Forward Pierrick Dube of the Shawinigan Cataractes admitted that watching opening night action at the Memorial Cup instead of playing in it pumped up his team’s anxiety levels.
On Tuesday, those levels soared even higher after the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champions clipped the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-3 thanks, in part, to a soft goal by Dube at 5:37 of the third period to tie the game 3-3, with teammate Olivier Nadeau scoring the winner 78 seconds later.
READ MORE: 2022 Memorial Cup: Team previews
“They’re all good teams here. We watch clips, take notes, plan,” said Dube before Tuesday’s upset. “But we just have to play our own game.
“All the teams we beat in Quebec were good, too, so just keep things simple and play hard.”
READ MORE: Lethbridge’s John Szabo soaking up Memorial Cup experience with Edmonton Oil Kings
Nadeau said his team has relished the underdog role throughout the QMJHL playoffs, and said that helps to relieve some of the pressure for a round-robin format like the Memorial Cup in which every win and loss is magnified.
Jordon Tourigny and Xavier Bourgault scored the other goals for Shawinigan, while the Western Hockey League champions got goals from Luke Prokop, Tyler Horstmann and Cole Miller.
READ MORE: Biggest prize in major junior hockey once again up for grabs as Memorial Cup returns
Shawinigan outshot Edmonton 35-28. The teams were tied 1-1 after the first and Edmonton took a 3-2 lead into the final frame.
READ MORE: Oil Kings players aim to cement legacy as ‘special group’ at Memorial Cup tournament
The Oil Kings will have to quickly file their loss and prepare for a Wednesday night contest against the host Saint John Sea Dogs, who beat the Hamilton Bulldogs 5-3 in Monday’s tournament opener in front of 5,021 fans at the TD Station.
READ MORE: Saint John Sea Dogs beat Hamilton Bulldogs 5-3 in Memorial Cup opener
Shawinigan plays Hamilton on Thursday.
READ MORE: Oil Kings capture WHL championship with Game 6 win over Thunderbirds
Edmonton won the Memorial Cup in 2014, while Shawinigan won in 2012
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