Armada, Drakkar using third-string goalies in Game 5 due to suspensions for brawl

Well, better a battle of third-string goaltenders than another battle royale, eh? The QMJHL wasted little time punishing coaches and players for the full-scale fracas between the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada after the final buzzer, suspending a dozen players, including all four goaltenders, and both bench bosses, the Drakkar's Éric Veilleux and and Armada's Jean-François Houle.

[Related: Wild QMJHL brawl: Benches clear,
all 4 goalies fight after buzzer in Armada-Drakkar match]

Long story short, the pivotal Game 5 could turn on which call-up goalie is more comfortable being tossed into the middle of a playoff series, the Armada's 17-year-old Storm Phaneuf or the Drakkar's Simon Lemieux. You know, when they tell a No. 3 goalie in the playoffs to be ready because you just never know, it probably goes in one ear and out the other, but not this time.

By coincidence, both fill-in 'tenders were in the picture this season. Phaneuf, a 17-year-old, started the season as B-B's backup. He struggled during a stretch when veteran Étienne Marcoux was out with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Guillaume Decelles, who's also suspended. Lemieux, 18, played 17 games for B-C, but was bumped out when the Drakkar decided they needed an older keeper and added 19-year-old Francis Desrosiers to back up 17-year-old starter Philippe Cadorette.

Uncharted waters, man.

Here is the tally on suspensions:

Armada:

— Right wing Ryan Tesink, 2 games;
— Defenceman Aaron Hoyles, 1 game;
— Goalie Étienne Marcoux, 1 game;
— Goalie Guillaume Decelles, 1 game;
— Right wing Yassin Cissé 1 game.
— Right wing, Cédric Paquette, $1,000 fine for "inappropriate behaviour at the end of the game";
— Coach Jean-François Houle, 2 games;
— $5,000 fine for the organization.

Drakkar:

— Centre Jérémy Gregoire, 1 game;
— Left wing Bokondji Imama, 2 games;
— Defenceman Gabriel Verpaelst, 1 game;
— Goalie Philippe Cadorette, 1 game;
— Goalie Francis Desrosiers, 1 game;
— Left wing Alec Jon Banville, 1 game;,
— Right wing Alexandre Ranger, 1 game;
— Coach Éric Veilleux, 2 games;
— $5,000 fine for the organization.

To think that the Armada kicking New Jersey Devils first-round choice Stefan Matteau off the team has been supplanted as the main series story. Armada GM Joel Bouchard, as noted, will have to coach Game 5 on Friday at Baie-Comeau.

One can only imagine the arena security situation for that game.

Here's the brawl again:

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.