QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Sea Dogs Rout Titan, Win 8-2

Published on January 16, 2010 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


SAINT JOHN, NB --- The Saint John Sea Dogs' dominance of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan continued unabated on Saturday night, as the Port City's major junior squad defeated their regional adversaries by a score of 8-2 in front of 4,438 fans at Harbour Station. Saint John (37-7-1-0) now owns a perfect 7-0 record in their 2009-10 season series with Acadie-Bathurst (16-26-3-2).

Michael Kirkpatrick (3), Yann Sauvé, Simon Després, Jonathan Huberdeau, Mike Thomas, and Nicholas Pard all scored for the Sea Dogs in Saturday's impressive home win, while Jérémie Malouin and Julien Tremblay replied for the Titan.

Between the pipes, recently-signed Anaheim Ducks prospect Marco Cousineau improved to 6-1 all-time versus Acadie-Bathurst after making 19 saves on 21 shots faced. At the other end of the ice, sophomore net minder Fran=E7ois Lacerte (35 stops) suffered the 16th defeat of his career after surrendering eight goals in his first-ever start for the Titan.

Saint John drew first blood on Saturday, as a net-charging Michael Kirkpatrick wired home a highlight-reel feed from Stanislav Galiev midway through the first period. The veteran centre struck again with 0:52 remaining in the opening frame, ripping a slap shot to the back of Acadie-Bathurst's net from a tough angle to improve his 2009-10 goals total to 16.

A blistering wrist shot off the stick of Simon Després then put the hosts up 3-0 nineteen seconds later. The Pittsburgh Penguins prospect beat Lacerte high, glove side from the fringes of the slot to register the seventh marker of his season. Danick Gauthier and Mike Thomas both drew helpers on the successful scoring play.

Rookie speedster Jonathan Huberdeau put the home team up by four 3:35 into the second period, zooming through Acadie-Bathurst's zone and tucking a nifty backhand shot across the Titan goal line. Nicholas Pard then got in on the action just 32 seconds later, taking a pass from Zack Phillips near the visitors' blue line and bearing down upon Lacerte prior to outmaneuvering an Acadie-Bathurst defender and firing the puck through the second-year goalie's five-hole.

A well-placed Yann Sauvé point shot then put the Sea Dogs up by an unconverted touchdown, briefly chasing Lacerte from the Titan net as the star rearguard equaled his career high (set in 2007-08) by tallying the sixth marker of his season.

The visitors managed to get on the scoreboard at the 9:35 mark of the middle frame, with Jérémie Malouin ending a lengthy scramble in Saint John territory by netting his fifth goal of the 09-10 campaign. Sophomore winger Julien Tremblay then tallied a power play marker nine minutes later, chipping a loose puck past a sprawling Cousineau to send Saturday's showdown into the second intermission with the Titan's deficit at four goals.

Two spirited bouts of fisticuffs took place in the opening seconds of period number three, as Saint John defensemen Christian Morin and Nathan Beaulieu earned decisive victories over Vincent Arseneau and Jérémie Malouin to draw a big round of applause from the Harbour Station faithful.

Michael Kirkpatrick put the finishing touches on his fourth career hat trick on the power play, blasting a low slap shot past Lacerte's glove hand in the 49th minute of play. The third scrap of regulation's final frame was then staged, with Nicholas Pard and Jordan Moore fighting to a draw in Saint John's zone.

Team Captain Mike Thomas gave the Sea Dogs their eighth goal of the night with 8:53 remaining in regulation, finishing off an odd-man rush by wiring a snap shot past Lacerte to pick up his sixth of the season. Thomas' offensive strike proved to be the final goal of the match for either team, as the hosts ultimately took the decision by an 8-2 final.

Up next for Saint John is a Sunday afternoon showdown with Chicoutimi. The puck drops at 4pm as the Sea Dogs look to complete a sweep of their two-game season series with the Sagueneens. Tickets to this match are available online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca or by calling the Harbour Station Box Office at 657-1234.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2010


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