Balanced attack fuels Granby’s 8-4 victory
The Granby Indigo opened their country-themed home game with a fast start and never let the Montreal Rangers regain control, winning 8-4 Sunday afternoon at the local rink. The result leaves the Indigo with eight points through six games — listed in league standings as 3-1 with two overtime losses.
Granby’s offence was distributed across the forward group, with Maverick Roux-Parenteau and Thomas Desprès each registering two goals. The scoring outburst included short-handed and even-strength tallies and kept Montreal chasing for most of the contest.
How the game unfolded
Granby struck first while short-handed at 6:45 of the opening period when Desprès converted to give the home side an early lead. The Rangers answered immediately through Jamal Napon, his fourth of the season, but Granby finished the first period ahead after goals from Madison Bouchard and Éloi Robert made it 3-1 after 20 minutes.
The Indigo extended the margin in the second frame. Roux-Parenteau scored twice in the first half of that period — his second and third goals of the season — stretching the lead to 5-1 before Montreal’s Xavier Beaudry cut it to 5-2 prior to the second intermission. The Rangers also got markers from Chad Robert and Xavier Mendey-Thénor over the course of the game, but Granby maintained a comfortable cushion thanks to late-period and third-period goals.
Scoring and goaltending
- Granby goal scorers: Thomas Desprès (2), Maverick Roux-Parenteau (2), Madison Bouchard, Éloi Robert, Mathis Tremblay, Colin Turmel.
- Montreal goal scorers: Jamal Napon, Xavier Beaudry, Chad Robert, Xavier Mendey-Thénor.
- Shots on goal: Granby generated 49 shots; Montreal goaltender Luciano Ruggiero faced 49 shots. Granby netminder Alexy Bouchard faced 34 shots.
"The Sept. 27 game was promoted as Granby’s country-themed home game."
The game featured a busy night for both netminders. Granby’s Alexy Bouchard turned aside 34 shots, while Rangers’ goalie Luciano Ruggiero faced a barrage of 49 shots from the Indigo attack.
| Period | Granby | Montreal |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | 1 |
| 2nd | 2 | 2 |
| 3rd | 3 | 1 |
| Final | 8 | 4 |
Context and what’s next
The victory improves the Indigo’s early-season resume and highlights scoring depth as a strength heading into October. With multiple players contributing goals, Granby can rely on balanced lines rather than a single scorer — a useful attribute in the Junior AAA circuit where injuries and hot streaks can quickly alter a team’s fortunes.
Granby’s next scheduled game is Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m., when the Indigo visit the Cobras de Terrebonne. Fans who attended the country-themed home game enjoyed both the on-ice performance and the community atmosphere; the team will look to carry that momentum into the road trip.
Local junior hockey remains a centrepiece of fall sport in Granby, drawing families and volunteers who support players moving up the developmental ladder. The Indigo’s early-season form will be watched closely by supporters and rival clubs alike as the standings take shape over the next month.
