Among the CHL’s hottest teams entering this week, the Chicoutimi Saguenéens have reversed a 1-6 start to the 2016-17 season, rattling off six straight wins to improve to 11-8-0-0 on the campaign.
The Sags are playing their best hockey in quite some time thanks to big contributions from veteran captain Nicolas Roy. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect has been a cornerstone of the Saguenéens organization since 2013 after he was acquired from the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles who took him first overall in the QMJHL Draft.
He, along with Saguenéens teammate and Nashville Predators prospect Frédéric Allard, will represent the QMJHL in front of a Chicoutimi crowd on Tuesday night at Centre Georges-Vézina.
“We have really picked up our play,” said Roy of his team’s recent performance. “I think things are coming together at the right time. Everyone in the lineup is playing well and making a difference.”
All this without the presence of overage veteran Julio Billia in the crease. The 20-year-old has been limited to just one game this season due to injury as 19-year-old sophomore Xavier Potvin has stepped in and done good work, recording a 2.44 goals-against-average and a .918 save percentage over 15 games.
Head Coach and GM Yanick Jean steers the ship in Chicoutimi. Jean is a former Saguenéens defenceman (1992-96) who won his 350th QMJHL game behind the bench on October 2nd. His 13-year QMJHL coaching career has included stops in Chicoutimi, Prince Edward Island and Victoriaville. He’ll serve as an assistant coach with Team QMJHL this week.
“He works us hard, but he gets the most out of his players,” said Roy of Jean, who took over behind the Saguenéens bench midway through the 2014-15 season. “He is good at getting his message across in a way that we can understand.”
In addition to coaching, Jean is the general manager of a hockey operations department that also includes former Sags goaltender and NHL standout Marc Denis (1994-97) who serves as the club’s vice president.
“We have a great management group that has really helped stabilize our team,” Roy added.
After racking up 48 goals, 42 assists and 90 points in 63 games last season, Roy didn’t receive an invitation to Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp, something the 6-foot-4, 209Ib. centreman intends to change this time around.
“I had a good season last year but it was disappointing to not be invited,” said Roy. “This is my chance to show people what I can do. I want to represent Canada.”
Roy has done so in the past, winning a bronze medal with Canada at the 2015 World Under-18 Hockey Championship where he recorded six points (3-3–6) in seven games. He also won gold at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, registering five points (1-4–5) in as many games.
In addition to World Junior aspirations, Roy wants to be a difference maker in Chicoutimi with a Saguenéens franchise that has made the playoffs 16 years in a row, but has won just two playoff rounds in its last 10 trips to the postseason.
Tuesday’s game presents another opportunity for Roy, Allard and the rest of their Team QMJHL teammates to leave a lasting impression on those watching with Hockey Canada as they inherit a 7-5 series lead headed into Game 5 of the series.
Action gets underway at 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT and the game can be seen live across the country on Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet Pacific and TVA Sports 2.
