(Image: The Sea Dogs team. Photo credit - David Connell)

BOUCHERVILLE, Tuesday, December 15, 2009 – Last weekend, the Saint John Sea Dogs were scheduled to play three games in three days against top-rated teams: P.E.I., Acadia-Bathurst and Moncton. They won two of three games, losing for the first time following 22 wins in a row. This winning streak, the third longest in League history, stopped when the Moncton Wildcats handed a 7-3 loss to Gérard Gallant's troops.

One often hears the old saying that "records are made to be broken". On the other hand, one fact re-mains: the 25-win streak established by the Sorel Éperviers on January 27th, 1974 has seldom been threatened.

In the following lines, we offer you an overview of the most important streaks in QMJHL history, including some background on some of the players involved.


Performing Under Pressure

At the onset, to win night after night is not an easy task, whatever the league or the sport. Add to this a streak that reaches upwards of twenty wins in a row and you begin to threaten some records. Such was the path that the Sea Dogs were on until Sunday, December 13th, 2009.

The pressure mounts while media scrutiny reaches new heights. The fans’ cheers get louder and they notice you more and more. At the rink, concentration becomes an art form.

In the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, another reality hits these 16 to 20-year-olds head-on: Their education. The Sea Dogs’ players also need to take into account the end of the school semester and upcoming exams.

Furthermore, opposing teams are bent on stopping the streak, using it as added motivation.


The Longest Winning Streak

In 1973-74, the Sorel Éperviers were terrorizing opposing goaltenders. They scored 620 goals, an aver-age of 8.9 goal per game; two offensive records that have held the test of time.

From November 23rd, 1973 until January 27th, 1974 - some 36 years ago - the Éperviers registered a string of 25 straight wins. Since then, no other team has been able to match this incredible Sorel performance.

After their unbelievable winning streak, their series of games without a loss was at 27; another record that held for quite a while until it was broken by the Rimouski Océanic in 2004-2005.

The line of Pierre Larouche (251 points during the 1973-74 season - a League record at the time), Michel Déziel (227 points) and Jacques Cossette (214 points) was the most instrumental in setting the record. The Éperviers collected 15 wins in which they scored ten goals or more.

The Cornwall Royals ended the Éperviers' streak.


The Olympiques Came Close

In 1995-96, the Hull Olympiques threatened the Éperviers' record. Under the guidance of head coach Robert Mongrain, Hull came within one win of tying the Éperviers' record established 22 years earlier. Their 24-game winning streak was broken by the Halifax Mooseheads and their star goaltender, Jean-Sébastien Giguère, who inflicted a 6-4 loss to the Olympiques in front of a capacity crowd of disappointed fans at the Robert-Guertin Centre. It was total disbelief in the rink as it was expected that the record would be tied on January 28th, 1996. Fans expected to see the record fall as the Olympiques were host-ing a young squad playing its third game in three nights on the road, but the Mooseheads prevailed by earning their fourth win in five games.

Goaltender José Théodore proved to be one of the great stars of the Olympiques during that magical streak.


The Remparts, Often By 2 Goals

In 1998-99, no QMJHL expert expected the greatness of the Quebec Remparts; a good hockey team that would eventually win the regular season championship. But to win 27 games in a row! Éric Chouinard, Simon Gagné and goaltender Maxime Ouellet would team-up to push the team to new heights.

Behind the bench, seasoned head coach Guy Chouinard, who was to become a member of the QMJHL Hall of Fame, masterfully guided the team.

In overtime: 6 games: one win and five ties.


Crosby's Gang Do The Unthinkable

Hate to lose! That was the impression given by the Rimouski Océanic during the second half of the 2004-05 season. Losing was not an option. On the very last game of the regular season, they surpassed the Sorel Éperviers’ and the Quebec Remparts’ record of 27 games without a loss. But the streak would not end there. The Océanic would register seven more wins in the 2005 playoffs which translated into 35 games in a row without a loss. It is the best performance ever recorded in the Canadian Hockey League.

Stars during the sequence: Sidney Crosby was the ring leader during the 28-game streak in the regular season, registering 93 points, including 40 goals in 27 games. Defenseman Mario Jr. Scalzo also shined as he gathered 49 points in 24 games after being acquired in a trade with Victoriaville. Goaltender Cédrick Desjardins put in his two cents by collecting 18 wins with a 2.39 goals-against-average and a .924 save percentage.

Overtime: Four games: 2 wins, 2 ties.


In 2009-10, Here Come The Sea Dogs

Last year, a number of teams joined the Top-10 List of the best winning streaks in QMJHL history. During the 2008-09 season, the Drummondville Voltigeurs succeeded in winning 18 games in a row while the Océanic collected 17 and the Cataractes 15.

This season, the Saint John Sea Dogs, playing in a very strong Atlantic Division, were successful in win-ning 22 consecutive games. During their streak, which extended from October 17th until December 12th, Saint John scored 107 goals while allowing a mere 44. The offence was led mainly by Mike Hoffman (36 points and 8 game-winning goals), Nicholas Petersen (31), Michael Kirkpatrick (30) and rookie Stanislav Galiev (25 points). The strong defensive brigade saw its veteran, Yann Sauvé, register a solid +24 differential in addition to gathering 16 points. In nets, veteran Marc-Antoine Gélinas won 15 games, allowing a meagre 1.83 goals per game along with a .933 save percentage. Karel St-Laurent posted the other seven wins.

Following their incredible run, the Sea Dogs have taken hold of the top spot in the QMJHL overall stan-ings, 11 points ahead of Drummondville. Their recent string of success places the franchise amongst the best in QMJHL history.


A FEW LINKS:

* See the statistics : SOREL EPERVIERS, 1973-74

* See the statistics : HULL OLYMPIQUES, 1995-96

* See the statistics : QUEBEC REMPARTS, 1998-99

* See the statistics : RIMOUSKI OCEANIC, 2004-05

* See the statistics : SAINT JOHN SEA DOGS, 2009-10






( See the RECORD, Streak of 25 consecutive wins )


( See the RECORD, Undefeated streak of 28 consecutive games )

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