Acadie-Bathurst Titan forward Mathieu Perreault scored twice and added an assist as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League defeated Russia 6-2 in the opening game of the 2006 Canada-Russia challenge.
The six-game series pits the elite from Canada's junior ranks against a select team of Russian junior players.
Keven Veilleux of the Victoriaville Tigres had a goal and an assist, with P.E.I. Rocket defenceman Marc-Andre Gragnani, Shawinigan Cataractes forward Francis Pare and Halifax Mooseheads forward Ryan Hillier also scoring.
``Our players showed that there is a lot of talent in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League,'' QMJHL head coach Clement Jodoin said. ``Some of them will inevitably earn spots on the national junior team.''
Vadim Shipachev and Nikita Mikhno replied for Russia.
Jean-Philippe Levasseur, of the hometown Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, made 16 saves for the win.
Russian goaltender Ilia Proskuryakov was under constant pressure from the QMJHL offence but made 35 saves and was named the game's first star.
The series continues with Russia playing another game against the QMJHL Tuesday in Val-d'Or, Que., before moving west for two games against the Ontario Hockey League and ending with two games against the Western Hockey League.
