Riley Mercer chasing QMJHL championship, posts back-to-back shutouts to open series
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Riley Mercer is two wins away from a Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League championship, after backstopping his Drummondville Voltigeurs to back-to-back shutouts last week.
Mercer, of Bay Roberts, N.L. stood on his head in the first two games, stopping all 76 shots he faced in 5-0 and 1-0 wins on Thursday and Friday.
Voltigeurs coach Sylvain Favreau commended Mercer on his stellar performance after Game 2.
"As soon as I arrived in Drummondville, especially during training camp, I knew immediately that Riley would be our right man," he told Radio-Canada.
Mercer also drew praise from the coach of the opposing Baie-Comeau Drakkar, Jean-François Grégoire.
"Riley Mercer is a big guy, with his pads, he closes the holes very quickly," Grégoire said.
Mercer has been incredible throughout Drummondville's playoff run, posting a .938 save percentage through 17 games. He's got a goals-against average of 1.81, losing only three games so far.
Drummondville and Baie-Comeau are back in action Monday night, with Game 3 getting underway at 8:30 p.m. NT and televised on TSN.
The winner of the QMJHL Championship Series moves on to play for the Memorial Cup against the winners of the Western Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League.
Mercer's stellar play comes as his older brother, Dawson, dons the maple leaf for Team Canada at the World Hockey Championships in the Czech Republic. Dawson Mercer scored a goal on Sunday in a game against Denmark. He's back in action against Austria on Tuesday.
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