CHL

Chris DiDomenico had a message for his team while laying on the ice in Shawinigan: "Tell the guys they gotta win. They gotta win."

Those were the words DiDomenico asked the team doctors to relay to his teammates as he knew his season, and championship run, was over. DiDomenico was bumped on an icing call early in Tuesday's Game 3 of the Québec Major Junior Hockey League finals, going feet first into the boards.

DiDomenico broke his left femur and kneecap. He is expected to be out of action for six months.

"He's a kid with a lot of character," Drummondville head coach Guy Boucher told Sportsnet.ca Thursday. "He was on the ice and you could see his leg was all crooked and he's calling for the doctor so we knew there was something really wrong."

The Voltigeurs rallied behind their injured teammate, winning the game 5-4.

With his jersey hanging neatly behind the bench Wednesday, Drummondville took a commanding 3-1 series lead with a 9-2 romp in their rivals' rink. DiDomenico remained in hospital in nearby Trois-Rivieres, Que. which was the doctor's wishes after the player asked to join his team at the rink.

"It's hard losing a player. We lost a part of ourselves," Boucher said. "The kids want to make sure that he was there with us by putting the jersey up there (on the bench).

"We really have a family here, not just in the room. I think the entire organization is a really tightly-knit group."

The team is hopeful DiDomenico may leave the hospital in time to be at the rink for Friday's Game 5. The Voltigeurs have never won the QMJHL championship and will have their first crack at winning the President's Cup on home ice.

Boucher's team knows their opponent, the Cataractes, won't go down without a fight. But if there's any comfort in leading the series three games to one, Boucher wasn't going to acknowledge it.

"For me, in my mind, the series is always zero-zero," he said. "They can come back at any time. We're very aware of the amount of power these guys have offensively and they're very good defensively.

"They're going to fight for their lives."

The Cataractes, who have also yet to win a league championship, won't be calling uncle, even if their fans have already conceded the series. With the score 5-1 in the second period of Game 4 and another Drummondville power-play forthcoming, a frustrated Cataractes fan took off his yellow jersey and threw it on the ice before exiting the rink.

The outburst speaks to the level of passion fans in those small communities share with their team.

"Hopefully it doesn't happen to our fans," Boucher said.

It was business as usual for the Voltigeurs, whose dynamic power-play once again led the team to victory. Drummondville finished seven-for-16 with the man advantage, upping their vaunted power-play to 38.1 per cent in the post-season.

The team may be a win shy of winning their first league title but one wouldn't know it from the way they reacted in the blowout Wednesday. Drummondville players were unwilling to mix it up after whistles when frustration broke out from some of the Cataractes' players.

The team's unwavering focus is a characteristic their head coach is very proud of.

"No smiles on the bench, no rejoicing at all after the game on the ice, on the bench, in the corridor or even after the game in the room," he said. "The kids are on a mission.

"We don't want to rejoice now because we know (Shawinigan) can come back. It's going to be a tough one."

Although DiDomenico, who was acquired near the trade deadline from the Saint John Sea Dogs, won't be in their lineup from here on out, the team would love nothing more than to win the championship for their teammate who had worked so hard for their success.

"It's one of the most painful bones to break and he's still thinking of the game," Boucher said. "That's quite impressive."

If the team is successful in winning the QMJHL title this season, it might only be fitting to bring his jersey along for the ride and hang it on the bench in the Memorial Cup later this month as they did in Shawinigan on Wednesday.

"He was really on a mission to get this Cup here," Boucher said. "Obviously if we can get him a ring, I think everybody would feel we're giving back what he's given us."