QMJHL playoffs: Mateiko scores in double OT, Oceanic edge Cataractes 4-3 in Game 7
RIMOUSKI – Erik Mateiko scored at 17:08 of the second overtime period to lift the Rimouski Oceanic to a 4-3 series-clinching victory over the visiting Shawinigan Cataractes on Tuesday night at Colisee Financiere Sun Life.
The Oceanic, who will be the host team when the 2025 Memorial Cup opens later this month, won the best-of-seven Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League semifinal series in seven games.
The Oceanic will play the Moncton Wildcats in the Gilles-Courteau Trophy Final.
Goals by Jack Martin, Alexandre Blais and Jacob Mathieu gave the Oceanic a 3-0 lead on Tuesday, before the Cataractes chipped away with goals from Cole Chandler, Vince Elie and Isaac Menard, the latter coming at 16:23 of the third period to force overtime.
Rimouski outshot Shawinigan 43-37 overall — and 15-14 in overtime — and took a 3-1 lead into the third period.
The Cataractes, who won Game 6 on Sunday 5-1 to force the winner-take-all showdown, went 1-for-2 on the power play, while the Oceanic were 0-for-2.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.
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Ottawa Citizen
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'I've dealt with it and I've learned from it. It was unfortunate.' McDavid said Perry's calming presence was for a team that roared back to force Game 7 in last year's final against the Panthers after falling behind 3-0 in the title series. 'Makes great, subtle, little plays,' said Edmonton's No. 97. 'His gamesmanship, understands the ebbs and flows of the games, the intricacies that not every fan sitting at home understands. He's played in every big game.' Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Perry was crucial in last year's run to the final that ended in heartbreak. 'Allowed the team to settle things down,' said the second-year head coach. 'When he spoke, guys listened because of the respect that they have for him.' Dale Hunter — Mark's brother and the Knights' head coach who had Perry in London from 2001 to 2005 — said his passion for the game hasn't wavered. 'He's a battler,' said Dale Hunter, who won the Memorial Cup with Perry in his final junior season before the Knights also climbed Canadian junior hockey's mountain in 2016 and again last month. 'He loved hockey, and it's never changed.' The Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP in 2011 with Anaheim has 448 goals and 487 assists for 935 points across 1,392 contests with six franchises over his two decades in the league. He's added 62 goals, including eight this spring alone, and 77 assists for 139 points in 233 playoff contests. Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse said he and Perry, who is in his sixth Cup final and plans to play a 21st campaign in 2025-26, have talked about their past battles. 'We've had some fun moments,' said Nurse. 'He's been so important for this group — the experience and all the big moments that he's played in.' Perry, who had 19 goals and 11 assists in 81 games in 2024-25 while averaging just under 12 minutes of ice time, said getting ready each summer — especially the short ones after long post-season runs — is an increasing challenge. 'You try to give your body some time to rest,' he said. 'But you're also like, 'Man, we've got to be back in camp in six weeks.'' These are good times for Perry. His seven-year-old son, Griffin, is a staple around the Oilers, including at NHL media day before the start of the Cup final. He's also been through some tough times. Apart from the contract termination in Chicago, he was bought out of the final two years of his long-term deal with the Ducks in June 2019 for salary-cap reasons. 'The highest of highs and some pretty low moments,' he said. 'I use that as motivation.' Mark Hunter said players — their desires and priorities — often change with age. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. But not Perry. 'They lose that gleam in their eye,' Hunter said. 'If you watch him, there is excitement, passion, desire, loving the moment. It's hard to find at 40. People don't usually have that, but he does. 'Makes him special.' — With file from Daniel Rainbird in Rimouski, Que. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
