QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Dogs Drop Road Trip Opener to Olympiques

Published on October 12, 2011 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


GATINEAU, Que. - The Saint John Sea Dogs got off to a rocky start on their Quebec road trip as the Gatineau Olympiques handed them a 5-1 loss Wednesday at the Robert Guertin Arena.

The Dogs returned to the site of last year's President's Cup victory but the results were much different in this Quebec Major Junior Hockey League regular-season matchup. Tomas Jurco had the lone Saint John goal in the loss, while Mathieu Corbeil made 15 saves in the loss, his eighth straight start.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau led the Olympiques attack with two goals and two assists. Mathieu Gagnon and Christian Ouellet had a goal and two assists each, and Alexadros Soumakis chipped in a single. Francois Lacerte got the win with a 22-save performance. Both teams now have identical 7-5 records.

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 .

Gatineau got on the board early on Gagnon's power-play goal at 2:15 of the first period. Soumakis made it 2-0 at 16:06 of the opening frame.

Things got ugly late in the first, with three fights in the last three minutes. Saint John's Stephen MacAulay and Gatineau's Guillaume Rousseau were the first to drop the gloves, at 17:05. Just 14 seconds later, Ian Saab laid a punishing hit on Soumakis in the corner. Ouellet came to his teammate's defence and tangled with Saab, who received a five-minute major and game misconduct for checking from behind on the play. Then at the 20-minute mark, Nathan Beaulieu came to the defence of Jonathan Huberdeau, fighting Rock Regimbald, who went after Huberdeau following a hit in the corner.

Huberdeau received two minutes for checking from behind on the play, setting up a 5-on-3 power play to start the second. Gatineau didn't take long to capitalize, when Pageau made it 3-0 just 25 seconds in. Emile Poirier then knocked one in on the next shift, but the play was immediately waved off as high stick.

Saint John survived the rest of the penalty kill and seemed to get a lift when Jurco rifled a wrist shot high to Lacerte's glove side at 10:54 of the second. Danick Gauthier had the lone assist on the goal, Jurco's fourth of the season.

The game turned south again for Saint John thanks to a penalty situation that left Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant livid on the bench. Huberdeau was hit from behind, yet he received the lone penalty on the play (for unsportsmanlike conduct - diving) at 14:28 of the second. Ouellet immediately scored on the power play, just 21 seconds in, taking the wind out of Saint John's sails.

Pageau added his second of the night at 18:49 of the second to make it 5-1. The Sea Dogs outshot Gatineau 13-0 in the third period, but were unable to get one past Lacerte and the 5-1 score stood. The Olympiques finished 3-for-5 on the power play while the Sea Dogs were 0-for-5.

Saint John's road trip continues in Rouyn-Noranda Friday and Val-d'Or Saturday. Friday's game is an 8:30 p.m. puck drop. Tim Roszell will have the call on News 88.9 FM . Fans can also catch all the action online via the official TELUS QMJHL webcast (click HEREto order; charges apply).

Saint John's next home game is the Pink in the Rink Night Oct. 22 against the Prince Edward Island Rocket. The Sea Dogs will play in special pink jerseys, which will be auctioned directly off the players' backs. Proceeds from the jersey auction will go towards breast cancer research.

Tickets are available at the Harbour Station box office, by calling 506-657-1234 or online at www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.

Check out the Saint John Sea Dogs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from October 12, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central