QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Comeback Falls Short in Second-Half Opener

Published on December 28, 2011 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


BATHURST - The Saint John Sea Dogs continue to struggle against their New Brunswick rivals, falling 4-3 on the road to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan Wednesday.

The Titan jumped out to a 2-0 lead less than five minutes in as the teams began the second half of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League schedule. It was Bathurst's fourth win in five meetings between the teams this season.

Zach O'Brien had two goals to seize the QMJHL lead with 33 on the season, Sebastien Trudeau had a goal and two assists and Mirko Hoefflin chipped in a single. Matthew Bissonnette had two assists and Robert Steeves made 30 saves for the win.

Danick Gauthier scored his 32nd, Aidan Kelly had a goal and an assist, and Stephen MacAulay also found the net for the Sea Dogs. Kevin Gagne and Charles Roussel chipped in two assists each. Mathieu Corbeil stopped 15 of 19 shots for the Sea Dogs before giving way to Sebastien Auger, who turned away all five Bathurst attempts in 18:32 of work.

Click HERE to view a complete scoresheet from Wednesday's game. For interviews and highlights, visit Sea Dogs TV, the team's official YouTube channel .

O'Brien opened the scoring at 3:54 of the first period when he walked out from behind the net and beat Corbeil. Hoefflin made it 2-0 exactly one minute later, finishing a deke to the backhand.

Gauthier had a chance to move back even with O'Brien in the goals department midway through the first. Kelly fed a trailing Gauthier a pass in the high slot, but Steeves stopped the overager's attempt.

Jeremie Blain nearly made it 3-0 with under eight minutes left in the first. The Edmonton Oilers prospect got in close on Corbeil and rang a shot off the post, but the goalie recovered and froze the puck.

Saint John's Scott Oke had another opportunity denied by Steeves with less than three minutes to go in the opening frame. Phillips sent Oke a beautiful feed in behind the defence. Oke missed it initially but Steeves couldn't corral the puck as it came in on goal, forcing him to recover to make a stellar save on Oke's rebound attempt.

After outshooting the Titan 10-8 in the first period, the Dogs held a 13-10 edge on the shot clock in the second period, but it was Bathurst that struck first in the middle frame when Trudeau bulged the twine at 16:55.

Saint John finally got on the board just 18 seconds later, however, as Gauthier tucked one in from behind the net. Kevin Gagne and Charles Roussel got the assists on the play.

The Dogs looked to capitalize on that momentum early in the third, but O'Brien scored his second on the frame's opening shift. The St. John's, N.L., native took advantage of a turnover just inside the blueline, fought his way into the slot and got a shot past Corbeil, ending his night.

Kelly got Saint John back within two with his sixth of the season at 4:53, from Roussel and Gagne. MacAulay then banged in Kelly's rebound to make it 4-3 at 15:04. Newly-acquired Danny Chiasson recorded the other assist in his first game as a Sea Dog. The goal was the ninth of the year for No. 9.

Auger denied Hoefflin on a breakaway with less than four minutes to go to keep the one-goal margin intact and give the Dogs a chance to pull him late for the extra attacker. A late penalty to Olivier Houle gave Saint John a 6-on-4 for the final 45 seconds but they could not capitalize.

The Dogs return home Friday against the Prince Edward Island Rocket. Tickets are also on sale for the annual New Year's Rivalry Cup matchup against Moncton. This year's game in Saint John is set for Monday, and there will be a special food drive for the Community Food Basket. Saint John's donations will be measured against those gathered at Saturday's New Year's Eve game in Moncton. The city donating the most food by weight will earn three extra points in the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup.

Tickets to all second-half home games are available at the Harbour Station box office, by calling 506-657-1234 or online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2011


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