Acadie-Bathurst Edges Visiting Sea Dogs
December 30, 2010 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
BATHURST, N.B. --- The Saint John Sea Dogs fell just short of opening the second half of their Quebec Major Junior Hockey League schedule with a road win, dropping a 5-4 decision to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan Thursday.
Steven Anthony had a goal and an assist as Saint John resumed play after an 11-day break. Kevin Gagne, Stanislav Galiev and Scott Oke also found the back of the net. Jonathan Huberdeau and Nathan Beaulieu chipped in two assists each. Frederic Piche stopped 11 of the 15 shots he faced before giving way to Jacob DeSerres, who stopped 17 of 18 in relief. Newly acquired Alexandre Beauregard made his Sea Dogs debut, wearing No. 25 and picking up an assist.
The Sea Dogs were missing star defenceman Simon Despres (Canada) and forward Tomas Jurco (Slovakia) to the world junior championship. Their record fell to 29-5-0-2, as they lost just their second game in their last 15.
Gabriel Levesque, Jonathan Lessard, Jeremie Blain had a goal and an assist each as Bathurst improved to 24-14-0-0. David Gilbert and Jeremie Malouin added singles and Zach O'Brien had two assists. Robert Steeves made 32 saves for the win with starter Olivier Roy away with Team Canada at the world junior championship.
Gagne got the second half started right as he opened the scoring at 7:28 of the first period. The goal was Gagne's fifth of the year and came thanks to assists from Anthony and Huberdeau.
Anthony picked up his second point of the night at 17:16, banging home his own rebound on Saint John's first power play of the game to make it 2-0. Beaulieu and Huberdeau got the assists on Anthony's 12th goal of the season.
Beauregard made his presence felt in the first period, connecting with six-foot-six, 225-pound giant Daniel Tanel in front of the Bathurst bench on a play that saw the newest Dog called for tripping. The Titan capitalized on the ensuing power play, with Levesque finishing a nice play by O'Brien in close to cut the lead to 2-1 at 18:47. Sebastien Trudeau picked up the other assist on Levesque's 17th marker of the campaign.
Bathurst evened things up at 2-2 in the second period, as Lessard squeezed his own rebound through Piche's legs on another power play at 4:39. Blain and Levesque drew the assists on the goal, Lessard's 17th.
The Titan then took their first lead of the game on Blain's first goal of the year, as he beat Piche to the glove side with an assist from O'Brien at 8:44.
Galiev drew the Sea Dogs back even, making it 3-3 on his 17th of the year at 9:48 of the second period. Beaulieu and Beauregard had the assists.
Titan newcomer Marc-Olivier Mimar set up Gilbert for his 14th at 12:07 of the second to give Bathurst a 4-3 lead. Lessard collected the other assist on the goal, which ended Piche's night as DeSerres took over.
The Sea Dogs clawed back once again on Scott Oke's fifth of the year at 7:22 of the third period, with assists from Guillaume Cloutier and Zack Phillips.
But the Port City juniors didn't have enough gas to regain the lead, and Malouin notched the winner at 17:01, finishing a nice pass from Jordan Murray for his fifth of the year. Yoan Pinette had the other helper.
The Sea Dogs, 17-0-0-1 at Harbour Station, resume their home schedule Friday with a New Year's Eve date against the rival Moncton Wildcats (20-14-1-3), a 7:30 p.m. start.
Not only will the Dogs and Cats resume the Brunswick News Rivalry Cup, but Saint John sports heroes of the past will be honoured as part of the city's 225th anniversary celebrations. In addition, the Sea Dogs and Sea Dogs Foundation have set a goal of collecting $10,000 for flood relief efforts in Charlotte County. Fans will be asked to make donations at the game, with the Sea Dogs Foundation matching every donation dollar for dollar, up to the first $5,000.
Fewer than 200 standing-room tickets remain, and can be obtained for $12 by calling the Harbour Station box office at (506) 657-1234, or by visiting www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2010
- Devastating Loss for the Juniors - Montreal Juniors
- Tigres Come out Victorious on Teddy Toss Night - Lewiston MAINEiacs
- Acadie-Bathurst Edges Visiting Sea Dogs - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Postponed Titan vs. Wildcats game to be played in January - QMJHL
- State Farm Teddy Toss Night Tonight - Lewiston MAINEiacs
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