QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs kick off season four with dramatic OT win over Titan

Published on September 12, 2008 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


BATHURST, NB --- Drama reigned supreme at the K.C. Irving Centre on Friday night, as the Saint John Sea Dogs opened the fourth season in franchise history with a thrilling come-from-behind road win over one of their biggest rivals - the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

With several players out the line-up due to injury, illness, suspension, and professional training camp attendance, no fewer than eight Sea Dogs made their QMJHL debuts on Friday night, including six '08 draft picks and a pair of free agents from Ontario.

Despite lacking several of their key veterans, the Sea Dogs put forth an incredibly noble effort in their 2008-2009 debut, battling the Titan hard for sixty-plus minutes as they ultimately pulled out an improbable road win by virtue of an extraordinarily tenacious effort from an undermanned squad comprised largely of talented yet inexperienced players.

After the opening thirty minutes of play produced a 1-1 deadlock, the Titan pulled ahead on a goal off the stick of overage winger Spencer Jezegou in the latter half of the second period. The score remained 2-1 until the final minute of regulation, when Michael Kirkpatrick banged home his first goal of the year to send the match into sudden-death overtime. At the 1:28 mark of the extra frame, Keven Charland netted a skate-off game-winner on a breakaway to send Saint John's bench into a frenzy as the visitors had produced one of the most memorable and hard-fought wins in team history.

Sophomore net minder Robert Mayer played exceptionally well for the Sea Dogs in a registering his first win of the season, stopping 28 of the 30 shots sent his way while not allowing a single even-strength tally. Meanwhile, Mayer's counterpart, Titan goalie Nicolas Champion, surrendered three goals on 25 shots to fall to 0-1 on the young season.

It didn't take long for intensity to take centre stage on Friday, as a penalty shot was awarded to Michael Kirkpatrick in the opening minute of play. Nicolas Champion was able to thwart the second-year centre's attempt by virtue of an impressive toe save however, keeping things knotted at zeroes in the process. Champion made another big stop a moment later, denying Francois Gauthier on a wraparound as the Sea Dogs continued to apply heavy pressure in Acadie-Bathurst's zone in the early-going. .

The first penalty of the night was awarded to Keven Charland at the 6:22 mark of the opening frame, as the 19-year old was assessed a two-minute minor for high sticking. The Titan were able to capitalize on their numerical advantage, as Spencer Jezegou beat Mayer with a high shot from close range to register the first goal of the season for Acadie-Bathurst, with Eric Faille picking up the lone assist on the man-up tally.

Midway through the first a pair of consecutive penalties for goaltender interference resulted in a four-on-four session being staged, but fifty seconds into the communal man-down situation, Titan forward Cameron Critchlow was called for high sticking, giving Saint John their first power play of the night in the form of a four-on-three advantage. The Sea Dogs were unable to convert on their PP chance however, as Champion continued to play well in net for the hosts.

Near the 15-minute mark of the game Robert Mayer made a huge stop on a Brad Tesink snap shot, stoning the Saint John native with a shoulder save. The 18-year old European played well throughout the opening twenty, making 12 saves on 13 shots to keep the Sea Dogs within immediate striking distance of the Titan as the first intermission was arrived at.

Six-and-a-half minutes into the second period, rookie forward Andrew Howes scored his first career QMJHL goal, pouncing on a loose puck deep in Titan territory and wiring a slap shot over a diving Champion to tie the match up 1-1 and bring the 18-year old to within 41 tallies of his older brother's team record.

The Titan then retook a one-goal lead a few minutes later when Jezegou registered his second power play marker of the evening, rocketing a wrist shot over Mayer's shoulder after dancing into the slot upon receiving a pass from Drew Paris along the boards.

Both teams registered some strong scoring chances in the latter stages of the middle frame, but Mayer and Champion protected their respective nets effectively as Friday's contest reached the forty minute mark with Saint John trailing by a single goal.

Early in the third period, Mayer came up with a huge glove save on a Drew Paris slap shot during Acadie-Bathurst's seventh power play of the night, preserving Saint John's one-goal deficit in doing so.

The Sea Dogs' offensive contingent produced some quality scoring chances throughout regulation's final frame, coming extremely close to tallying the equalizer on several occasions as the Titan clung desperately to their precarious one-goal lead.

With 1:40 remaining in regulation, the Sea Dogs were awarded a power play when Maxime Renaud was sentenced to two minutes in the sin bin. With Mayer sitting on the bench, extra attacker Michael Kirkpatrick was able to bang home a rebound with only 20 seconds on the clock to send Friday's opener into overtime on his first goal of the year.

In the second minute of overtime, veteran forward Keven Charland earned a clear cut breakaway and made no mistake on his prime scoring opportunity, making a highly-impressive deke on Champion prior to firing a low shot through the Acadie-Bathurst goaltender's pads to earn his team an incredibly dramatic comeback win over their provincial adversaries.

The Sea Dogs will look to improve their Season Four record to 2-0 on Saturday night when they skate into the Moncton Coliseum for a 7:00pm showdown with another regional foe - the Wildcats.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from September 12, 2008


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