Eagles Rout Sea Dogs to Continue Perfect Start
Published on September 29, 2019 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release
SYDNEY - The Cape Breton Eagles sit atop the QMJHL standings after a perfect 4-0 start to the season, following an 8-3 romp over the Saint John Sea Dogs on Sunday at Centre 200.
After a tentative start for both sides, the Eagles would establish a 2-0 lead after the 13 minute mark. First it was Derek Gentile, snapping a shot over Noah Patenaude from between the face-off circles. Then a nice give and go along the boards between Egor Sokolov and Ryan Francis turned into a pass to the front of the net for Shawn Boudrias, and a 2-0 Cape Breton lead. Saint John would pull one back before period's end on a nifty effort from Joshua Roy.
Period two belonged to the Eagles. Sokolov hammered a drop pass from Francis over Patenaude before the five minute mark and it was 3-1 game, and not long after Ivan Ivan's first career goal gave the home side a 4-1 lead. Then special teams would become an integral part of the game.
Having not earned any power plays in the opening period, the Eagles would score on their first man advantage as Boudrias cashed in on his own rebound. However the Cape Breton penalty kill would be then put to the test- a Jarrett Baker unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a Félix Lafrance hooking penalty would give Saint John a full two minute 5 on 3. With 53 seconds remaining in it, Jérémie Poirier scored to put Saint John within three goals with some power play time remaining.
But the ensuing penalty kill would salt away the game for the Eagles. Not only was the balance of the penalty killed, but Francis sprung Lafrance on a breakaway coming out of the penalty box and the forward made no mistake burying it, giving his team a 6-2 edge.
If there was any doubt about the outcome, it would be erased in the opening two minutes of the final period. Shaun Miller scored his first goal of the season just 45 seconds in, and less than a minute later Ivan notched his second of the game. Nicolas Guay would score on a rebound later in the period but it was far too little too late as the Eagles swept the weekend set.
William Grimard, playing goal on his 18th birthday, picked up the win in goal stopping 21 of 24 shots. Patenaude took the loss in his QMJHL debut, allowing eight goals on 45 shots. Sydney Rush goaltender and Eagles draft pick Jack Cashen served as the Cape Breton backup as Kevin Mandolese missed the game with a day to day upper body injury.
The Eagles will now make their first trip to the province of Quebec, and on Wednesday night they'll be in Rimouski to take on the Océanic. You can hear all the action beginning with the pre-game show with Patrick McNeil at 8 PM on 1270 AM CJCB or online at www.cjcbradio.com
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Ryan Francis (Cape Breton) 4 assists
2. Shawn Boudrias (Cape Breton) 2 goals, 1 assist
3. Ivan Ivan (Cape Breton) 2 goals
Scratches For Cape Breton: Mathias Laferrière (upper body injury), Kevin Mandolese (upper body injury), Matthew Lint, Logan Kelly-Murphy
Scratches For Saint John: James White (suspension), Patrick Musico (injury), Maxim Cajkovic (injury), Matt Gould, Julian Vander Voet
Final Shots On Goal: 45-24 in favour of Cape Breton
Cape Breton Power Play: 1/5
Saint John Power Play: 1/3
Attendance: 2783
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2019
- Goobie, Trudeau Record Firsts as Islanders Defeat Wildcats - Charlottetown Islanders
- Eagles Rout Sea Dogs to Continue Perfect Start - Cape Breton Eagles
- Rookie Roy Scores in Loss to Eagles - Saint John Sea Dogs
- Wildcats Win Home Opener over the Titan - Moncton Wildcats
- Islanders and Wildcats Meet in Sunday Afternoon Affair - Charlottetown Islanders
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