Phoenix trade Macdonald for draft picks and Jacques
Rookie tournament at Bishop’s University concludes
The Sherbrooke Phoenix announced Friday that they traded Anderson Macdonald to the Moncton Wildcats in exchange for two first-round picks (2018 and 2019), a secondround pick in 2019 and 2017’s 23rd overall selection Jeremy Jacques.
Jacques, a Cap-santé native and highly touted defenceman, played last season with the Magog Cantonniers, earning four goals and nine assists in 36 games.
However, Jacques’ future in the QMJHL is up in the air as he’s also been drafted by the USHL’S Chicago Steel. When asked regarding Jacques’ potential to play with the Birds immediately; “Not at the start (of the season) because he’s leaving for Chicago,” said Phoenix GM Jocelyn Thibault on his expectations for Jacques signing with the Birds. “I had a long talk with (Jeremy) and his dad and we feel that there is a chance he might come back in the league sometime.”
This past weekend fans of the Sherbrooke Phoenix got their first look at the future of the team at the rookie tournament that took place at Bishop’s University’s Eric and Jane Molson Arena. Sunday morning the Phoenix found themselves playing in the tournament’s final match against the Blainville-boisbriand Armada.
To get to the final Sherbrooke played three round robin games against the Vald’or Foreurs, Gatineau Olympiques and the Armada.
In the first game against the Foreurs Sherbrooke racked up five goals to take the first game 5-1. In game one the Phoenix were led by Dylan L’italien and Jérémie Rainville with two goals each. Brock Macleod played setup man recording two assists and goalie Thomas Sigouin made saves on 18 of 19 shots.
The second game saw the Phoenix fall in a tightly contested match to the Armada, 10. The first two periods were scoreless and at 4:54 of the third period Yan-cédric Gaudreault scored the eventual game winner. Thommy Monette made 21 saves on 22 shots in the game for the Birds.
The Birds punched their ticket to the finals against the Armada when they beat the Olympiques 4-1 in their final round robin match. 2017 second-overall pick Samuel Poulin scored his first goal of the preseason on the power play when he cut to the front of the net before ripping a quick wrister top shelf to put the Birds up 2-0 at 8:46 of the second period. Alexandre Joncas had two assists in the game and goalie Martin Soderstrom stopped 18 of 19 shots.
In the final it wouldn’t take long for a score in the rematch between the two teams. Samuel Tardif got the Phoenix up 1-0 just 2:36 into the first period. However, the Armada would end up taking the game 2-1 to win the tournament with goals from Charles-antoine Giguère and Félix Desgroseillers on netminder Sigouin who had saves on 6 of 8 shots. Monette made saves on all 13 shots he faced in the final for the Birds.
The top scoring Phoenix players in the tournament were Macleod with four assists, Ryan Donavan with one goal and two assists, and Joncas with three assists.