Quebec's Erne, Duclair allowed to play Sunday

After initially suspending top 2013 NHL Draft prospects Adam Erne and Anthony Duclair, Quebec Remparts coach Patrick Roy changed course and inserted both forwards into the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

The Journal de Quebec had reported Saturday that Erne and Duclair had been suspended for Sunday's game by the team.

"We believe that we are not all on the same wavelength and what we want is a team concept," Roy told Gilles Moffet of Journal de Quebec. "This is a life lesson for these young people and I hope they will grow out of it. They will not play Sunday, then we'll see."

There was no report as to what persuaded Roy to change his mind.

Erne, No. 13 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of the top North American skaters eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft, leads the team with 55 points (20 goals). Duclair, No. 35 on the list, is fourth in team scoring with 35 points (15 goals). Both played in last week's Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, with Erne scoring a goal to help lead Team Orr in a 3-0 victory against Team Cherry.

According to the newspaper report Saturday, Roy made the decision to suspend Erne and Duclair at the suggestion of some of his veteran players following his team's 11-2 loss to Halifax on Friday. Erne and Duclair did not participate in that meeting. They had been a combined minus-4 in Friday's loss.

"My job is to support [the veterans] and be with them," Roy said in announcing the suspension. "I am an employee and I will endorse their decision. At some point, the veterans can talk if they [Erne and Duclair] do not listen. … We had already had a meeting, but this time, many things came out and we had to take this decision. It is disappointing to have to live it, but in the end, this may be what will make us a better team."

While attending the Top Prospects Game, Erne had only positive things to say about Roy.

"He's tough, but he's a really good guy," he told NHL.com. "He expects a lot but he's a winner and knows what he's talking about. He's not going to let you fail, so he'll push you and push you and if he's yelling it just means he cares so he's hard, but a really good coach."