Eagles Pick up First Win of Season in Halifax
October 2, 2021 - Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) - Cape Breton Eagles News Release
HALIFAX - The Cape Breton Eagles picked up their first win of the season in an intense shootout victory over the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday night in Halifax.
After a tentative beginning to the opening period, things opened up towards the end of the frame. The Eagles were able to generate multiple big chances on a power play in the final minutes, but just like Halifax earlier in the period, failed to score on their first man advantage. The period ended with a scrum that saw three players on each team get assigned ten minute misconducts.
Early in the second stanza, Matthew MacDonald would be whistled for tripping, but the Eagles killed it off. MacDonald was still on the ice after coming out of the box when he received a pass from Ivan Ivan and buried it on a two on one to give the Eagles the lead. But the lead lasted just 17 seconds- Vincent Gauthier tipped a shot in front of the Eagles net, and after a video review the goal was upheld. Gauthier had his first career goal and it was a tie game.
Senna Peeters thought he had the go ahead goal for Halifax later in the period- the light went on but the play was immediately waived off, and Halifax's Bobby Orr was whistled for interfering with Eagles goaltender Rémi Delafontaine. While the Mooseheads killed off the penalty, they didn't escape the period unscathed.
With just 20 seconds remaining before the second intermission, Connor Trenholm wired a heavy shot just inside the goal post to beat Brady James. The Eagles took a 2-1 lead into the period. However, the lead wouldn't last long once the the third period began.
Nicholas Girouard was sent off for roughing, and just eight seconds into the power play (and less than two minutes into the period) Markus Vidicek knotted the score. And a backhand shot in a scrum in front of the net by Halifax rookie Mathieu Cataford gave the Mooseheads the edge with under seven minutes to play.
There were more twists to come. Less than two minutes later the Eagles didn't need much time to make Cam Whynott pay for holding, as Eagles captain Sean Larochelle ripped a power play tying goal over James. It wasn't the last time Larochelle would hit the scoresheet- he was not long after ejected after a late fight with Zac Beauregard.
While Halifax had the bulk of the chances in the third period, the overtime was almost all in favour of the Eagles- in part due to a penalty by Jake Furlong for taking down Jérémy Langlois. Cape Breton couldn't cash in on the power play and the game headed to a shootout.
Trenholm began things for the Eagles, but both he and Vidicek were denied. Ivan Ivan lit the lamp, putting it through the legs of James. His was the only goal of the shootout- Jordan Dumais failed to beat Delafontaine, and while Dawson Stairs couldn't salt the game away for the Eagles, the road victory was secured when Delafontaine denied Orr.
Delafontaine picked up the win in his first QMJHL game, stopping 22 of 25 shots. James turned aside 31 of 34 in the loss.
The Eagles are next in action on Friday when they visit the Moncton Wildcats . Game time is 7 PM. You can hear all the action beginning with the pre-game show with Patrick McNeil at 6:30 PM on 1270 AM CJCB or online at www.cjcbradio.com
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Brady James (Halifax) 31 saves on 34 shots
2. Mathieu Cataford (Halifax) 1 goal, 3 shots
3. Matthew MacDonald (Cape Breton) 1 goal, 1 assist
Scratches For Cape Breton: Kian Bell, Logan Camp, Nicolas Hogue
Scratches For Halifax: Attilio Biasca (upper body injury), James Swan (upper body injury), Elliot Desnoyers (NHL camp), Zachary L'Heureux (suspension)
Final Shots On Goal: 34-25 in favour of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Power Play: 1/6
Halifax Power Play: 1/5
• Discuss this story on the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League message board...
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Stories from October 2, 2021
- Eagles Pick up First Win of Season in Halifax - Cape Breton Eagles
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.
