Linesman Mike MacDonnell was working his 715th and final QMJHL game on Friday night. Apparently, the players did not want it to end.
The game between the Charlottetown Islanders and Moncton Wildcats was tied 2-2 after both regulation and overtime, so they went to a shootout. It took 38 attempts before the Islanders' Xavier Simoneau ended things, beating Moncton goalie Jonathan Lemieux for the decisive goal.
Only two attempts for each team had been successful prior to Simoneau, who had actually already scored in the shootout. The Islanders had used all their skaters and had sent him out again. Simoneau, a draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens, also had the game-tying goal with 6:33 left to play in the third.
For MacDonnell, working his 23rd season in the QMJHL as an official, it will certainly be one to remember.
In the end, 33 attempts either missed or were saved by Lemieux and Islanders goalie Francesco Lapenna.
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