Loading....
Loading...
Local
Loading...
|
Canada
Loading...
|
World
Loading...
|
Business
Loading...
|
Sports
|
Entertainment
|
Movies
Loading...
|
Columns
Loading...
|
Blogs
Loading...
|
Life
|
Travel
Loading...
|
Games
|
x

MacMillan moves to a grittier role with Rimouski

Logan MacMillan


MATTHEW WUEST, METRO HALIFAX
April 03, 2009 12:41 a.m.
       Text size          

You know the Rimouski Oceanic are good when you see Logan MacMillan anchoring their checking line.

The first-round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks and former scoring-line forward for the Halifax Mooseheads has taken on a new role as a grinder with Rimouski, which continues its foray into the QMJHL playoffs this weekend.

“It’s a pretty big change,” MacMillan admitted. “In Halifax, I was relied on for first line, power play, all that stuff. I got here and they have a lot of guys capable of those roles. I’m more of a checking-line, add-what-I-can kind of thing.”

The Oceanic acquired MacMillan from the Mooseheads in December for Guillaume Pelletier and draft picks. The 19-year-old from Winsloe, P.E.I., has five goals and 17 assists for 22 points in 32 games since joining Rimouski.

His linemates have been Felix Lafrancois (45 points in 59 games) and Luca Cunti (45 points in 57 games).

“I’m not expecting him to score a lot of goals,” said Rimouski head coach Clement Jodoin, a former bench boss of the Mooseheads. “He brings a presence, he has a role. He’s a big guy who can finish his checks. He’s been there before and he’s not panicking, and that’s what we need.”

The Oceanic have their hands full in the QMJHL best-of-seven quarter-final against the Moncton Wildcats. The Wildcats allowed the fewest goals in Q history, backstopped by record-setting league most valuable player Nicola Riopel.

But the Oceanic are not exactly slouches, winners of a stunning 24 of their past 25 games, including an opening-round four-game sweep of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.

Game 1 of the quarters is Friday night in Moncton.

“We have some firepower,” MacMillan said. “They have a good defensive corps but they have a few young guys. We’ll work it down low and get in front. We know their goalie was tops in the league, but we need to make it tough on him.”

Quarter-finals

Former Mooseheads blue-liner Guillaume Monast, now with the Quebec Remparts, will go up against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the QMJHL quarter-finals.

Monast, a 20-year-old Dallas Stars prospect, had 43 points in 63 games this season and added four points in a 4-1 first-round series win over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.

The quarter-finals begin Friday night in Quebec City.

As for local talent still alive in the playoffs, Halifax’s Andrew Roski is the last man standing.

Roski, a rookie forward for the Moncton Wildcats who had no points in five games in the first round, faces the Rimouski Oceanic.

More about QMJHL , Halifax Mooseheads
Don't be greedy, share this article:                                       

more sports stories

Q sweeps Russia in opening round of Super Series

The QMJHL wrapped up a two-game sweep of Russia in the first leg of the Canadian Hockey League’s Subway Super Series with an 8-3 win last night in Shawinigan, Que.

Nill and the Dinos steer clear of Huskies Stadium

Blake Nill and the Calgary Dinos steered clear of Huskies Stadium after touching down in Halifax yesterday.

Huskies' Jones happy to return to action after tense off-field moments

Devon Jones is used to getting plenty of carries for the Saint Mary’s Huskies. But the amount of off-field pacing he did last week might have been just as fatiguing.

NHL Central Scouting taking notice of Corbeil

Al Jensen is more than familiar with Mathieu Corbeil.

'Big brother' leads scrappy Mooseheads squad in dropping the gloves

When push comes to shove, the Halifax Mooseheads start swinging — and they don’t think twice.

editor's picks

Watergate-era White House notes being probed for hidden clues

WASHINGTON - The National Archives is bringing together investigators to search for scribbled secrets from the early days of the Watergate scandal as the chain of events began that destroyed Richard Nixon's presidency.

Kennedy behind Fleury if he pursues charges against James

CALGARY - If Theo Fleury decides to pursue criminal charges against former junior hockey coach Graham James, Sheldon Kennedy will be in his former teammate's corner.

Canadians watched by insurgents as they seek control of key town Video Available

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The Taliban kept to the shadows of Haji Baba on Wednesday as Canadian soldiers trying to seize control of the insurgent stronghold continued to pick up apart its defences.

Seal hunt protesters take aim at Olympic torch run

A pair of animal rights groups are planning on protesting the seal hunt during the Olympic torch run over the next few months.


F E A T U R E D   S P O N S O R S