QUEBEC CITY, Que. – Quebec Remparts coach Philippe Boucher was fined $10,000 for critisizing officials after a loss at the Memorial Cup.

Boucher said Thursday he plans to apologize to referee Olivier Gouin and director of officiating Richard Trottier, who he blasted after a 4-0 defeat in the final round robin game this week.

The loss forced a rematch between the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League rivals in a tiebreaker game, which the Remparts won 5-2 on Thursday night.

As for the fine, Boucher joked: “I told my daughter there would be no vacation this year.”

He said that criticizing a referee was aimed at shifting attention away from the fact that his team played poorly and took needless penalties.

“I will apologize to Richard Trottier and Olivier Gouin when I can, but I think everyone understands what I was doing,” said Boucher. “I think it’s important to protect my players. When the heat is on my team, I’ll take it.”

But he acknowledged he “went too far” in his remarks and did not dispute the fine.

After a game in which Rimouski scored three power-play goals, Boucher said neutral refs should have been assigned. He said that “personal” animosity had arisen over the season with Gouin and felt Trottier should have used his influence to make sure he didn’t work Quebec games.

The two QMJHL refs were picked to work at the Memorial Cup because they are considered among the league’s best. Members of NHL hockey operations decide referee and linesmen assignments at the tournament.

The Remparts face the Kelowna Rockets in the semifinal on Friday night. The Oshawa Generals (3-0) earned direct entry into the final on Sunday.