Sports stats

QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Fortier a Force as Moosheads Down Sea Dogs

September 19, 2015 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


HALIFAX - Maxime Fortier buried a hat trick and added an assist to lead the Halifax Mooseheads to a 5-1 victory over the Saint John Sea Dogs Saturday at Scotiabank Centre.

Arnaud Durandeau and Vincent Watt also scored for Halifax (1-2-0-1), which picked up its first win of the year. Finnish forward Otto Somppi chipped in with three assists.

Ryan Chiasson had the lone marker for Saint John (2-2-0-0), the first goal of his QMJHL career.

The Mooseheads got on the board just prior to the halfway mark of the first period when Fortier charged in on the right wing, and then sprinted behind the goal before wrapping the puck inside the right post.

Saint John's best chance of the period came with about four minutes remaining.

Daniel Del Paggio took a pass on the left wing side near the Halifax blueline, gained the blueline and fired a shot that went off the glove of Moose goalie Eric Brassard.

Halifax doubled its advantage with two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the period.

Andrew Shewfelt chipped the puck free of a scrum in the left circle. Durandeau attempted a one-timer that knuckled its way past goalie Alex Bishop's blocker for his first career QMJHL goal.

The Sea Dogs' fortunes did not change in the second period.

Just 1:02 into the frame, Watt took a pass on the right wing and ripped a wrist shot that beat Bishop on his blocker side.

Bishop was replaced in the Saint John goal after allowing three goals on seven shots. Marc-Antoine Turcotte took over in relief.

The Sea Dogs earned a 5-on-3 man advantage for 42 second a short time later, but were unable to beat Brassard.

Saint John got its only goal near the three-minute mark of the third period.

Rookie Cedric Pare snapped a low shot from the blueline that Brassard kicked out. Chiasson found the loose puck just outside the crease and flipped it past the goaltender's glove for the first goal of his career. Pare also earned his first QMJHL point with an assist.

Midway through the period, Fortier stole the puck at his own blueline and raced in on a breakaway, beating Turcotte with a deke to his right and a shot just inside the left post.

The second-year forward completed the hat trick on a power play under two minutes later.

Turcotte stoned Danny Moynihan and Otto Somppi on consecutive chances to his left. The puck was fed in front to Fortier, who chipped a high shot beyond Turcotte's blocker.

Brassard made 21 stops for the win in goal. Bishop took the loss for Saint John while Turcotte stopped 22 shots in about 39 minutes of relief.

Fortier's hat trick and four points made him an easy choice for first star. Somppi's three assists merited a second-star selection while Durandeau was named third star with his first career goal in front of 6,133 fans in attendance.

Saint John's next game is Friday, September 25th, at 7 p.m. against the Charlottetown Islanders at Eastlink Centre. Listen LIVE on 96.1 NewSong FM or newsongfm.ca. Watch LIVE online on theqmjhl.ca.

The Sea Dogs' next home game is Friday, October 2nd, at 7:30 p.m. against the Gatineau Olympiques at Harbour Station. Tickets are available at the Harbour Station Box Office, online at harbourstation.ca or by calling 657-1234.

Season tickets are on sale now at the Harbour Station Box Office. Season ticket holders can save up to $171 compared with single-game box office prices.

Check out the Saint John Sea Dogs Statistics



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from September 19, 2015


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 Saint John Sea Dogs Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central