Liam Lefebvre scored the overtime winner for Chicoutimi exactly one week after his QMJHL-clinching goal.
Lefebvre’s Path to the Spotlight
The 19-year-old Montreal native entered the Memorial Cup after jumping from 70th to 38th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s final list in April. Standing 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds, Lefebvre joined the QMJHL this season following three years at Trinity-Pawling School.
One week before the Kelowna game, Lefebvre tipped home the series-clinching goal in Game 6 of the QMJHL final. The 5-1 victory over Moncton secured the Gilles-Courteau Trophy and Chicoutimi’s Memorial Cup berth.
On the opening goal against Kelowna, Lefebvre received a pass at center ice, skated in alone, faked forehand and finished backhand for a 1-0 lead late in the first period.
Dramatic Overtime Finish
Chicoutimi trailed 2-1 before tying the score and then taking the 3-2 overtime win on Sunday, May 24. The result earned the Sagueneens two points and at least a tiebreaker spot, as overtime losses award none.
Coach Yanick Jean kept Lucas Beckman in net for the back-to-back, and the goaltender responded with key stops after a tough prior outing.
The Sagueneens next play the Kitchener Rangers on Tuesday, May 26. A win there could lock in a semifinal berth depending on Monday’s Everett-Kitchener result.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.