MONCTON — Goaltender William Rousseau has said since the start of Team Canada’s junior camp that while he doesn’t have the international experience of the three other goaltenders in attendance, he believes in his chances of becoming number one. And he proved it yesterday in the first game of preseason against the varsity stars of U Sports.

The Quebec Remparts goalkeeper shared the job with Tyler Brennan for the game. He defended the college cage for the first 30 minutes and gave way twice to the CJS players with 17 shots before joining the Canadian team in the second half of the game where he was perfect with nine shots.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Brennan gave up five times on 15 shots.

Whatever happens for Rousseau, as Benjamin Gaudreau and Thomas Milic will take their turn to share the net for the second game scheduled for today.

“I love this pressure. It’s really a privilege to be able to experience this and have the chance to appear in these games. It went well, I put my chances on my side. I’ve only had one match to prove myself, but the judging is ongoing. I have a big practice tomorrow and I need to keep proving myself off the ice. But I felt good.”

Good impression

One thing is for sure, the 19-year-old goalkeeper has left a good calling card that head coach Dennis Williams hasn’t missed.

“He was calm in front of his net and he handled the rebounds well. He saw the game well and felt like every move he made was solid. He didn’t give up much of a scrum in front of his net and when that happened he could shove the pucks into the corner of the rink.

One who hasn’t been surprised by the performance of the goaltender, who wears the number 50 during camp, is his Remparts teammate Zachary Bolduc. The latter also used a good chance to score, but Rousseau closed the door. The two hockey players then exchanged a smile.

“He did that very well. He was solid even at the end when they were six against four. I’m happy for him, he deserves it and I hope he gets selected.

Fantilli inspires the gallery

Incidentally, Junior Team Canada won 5-2. Adam Fantilli scored two goals while Caedan Bankier, Joshua Roy and Jordan Dumais scored the others.

But it was really Fantilli who stole the show offensively. He scored his first goal after a nice pass from Dumais in two-on-one play, but on the second he stole a bouncing puck from an opponent before exposing defender Noah Carroll and then goalkeeper Brennan.

“It’s the kind of play that’s mostly instinctual. It goes so fast and you don’t have much time to think. I tried it and it worked, so I’m happy.”

One thing is for sure, his team-mates were just as impressed with the game as were the crowds at Moncton’s Center Avenir.

“He’s amazing,” Roy said when asked about the big No. 19. His second goal was completely insane. He’s a great hockey player.”

“It’s really good to add Dumais. He’s so big, he’s a power forward, but he also has the individual skills of a first-line center.

injured kidney

Also, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan forward and Montreal Canadiens’ Riley Kidney left the game at the very end of the first period and never returned. Coach Williams didn’t have an update on his condition after the game.

The ECJ will meet the varsity stars again today at 11am Quebec time, after which the organization will make the final cuts and officially announce their roster for the World Junior Hockey Championship, which begins December 26 in Halifax.

Rain of praise for Jordan Dumais

If Rousseau sent a message to Hockey Canada officials, the same can probably be said about forward Jordan Dumais.

The Columbus Blue Jackets offspring ended the game with a goal and an assist to win the European Championship. He first set up Adam Fantilli to make it 2-2, then used a power play midway through the third period to hit Tyler Brennan with a precise wrist shot to make it 5-2.

“That was quite a goal,” commented head coach Dennis Williams. It’s a target worthy of a sniper. He did a very good job. He’s not the greatest, but I liked his level of competition. He worked well with his racquet, embarking on a defensive retreat and was later rewarded with a goal on the power play. You can’t learn this kind of shooting, it comes from instinct.

The Halifax Mooseheads forward showed why he’s leading the QMJHL in points this season and ECJ gave him a golden chance to make it happen, putting him in line with Fantilli with Caedan Bankier.

“Before that, we had never really spoken to each other and we were put on the same line. He’s a phenomenal guy and a phenomenal player. He’s really smart with the puck. You saw his throw, it was incredible and his pass to my goal was very well executed,” Fantilli praised him for his part.

Despite his good first impression against the varsity stars, Dumais refused to picture with Team Canada’s official uniform on his back.

“It definitely gives me confidence for tomorrow’s game. [aujourd’hui]. However, today’s game is useless if I don’t play well in the second game. I have to put it behind me and focus on tomorrow.”

Roy happy

Like Dumais, Joshua Roy ended the game with a power play goal and an assist. He made it 4-1 early in the third game before becoming an accomplice in goal for Dumais, his roommate for the duration of the training camp.

“It went well. From the start I had a good presence. I know I have to play a little differently here. I have to play with rhythm and aggressiveness and I think I managed that well. The points in third place are just a bonus. In the first two I think I did very well. I had a chance.”