QMJHL Players of the Month

Note: Wednesday, March 4th, I will join Sun Journal’s Justin Pelletier, St. Dom’s Head Coach Steve Ouellette, and David MacDonald, who’s is in the process of bringing a Maritime Junior “A” club to Lewiston, in a live hockey chat at the Sun Journal web site at 11:45am-12:45pm.

Press Release

BOUCHERVILLE, Tuesday, March 3, 2009 – The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League today announced the winners of the offensive, defensive and rookie player of the month awards for February. The players were chosen by a committee mandated by the League.

Yannick Riendeau is the award-winner on offence after posting exceptional numbers for the Voltigeurs. In thirteen games, the right-winger registered nineteen goals, including five game-winners, and added fourteen assists for a total of thirty-three points. He helped Drummondville take control of the top spot in the overall standings with 104 points.

Jordan Caron (Océanic), Benjamin Casavant (Rocket) and Cédric Lalonde-McNicoll (Cataractes) were also considered.

Sébastien Piché gets the nod on defence. The Rimouski Océanic defenseman scored five goals, including two game-winners, and added thirteen helpers in only nine games. Moreover, he posted a +5 rating. Piché has been one of the key factors for the Océanic’s fifteen-game winning streak. Rimouski went a perfect 10-0-0-0 in February.

Dmitry Kulikov (Voltigeurs), Nicola Riopel (Wildcats) and Maxime Ouimet (Océanic) were also in the mix.

Dmitry Kulikov is the rookie of the month. In thirteen games, the defenseman recorded four goals, including two game-winners, and contributed eleven assists while posting a +9 rating for the high-flying Voltigeurs. He also recorded sixteen hits. Drummondville won eleven of its thirteen battles in February.

Mickael Audette (Huskies), Dmitri Kugryshev (Remparts) and Sergey Ostapchuk (Huskies) also received consideration.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)