Val-d’Or Foreurs Take Home QMJHL Title
When summing up the game 7 final last night in the QMJHL championships the only thing one needs to say is Anthony Mantha. The Detroit Red Wings have a real gem in Mantha who literally carried the Foreurs to their QMJHL championship. Hopefully he has some gas left for the Memorial Cup which begins in just a few days.
With the game tied at 3 in the final minutes it appeared that game 7 of the QMJHL championships would be headed to overtime and it would have if not for the heroics of Anthony Mantha. With 2 assists already on the night, Mantha netted the game winner with 51 seconds left to clinch the QMJHL title for the Val-d’Or Foreurs. With the three point night Mantha finished the QMJHL playoffs with 24 goals and 38 points in 24 playoff games, hows that for consistent?
The goal from Mantha was huge for the Foreurs, not only because it won them the series and booked their ticket to the Memorial Cup, but also because of a 3-0 lead the Foreurs blew in the third period as the Baie-Comeau Drakkar came storming back. Mantha’s goal ensure there would be no upset or dramatic blown lead in game 7.
The Foreurs become the first Quebec based team to win the QMJHL title since Drummondville Voltigeurs accomplished the goal in 2009. They finished 3rd overall in the QMJHL after they clinched the Telus West division during the regular season and scored the most goals for of any other QMJHL team.
Goaltender Antoine Bibeau stopped 40 shots for the Foreurs and was awarded the Guy Lafleur Trophy as MVP of the series as he stood tall between the pipes game after game. Bilbeau went 15-8, with a .913 save percentage and a GAA of 2.80 throughout the post season. The Foreurs also got goals from Louick Marcotte, Samuel Henley and Randy Gazzola in game 7.
The Val-d’Or Foreurs won’t have much time to enjoy their victory or rest as they face-off against the well rested London Knights in the first game of the Memorial Cup on Friday. Can the Foreurs ride the emotion of a late game 7 win against a well rested and motivated host squad?