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Halifax/Hull QMJHL Finals Game One
Written by: Chris McCluskey on 05/06/2003 
However, possibly due to the fatigue that comes along with playing two straight seven games series, the energy once apparent as one of the big reasons they made it this far seems to have progressively dwindled. The Moose did an effective job of shutting down league M.V.P. Joel Perreault of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the conference finals, while driving notorious loose-cannon coach Richard Martel to fits. This most notably included the thrashing of a stationary bike under the stands at Metro Centre following game six.
The strain of playing on average a game every two days for the past month seems to have finally caught up to the Mooseheads, who showed signs of being tired late in the Baie-Comeau series and haven't put together an inspiring home performance since game four on April 23rd. The once feared club, sporting the richest pool of CHL players available for the upcoming 2003 draft, must once again find the commitment and motivation they used to beat the Screaming Eagles, Titan, and Drakkar in taking on the surprising Hull Olympiques.
The Q's most Western club is certainly on a high having achieved a berth in the finals. They only suffered one loss and had the playoffs' top three scorers. Having played five fewer games, the Olympiques looked more prepared and energized than the favored Mooseheads who looked as if they were just recently assembled following a long off-season and were still becoming accustomed to one another's tendencies.
"It feels great!" commented a smiling Eric LaFrance without a hint of overconfidence following the 4-1 win, "I can't wait until tomorrow night!" LaFrance has been one of the playoffs' biggest surprises thus far, proving as an overager he can carry a team as well as any of the most prominent netminders in the league.
"It feels soooo good!" chimed in the always excited Maxime Talbot who contributed a goal and an assist to give him a league leading 36 points in 14 playoff games. "We're going to have to be ready again tomorrow night though," the Pittsburgh Penguins draft choice added. He was looking ahead to game 2, acknowledging the fact it will be the most important game he will play to date.
It is this attitude that the Mooseheads lack. The Halifax club seems to have lost its perspective and must realize they are playing in championship games in order to turn things around. It's true players are suffering from bruises, such as once highly touted dynamic forward Thatcher Bell's nagging back ailment, but the depth the club has to its disposal still makes them the favorites in this one. However, the Olympiques are truly a close club that has bought into a system that has carried them far beyond the expectations of anyone. But you would never think the warrior club saw themselves going to the finals from talking to them or observing the atmosphere in their dressing room where there isn't one trace of cockiness or assumption. They simply have the heart and dedication the tired Mooseheads lacked last night and the key to the rest of the series is whether they will once again go to the net and play with the desperation that led them to upset the league favorite Baie-Comeau Drakkar and move on to the QMJHL Cup Finals. It's only game one and there's still plenty of time to turn it around.
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