CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Cédric Desruisseaux can do something tonight that hasn’t been done since 2005.
The Charlottetown Islanders sniper has scored in 13 straight Quebec Major Junior Hockey League games. If he scores tonight against the Cape Breton Eagles, Desruisseaux will tie five other players who have scored in 14 consecutive contests, the last being Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby.
Desruisseaux said he has enjoyed the streak but isn’t worried about continuing it.
“Honestly, I think I am 13 games in a row with a goal because … I’m not focusing my energy on that,” he said. “I’m just trying to play my game.”
Desruisseaux, a Victoriaville, Que., native, who turns 21 on March 3, has recorded a point in every Charlottetown game this season but only had an assist in the opener on Oct. 2. The next night, he had three goals and an assist in a 6-5 victory over the Saint John Sea Dogs.
He has continued to find the back of the net ever since.
“When I was scoring, I was like, ‘let’s go, let go to the next game’. I was doing something not many people (have done),” he said.
The scoring spree hasn’t surprised his teammates.
“Ever since he came here, we’ve known he can put the puck in the net,” captain Bret Budgell said. “Certainly, this start of the season, he’s shown he can score at will. It’s exciting to see, and we’re all routing for him in that locker room.”
Impressive company
A look at the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s all-time leaders for goals in consecutive games.
Player, team Season Record
1. Pierre Larouche, Sorel 1973-74 27
2. Guy Rouleau, Hull 1985-86 19
2. Yanic Perreault, Trois-Rivières 1990-91 19
4. Claude St-Sauveur, Sherbrooke 1970-71 18
5. Michel Déziel, Sorel 1973-74 17
6. Jacques Cossette, Sorel 1973-74 16
6. Jean Savard, Quebec 1976-77 16
8. Luc Simard, Trois-Rivières 1969-70 15
8. Mario Lemieux, Laval 1983-84 15
8. Claude Savoie, Victoriaville 1992-93 15
11. Michel Bossy, Laval 1976-77 14
11. Sean McKenna, Sherbrooke 1981-82 14
11. Claude Verret, Trois-Riviéres 1982-83 14
11. Denis Paul, Shawinigan 1986-87 14
11. Sidney Crosby, Rimouski 2004-05 14
16. Guy Lafleur, Quebec 1969-70 13
16. Guy Lafleur, Quebec 1969-70 13
16. Guy Lafleur, Quebec 1970-71 13
16. Guy Lafleur, Quebec 1970-71 13
16. Guy Lafleur, Quebec 1970-71 13
16. Normand Dupont, Montreal 1974-75 13
16. Ron Carter, Sherbrooke 1977-78 13
16. Pierre Aubry, Trois-Riviéres 1979-80 13
16. Pierre Turgeon, Granby 1986-87 13
16. Martin Gendron, St-Hyacinthe 1990-91 13
16. Martin Tanguay, St-Jean 1992-93 13
16. Jean-Pierre Dumont, Val-d’Or 1978-98 13
16. Cédric Desruisseaux, Charlottetown 2020-21 13
Source – www.lhjmq-records.qc.ca
Winger Thomas Casey said it’s great to see his teammate rebound after a slower than hoped for start to his Isles’ career in 2019.
“It’s great to see how much he’s rebounded and kind of shown the league the kind of players he actually is,” Casey said. “I think we all knew deep down what he could be, and it’s awesome to see him contributing like he is and we’re definitely going to be looking for him on Friday.”
But Casey was quick to point out there’s no need to force passes to the sniper.
“He’s always in good positions to score,” Casey said. “He’s got this many goals for a reason. If he gets the puck, there’s a good chance it’s going in.”
Desruisseaux has 19 goals on the season while his career high is 24 from 2017-18.
The five-foot-eight, 166-pound winger was acquired from Drummondville in the deal that sent captain Pierre-Olivier (P.O.) Joseph to the Voltigeurs. The goals didn’t go for Desruisseaux in during the first half of last season, but he finished with a strong second half and the gained confidence has rolled right into his final junior season.
“I’m here to score goals, so if I’m not doing it, it feels like I’m not doing my job,” Desruisseaux said. “This year, being able to do it, it’s just an awesome feeling. The guys are happy, the team is winning and I’m able to score and have fun, so that’s a perfect match.”
Head coach and general manager Jim Hulton said it has been fun watching Desruisseaux’s streak.
“There’s been games he’s gone out and scored in the first two minutes and all of a sudden the monkey is off his back,” he said. “He’s having fun with it and the team’s having fun with it. When you see a guy is relaxed and enjoying himself and enjoying the process that’s really gratifying to see.”
He said traditionally with these types of streaks it starts garnering media attention locally, then regionally and nationally.
“When you start talking about pushing a record held by Sidney Crosby a lot of people stand up and take attention.”
But it’s unusual for a streak of this nature to have a two-month break during a season.
The Islanders hosted the Halifax Mooseheads on Nov. 18 in their last game before the extended Christmas break due to COVID-19.
“Nothing has been normal or usual about this season. This is a very, very strange one,” Hulton said. “It’s almost like consecutive games or hit streak (in baseball) that the season ends, and you carry over into the next season.”
Desruisseaux went home for 10 days early in the Christmas break, returned to Charlottetown self-isolated for 14 days and got out on Christmas Eve. He was able to spend Christmas with his billet family and his girlfriend, Lacey Koughan of Charlottetown.
He skated five days a week in Charlottetown and worked out three times a week with Shawn Francis of Fran Train Fitness at the Spa Total Fitness Centre.
If the Islanders have a 3-2 lead in the final minute tonight with a defensive zone faceoff coming up, the Eagles’ net is empty and Desruisseaux hasn’t scored, will he be on the ice?
“Absolutely,” Hulton said. “As much as it's a team game, these milestones are important. It’s like a kid with two goals, you try to double shift them, do what it takes to get a hat trick because those are special moments.”
Jason Malloy is The Guardian's sports editor. He can be reached by email at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @SportsGuardian .
