Huberdeau, Phillips Lead Sea Dogs to 7-2 Road Win Over Titan
December 1, 2010 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release
BATHURST, NB --- The Saint John Sea Dogs kicked off their December schedule with a bang on Wednesday night, defeating the Acadie-Bathurst Titan by a score of 7-2 at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre to capture their sixth consecutive victory and improve to 22-3-0-2 on the season. Dynamic young forwards Jonathan Huberdeau (3G-1A-4P) and Zack Phillips (1G-4A-5P) combined for nine points in Saint John's highly-impressive road effort, earning First and Second Star of the Game honours in the process.
Simon Després, Mike Thomas, and Steven Anthony also scored for the Sea Dogs in their mid-week tilt with the Titan, with Jonathan Lessard and Daniel Tanel responding for the home team in a losing effort. On the goaltending front, Jacob DeSerres improved to 8-1 on the season after making 32 saves on 34 shots faced in net for Saint John while Edmonton Oilers prospect Olivier Roy (20 saves) suffered his ninth defeat of the year between the pipes for Acadie-Bathurst.
After Simon Després and Daniel Tanel exchanged goals early in the action, sophomore scoring sensation Jonathan Huberdeau put the visitors up 2-1 midway through the opening frame, burying the 17th goal of his season during a Saint John power play. Veteran defenseman Kevin Gagné and reigning CHL Player of the Week Zack Phillips both drew helpers on Huberdeau's man-up marker.
Acadie-Bathurst pulled even 4:02 into the second period, with Jonathan Lessard sneaking a backhander past DeSerres to improve his 2010-11 goals total to 11. Huberdeau then struck again with the man advantage, banging home a rebound produced by a Simon Després shot 45 seconds later later.
Huberdeau then put the finishing touches on his third career hat trick 19:00 into the middle frame, taking a sensational pass from Zack Phillips in close proximity to Roy and proceeding to fool the Team Canada candidate with a forehand-backhand deking maneuver prior to deftly sliding the puck across Acadie-Bathurst's goal line. Phillips then converted on a semi-breakaway a moment later, roofing a wrist shot over Roy's shoulder to both register the 20th offensive strike of his sophomore campaign and send Wednesday's intraprovincial showdown into the second intermission with the Sea Dogs in possession of a 5-2 scoreboard advantage.
Robert Steeves took over goaltending duties for the hosts to open regulation's final frame, making six saves prior to surrendering a goal to Vancouver Canucks prospect Steven Anthony at the 52:59 mark of the match. Team Captain Mike Thomas scored what proved to be the game's final goal 17:06 into period number three, jamming home his own rebound to make the sixth marker of his season of the power play variety. DeSerres stopped all 13 shots fired upon him during the closing twenty minutes of the match, resultantly giving his team the decision by a 7-2 final.
Up next for the Port City's major junior squad is a Friday night showdown with the Lewiston MAINEiacs at Harbour Station (puck drop - 7:30pm). Tickets to this much-anticipated matchup between two of the top ten teams in the Canadian Hockey League can be obtained by calling the arena box office at (506) 657-1234 or by visiting www.tickets.harbourstation.ca .
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2010
- Montreal Loses in Overtime to Val D'Or - Montreal Juniors
- Huberdeau, Phillips Lead Sea Dogs to 7-2 Road Win Over Titan - Saint John Sea Dogs
- PEI Rocket Game Change Confirmed - P.E.I. Rocket
- Spencer Metcalfe Suspended Two Games - QMJHL
- MAINEiacs Profile: Antoine Houde-Caron - Lewiston MAINEiacs
- Olympiques Acquire Pierrick Martel - Gatineau Olympiques
- Olympiques, Drakkar Swap Forwards - QMJHL
- Cats Coffee Talk - Moncton Wildcats
- Sea Dogs' Zack Phillips Named CHL Player of the Week - QMJHL
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.
