QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Dogs hold off Val-d'Or for 12th straight

February 18, 2011 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Sea Dogs hung on for a 3-2 win over the Val-d'Or Foreurs Friday to clinch the Maritime Division title with 12 games left to play.

Stanislav Galiev had a goal and an assist for the Sea Dogs, while Gabriel Bourret and Pierre Durepos added singles. Mathieu Corbeil made 13 saves for the win.

Nicolas Larocque-Marcoux and Anthony Taylor scored for Val-d'Or, Jonathan Hazen had two assists and Jacob Gervais-Chouinard made 34 saves in the loss.

The win was the 12th straight for the Sea Dogs, as they ran their record to 47-5-1-2, including a 26-0-1-1 mark at home and 18-0-1 record in their last 19 games.

Val-d'Or fell to 21-28-4-3 as 5,710 fans were on hand at Harbour Station for Irving Oil's Minor Hockey Night in Saint John.

Although Saint John outshot the Foreurs 11-3 in the first period, neither team was able to find the net. The biggest reaction from the fans in the first half of the game came when Saint John's Alexandre Beauregard dropped the gloves with Val-d'Or tough guy Adam Jones at 7:25 of the second.

Bourret opened the scoring with an outstanding individual effort at 13:35 of the middle frame. The sophomore defenseman fought through three checkers as he chased a bouncing puck into the Val-d'Or zone and knocked it past Chouinard for his seventh of the year.

Galiev ran the lead to 2-0 at 14:14, as a lucky bounce went off him in front of the net for his 26th. Simon Despres fired the pinball shot, while Jonathan Huberdeau picked up the other assist.

In the third period, former Sea Dog Marcoux got a wrist shot through the crowd from the top of the right-wing circle for his 10th of the year at 1:41.

Durepos restored the two-goal lead at 13:42, taking a drop pass from Zack Phillips and firing home a point shot for his second of the year. Galiev had the other assist on the play, which was started by a nice defensive stop by Despres at the other end.

After Despres and Jones dropped the gloves at 16:16 of the third, Val-d'Or made a late charge, with Taylor finally breaking through with just 0.4 seconds to go to make it 3-2.

Before the game, Irving Oil donated $25,000 to Hockey for Everyone, a program that provides an opportunity for local children to experience first-hand Canada's most loved sport. The program is run by volunteers who provide transportation, equipment, coaching and more. It relies on the generosity of local businesses and organizations for funding.

Irving Oil has also pledged to donate $25 to Hockey for Everyone for every Facebook fan that chooses to "like" the Hockey for Everyone announcement on the company's Facebook page: facebook.com/irvingoil, up to a maximum donation of $10,000.

For more information about Hockey for Everyone, visit their website at www.hockeyforeveryone.ca.

On Saturday the Sea Dogs will be paying tribute to the Saint John Flames, as they take on the Shawinigan Cataractes (36-16-2-1) at 7 p.m. Special throwback jerseys will be worn by the players and auctioned off, and former Flames Marty Murray and Doug Doull will be in attendance, along with the Calder Cup and other memorabilia. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Harbour Station box office at (506) 657-1234, or by visiting www.tickets.harbourstation.ca

Just five home games remain after this weekend, including Tuesday's tilt against the Halifax Moosheads (17-36-1-2), a 7 p.m. start. The Sea Dogs would like to remind fans holding flex tickets to cash them in soon. These tickets do not carry over to playoffs and are redeemed on a first come, first served basis. Don't be disappointed by waiting until the last minute!

Check out the Saint John Sea Dogs Statistics



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 18, 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