I went to a QMJHL game this evening, my first one ever. The “Q” is known for producing good goalies, so I hoped to learn a thing or two, or at least be entertained for a couple of hours.

(For those unfamiliar, the QMJHL is part of the CHL, the highest level of junior hockey in Canada.  The level of competition is roughly equivalent to that in D-I of the NCAA.   It’s a stepping stone for many players on their journeys to the NHL.)

I arrived in North Sydney, Nova Scotia Thursday afternoon in preparation for the ferry ride to Newfoundland on Friday.  The nearby city of Sydney, NS happens to be home to the Cape Breton Eagles, and they were playing a home game against the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

There were only 2,281 fans in attendance, but the production values of the game were high, and the overall feeling was polished.  The Eagles are the biggest team in town, and the town loves them.  Fortunately, popularity did not translate to high prices: I had a great view of the action from my $15.50 on-the-glass seat.

One player in particular caught my eye.  Domenic Graham, the starting goalie for the visiting Volts, put in a spectacular performance leading his team to victory.  He turned aside 32 of 33 shots, and he looked solid doing it.  His positioning and reactions were stellar, but his athleticism really set him apart.

He was quick, sharp, and confident in his movements.  He read the play like an expert.  He played the puck with force and accuracy.

I don’t think he made any bad or marginal saves the entire evening, and there was none of the flopping around that was happening in the other crease.

Domenic Graham: amazing goalie, and only 17 years old. (From my P&S. Wish I had brought my DSLRs to the game.)

Based solely on his play in that game, I got the feeling that I was watching a future NHL star.  It wasn’t just me; others have felt the same way.

The catch is that he’ll have to wait at least a couple of years for The Show: he just turned 17 last month. Amazing.  I wish I had been that good at something when I was 17.