2015 TELUS Cup

COMTOIS’ HAT TRICK LEADS GRENADIERS TO WIN OVER YOUNG NATIONALS

DAVID BRIEN

RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP, Que. – Maxime Comtois had a hat trick – all on the power play - and added an assist to pace the offence for the Grenadiers du Châteauguay, who got 10 points from their top line in a 4-1 win over the Toronto Young Nationals on Thursday at the 2015 TELUS Cup.

The trio of Comtois, Antoine Morand (goal and two assists) and Pierre-Luc Sanche (three assists) did all the damage for the Grenadiers – no other skater earned a point in the victory.

The teams met last year at Canada’s National Midget Championship, as well; Toronto earned a 3-1 win in the preliminary round before Châteauguay returned the favour with a 6-1 semifinal victory.

Morand started the scoring just 33 seconds in, the first of three Grenadiers goals in the opening 12 minutes.
Châteauguay’s second goal belonged to Comtois, who struck just four seconds into the Grenadiers’ first power play, and he capitalized again with the man advantage at 12:06 thanks to a perfect shot inside the post.

The Young Nationals got within one before the first intermission after Jordan Sambrook was left alone beside the Châteauguay net and beat goaltender Kyle Jessiman on a Toronto power play at 18:17.

The teams combined for five power play chances in the second period, but neither could find the back of the net and the Grenadiers took their two-goal advantage to the final 20 minutes.

Comtois completed his hat trick – again on the power play – two minutes into the third period.

Toronto’s undisciplined play cost it in the third period; the Young Nationals were whistled for 10 minor penalties in the final frame alone, and gave the Grenadiers 10 power play opportunities in all.

Châteauguay, which already knows it will play in Saturday’s semifinals, finishes the preliminary round Friday when it meets the host Albatros du Collège Notre-Dame in an all-Quebec match-up (4:30 p.m. ET), while Toronto faces the Strathmore Bisons in what could be a must-win game for both (9 a.m. ET).