 18-year-old Swiss defenseman Luca Nappiot, who is taking his first steps in the QMJHL, at a much higher level than what he knew in his country.
“QMJHL is much higher than what I was used to playing before. I can only grow and get better. I quickly got used to the fact that the rinks are smaller than at home. My progress is good, so I am very happy,” he analyzed.
Good work ethic
Joël Perrault praises his No. 71's work ethic: “He's always the first one out there. He trains very well, he's an extremely disciplined guy. He takes care of himself and is always in a good mood. He's progressing very well. We're seeing a little more every game. I thought he played some really good hockey last weekend (two wins over Phoenix).”
Barring a last-minute substitution, William Lacelle will be the starting goalkeeper this Saturday. Oceanic is without forwards Thomas Belzile, Maxwell Branton (injured) and Lou Levesque (ill). To compensate for these three losses, the team recalled forward Frédéric Brisebois from College Charles-Lemoyne (M18 AAA).
