NEXT STOP, REGINA
Mitchell Balmas, Titan confident heading into MasterCard Memorial Cup
Mitchell Balmas, Titan confident heading into MasterCard Memorial Cup.
When Mitchell Balmas was traded to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan during the Christmas break, he was well aware of the opportunity in front of him.
The Titan acquired the 20-year-old forward from the Gatineau Olympiques with the hope he’d be an important part of a long playoff run for the club — the Sydney native didn’t disappoint.
Balmas finished fifth in team playoff scoring with five goals and 13 points, helping the Titan capture its first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League President Cup title since 1999, when the Titan defeated the BlainvilleBoisbriand Armada 2-1 in Game 6 of the best-of-seven league final on home ice last Sunday.
“It’s been an unreal ride with the boys,” said Balmas in a phone interview. “I knew we had a good chance of winning when I was traded here, and we were able to put the pieces together and we found a way to win the Cup.”
Acadie-Bathurst entered the league final as the underdog after the Armada finished atop the QMJHL standings in the regular season with 50 wins and 107 points, 11 more than the Titan.
“We approached the series like any other series,” said Balmas. “We knew that the Armada had a good team and we knew we were a good team and we knew what we were capable of doing when we played our game, and everything went from there.”
Along with the acquisition of Balmas, the Titan would also add offensive defenceman Olivier Galipeau from Chicoutimi and goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick from Sherbrooke during the Christmas trade period, both of whom were also key contributors in the playoff success.
Winning the league championship didn’t seem real at first, said Balmas.
“The last 10 minutes of the game (on Sunday), we were all
over them and we knew we were in good shape with a one-goal lead,” he said. “It was unbelievable being on the ice with these guys, they’re really fun to play with and it’s an unbelievable feeling to win.”
Balmas began his major junior career with the Charlottetown Islanders, a team that drafted the left winger seventh overall in 2014. After two-and-a-half years
in P.E.I., the club traded him to Gatineau, where he played 65 games with the Quebec-based franchise before joining AcadieBathurst on Dec. 20.
The Titan, who this year celebrated the 20th anniversary of the team’s move to Bathurst from Laval, Que., have turned its attention to the MasterCard Memorial Cup, which begins today in Regina, Sask.
Acadie-Bathurst will be joined in the national tournament by the host Regina Pats as well as respective league champions, Hamilton Bulldogs (Ontario Hockey League) and Swift Current Broncos (Western Hockey League).
“It’s obviously a big tournament because the top four teams in the Canadian Hockey League will be there,” said Balmas. “We’re a good hockey team and we know we just have to play our game in order to be successful.”
With being in different leagues, Balmas admitted the Titan don’t know much about the other teams competing for the prestigious trophy.
“We know a little bit about the players on the other teams … we will be ready come the start of the tournament, we know what we have to do.”
Acadie-Bathurst will begin the Memorial Cup on Saturday at 5 p.m. Atlantic time against the Broncos, before facing the host Pats at 8 p.m. on Sunday.
The Titan will finish the preliminary round of the tournament on Tuesday at 11 p.m. against the Bulldogs, who have eight NHL draft picks on their roster, including St. Louis Blues first-rounder Robert Thomas.
Balmas received words of encouragement from local hockey players Chris Culligan and Joey Haddad ahead of the Memorial Cup.
“They told me pretty much the same stuff — be ready for it, enjoy the experience for the most part and try to have some fun with it,” said Balmas. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but you have to have fun with it — I’m going to enjoy the ride.”
Following the preliminary round, a tie-breaker game, if necessary, will be played on Thursday, followed by the semifinal game on May 25.
The Memorial Cup final will take place on May 27 at 8 p.m. All tournament games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.