A perfect weekend, 9 consecutive victories and a championship already in their pocket in the Ligue de Hockey Sénior Élite: this is what the “Hockey Experts Vaudreuil-Dorion” team has just accomplished with two more weeks to go in the regular season.
The troops of Félix Camiré and Maxime Thibault played two games in front of their fans last weekend and they answered the call admirably. On Saturday, January 28 at the Vaudreuil-Dorion arena, the “HEV” won against the “Mustangs” from Contrecoeur and a 7-4 victory allowed the Vaudreuil club to take another step towards the title.
The next afternoon, the “Hockey Experts Vaudreuil-Dorion” continued its momentum at the Soulanges Sports Center in Saint-Polycarpe to defeat the “Loups” of Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon by a score of 3-1 and mathematically ensure to finish on top.
Before the last weekend, with two games left in the regular season, the “HEV” totaled 30 points with a record of 15 wins and 3 losses. Their closest pursuers in the standings, the “Coureurs des Bois” of Cowansville could not catch up with them because they accumulated 25 points with two games to play, their record being 12 wins and 6 losses, including one in overtime. The “Cuisines Action” of Farnham (10-5-4, 23 points) and the “Loups” of Saint-Gabriel-de-Brandon (9-8-1, 19 points) complete the “Top 4” out of 7 teams.
The “HEV” has achieved a “bye” for the initial round of the playoffs and the schedule will be announced at the end of the regular season, on Saturday February 11. The Vaudreuil club finished its season on Saturday, February 4 at home by hosting “Cuisines Action” of Farnham at the Vaudreuil-Dorion arena (8:15 p.m.) and visiting the “Coureurs des Bois” in Cowansville on Sunday, February 5 (12:45 p.m.) at the Sports Pavilion Roland Désourdy.
On January 28, Antoine Billard distinguished himself in the 7-4 victory over “Mustangs” of Contrecoeur with two goals (7th, 8th) and an assist. Peter James Corsi (3rd) and Maxime Hurtubise-Labelle (13th) also had 3 points with a goal and two assists. Blake Richardson (14th) and Josh Desmarais (12th) had two points each including a goal.
Alex Larocque and Michael Stanziani also got on the scoresheet with two assists. Adam Russo got the better of Nicholas Gendron and Jocelyn Morrissette between the posts. The “HEV” led 7-2 in the 3rd period before the away team closed the gap to 3 goals.
Sunday in Saint-Polycarpe, a goaltending duel between Adam Russo and the opposing goalie Jérémy Belisle ended in favour of the Vaudreuil goalkeeper in a 3-1 triumph of the “HEV” over the “Loups” of Saint-Gabriel- de-Brandon. “Adam (Russo) has been solid for several games and he was still in top form,” praised coach Félix Camiré.
The away team opened the scoring on Cédric Chouinard’s power-play goal at 8:59 of the first period but it was the last time they managed to get one passed Adam Russo. Matthew Herskovitz (4th), halfway through the second period, and Anthony Mezzagno (8th), at 16:55, tipped the scales in favour of the home team. Maxime Hurtubise-Labelle sealed the “HEV” victory with his 14th goal in the final minute of play in the 3rd period, assisted by Josh Desmarais and Anthony Mezzagno. The latter and Maxime Hurtibise-Labelle added 3 points (1-2) to their record in this game. Alexandre Larose, who provided an assist, was the star of the game for his work on the penalty kill and his contagious energy.
It should be noted that the “HEV” has 3 of the top 5 scorers in the Ligue de Hockey Sénior Élite, namely Maxime Hurtubise-Labelle, who ranks 2nd with 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points, Blake Richardson (3rd, 14-18- 32) and Alex Larocque of Les Coteaux (5th, 12-17-29). The leader, Jérémy Way-Gagnon, of Cowansville (16-18-34), leads Maxime Hurtubise-Labelle by one point.
Fans had one last chance to see the “HEV” in the regular season last Saturday at the Vaudreuil-Dorion arena against “Cuisines Action” of Farnham.
