Quenneville strikes twice in WHL’s loss to Russia
David Quenneville left his mark on the CIBC Canada Russia Series Tuesday in Swift Current.
The Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman scored back-to-back goals to stretch a 3-0 led over the Russian Selects at the Credit Union iPlex, but the Russians came roaring back to steal away a 4-3 victory.
“The power play was clicking tonight. It was our second night all together so we had a lot more chemistry,” said Quenneville. “It’s not the result we wanted but we obviously got a much better game from the Russians. They played really fast, they were aggressive and they did a really good job turning pucks over in our zone.”
Quenneville scored both his goals by creeping down from the point on the power play. After being held pointless in Monday’s 7-0 win over Russia, Quenneville worked his way onto the scoresheet by finishing off a cross-crease pass from Kelowna Rockets forward and Team WHL captain Dillon Dube. Quenneville repeated the feat just over two minutes later by jumping back into the play and finishing off another set-up pass from Dube.
Dube scored the opener in the first, while Russia’s Mikhail Maltsev cut the lead to 3-1 in the second.
Artyom Maltsev and Andrey Altybarmakyan beat Lethbridge Hurricanes goaltender Stuart Skinner to draw even in the third then Mikhail Maltsev struck again, this time shorthanded, to secure the comeback victory.
“We learned a lot,” said Quenneville. “Most of the guys on our team were on four (games) in five nights and that’s never easy, but it was a really good learning experience and was good for some self-reflection.”
Quenneville and the Tigers return to action Friday in Calgary against the Hitmen. Both teams make the trip to the Canalta Centre Saturday to close a home-and-home set.
Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston says he expects Quenneville — an already contagiously confident player — to return with an added boost after his performance with Team WHL.
“In talking with players who have been there ... they realize they’re amongst the best players in their country and they’re competing against top players from a very powerful hockey country,” said Clouston. “When you do that and you’re right there and have success, I think that’s a big boost.”