Plateaus for Gendron and Kidney

GATINEAU – The Olympiques were in action tonight as the Drummondville Voltigeurs and Manix Landry came to the Slush Puppie Centre. On an 18 game winning streak, the Gatineau team was ranked first in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) standings for week 23 as well as first in the QMJHL Western Conference standings with only 6 games remaining in the regular season.

19 consecutive wins!

Early in the second period, with Louis Robitaille’s team trailing 1-0, Isaac Belliveau sent a puck into the back of the net that was picked up by Zach Dean who found the back of the net to tie the game.

With 49 goals entering tonight’s game, Alexis Gendron had the opportunity to become the first Olympiques player since Philippe Lacasse (2001-2002) to reach the 50 goal plateau in a season. At 7:30 in the 3rd, Vincent Maisonneuve sent a long pass that found #72 alone in front of the goalie. Gendron took advantage of the situation and beat the Voltigeurs’ goalie between the pads, allowing the Philadelphia Flyers’ prospect to reach the prestigious 50-goal plateau in a season. Gendron joined the Olympiques on December 18, 2022 after being acquired from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. He scored 28 goals and 13 assists in 29 games with the Olympiques.

Gendron wasn’t the only one approaching a prestigious plateau, Riley Kidney’s next point would be his 100th this season! Just 1:18 after Gendron’s 50th, Vincent Maisonneuve fed Kidney who then made an exceptional pass to Isaac Belliveau in the slot to give the crowd favorite the lead. With an assist on Belliveau’s goal, Riley Kidney became the first 100-point scorer in a season for the Olympics since Vitaly Abramov (2016-2017). Acquired on January 6, 2023 from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, the Montreal Canadiens’ second round pick in 2021 has 12 goals and 43 assists in 24 games in a Gatineau uniform.

At the end of the 3rd, Sam Savoie controls the puck in offensive territory and passes to Vincent Maisonneuve who sends the puck to Cam MacDonald to double his team’s lead.

Trip to Shawinigan!

The Olympiques will hit the road on Friday to face the Cataractes. The two teams will then head to the Slush Puppie Centre on Sunday March 19th for a 2nd consecutive game against the Cataractes, game that starts at 3:00 pm. This will also be the second to last home game of the regular season and is a must-win game.