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QMJHL Cape Breton Eagles

Four-Line Offence Helping Eagles to Improved Second Half - Eagles Recap 0/2024

February 27, 2024 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Cape Breton Eagles News Release


New Offensive Production

During a time when the Cape Breton Eagles are crossing a bump in the road on their regular season schedule, including winning only one of four games this past week, Eagles coaching staff are continuing to see positive offensive play from new avenues throughout their roster.

This past weekend, assistant coach Matt Anthony and Head coach Louis Robitaille highlighted the recent play of players such as Conor Shortall and Callum Aucoin who have been producing offensively during a stretch that has seen their club on the losing side of matchups as of late.

After falling to the Charlottetown Islanders on Thursday night in Sydney, Robitaille said the decision to put defenceman Conor Shortall forward was strictly based on the 20-year-old's offensive play as of late.

"He was our best forward. Every time he was out there he was finishing his hits. That was part of our game plan, we wanted to apply pressure on their young group but he was one of the only ones who did it. We talked about accountability and respect because if you are playing good you are going to play," he said.

Robitaille also noted the recent play of rookie Callum Aucoin, who has remained in the lineup over the past four games after going in and out of the lineup over the first half of the season.

"Callum Aucoin tonight, I thought he had legs, and so he played more. At the end, we are trying to win some hockey games and so we are going to put the guys on the ice that deserve to be there."

On Saturday, following the Eagles bounce back victory over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at Centre 200, assistant coach Matt Anthony echoed Robitaille's assessment of Aucoin following another strong offensive performance.

"Cal is a guy who steadily progressed all year," he said. "You look at his point line, it might not jump out to you like that but he is such a smart player. He is really good with his stick and is the kind of guy who can play up and down the lineup and you saw that tonight. His line didn't score but they created some chances, him, Burbidge and Squires."

Third Line Remains Hot

As recently noted, the play of the Eagles third line consisting of Antoine Roy, Lucas Romeo and Charles-Antoine Lavallee has been the highlight of the Eagles offensive success in the second half of the season thus far. Their success continued this past weekend with a combined six points in their club's 4-1 win on Saturday night.

At the forefront of that was winger Charles-Antoine Lavallee who scored two goals and an assist to spearhead a third period offensive surge that resulted in the win for the Eagles.

Following the game, Anthony said "Chucky had a really big third period. (That third line) all play similar style games. They are all big and strong, and like to play down below. They read off eachother really well below the hashmarks in the offensive zone and they are just so physical. Opposing defence probably aren't too happy seeing them come down on the forecheck and that gives them a little bit more room. They are all pretty good offensively too, with (Romeo) showing his goal scoring capabilities since coming over and that line really jump started us there in the third period."

Despite being called up from the Amherst Ramblers of the Nova Scotia Junior A league in December to join the Eagles, Lavallee has found his footing alongside Roy and Romeo in what has become the Eagles hottest line in the last two months.

The 19-year-old has ten goals and five assists in 28 games with the Eagles this season and spoke of his play following Saturday's matchup.

Back on the road

Before coming back home for the final homestead of the regular season, the Eagles will hit the road this week for a three-game Maritime road trip. As of Feb. 27, the Eagles currently sit in 6th position in the Eastern conference standings with 61 points. Tied with Chicoutimi, both teams sit two points back of the fourth place Rimouski Oceanic. This past week, both Moncton and Rimouski have clinched a playoff birth, while the Eagles and Sagueneens are both on the cusp of their own playoff pass depending on their point production this week and the play of the bottom seeded teams in the league.

If the playoffs were to begin today, the Eagles would be set to play the Moncton Wildcats in the 3rd vs 6th matchup in the Eastern conference, with Moncton owning home-ice advantage as the higher seed.

When the Eagles return home next week, they will be set for three games in four days at Centre 200 in Sydney, including Irish Night on March 8th where special Irish theme jerseys will be unveiled and the annual 20-year-old player celebration night on March 9th to close out the regular season at Centre 200.

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2024


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.

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