The training without the puck that head coach Éric Veilleux imposed on the Quebec Remparts this week has clearly borne fruit. The team earned its first win of the season with a score of 3-1 against the Val-d’Or Foreurs on Friday evening at the Videotron Center.

The meeting in question, which took place on Tuesday morning, left its mark on the minds of the players, noted the author of the first goal of the game, Antoine Dorion.

• Also read: Back from Buffalo, Vsevolod Komarov is ready to become the QMJHL’s best defenseman

• Also read: [À VOIR] Dissatisfied with his remparts, Éric Veilleux lets his players run without the puck for an hour

“It really motivated us to win this game. After the weekend we had and the game against Chicoutimi, which was not a good game for the team, we realized that we had to focus on the details and give our best. “It’s really a wake-up call that we won this game,” he said.

Veilleux, for his part, was more than satisfied with the performance of his protégés. “The goal of this exercise was to stop running in circles and we were definitely better in that regard. I think we also made the second attempt several times to keep the pressure on or defend in our zone,” he said.

The devil also did not fail to point out that during the six numerical advantages granted to the Foreurs, numerous shots were blocked by the defending troops.

“That’s the only thing that allows you to gain momentum in a game,” he said, also praising defender Vsevolod Komarov, who was playing his first game of the season.

A fear recognized

For the Foreurs, coach Maxime Desruisseaux admitted after the game that he had been afraid of the confrontation against the Remparts all week, even though his team had been unbeaten in four games.

“I’m not surprised by what’s happening. I know Eric, he upset his gang this week so I expected them to bounce back,” he admitted, adding that “some people on the team are sick.”

“Obviously we have our business under control. It will feel good to be in our place. We’ve been playing with our identity since the beginning of the year. We are tireless and committed. Tonight I don’t even know if we have six goals. We have to get back to basics tomorrow and be more committed,” he continued, referring to the second duel in as many days between the two teams, which will begin at around 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Xavier Lebel, an uncertain case

However, a Remparts attacker could be missing from this match. Xavier Lebel was the victim of a check late in the second period and did not finish the game. After limping back to the locker room, he sat at the end of the bench to watch the end of the game. His presence in the squad should be decided after the warm-up.

In addition to Dorion, Pier-Étienne Cloutier and Mikaël Huchette scored their third goal of the season. Komarov, the defending general, had two assists. In front of the net, Canadian youth player Quentin Miller from Montreal blocked 23 pucks.