By Canadian Press on April 25, 2025.
RIMOUSKI — The Rimouski Oceanic scored the first two goals and then hung on to defeat the visiting Shawinigan Cataractes 5-1 in Friday’s opening game of their Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League semifinal series. Mael St-Denis, Jacob Mathieu, Lou Levesque, Pier-Olivier Roy and Thomas Belzil scored for the Oceanic, who led 2-1 after the first period and 3-1 heading into the third. Maxime Coursol and Alexandre Blais chipped in with two assists. Vince Elie scored for the Cataractes, who were outshot 35-34. The Oceanic went 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Cataractes were 0-for-1. Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday in Rimouski. Elsewhere in the QMJHL playoffs on Friday: — WILDCATS 2 HUSKIES 1 (Moncton leads best-of-seven semifinal series 2-0) MONCTON, N.B. — Preston Lounsbury had a goal and assist, netminder Rudy Guimond made 28 saves, and the Moncton Wildcats defeated the visiting Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven semifinal series. Natan Grenier also scored for the Wildcats who won Thursday’s opening game 5-3. Bill Zonnon scored for the Huskies, who outshot the hosts 29-27. The teams were scoreless after the first period and the Huskies took a 1-0 lead into the third. The Wildcats went 0-for-1 on the power play, while the Huskies did not have a power play. Game 3 in the series is Tuesday in Rouyn-Noranda, Que. * This roundup was generated automatically with a CP-developed application. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2025. The Canadian Press 19