The Sherbrooke Phoenix certainly don’t regret getting their hands on Jacob Melanson in January. The 20-year-old forward led his side to a 5-2 win over the Halifax Mooseheads at the Scotiabank Center on Saturday.

The Estrie team took a 1-0 lead in the semifinals of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) playoffs. In nine duels since the start of the spring tournament, she still hasn’t lost.

The Quebec Remparts lead the semifinals’ other matchup against the Gatineau Olympiques 1-0.

Melanson, who started his junior career with the Red Devils before moving to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, scored a hat-trick in the day’s game.

The Amherst, Nova Scotia native even allowed himself to taunt Mooseheads fans as he perfected his hat trick at the very end of the first period.

Roy again

Unsurprisingly, Montreal Canadiens’ gem Joshua Roy also stood out. In the second half, he restored a three-goal lead for the Phoenix.

During a three-on-one run, Justin Gill quickly passed the disc to Ethan Gauthier. The recipient of the Michael Bossy trophy presented to the QMJHL’s top contender staged Roy’s one-timer throw, which didn’t miss his shot.

In just nine playoff games, the Beauceron scored 11 goals and 22 points.

Mooseheads dominated

Beaten just once since the start of the playoffs, the Mooseheads had their hands full against Stéphane Julien’s side.

They didn’t make it difficult for Olivier Adam, who only had 19 shots on target.

Veteran Josh Lawrence was one of only two players who managed to demystify the Quebec bouncer. He escaped outnumbered in the first section and beat Adam with a great maneuver.

Evan Boucher scored the hosts’ other goal with a powerful wrist shot.

The Mooseheads fired just six shots in the third period, clearly discouraged by the Phoenix’s fifth win, scored by Anthony Munroe-Boucher.

The Halifax team will not have much time to find solutions as the second game of the series takes place again at the Scotiabank Center on Sunday.