DROUIN’S TWO POINTS LEAD QUEBEC TO OPENING WIN

Press Release

TECUMSEH, Ont. – Jonathan Drouin (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que./Halifax, QMJHL) scored the game-winner midway through the second period and added an assist as Quebec opened the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge with a 3-2 victory over Atlantic on Thursday afternoon.

The result was a repeat of last year’s tournament opener, which saw Quebec earn a 9-3 win. Quebec hasn’t lost to Atlantic since a 5-2 defeat at the 2005 tournament in Lethbridge, Alta.

Yan-Pavel Laplante (Ste-Martine, Que./P.E.I., QMJHL) and Frédérik Gauthier (Mascouche, Que./Collège Esther-Blondin, QMJHL) also scored for Quebec (1-0), which outshot Atlantic 38-26.

Mitchell Vanderlaan (Hanwell, N.B./Rothesay Netherwood School, Can. Prep) and Kris Hodge (Conception Bay South, N.L./Notre Dame, SMAAAHL) scored the goals for Atlantic (0-1), which trailed 3-0 after Drouin’s goal before mounting a comeback.

Quebec is right back to action Friday, taking on Germany in Tecumseh (7 p.m. ET), while Atlantic will have a day off to regroup before facing the Germans in LaSalle on Saturday night (7 p.m. ET).

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)