They are known as the Little Ramparts, but might as well rename them “Little Cardiac Ramparts”. After their victory in overtime the day before, this tireless team once again put on a great show by winning 5-4 on penalties against the New Jersey Devils.
“I’m quite young, but we thought that if we went to overtime or a shootout, it’s us on the bench who were going to have a heart attack even if we have great confidence in our young people,” said sighed head coach Jean Grignon-Francke after the victory that sends his team to the semi-finals of the AAA class.
Who said we needed the big guys to play spectacular matches? In this short-lived meeting of the Quebec pee-wee tournament, the Remparts, or Quebec Aces outside the event, demonstrated unparalleled resilience.
Resilience, first, as they twice overcame two-goal deficits, with the Devils building to 2-0 and 3-1 leads in the first two periods. Resilience, then, because after taking the lead for the first time 4-3 with 55 seconds left, they could have had their legs sawn off by New Jersey’s tying goal with 1.8 seconds left.
“Throughout the year, my saying is that pressure is a privilege. When we got equalized a second from the end, all I told them was that the victory was just going to be tastier. In a moment when the kids were on the ground, there was no point in shouting. We just had to tell them that we were proud of them and that they were able to go and win that match, “said the driver.
Zack the Grapeshot
On the offensive level, a small Rempart was particularly large. Zack Arsenault ended his night at work with his team’s four goals in regulation time.
Insatiable, he also offered himself the winning goal in the shootout, in a Videotron Center in total delirium.
“It was the game of my life with the atmosphere and the fans,” commented the hero of the day.
“When I was scoring, I was going into the boards and everyone was coming. It was amazing. In the shootout, I was stressed because it was silent in the arena. When I scored the fans were there to support us, it was really sick,” he continued.
At the right time
Another sign that demonstrates that the little Remparts have a flair for dramatic scenarios, these were the first goals of Zack la grapeshot during the tournament, after an exceptional season.
“Zack is a guy who has scored around 50 goals in all competitions this season. I told him all year: even if you know sequences of matches without scoring, when it will unlock, you can drag the club on your shoulders, “reacted his coach, whose words will have been prophetic.
Sunday morning, the Remparts will face the Knights of the Czech Republic. The winner will advance to the final at the end of the afternoon, against the little Montreal Canadiens.
08 h demi-final BB
9:30 a.m. School semi-final
11 a.m. AAA semi-finals
12 h 30 Finale BB
2 p.m. School Final
3:30 pm Final AAA
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