QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Dogs Dominate Divisional Foe

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


SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs steamrolled another Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Maritime Division opponent Friday, downing the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 6-3.

The win was the sixth straight for the Sea Dogs, and their ninth in a row at home as they prepare for Saturday's Night of Champions banner-raising and ring ceremonies.

Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice as the Sea Dogs improved to 13-5, while Danick Gauthier and Ryan Tesink added a goal and two assists each. Zack Phillips chipped in a goal and an assist on his 19th birthday, while Stephen MacAulay notched a single and Tomas Jurco chipped in two beautiful helpers and dropped the gloves for his first QMJHL fight. Mathieu Corbeil earned the win in goal with a 34-save performance, running his team-record shutout streak to 144:43 before finally surrendering a goal to Morgan Ellis in the second period.

David Rose and Kyle Campbell had the other goals for Cape Breton and Alexandre Veronneau made 28 saves in the loss as the Eagles fell to 7-11-0-1.

Jurco picked up his first assist on Huberdeau's goal at 9:22 of the first period. The slick Slovakian showcased a high-end skill move down the right wing to discombobulate the defender, then centered to Huberdeau, who deked to his backhand to beat Veronneau. Corbeil was credited with the other assist on the goal, Huberdeau's sixth of the season.

Jurco delivered another sweet pass on a power play early in the second period, feeding a cross-crease saucer pass with laser-like accuracy to Huberdeau. The captain collected the perfect feed and deposited it behind Veronneau at the 48-second mark to make it 2-0.

Ellis got the Eagles back within one on a power play at 2:48, but that was as close as they would get.

Gauthier restored the two-goal cushion at 8:20 of the second, knocking in a second effort in front for his team-leading 17th of the season. Grant West - playing his first game as a Sea Dog - recorded the lone assist.

MacAulay extended the lead at 15:06 of the middle frame. Gauthier gave him a feed from behind the net and the 19-year-old St. Louis Blues prospect one-timed it home from low in the left-wing faceoff circle. Tesink picked up the other assist on the goal, MacAulay's fourth.

Sea Dogs fans then witnessed a rarity late in the second, as Jurco dropped the gloves with Logan Shaw in a scrum at centre ice. Cape Breton received the extra penalty and, after Jurco was given an ovation on his way to the dressing room, the Dogs capitalized on the ensuing power play. Gauthier threw a long shot on net that was expertly deflected out of the air by Tesink for his fifth of the season at 17:24.

Phillips made it 6-1 at 3:42 of the third period, firing home a shot from the slot with assists from Tesink and Kevin Gagne.

Rose - at 17:26 of the third - and Campbell - at 18:24 - added late markers to round out the summary.

Before Saturday's game against the Chicoutimi Sagueneens the Sea Dogs will celebrate the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup and President's Cup championships. Championship-winning goaltender Jacob DeSerres and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Commissioner Gilles Courteau will be among the special guests participating in this Night of Champions. Other confirmed guests include Saint John Mayor Ivan Court, Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop, Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll, Grand Bay - Westfield Mayor Grace Losier and area MLAs Dorothy Shephard and Glen Tait. Game time is 7 p.m. but fans are encouraged to be in their seats early. Former Sea Dogs Alexandre Beauregard and Gabriel Bourret, now with Chicoutimi, will take part in the ceremony as well. Tickets 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 October 28, 2011


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