QMJHL Saint John Sea Dogs

Kirkpatrick Sets New Points Record in Win

January 14, 2011 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Saint John Sea Dogs News Release


SAINT JOHN, N.B. - Michael Kirkpatrick became the all-time leading scorer for the Saint John Sea Dogs as they topped the Drummondville Voltigeurs 7-4 Friday in the first of back-to-back meetings.

Kirkpatrick, who was named first star, scored twice for the Sea Dogs to reach 218 career points, passing original Sea Dog Ryan Sparling to set a new franchise record. The crowd of 4,402 gave Kirkpatrick an appreciative standing ovation when his milestone lifted the Sea Dogs a 6-2 lead late in the second period.

Jason Cameron made a bit of history of his own, scoring his first career Quebec Major Junior Hockey League goal, while Stanislav Galiev notched a pair and Gabriel Bourret and Steven Anthony chipped in singles. Zack Phillips, Nathan Beaulieu and second star Jonathan Huberdeau tallied two assists each. Jacob DeSerres, who accepted the December Irving Oil Player of the Month award before the game, made 23 saves for the win.

Andre Morrissette scored twice for Drummondville and was named third star. Sean Couturier chipped in two assists and Maxime Villemaire and Pier-Antoine Dion scored singles. Guillaume Nadeau allowed four goals on 18 shots before giving way to Domenic Graham, who allowed two goals on 13 shots.

Saint John improved to 35-5-0-2 while Drummondville dropped to 27-12-5-1 heading into a rematch Saturday night back at Harbour Station.

Cameron opened the scoring at 6:42 of the first period with the first goal of his QMJHL career. Aidan Kelly had one assist, while Kevin Gagne picked up the other in his first game back after a four-game absence due to injury.

Bourret made it 2-0 with his fifth of the year at 13:43 of the first, taking a feed from Huberdeau at the right circle and firing a wrist shot high to Nadeau's blocker side. Simon Despres had the other assist.

DeSerres made the 2-0 score stand into the intermission, stopping J-P Mathieu on a breakaway late in the first period.

Kirkpatrick made it 3-0 early in the second, beating Nadeau on a shot from the left wing to tie the record. Ryan Tesink picked up the assist on the goal at 1:22.

Villemaire made it 3-1 with an unassisted marker at 1:40, but Galiev stretched the lead back to three goals at 3:54. Galiev took a nice pass from Phillips on the right wing and fired a snapshot past Nadeau, ending the goalie's night. Eric Gelinas picked up the other assist.

The goaltending switch seemed to give Drummondville a brief lift, as Morrissette made it 4-2 with a short-handed marker at 5:31 of the second. Couturier and Andrew Randazzo assisted on the goal.

But Galiev once again gave the Dogs a three-goal margin, finishing an unbelievable passing play with Huberdeau at 9:59 for his 19 th goal of the season. Zack Phillips, who was named Mark's Work Wearhouse Scholastic Player of the Month before the game, recorded the other helper.

Kirkpatrick's historic tally came at 18:36 of the second period, when he redirected Beaulieu's point shot for his 17th of the year.

After a spirited bout between Dion and Sea Dogs captain Mike Thomas early in the third, Drummondville made a late charge, with goals by Morrissette and Dion. But the Sea Dogs held on, with Anthony potting an empty-netter in the dying seconds to seal the deal.

The teams go right back at it Saturday, a 7 p.m. start at Harbour Station. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Harbour Station box office at (506) 657-1234, or by visiting www.tickets.harbourstation.ca.

The Sea Dogs are extending a special half-season ticket promotion for ONE EXTRA DAY. Until 3 p.m. Saturday, call Shanna at 632-8159 to purchase a half-season ticket for as low as $121 and take advantage of the last chance to qualify to purchase playoff packages.

Check out the Saint John Sea Dogs Statistics



Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from January 14, 2011


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