Former Islanders win President Cup with Val-d'Or

Val-d'Or celebrates their President Cup win. QMJHL photo.

Three former Charlottetown Islanders players won the President Cup with the Val-d'Or Foreurs last night after they defeated the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 4-3 in Game 7 at the Centre Henry Leonard in Baie-Comeau, Que.

The Val-d'Or won its third title in franchise history. They had previously won it in 1998 and 2001.

Goaltender Antoine Bibeau and Ryan Graves started the season with the Charlottetown Islanders before being dealt to the Foreurs during the Christmas trading period. Former P.E.I. Rocket Louick Marcotte was also part of the Foreurs squad.

The Foreurs have also earned their ticket to the Memorial Cup in London, Ont. which begins Friday, May 16.

Anthony Mantha was the hero for the Foreurs, scoring with game winning goal with 52 seconds remaining in regulation to break a 3-3 tie.

Mantha led the way for Val-d'Or with a goal and two assists. Louick Marcotte (1-1), Samuel Henley and Randy Gazolla scored for the Foreurs. The Drakkar had goals from Jeremy Gregoire (1-1), Gabryl Paquin-Boudreau and Felix Girard.

The Foreurs opened the scoring with Henley's eighth goal of the playoffs at 8:57 from Jeremie Fraser and Guillaume Gelinas. Baie-Comeau held an 18-6 shot advantage.

In the second period, the Foreurs took a 3-0 lead with goals from Marcotte and Gazolla. Marcotte's 12th of the playoffs came at the 1:39 mark as Mantha and Anthony Richard drew assists. Gazolla's fourth of the playoffs came at 13:08 as Mantha drew the lone assist. Val'dOr was out-shot 11-8.

The Baie-Comeau Drakkar finally got on the board as Paquin-Boudreau scored his second of the playoffs at 9:41. Frederic Gamelin and Nicolas Meloche drew assists. Felix Girard then cut the Foreurs' lead to just one with his fourth of the playoffs at 16:07 from Alexandre Chenevert and Gregoire.

With 1:59 left in regulation, the Drakkar tied the game on Gregoire's ninth of the playoffs with Dominic Poulin and Meloche drawing assists but it wouldn't be enough to send the game to overtime.

Mantha's 24th goal of the playoffs would come just 1:07 later and would stand as the winner. Marcotte drew the lone assist on the goal.

Antoine Bibeau made 40 saves in the win for the Foreurs and was awarded the Guy Lafleur Trophy. Philippe Cadorette made 18 saves in the loss.

The Foreurs open up the MasterCard Memorial Cup on Friday against the host London Knights. Game time is 8 p.m. AST.

Islanders Country would like to send a big congratulations to Graves, Bibeau and Marcotte on this well deserved achievement. Couldn't have happened to better guys. Good luck in the Memorial Cup. 

Below is a video of Mantha's game-winning goal.