Sports stats

QMJHL Cape Breton Eagles

Eagles Topped by Sea Dogs on Easter Sunday

April 17, 2022 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release


SYDNEY - Special teams was a key difference as the Saint John Sea Dogs skated to a 5-1 victory over the Cape Breton Eagles on Easter Sunday in Sydney.

Neither team could establish much in early going as the the shot clock read just 1-1 after the six minute mark. The best opportunity in the early going wasn't a shot on goal however, as Saint John's Ryan Francis rung a shot off the post. The Eagles best opportunity came at the conclusion of the period's only power play, when Nikolas Hurtubise denied a point blank scoring chance for Matis Ouellet.

Saint John would strike before period's end in the final three minutes. Charlie DesRoches place a rising shot through a screen over Nicolas Ruccia and it was 1-0 for the visitors at the break.

The Sea Dogs took firm control of the game in the early part of the second period. William Dufour scored on the power play at 2:13, and then a low shot by William Villeneuve 40 seconds later made it 3-0.

Some lineup experimentation helped get the Eagles on the board, as Eagles captain Sean Larochelle was moved up to the forward ranks from his usual defense position. The moved paid dividends as he set up Nicholas Girouard for the first Eagle goal of the game to make it 3-1. The goal gave the Eagles some legs but the score remained 3-1 through the middle portion of the period.

Cape Breton had an opportunity to pull closer when Olivier Picard was given the gate, but before the power play was complete, Larochelle was given a high sticking minor. That gave the Sea Dogs an abbreviated power play after the four on four sequence and Ryan Francis, the former Eagle playing his final game at Centre 200, capitalized for the visitors with a well placed spot from the right faceoff circle.

The Eagles began the third period trailing 4-1 but had an opportunity to pull closer with an early power play. However, their best chance of the period might have come later, short handed, when Émile Hegarty-Aubin was denied on a breakaway. While Saint John did not score on that power play, they did towards the end of the period- Ryan Francis one more time- to finish the scoring in a 5-1 game.

Nikolas Hurtubise picked up the win, stopping 22 of 23 shots. Ruccia took the loss, stopping 30 of 35.

The Eagles will now make their Halifax road trip of the season to take on the Mooseheads on Tuesday night. Puck drop on Friday is at 7 PM. The game is available for purchase online at https://watch.chl.ca. You can also 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. William Dufour (Saint John) 1 goal, 1 assist

2. Sean Larochelle (Cape Breton) 1 assist, +1, 2 shots

3. William Villeneuve (Saint John) 1 goal, +1, 2 shots

Scratches For Cape Breton: Kiefer Lyons, Lucas Canning, Peter Repcik (Division 1A World Under 18s)

Scratches For Saint John: Nathan Drapeau (illness), Yan Kuznetsov (illness), Marshall Lessard (illness), Noah Patenaude (illness), Nicholas Blagden

Final Shots On Goal: 35-23 in favour of Saint John

Cape Breton Power Play: 0/4

Saint John Power Play: 3/5

Check out the Cape Breton Eagles Statistics



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2022


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.

Other Recent Cape Breton Eagles Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central