Jake Allen will try to turn his WJHC disappointment in to a Memorial Cup crown with Drummondville.

BY PATRICK KING
sportsnet.ca

Last year's league champion Drummondville Voltigeurs are the hottest team and favourites in the QMJHL. In spite of all the losses to graduation, Drummondville remains a team capable of repeating as league champions.

Meanwhile, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies -- minus Patrice Cormier -- still have the potential to surprise in the Québec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs.

The Favourite

Drummondville Voltigeurs

Regular season record: 51-15-0-2 (104 points)

League ranking: First in Telus Central Division, Third overall

Regular season goal differential: 307-185

First round opponent: Lewiston MAINEiacs

The defending league champion Drummondville Voltigeurs defied the odds this season. Like most champions, the Voltigeurs were hit significantly by junior graduation, which included head coach Guy Boucher.

Drummondville re-joined the league's elite status early in the season and is now entering the playoffs as the league's hottest team with a string of 16 straight wins. They may not have finished first-overall during the regular season, but the Voltigeurs could be the last team standing in mid-May.

Strengths: The Voltigeurs were known last season for its dynamic offensive attack, which is back this season. Drummondville finished with the second most goals scored this season and averaged nearly five and a half goals scored during its current winning-streak.

Chris DiDomenico is one of the main reasons for the resurgence of the Voltigeurs' offence. DiDomenico's season began on Feb. 17 after recovering from a broken leg suffered in the league championship series a year ago. In 12 regular season games this season, the overage forward scored seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points.

Sophomore forward Sean Couturier tied Moncton's Nicolas Deschamps for the scoring crown with 96 points. Meanwhile, Montreal prospect Gabriel Dumont finished tied for third with 93 points. This team has the ability to run the score up.

As good as goaltender Marco Cousineau was during the Voltigeurs' run a year ago, Drummondville will be even stronger between the pipes this time around with Jake Allen. Allen is the top goaltender in junior hockey and brought his game to new heights in the final six weeks of the regular season.

Weaknesses: The main difference between this season and last is a lack of an all-around defenceman. The Voltigeurs were led by Dmitry Kulikov last season and don't have that same rock on defence. Marc-Antoine Desnoyers and Andrew Randazzo have done a good job of alleviating some of that lost offence, but neither have the same impact as Kulikov.

Why Drummondville is the favourite: This team is virtually without weakness. From the goaltender on out, the Voltigeurs have all the components of a championship-contender. With the defending champs playing as strong as they are now, the fans in Drummondville may not have long to wait for the franchise's second title.

The Darkhorse

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Regular season record: 41-21-2-4 (88 points)

League ranking: First in Telus Western Division, Sixth overall

Regular season goal differential: 256-205

First round opponent: Val-d'Or Foreurs

The Huskies should be in contention once again this season. Rouyn-Noranda's program has consistently been one of the top in the league, but is still seeking its first championship. The Huskies never missed the playoffs under head coach and general manager André Tourigny and reached the semi-finals three times. Rouyn-Noranda lost in the league championship series two seasons ago to the Gatineau Olympiques.

Had it not been for Patrice Cormier's season and playoff-long suspension, this team would not be considered a darkhorse. Rouyn-Noranda built a team with a championship in mind and will be forced into rebuilding next season. Losing Cormier, its top player, puts them at a huge disadvantage.

Strengths: The Huskies aren't led by a superstar on offence, but have several players with offensive imagination. Gabriel Levesque led the team in scoring with 82 points, while first-year Husky Philippe Cornet was productive with 77 points.

The team's most natural goalscorer is Jordan Caron, who was acquired with Cormier from Rimouski. Since joining the Huskies, Caron has become one of the team's top players and is asserting himself in what should be his final season in junior. Russian forward Sergey Ostapchuk, who re-joined the Huskies after the world juniors, enjoyed another solid campaign offensively and should give his team offence in crucial situations.

Cornet gives the team a reliable defensive-oriented forward. There's a lot of versatility amongst the group, which will give them the ability to win in several different situations.

Weaknesses: Goaltending has been a concern in Rouyn-Noranda ever since the graduation of Jean-Philippe Levasseur three seasons ago. The Huskies used most of its assets to add to its forward group, as opposed to trading for a top-flight goaltender like Allen.

The team opted for Nicholas Champion from Acadie-Bathurst who has been solid, but unspectacular since joining Rouyn-Noranda. Champion will not win many games on his own, but has the ability to keep his team in games long enough to prevail.

Why Rouyn-Noranda can surprise: This team has a solid blend of talent and experience. Although lacking in star power, the Huskies have the potential to make some noise and win a few rounds. However, without Cormier, it's unlikely that the first championship banner will hang in the rafters of the Aréna Dave Keon next season.