Huskies defeat Sea Dogs 6-1
Published on November 8, 2008 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
SAINT JOHN, NB --- On the strength of a 33-save performance by 19-year old goaltender Matthew Dopud, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies defeated the Saint John Sea Dogs by a score of 6-1 at Harbour Station on Saturday night.
The lone Saint John goal of the evening was scored by the team's number one pick from June's QMJHL Entry Draft - Edmundston, NB native Kevin Gagne. The former Rothesay Netherwood Riverhawk scored on a wrist shot during a third period power play to record the first goal of his young career.
For Rouyn-Noranda, Jeff Desjardins and Pier-Luc Giguere each scored twice, while Alex Emond and Jarrad Struthers notched single markers in what proved to be an impressive five-goal road win for the reigning regular season champs.
The first prime scoring opportunity of the night came courtesy of Saint John winger Alexei Dostoinov, who was robbed by Dopud - a former Sea Dog - from close range 5:53 into the match.
A moment later, Rouyn-Noranda's Jarrad Struthers produced the first goal of the game, wiring a slap shot over the left shoulder of starting Sea Dogs goalie Robert Mayer from a dozen feet out to tally his second marker of the year and give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
A streaking Keven Charland came close to pulling the Sea Dogs even with the Huskies midway through the opening frame, getting off a hard wrist shot from inside the slot. Dopud was able to block Chraland's blast with an impressive pad save however, keeping his team's one-goal lead in tact in the process.
In the first period's final minute of play, Robert Mayer came up with his first two big saves of the contest, stoning Nicolas Deslauriers and Alex Emond in rapid succession on a pair of dynamic pad saves as Saturday night's showdown reached the twenty minute mark with the visitors leading 1-0.
Rouyn-Noranda doubled their lead 10:22 into the second period, as Pier-Luc Giguere hammered a loose puck to the back of Saint John's net to record his seventh goal of 2008-09 in the form of a short-handed marker.
The Sea Dogs received a two-man advantage 12:20 into the middle frame when Maxime Macenauer was called for slashing with teammate Sergey Ostaphcuk already in the penalty box. Despite countless quality chances Saint John was unable to capitalize on their five-on-three session, with the Huskies netting a second man-down marker courtesy of Alex Emdon to take a 3-0 lead.
At the 18:25 mark of the middle frame, Alex Grant and Alexei Dostoinov received simultaneous two-minute penalties, thus giving the Huskies a full 120-second double power play. The visitors promptly converted on their two-man advantage, with Jeff Desjardins deflecting a Michael Beaudry pass/shot past Mayer six seconds later to register his sixth goal of the year and send things into intermission number two with Rouyn-Noranda leading 4-0.
Karel St-Laurent replaced Mayer in net for Saint John to open the third period, with the Huskies quickly testing and beating the rookie net minder. Another short-handed goal, this time off the stick of Jeff Desjardins, made the score 5-0 in favour of the visiting squad from north western Quebec 3:40 into the third.
Five-and-a-half minutes into the regulation's final frame, an amazing individual effort by Team Captain Alex Grant resulted in the Sea Dogs both breaking the goose egg and converting on their ninth power play opportunity of the night. Grant made a diving play to keep the puck in Rouyn-Noranda's zone prior to feeding rookie Kevin Gagne with an incredible cross-ice pass. The 16-year old then fired a net-seeking missile of a wrist shot past Dopud, giving the freshman rearguard his first career QMJHL goal.
Pier-Luc Giguere added a late goal for the Huskies - their first even strength marker since the opening tally - to seal Saint John's fate and deliver his team to their 12th victory of the season.
Up next for Saint John (11-9-1-1) is a Sunday afternoon tilt with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at Harbour Station. The puck drops at 4:00pm as the Sea Dogs look to pick up two points at the expense of their provincial rivals. Tickets to this clash of New Brunswick teams can be obtained by calling (506) 657-1234.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from November 8, 2008
- MAINEiacs Shelled by Volts, 13-4 - Lewiston MAINEiacs
- Huskies defeat Sea Dogs 6-1 - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Juniors Lose Close One 2-1 to Shawinigan - Montreal Juniors
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